Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10:46-52 Jesus, the One Who Welcomes Us Home

Back in 1971, Gavin Bryars, one of England's leading musicians and composers, agreed to help his friend Alan Powers with the sound on a film that Powers was making about street people. He was filming in an area around London's Waterloo Station. He filmed various people living on the streets. He caught their daily rituals, trials and joys on film. Some of the homeless people were obviously drunk, some were mentally disturbed, some were very articulate, and some were incomprehensible.

Back in the studio, Gavin Bryars went through editing the audio and video footage. That's when he became aware of a constant undercurrent, a repeating sound that was always there on the audio tape whenever one older man appeared on camera. But he couldn't tell what the sound was. At first it sounded like muttered gibberish. So Bryars removed the background street noise and cleaned up the audio tape. Then he discovered that the old homeless man was singing.

Ironically, the footage of this old man and his muttered song didn't make the film maker's cut. But the film maker's loss was Gavin Bryars' gain. He took the rejected audio tape with him and could not escape the haunting sounds of this homeless, nameless man. He did some research on his own into who this homeless man might be.

From the film crew, Bryars learned that this street beggar didn't drink. But neither did he engage others in conversation. His speech was almost impossible to understand, but his demeanor was cheerful. He was old and alone and filthy and homeless, but he had a kind of playfulness about him. He would tease the film crew by swapping hats with them.  

What distinguished this old man from other street people was his song. The song he sang under his breath was a simple, repetitive Sunday-school tune. He would sit and quietly sing it, hour after hour after hour. He would sing:

Jesus' blood never failed me yet, Never failed me yet
Jesus' blood never failed me yet,
There's one thing I know, For he loves me so...

It was like an endless loop. The song's final line fed into its first line, starting the tune over and over again without ceasing. The man's weak, old, untrained voice never wavered from pitch, never went flat, never changed key. The simple intervals of the tune were perfectly maintained for however long he sang.

Gavin Bryars was stunned. Although not a believer himself, Bryars could not help but be confronted by the mysterious spiritual power of this unadorned voice. Sitting in the midst of an urban wilderness, this voice touched a lonely, aching place that lurks in the human heart, offering an unexpected message of faith and hope in the midst of the darkest, most blighted night. This nameless old man brought a message from God in his simple song.

It took England's leading contemporary composer until 1993 to create and produce what he felt was a proper accompaniment to this homeless person's song of trust and obedience. He did this in partnership with one of America's leading composers, Philip Glass. The result is a CD entitled "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet."  

In Old Testament times, the role of the high priest was important. He was the titular head of the Jewish people, even thought they had a king. The high priest had important administrative and religious duties. In fact, the Roman governors often consulted with the high priests.

The Israelites could never be sure that the high priest would succeed when he went before God to make atonement for their sins. The Israelites’ high priests were sinners who had to constantly make sacrifices for themselves. The most famous high priests who were sinners were Caiaphas and Ananias. They were the high priests who played a key role in the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus.

Sacrificial animals had to be perfect in the eyes of the temple priests. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for us because he was perfect and sinless. He is a complete Saviour. Christ united the offices of high priest and king. He is unique in holiness, innocence and purity because of his exalted position in heaven because of his death, resurrection and ascension.

On the other hand, Jesus always represents us before the throne of God. Jesus intercedes for us like a lawyer intercedes on behalf of the client. We can hold to the truth that Jesus died for us. Through his death he intercedes for us by providing the one ultimate sacrifice needed for the atonement for our sins. He has not abandoned us. In fact, he constantly intercedes for us and pleads our case before God the Almighty Judge.

Jesus never fails as our high priest. He knows how to minister to us in the way that benefits us the most and matures our faith in him. Christ did not have to atone for his sins because he never sinned. He only needed to atone for us once. He saves us once and for all.

In the time period and culture of Mark’s Gospel and the Letter to the Hebrews, the best chance a blind person had to support himself was to sit in the path of pedestrians. After all, the passers-by might be moved with mercy and toss some spare change when the blind person called out to them. Jesus was moved with mercy when Bartimaeus called out to him. His mercy led to the saving of both Bartimaeus’ sight and his soul.

