March 25, 2007

Spiritual Blindness: Exclusiveness

When Life Is Broken

Mark 10:46-52

Opening Words:” The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good then your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad then your whole body will be filled with darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness?” Those words were first spoken by Jesus. They are recorded in Matthew 6:22-23. Those are powerful words and act as a theme for this entire sermon series I have called Spiritual Blindness.

The truth is most are spiritually blind. Most people haven’t seen God at work in our world for a long time. We are at the end of eight reasons why our spiritual eyesight is so poor. Each reason or sin acts like a filter, blocking out a little more light. The more filters are added to your life the less light is able to enter your eye. In the end, like the passage says, only darkness remains. This morning we look at our exclusiveness. This morning’s text is Mark 10:46-52.

Mark 10:46-52 ⁴⁶Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. ⁴⁷When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

⁴⁸Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

⁴⁹Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." ⁵⁰Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

⁵¹"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."

⁵²"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Located outside of St. Petersburg, Russia is a suburb called Pavlosk. It means Paul’s city. It was named after Catherine’s the Greats son Paul. His only goal in life was to watch his mother die so he could become Czar of Russia. This fact strained the relationship between mother and son. He became such a problem to Catherine that she had a palace built in the suburbs of St. Petersburg so he would be out of the way.

Today, Pavlosk is a wonderful place. My wife Kathryn and I have there several times. It is the home of orphanage number 11 which is the home of six hundred handicapped orphans. We go to help the orphans. They are forgotten by Russian society but we really go for ourselves. I went into the ministry to help people. Here I am trapped in a sea of meetings and complaints. There I have the freedom to relate and rest. Those trips are life changing.

On Sunday morning we worshipped in a little Russian Orthodox Church near the orphanage. By American standards it is a little inconvenient. We took a short bus ride. The bus was crowded. We had no seats. It was not pleasant. (Americans were the only ones wearing deodorant.) When we got off the bus we walked on a muddy bath in a wet field. We passed a large building that had been bombed during the Second World War. It was once the home of a powerful man in another age. During the Second World War it was occupied by the Nazis during the siege on Leningrad. There is no money to tare it down so it stand as a reminder of the war. The church, itself, was two stories. Each floor had a sanctuary thick with incense. There were no pews. Russian worshippers stand or recline on the cold hard floor. The atmosphere was in creditable but what I will never forget were the beggars, who lined the stairs as we walked into worship. It was impossible to miss them. The steps were filled with them. I had to be careful not to trip.

Each beggar had a sad story. One woman had only one leg with an old cardboard sign that read in Russian, “HELP ME!” One old gentleman was blind. His eyes were as white as snow. Each one had a cup hoping to collect your extra rubbles. They were not bad people. They were just born at the wrong time and in the wrong place. The former Soviet Union has no welfare system. The only hope those beggars have is the generosity of others. Can I be honest with you? If I were a beggar I would have sat on those uneven steps with them. The church is your best chance. How can you worship God and not think about those who are in need?

I thought about those hopeless beggars when I sat down to write this message for this morning. It was time for the Passover. The law required that all Jewish men within a thirty miles radius around Jerusalem be present but it was really useless legislation. People wanted to be to Jerusalem during the Passover. It would be like not being home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. They saw their family and their friends. It was a great reunion. The roads leading to the holy city were filled with people on a great religious pilgrimage and that brought out the beggars. The roads leading to and the streets in Jerusalem were filled with beggars, dirty, foul smelling, hopeless beggars. There was no welfare system in Jesus’ day. The crippled existed on the generosity of others. Bartimeaus existed on the generosity of others. His sad story is only one sad story in a sea ocean of broken lives.

Have you ever felt like your life is broken? You can have 20/20 vision and still have a broken life. Perhaps, your marriage has grown stale. The romance is dead. Perhaps, your income doesn’t match your standard of living? Perhaps, your children are struggling? You thought they were geniuses at birth but now they just do stupid things. Perhaps, your life is broken because of an addiction? There are many additions in our society. Perhaps, your life is broken because of depression or anxiety? Perhaps, your life is broken because your health or the health of a loved one is poor? Have you ever felt like your life is broken? Have you every come to church because there is no other place to go? Have your problems ever been bigger then your resources? Your name maybe Bill, Tom or Betty but today your name really is Bartimaeus. You are a beggar trying to get the attention of the God of the universe because you need so help.

