Good Morning Friends,
Today’s Gospel text is about Blind Bartimaeus, and it strikes me that he seems to have lost his family. He may have had the foundation for love but needed a spark to ignite it. The interactions we have in this regard are the joys of life. This is where Jesus comes into the picture. A few years ago, George Barna gave a talk here in Southwest Florida on the state of the family. Barna pointed out that today’s children are growing up in a different kind of family and certainly different than I did. The norm is single mothers or two working parents that expect society to parent their children. I wonder if culture is blind to the consequences. The harsh reality is that unless we are making a difference for the children much of the work of our faith may be all works and no fruit. The culture around us has changed and the fundamentals have been forgotten. If pollsters are realistic in their findings only a few faithful are willing to risk s life as a witness to grace. Still maybe God is doing something strategic and new. Regardless I wonder about the next generation and ask, Will The Remnant Be Enough?
Scripture: so that you and your children and your children’s children, may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.
Deuteronomy 6:2-6 (NRSV)
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’
Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
Mark 10:46-52 (NRSV)
Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
Hebrews 7:23-28 (NRSV)
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’ —this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.
Mark 12:28b-34 (NRSV)
And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the children of Israel were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved;
Romans 9:27 (NRSV)
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—let Israel now say—if it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 124 (NRSV)
Message: The Biblical term “remnant” is not one that we tend to use a whole lot in our culture and when we do, we often use is to describe a leftover piece of cloth or carpet as something insignificant. However, the idea of a “remnant” in the Bible is quite different and it is an extremely significant concept relevant for the state today of the faith and family. You see, the family is where we discover love and form what we believe about love. This directs our behaviors about loving God and our neighbor as ourselves. And know this, love is caught through these relationships and not taught. Throughout history, God has preserved a remnant for perpetuating His kingdom. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah, Noah and the flood and Elijah are about remnants. And of course, the faithful making up the body of Christ is a remnant as well. The thing is that I never planned to be part of a remnant. I was caught up in the institutional Church which has for most Americans become irrelevant. Thankfully Jesus called me to another reality that does not lament the dwindling population in the pews on Sunday. I am also part of another less obvious remnant that exists and rejoices in its love of God and actively seeks to love my neighbors as I love myself. And the thing is that this experience is even more palpable than my experience in collective worship. And strategically this makes a lot of sense as well. If the True Church is withstanding the forces of evil, we need to have a different view of what the Church…the called-out assembly of believers is doing in this world. I for one believe that the Kingdom of God has come into the world and is summoning people to that Kingdom strategically and the church is just a tool to carry out our call to make disciples. So, the only way to become part of the remnant is to be discipled and to disciple others in our belief in Jesus. I for one marvel at the reality of it but still find it difficult to grasp. It is such an elusive thing, and few agree on exactly what it means for some of it is old and some of it is very new. And yes, how this happens is a bit of a mystery, but this I know, it is not possible to become part of the remnant by our heritage or even family… important though they are. We cannot enter the remnant by reading our Bible, praying, going to church, or serving in some ministry important though they are. Friends, only Jesus’ faith in the power of the Holy Spirit gains us entry. Being part of the “remnant” is solely dependent on God’s grace guiding us to believe and, in that belief, to act in love discipling others. Many are called but few are chosen. What we believe makes the difference and it is a foundation of love in relationships of grace that fosters what we believe. Here love encompasses a variety of strong and positive emotional and mental states, ranging from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection and to the simplest pleasure Throughout history, believers have cried out to God in times of distress for the deepest and most important kind of love. Sometimes after years of praying, a single cry brings direction or deliverance instantly. Many have wondered why there are such powerful results from simply crying out to God, yet the promise is clear…God is love.
And So, scripture teaches us that we are to call out to God in our times of need. Today’s story about Bartimaeus is about a miracle happening when we call out in faith to the Lord but is also about love. Characteristics of a cry for help are humility, that we cannot do anything without Jesus, surrender, and a plea for mercy, but also recognition of God’s power and resources. Crying out to God is an act of desperation and total concentration. It is a fervent expression of faith in God and trust in His goodness and power to act on our behalf. God responds to the cries of the poor and we should too. Here Jesus opens our eyes to His ways and order. The setting of the story of Blind Bartimaeus is on the road to Jerusalem in Jericho. Jesus is in the final week of His ministry. Observe the crowds and how they love Him because they believe He will soon deliver them from the yoke of the Romans. Understand that these same crowds will soon be crying, “Crucify him,” … that soon Jesus would be betrayed, arrested, beaten, and killed. As you contemplate the story notice how Jesus, the crowd and the blind react. Perceive how Jesus puts service before self. Witness that it was compassion that prompted His investment in others. Focus on the fact that Jesus provides a response to the requests that very instant. Friends, as we grope around in the darkness of our sins, we hopefully will begin to see that we must have blind dependence on Jesus. We are not in control. But if we depend on Jesus, he is ready to turn each moment of our lives into an opportunity. Make no mistake about this, when Bartimaeus threw off his cloak he was giving up all that he had to follow Jesus. So too, how clearly and emphatically we communicate our love of God connects to the results we receive related to our expressed needs.
The good news is that even where human love was lacking, if we stick to God’s relationship triangle, we can live healed and happy with a faith and love that works for the greater good and the remnant will be enough.
Pray the remnant is filled with the Holy Spirit and love. Pray
we acknowledge Jesus as Lord and trust in faith. Pray we realize that the Kingdom of God’s power has already been released in the world and from its tiny beginnings a new age has dawned for those called to God’s purpose. Pray we realize that if we too sow a field with seed, we can set in motion forces which one day will inevitably produce a harvest. Pray we are heirs to the promise. Pray we seek and find the treasure of Jesus in new ways. Pray we understand that we must still walk in faith. Pray we seek victory but not be discouraged if it is not fully accomplished in our lifetime. Pray we face without fear the will of God for us and realize that the Kingdom of God is connected to the power and glory of the Spirit of Christ in us. Pray that the joy of the Kingdom becomes a priority in our lives. Pray our hopes are realized. Pray our fears are relieved. Pray we delight in the discovery of the Kingdom of Love that exist beyond time. Pray we disciple each other in the faith.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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