The attention that Jesus paid to the poor tells us that what is important to him needs to be important to us as Christians. The poor and the outcasts of society need to be paid attention to. It doesn’t matter if they are across the street or around the world. Distance and other circumstances might keep us separate from them and out of hearing, but we can pay attention to those who do speak for them-relief agencies, journals, newsletters, web pages, religious communities, etc. If Jesus could be interrupted on the way to the cross to answer the urgent, faith-filed cries of Bartimaeus, he will also stop and listen when we call out to him. He is never too busy governing the universe to hear the cries of help from his beloved children.

Crying out is an act of faith. Job cried out, and God confirmed that his cry was an expression of faith. Sometimes we are too proud to ask for help and that is totally understandable. After all, it’s part of human nature to be independent and to want to do things for ourselves. We have to remember that we can’t do everything by ourselves. We need help from time to time, especially when it comes to our salvation, and our eternal life. We need to cry out to God in faith for help when we need it. Each and every one of us has sinned, and that can keep us from heaven unless we acknowledge that we need Jesus in our lives.

When we come to Jesus, we have to get rid of our garments of self-sufficiency, just like Bartimaeus got rid of his cloak. We have to let go of our desire to control things and let God take control of our lives. God always calls someone to him through different, often difficult circumstances.

Bartimaeus gained both physical sight and spiritual sight. Unfortunately, the disciples were still spiritually blind. You see, the story of Bartimaeus occurs while Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, where he will be crucified. On the way, Jesus told his disciples several times what would happen to him in Jerusalem, but the disciples did not get it. They did not understand him, nor did they understand the cost of following him. In fact, the final mistake they made was to argue in Mark 10:32-45 about who would have precedence in God’s Kingdom!

Jesus gives us spiritual sight. His call to discipleship comes through healing so that others can be given sight of their own weakness as the place where the call to discipleship leads. Only when we can see and accept our weaknesses can we allow Christ to come and serve us. The new covenant that Jesus has with us is for everyone who accepts the free gift of salvation by placing their faith in Jesus. In return, he prays for all of us so that we receive God’s kindness instead of God’s wrath.  

Bartimaeus has a lot to teach us about persistence, faith and gratitude. Jesus’ ears hear the cries of the marginalized people in society. When God calls us, or when we call out to God, we must not give up in our attempts to get to him. We must not let obstacles stop us. We need to pay attention to what God is doing in and around us so that we don’t miss what he has in store for us. We need to let Jesus lead the way. Bartimaeus’ outward healing reflected the inner wellness of his salvation. His desire to see represents our desire to be freed from the cultural blinders that have held us captive since the beginning of time.

We are all like Bartimaeus. We are often blind to what goes on around us. We are often blind to God’s love and his desire to have a loving relationship with us. He is waiting for us to come to him. He is standing at the door. He is waiting for us to open the door so that he can enter into our lives.

Jesus can save us because he did not save himself from death on the cross. He can save us because he took our guilt and endured the punishment that we justly deserved. Salvation can’t be separated from divine justice. God hates sin, and he demands punishment for sins. Either the sinner must die, or else someone must die for him. That someone was Jesus. He can save us because if we come to God by him, then he died for us. We need to experience God’s forgiveness, cleansing power and freedom. This comes through God’s mercy, and because of his faithfulness and his love for us, his mercy is new every morning.

So how can we be cured of our spiritual blindness? First, we have to seize the moment and recognize when God gives us an opportunity. Second, we have to reach out in faith and move against our fears of rejection or ridicule. Third, we announce our faith and the changes we want to make in our lives. Only then will we receive God’s grace.

Our faith in Jesus will keep us on the right path when we are in danger of losing our way. Our faith in Jesus will keep us clear and certain when things seem cloudy and confused. It will keep us strong and victorious when we feel weak and defeated. Because we believe that God is sovereign, and because we believe that the risen Christ is living and that the power of the Holy Spirit continues to make all things new, we can affirm that we are being healed again and again. We can see things in fresh, new ways. We can see that we are being called to jump up, throw off the comfortable cloaks of our blind past and follow Jesus into the unknown dangers and the unimaginable opportunities that are to come.