This morning I want to look at three words with you to remember the next time you find your life is broken. Each word begins with the letter G! Each word is illustrated in the story of blind Bartimaeus. It is my hope that you remember these three word the next time you discover that your life is broken. I believe they will be helpful. So if you are ready say, “Amen!”

Word Number One: Grit

Word number one is grit. Bartimaeus was a man of true grit. That is why I like this brother. If you use your sanctified imagination you can imagine him sitting thee in the crowd. This is not the first day he has sat in that location. He spent his life sitting there. He and the other beggars had become part of the scenery. Everyday was alike but today was different because the pilgrims were coming, heading to Jerusalem. Better yet, Jesus was coming and he had heard about the miracles that he preformed. So when Jesus draws near he takes his best shot. He uses the only resources he has in this world, his large voice. Everyone tries to get him to be quiet but he won’t listen. He just keeps yelling, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.” In a sea of broken lives Bartimaeus’ voice stands out. He was a man of grit. When you find your life broken remember the word grit.

Are you a person of true grit? When your life is broken are you using all the resources in your life to fix it or are you content being a victim. It is not Bible, it is old Ben Franklin who one said, “God helps those, who help themselves.” If it is a God thing then the situation will work out but if it is not the door will remain closed. So if you have a broken relationship in your life use all the resources you have in your life to fix it. How about saying, “I am sorry,” and start listening. If you don’t have any money use all the resources in your life to get some money. How about handling the money in your life better or getting another job to get out of debt? If you have the need to get an education then go to college. It is not too late. Education is never wasted. If you are dealing with the demons of depression or anxiety then get to a counselor or a psychologist. If you have an illness the go to the best doctor you can find. We have a surplus of victims in our society, who just aren’t trying. There is no excuse for not trying! Bartimaeus was a person of true grit. When you find your life broken are you going to use all the resources in your life to fix it or are you just a victim? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Word Number Two: Grace

Word number two is grace. The story of blind Bartimaeus is a story of grace. Use your sanctified imagination with me. He was just a single face in a sea of broken lives. You can turn the story in any direction and not find a reason why he was healed. He did not deserve it but he was healed. Bartimaeus experienced grace. Have you ever experienced grace in your life? Everyone here today has experienced grace in their life.

The older I grow then more I see the value of a proper attitude. Your attitude directly affects the way that you experience life. People with bad attitude are not able to see what God has done for them in this world. If you have a bad attitude about life then you will limit your own joy. Bartimaeus experienced joy in his life. You have experienced grace in your life. It is only by the grace of God that you are not one of those beggars on the steps of that Russian Orthodox Church in Pavlosk. Concentration camp survivor Victor Frankl once said, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: To choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.”

The noted English architect Sir Christopher Wren was supervising the construction of a magnificent cathedral in London. A journalist thought it would be interesting to interview some of the workers, so he chose three and asked them this question, "What are you doing?" The first replied, "I'm cutting stone for 10 shillings a day." The next answered, "I'm putting in 10 hours a day on this job." But the third said, "I'm helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London's greatest cathedrals." What is your attitude about your life? Are you able to see that you have experienced grace? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Word Number Three: Gratitude

Word number three is gratitude. The story of blind Bartimaeus is a story of gratitude. Use your sanctified imagination with me. By the end of the story blind Bartimaeus is no longer blind. He is able to see! Verse 52 says, “He immediately received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” In other words, he became one of Jesus followers because Jesus had changed his life for the better. Bartimaeus was grateful. Are you really grateful for all the goods things that have happened to you in your life?

Several years ago I was at a rehearsal dinner the night before a wedding. It is the custom for the bride and groom to stand up and thank everyone for being part of their big day. It is at that moment gifts are given to the wedding party. I do not remember what gifts were given but I do remember the words of thanks. The groom stood up and looked at his parents. He said, “On my last birthday I was thirty years old. If I live thirty lifetimes I will never be able to thank-you for what you have done for me.” Everyone in that room was moved to tears by his spirit of gratitude. Do you have a spirit of gratitude for what Jesus has done for you in your life or are you just looking at the problems? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Have you ever felt like your life is broken? Then learn from old Blind Bartimaeus. I would encourage you to be a person of grit. I would encourage you to be a person who appreciates the grace you have experienced in your life. And in the end be a person of gratitude because God has been good to each and every one of us. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”