Sideline Shuffle

October 28, 2018

Bartimaeus, a blind beggar sitting by the roadside, comes to Jesus with faith, asking that he might see again.  Recognizing Jesus’ identity, Bartimaeus is the first person to call him “Son of David” in the Gospel of Mark.

Mark tells us, often, Jesus refuses to let people stay on the sidelines.  This blind man is twice named; Bartimaeus and son of Timaeus, a name which means “highly prized.”  It’s at least ironic, if not a bad joke, that someone with a name like that would be sidelined.

Righteous believers, who know a sideline dweller when they see one, try to silence Bartimaeus, keep him invisible, keep him in his place.  Sound familiar?  But Bartimaeus shouts all the louder.  His unseeing faith knows Jesus can bring him to a new homeland.

At our 9:30 A.M., Sunday worship, in prayer, Word, song, sermon and Meal, we’ll confront our blindness – who can’t we see on nearby sidelines and why.  We’ll also see in this encounter that Jesus’ desire is to open our eyes to the new spiritual, social and material realities possible when God rules.

Pastor Jeff