Bibliography

1.      Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB  (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc. ;20090

2.      Dr. Mickey Anders, “Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

3.      Patrick Rooney, “Interceding for Us Now”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

4.      Pastor Greg Laurie, “Because We’re Drowning”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

5.      MacArthur, J. :   The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers: 2006; 2008)

6.      Evans, L.H. & Ogilvie, L.J., The Preacher’s Commentary Series Volume 33: Hebrews (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985)

7.      Dale Vander Veen, “All-Sufficient Saviour”. Retrieved from today@thisistoday.net

8.      Bayless Conley, “For All People”. Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalksmail.com

9.      Cecil Murphy, “The Intercessor”. Retrieved from www.christianity.com/devotionals/invading-the-privacy-of-god-cecil-murphy

10.  John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, 21^st Sunday after Pentecost, Oct. 25, 2009. Retrieved from www.lectionary/seemslikegod.org

11.  John North, “Time with God: Hebrews 7:25”. Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalksmail.com

12.  Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible software package.

13.  Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible software package.

14.  ESV Study Bible. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible software package.

15.  C.H. Spurgeon, “Spurgeon at the New Park Street Chapel: Hebrews 7:25”. Retrieved from Biblegateway@lists.biblegateway.com

16.  Os Hillman, “Motivations to Call”. Retrieved from Today-God-is-First@crosswalkmail.com

17.  Mark D. Roberts, “The Jesus Prayer”. Retrieved from Newsletter@TheHighCalling.org

18.  Pastor Bob Coy “Trails of Faith, Parts 1 & 2”. Retrieved from www.activeword.org

19.  Dr. Charles F. Stanley, “A Passing Opportunity”. Retrieved from www.intouch.org

20.  Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

21.  Dr. Charles F. Stanley, “God Has Time for You”. Retrieved from www.intouch.org

22.  Dermot Martin, O.P., “Take Heart, He is Calling you”. Retrieved from www.torch.op.org

23.  Exegesis for Mark 10:46-52. Retrieved from ww.sermonwriter.com

24.  Pastor Rick Warren, “What Mistakes, Regrets Do You Need to Hand Over to God?” Retrieved from connect@newsletter.purposedriven.com

25.  The Rev. Dr. Susan Andrews, “How Eager Are You?” Retrieved from www.day1.org

26.  Erskine White, “Blind Beggars All”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

27.  King Duncan, “Lesson from a Blind Man”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

28.  Roland McGregor, “Cry Out!” Retrieved from mcgregorpage@mcgregorpage.org

29.  John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, Year B, Season after Pentecost-Proper25 Ordinary 30. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod,org/archives/rear-b-season-after-pentecost-proper-25-ordinary-30.html

Mark 10:46-52 Jesus, the Light of Our Lives

Good morning boys and girls!

 Who can tell me what’s coming up on this coming Wednesday night?  That’s right, it’s Halloween!!

So who is getting dressed up and going our trick or treating? Have you got your costumes and your goody bags ready yet? Hey, if you want lots of goodies, come to my house. My mother has been stocking up for weeks, and if I don’t get rid of them on Halloween, both of us will be into them, and that’s something we don’t need!

One thing you will need that night is a light so you can see where you’re going. If you can’t see where you’re going, you could get hurt, but you will also know what it is like to be blind. There another kind of light that we need so we can see where we’re going in life, and so that we won’t be spiritually blind. That is the light that Jesus gives us.

The light of Jesus gives us light and hope, just like Jesus gave sight and spiritual light to a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. The story is from Mark 10:46-52. Boys and girls, we just heard Jesus make a promise to Bartimaeus and then keep it. Have you ever made promises to people and not kept them? The story I’m going to tell you shows us how important it is that God keeps his promises, especially about letting us see the good things in life. The story is about a girl named Flavia. Flavia was in the fourth grade. She saw an advertisement on television that the Ice Capades would be coming to town. She told her mother that she wanted to go. Her mother said she and her father would talk about it. That night before Flavia went to bed her father told her that when the Ice Capades came they would take her. She forgot about it until later in the week when she saw the ad on TV again. She ran in to where her parents were to find out if they were going. “We already have the tickets,” her mother said. "We promised we would take you, and we are going to keep our promise." And they did.

