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“Jericho” Sherry Lohman - Oct. 25, 2009 Mark 10:46-52 Jericho! Who knows anything about Jericho? Isn’t there a song about the walls came tumbling down---isn’t that about Jericho? Here’s a little information—(since you asked!) Jericho is just a little north and east of Jerusalem. The city, itself, only figures in a minor way in the ministry of Jesus. The Jordan river, where Jesus was baptized is not far from Jericho. Remember, immediately after Jesus’ baptism, he went out into the desert—that’s where he was tempted to do all sorts of crazy things. That probably took place on a mountain just west of the city of Jericho. Eventually, Jesus’ journey from Galilee to Jerusalem took him by way of the Jordan Valley and Jericho.// Hear again, the introduction to today’s scripture: “They came to Jericho.”// But get this. Nothing much happens in Jericho. The very next sentence begins, “As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho…” What does that indicate to you? They are coming and going, all in one breath. Nothing happens between their arrival and departure, at least, nothing of significance; nothing of which to make note. Jesus, his disciples, along with a large crowd (large groups of folks were always following Jesus), arrived and were leaving Jericho…literally on their way out.// In what other venue, might this occur? I can think of only a few; a train station, airport or bus depot. These are places that help us get where we’re going. They aren’t the end point, but places of transition, necessary to our destination. They are not really important in themselves, but provide the means to assist our journeys. Independent of any connections, they serve no purpose. Think, for a moment, about the folks you saw on the clip, this morning. They are busy, coming and going, independent of each other, for the most part. And then something happens, and suddenly, in this most unlikely place, they are unified in this dance of joy---even if they are only spectators. Consider, now, Bartimaeus, our character in today’s scripture. He is one, blind beggar. He sits alone, on the road. For him, and maybe for most of the folks in Jericho….nothing in his life there, has held any significance. There is little, if any, life in Jericho. It stands idle. We might say, up to this point, that Jericho is like a train station. So imagine how Bartimaeus must have felt when he heard that Jesus was passing by, perhaps well within hearing distance from where he sat. There was a time in Bartimaeus’s life when he knew Jesus. We know this, because he cries out to Jesus as “teacher.” Bartimaeus has learned from Jesus. Something about Jesus; some teaching or experience has given Bartimaeus hope, and so he makes a commotion, crying out, “My teacher, let me see again.” Some of the folks scold him, as if he were an unruly child, unaware of the disturbance he is causing. One might wonder if the status quo is maintained under such pressure, in Jericho, a place where nothing happens. But Bartimaeus will not be silenced. He refuses to let this opportunity pass by. Others might ignore him, but if he had only one hope, it would be Jesus. Besides, what did he have to lose?/ Bartimaeus may have lost his sight, but he could still use his voice, and so he cries out, with all he’s got. “Son of David, teacher, have mercy on me!” We wouldn’t expect that Jesus would keep walking, deaf to a man with no sight. He stopped, called Bartimeaus to him, and asked how he could help. Bartimaeus doesn’t make heavy demands. He doesn’t ask for riches, nor food, clothing or even shelter. It’s Jesus he wants—mercy; hope, truth, purpose….life. Bartimeaus wants to see, with new clarity and hope, the teachings, the way of life of Jesus. He has become blinded to life, and has grown weary, numb, sedated, watching others come and go before him; folks who have direction and purpose in their lives, folks who are participating in meaningful relationships. Bartimeaus has experienced that life with Jesus in the past, and wants to reconnect./ Somehow, he has found himself blind to the vision of God’s purpose. He has lost his way; lost his hope. But now, hearing that Jesus is in such close proximity, his hope has been renewed. Maybe you have felt that way—as if life is passing you by, or you have no purpose, or don’t understand how your life has become so irrelevant nor why you feel so disconnected.// Everyone else seems to know what they’re doing and where they’re going, but you just sit there, alone, wondering if life will ever come to you again./ It happens in the church, too. There’s a blur of activity. We may find ourselves coming and going but not really going anywhere. We’re a little like Bartimaeus, blinded by our own perceptions of who we are or should be, as a church….until Jesus shows up and reminds us that he is our teacher and all we need to do is follow him. On the other side of that, what would happen, if, in all of our comings and goings, we found ourselves doing what Jesus did; stopping, listening and asking, “How can I help?” The church, all of us, moving through life, fully alert, eyes and hearts, wide open./ Perhaps the most important thing that we can learn from Bartimeaus, is that, wherever we’ve been, wherever we are, wherever we go, ---God is there. Even when we feel like no one is listening---God is with us. God is with us even in those difficult places in our lives, maybe when everyone else seems to know where they’re going but we feel uncertain of any clear direction, feeling hopeless. God is present, already at work…there, on the margins, in a train station, airport, a bus depot, any unlikely place---God is there, taking special interest in you. So believe it! Take heart; get up, God is calling you! Follow Jesus, our teacher. He has heard your cry.// See, with your heart, your ears, your mind--he has not taken his eyes off you. Thanks be to God. Amen. |