After that, Flavia came home from school excited because her class had visited the zoo. She told her parents that she wanted them to go to the zoo with her so that she could show them all the animals she had seen. They said they would take her to the zoo on Sunday afternoon, not this week, but next week. Flavia had forgotten all about it when her father said on the way to church, “This afternoon, we are going to the zoo.”  He remembered the promise he had made to her. It made Flavia very happy to think her father remembered his promise.

Another time Flavia was teasing her little brother as he played with blocks in the den. As soon as he would stack them up, she would knock them down. Her mother told her that if she didn’t stop, she would have to go to her room and stay there. She didn’t stop, and her mother marched her straight to her room and closed the door. Her mother kept her promise. How do you think Flavia felt about that?

That night, when they were getting ready to say prayers, Flavia said to her parents, “You are just like God.” 

“What do you mean?” her father asked. 

“Whatever you say will happen, happens,” she answered. 

“No, Flavia, we are not as strong as God, but we have learned from God that it is important to make good promises and keep them.” 

“I want to make a good promise," said Flavia, "I want to tell God what I’m going to do and do it.”

“That’s good,” said her mother.  "What promise do you want to make?” 

“I’ll have to think about it,” Flavia said. 

And so she did. Then they prayed a prayer like this: “Dear God, help us make good promises and keep them. Amen”

Let us close our eyes for a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to be the light of our world. Help us be shining lights of faith, and keep our promises so that our light will lead others to you. We ask this in the Name of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bibliography

 

1.      Roland McGregor, “Children’s Sermon for Pentecost 22”. Retrieved from childpage@mcgregorpage.org.

2.      Lawrence O. Richards, NIV Adventure Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zonderkidz ; 2009)

 

 

 

 

Luke 12:13-21 The More a Man Has, the More a Man Wants

Once there was a burglar who was caught and brought before a judge for trial. He was found guilty, and was asked by the judge if he had anything to say before he was sentenced. The burglar stated, “Well, you know, Your Honour, it’s like this. The more a man has, the more a man wants”. The judge replied, “Is that so? Well, I tell you what I’m going to do. I’m going to sentence you to 15 years in jail. How many more would you like?”

The brother who wanted Jesus to arbitrate the inheritance dispute with his brother in this morning’s Gospel reading is like the burglar in my story. Both of them were motivated by greed, and only cared about themselves and not for others. The rich farmer in Jesus’ parable was the same way. He cared only for himself and hoarded what he had. He did not want to share his wealth with others. He was so concerned about his earthly success that he forgot about the one person who was responsible for his earthly success-God.

Jesus is NOT telling us not to prepare for our future. In fact, it would be foolish for us NOT to prepare for our future, especially our future life after we die. If we want to have a future with God, we must prepare ourselves spiritually NOW by doing his work in this world and by following his will for our lives. In fact, I’ve been writing and preparing this sermon in mid-summer-a time when farmers prepare for the fall and winter by harvesting the crops that were planted in the spring. Just as the farmer prepares his fields before he plants his crops, we must prepare now for our next lives especially since we never know when we will die. If not, we automatically prepare ourselves for a life in hell.  

Jesus is also NOT telling us to sit back and do nothing in the hope that God will provide for us. In fact, Paul says that anyone who refuses to work should not expect to eat. Jesus encourages us to keep just enough of our possessions for our own use and share the rest with the poor. In other words, we must look outward toward others instead of looking inward toward ourselves. True satisfaction in life flows out of fulfilling the purpose for which we were created; namely, to enjoy a loving relationship with God. Wealth and selfishness can never substitute for a relationship with him, and they will ultimately make the heart feel hollow.

For example, in 1923 a group of the world’s most successful men met at hotel in Chicago. The members of that group included the president of the largest steel corporation, the greatest wheat speculator, the president of the New York Stock Exchange, a member of the United States’ Cabinet, the canniest investor on Wall Street, the future director of the World Bank, and the head of the world’s largest monopoly. A few years later, this was their fate: Charles Schwab died in debt; Arthur Cutten died in obscurity; Richard Whitney became insolvent, did time in Sing Sing prison, and was blotted out of the “Who’s Who” list. Albert Fall was pardoned from prison in order that he might die at home. Jesse Livermore, Leon Fraser and Ivan Kruger, the match king, all died by committing suicide. All of these men learned how to make money, but none of them learned how to live. In 1930, Charles Schwab said, “I am afraid. Everyone is afraid. I don’t know, we don’t know, whether the values we have are going to be real next month or not”.

The same thing can be said of the current economic crisis. Most of the material I have heard or read suggests that the crisis was caused by greed, especially with the issue of sub-prime mortgages and subsequent bank failures in the United States. To make matters worse, I’m sure many of you have read about the outrageously high salaries that were paid to the CEOs of these banks. These are almost as bad as the salaries that many professional athletes are paid. At the same time, many people in society are struggling to get by on low wages, social assistance, or by being underpaid for the work that they do.

 

Why does such a discrepancy exist? It’s because of society. Society tells us that the way to recognize accomplishment in any field-sports, entertainment, business, etc. - is to pay these outrageously high salaries. It is disgusting when a CEO in a large corporation can be paid millions of dollars per year and socialize with the elite of society, when all of the workers who are really responsible for his or her success are paid far less that what they are worth-and in many cases, far less than they need to survive.  

Have you ever had a case of poison ivy? If so, you probably know how hard it is to keep from scratching. You want relief, but scratching only makes it worse. Greed is the same way. We get excited and we want to scratch it, but we shouldn’t. Possessing more and more promises relief, but it only makes the situation worse.

Some of you might have seen a movie that came out in the 1980s called “Wall Street”. In that movie, Michael Douglas played an investor named Gordon Gecco. In one scene, he launches into a defense of greed in which he claims that greed is good. While money does indeed make the world go around (as the old saying goes), greed is one of the main causes of problems in our society today, especially the current economic crisis. Greed comes from a lack of moral, spiritual and ethical understanding of what is right and what is wrong. Some of the most miserable people are extremely wealthy, and some of the happiest people are extremely poor. Some of the snobbiest people in the world are extremely wealthy, and some of the nicest people are dirt poor. I know, because I’ve seen both, especially when I worked at a local lumber mill.

Billy Graham tells the story of how years ago he and his late wife Ruth were on a Caribbean island. One of the wealthiest men in the world asked them to come to his lavish home for lunch. At that time the man was 75 years old, and throughout the entire meal it seemed he was very close to tears. He finally said, “I’m the most miserable man in the world. Out there is my yacht, my plane, my helicopters; I can go anywhere I want to go when I want to go there. I have everything I want to make me happy, and yet I am as miserable as hell.” Billy Graham talked to him, had prayer with him and tried to point him to Christ, but the man would not be saved.

Billy Graham said they then went down the hill to the small cottage where they were staying. That afternoon the pastor of the local Baptist church came to call. He was an Englishman, and he was also 75. He was a widower, and he had spent most of his free time taking care of his two invalid sisters. He was jumping up and down, full of enthusiasm, full of love for Jesus and love for others. They were talking and the Baptist preacher said, “You know, Billy, I don’t have two cents to my name, but I am the happiest man in the world.” Billy Graham said that after the pastor left, he turned to Ruth and said, “Ruth, of the two men we have met today, who was the richer man?” Billy said “We both knew the answer”.  

Life is more than material goods. Materialism is often a symptom of buried emotions, especially the emotion of wonder. Instead of finding fulfillment in the wonder and beauty of creation and nature, we get wrapped up in things. As the old saying goes, instead of loving people and using things, we end up unhappily loving things and using people. Our relationship with God is much more important than our possessions. When we bring our problems to God, he shows us how much we need to change and grow in our attitude toward the problem.

In 1888 Alfred Nobel picked up a French newspaper and read his own obituary. His brother had died and by mistake the newspaper printed Alfred’s obituary instead. In it, Alfred Nobel was remembered as the dynamite king, the merchant of death, a person who had amassed a great fortune out of explosives used extensively in wars. Alfred Nobel didn’t like what he read, and set out to make a better name for himself. He established the Nobel Prizes, including the Nobel Peace Prize, which today continues to honour people around the world who have championed the cause of peace. Alfred Nobel moved from success to significance.

Jesus condemned the man because he forgot that he was going to die some day. What would happen then? Someone else would have all that he owns. We are the same today. We don’t want to think that we will die some day and that someone else will get our possessions. That’s why some people die without having a will, not realizing that the law will then determine who gets what-and sometimes the law’s decisions might not be what the deceased person wanted. Someone once said, “Be interested in your future, because you are going to spend the rest of your life there”. We need to be concerned about preparing for our soul because it will be spending eternity wherever it is sent, and it is better to spend it in heaven than it is to spend it in hell. If we forget about death and God because of our greed and our self-centered attitudes, we will be condemned. If we want more of anything, it should be of everything God offers to us. All we have to do is accept it in faith and submit to his will for our lives.

Jesus called the man to think about others instead of just himself, and he issues the same call to us today. Poverty did not come from God. God created enough for everyone. We are called to put others above ourselves, especially the less fortunate in society. For example, our church lay readers are encouraged to become involved in issues relating to social justice. That’s one of many reasons why I work with the local food bank. Our rector answered the same call when he was the Chaplain of the Missions to Seamen in the Port of Halifax, and he continues to answer that same call today as the Honorary Chaplain of the Missions to Seamen for the Port of Liverpool and Brooklyn.

If our chief goal as humans is to glorify God and enjoy him forever, we will achieve this by feeding our souls on spiritual food and serving others that will, in turn, make our life matter. The point of our Gospel reading is that God sees life from a totally different perspective. Do we share God’s point of view?

As I close my sermon this morning, I want each and every one of us to think of the impact we as Christians would make on today’s world if every one of us would make and pray the following commitment. “Dear God, I am available today. Please use me today to be ‘as Jesus’ in some way, first to my own family, and then in some way to every life I touch. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, AMEN”

 

Bibliography

 

       1.      Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New American Standard Version

2.      Notes from Peter Anthony’s Bible Study, Winter 2010

3.      ESV Study Bible, part of Wordsearch Bible software package

4.      Life Application Bible Notes, part of Wordsearch Bible software package

5.      Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament, part of Wordsearch Bible software package

6.      Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, Explanatory and Practical, part of Wordsearch Bible software package

7.      Exegesis for Luke 12:13-21. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org.

8.      Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “Avarice: The Disease and It’s Cure”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org.

9.      David Lenninger, “It’s Not the Money…. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org.

10.  Rev. Randy Hyde, “A New Lesson on Life”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org.

11.  James D. Kegel, “Overlooking Saipan”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org.

12.  Philip W. McLarty, “The Parable of the Rich Fool”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org.

13.  Charles F. Stanley, “Holding Too Tightly”. Retrieved from www.intouch.org

14.  Richard Inness, “The Purpose of Life”. Retrieved from www.actsweb.org.

15.  Richard Inness, “The Why of Materialism”. Retrieved from www.actsweb.org.

16.  Richard Inness, “To Be as Jesus”. Retrieved from www.actsweb.org.

17.  Richard Inness, “Is Your Life Wonder-full or Wonder-empty?” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org.

18.  Dr. Ray Pritchard, “Hold Lightly What You Value Greatly”. Retrieved from www.keepbelieving.org.

19.  Abingdon Commentary. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

20.  James Merritt, “The World is not Enough”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

21.  Dr. J. Howard Olds, “The High Price of Short Cuts”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

22.  “Lutheran World Federation Assembly to Focus on Alleviating Hunger”. Retrieved from Lutheran World Information through The Anglican Church of Canada News Service

23.  John Shearman’s Lectionary, Tenth Sunday after Pentecost. Retrieved from http://seemslikegod.org/lectionary/archives/tenth-sunday-after-pentecost-august-1-2010

 

 

 

Mark 10:2-16 Jesus, the Heavenly Comforter

The Gospel passage from Mark 10:2-16 appears at first glance to be two unrelated stories, but there is a connection between the two of them. Both stories tell us how Jesus cares for the outcasts and the less fortunate in society and how he expects us to treat them.

In Old Testament times, children and women were on the lower levels of society. Women were seen as nothing more than property, and children were considered to be useless until they were old enough to help out around the property. Women could become the victims of divorce for reasons as minor as burning the meal, not keeping the house clean or for getting older. As a result, if they did not have another male relative to support them, they usually ended up in prostitution.

God intends for marriage to last forever, but he also knows our faults. He gave us a high standard to aim for, but he always keeps our weaknesses in mind when he deals with us. That does not give us an excuse to sin. He always calls us to obey him and refuse to compromise what he knows is right. When we honour him with our conduct, he blesses us with an abundant sense of peace, joy and goodness.

God knows that in some cases divorce is inevitable, especially in cases of physical, mental or emotional abuse. That is why Moses allowed divorce, but he made it as difficult as possible. The divorce document had to be written, and because most people could not read or write, the process took time. It was hoped that during this time both parties would work out their differences and save their marriage.

Divorce is painful. It hurts people other than the parties directly involved. Siblings and parents suffer. Friends sometimes have to choose sides. I’m speaking from personal knowledge, because my own brother is divorced from his wife. The people who hurt the most though are the children. They are often caught in the middle of the proceedings and disagreements. It’s bad enough that some people think that children should be seen and not heard. Children are vulnerable enough as it is, and they are often the most vulnerable in a divorce.  

Mark’s Gospel is the gospel of mercy, so it is appropriate that Mark follows Jesus’ teaching about marriage and divorce with Jesus’ calling of the little children. Broken marriages and little children represent the sad state of the human race and condition. When Jesus embraced the children, he embraced the human race and replaced its pain with the love he has in his heart.

All of us are hurting in one way or another. The only way we can get over our hurt and our pain is to come to Jesus like a little child-naïve, trusting, full of wonder and curiosity. We need to come to him with a simple faith. If this seems simple, it is because it is simple. All we have to do is remember the words of the 1970s hit song “Everything is Beautiful”:

 

Jesus loves the little children

All little children of the world

Red and yellow, black and white

They are precious in his sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world

 

To know the abundant life Jesus offers, we must let go of our control. We must stop protecting ourselves, because Christ is our defense. We must stop taking responsibility for ourselves, because God is our provider. The path to childlike innocence and trust is tricky, but it begins when we take the step of letting down our guard and allowing God to provide for us just like parents provide for their children.

Jesus came to heal the wounds cause by Adam and Eve and the original sin in the Garden of Eden. He came to heal relationships and broken marriages, our relationship with each other and our relationship with the less fortunate. Rather than establishing hopelessly high standards, Jesus is calling us to a high vision. He wants us to conduct ourselves in keeping with God’s will so that we might be a blessing to our families, our neighbours, and ourselves. When we fail to keep his perfect standards perfectly, our failures remind us that Jesus, the cross and the empty tomb is our only hope.

 Bibliography

      1.      Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F.  Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2009)

2.      Fr. Mark Edney, O.P., “Healing Our Original Wound”. Retrieved from http://torch.op.org/preaching_sermon-item.php?sermon=5706

3.      Rev. Dr. Billy Graham, “Would It Be Wrong to Have an Affair?” Retrieved from ezines@arcamax.com

4.      Dr. Jack Graham, “what is Marriage, Really?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

5.      Michael D. Warden, “Looking to the Father” Retrieved from devotional@loi.org

6.      Exegesis for Mark 10:2-16. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

7.      Dr. Lanie LeBlanc, O.P., “Volume 2, Sunday 27 (B)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

8.      Pastor Bob Coy, “Kingdom Qualities”. Retrieved from www.activeword.org

9.      Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 27^th Sunday (B)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org.

10.  McKenna, D.L. and Ogilvie, L.J., The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 25:Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)