SPECIAL DAYS: Reformation Sunday

October 29, 2000 - LESSON: Mark 10.46-52, NRSV

SERMON TITLE: What Do You Want Me to Do for You

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INTRODUCTION:

  1. September 10 found seven people including Jerry and Kathy Waschow, Patty Schmitt, Helga and me, attending a Lutheran worship Service in German in the Castle Church in Lutherstadt, Wittenberg.
    1. It is an awesome place, this Castle Church
      1. There is an incredible history stored here.
      2. The door is not original it is a replica on which is embossed the 95 propositions that Martin Luther nailed there on October 31, 1517.
      3. In the rear of the Castle Church is a display with a printing of the propositions that Luther had written.
    2. Luther did not anticipate the fire-storm of religious controversy in which he would find himself.
      1. He found himself confronting all the power and prestige of the Papacy, and the civil government which was under its influence.
      2. He was engaged in a personal struggle not only for his life, but also for his soul.
      3. He lost neither his life nor his soul.
    3. How did he thrive and survive the threats and the pressures that were brought to bear on hm?
      1. He had the power of a profound religious faith
      2. He possessed an unshakable trust in God
      3. He was in a direct, immediate and personal relation with Jesus Christ.
    4. He provided a nation and the world with the impetus for the Reformation.
      1. This is Reformation Sunday, 2000
      2. 483 years after its beginnings.

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MAIN BODY:

  1. Our religious roots are broad and deep founded on the gospel of Jesus Christ.
    1. But in the seventeenth century those roots were clogged with the same kinds of confusion and corruption with which Luther had contended.
    2. You can talk about Richard Fitz, Robert Brown, John Greenwood, Henry Barrowe, and John Penry who provided the biblical background and polity which created the spiritual and intellectual basis for what we call Congregationalism.
    3. They did not anticipate the fire-storm of religious controversy in which they would find themselves.
      1. They found themselves confronting all the power and prestige of the Church of England, and the civil government which was under its influence.
      2. They were engaged in a personal struggle not only for their lives, but also for their souls.
      3. They lost their lives, but not their souls.
    4. How did they thrive and survive the threats and the pressures that were brought to bear on them?
      1. They had the power of a profound religious faith
      2. They possessed an unshakable trust in God
      3. They were in a direct, immediate and personal relation with Jesus Christ.
    5. They provided a nation and the world with the impetus for another Reformation.
    6. This Reformation which led to the founding of America.

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  1. What is needed today is a clear understanding of the how and what of a reformation in our personal lives and in the Church.
    1. The principles are revealed in the lives of those whom Jesus touched and reformed in the Gospel of Mark.
    2. Blind Bartimaeus is sitting outside the walls
      1. He is an outcast member of the have-not class
      2. He is waiting for Jesus who may be able to give him the help he needs.
      3. From his place in the Jericho dirt, Bartimaeus shouts, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
      4. His behavior is a lesson in how to have a successful reformation
      5. His experience is an example of how to search for, find and develop a growing relationship with God as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
      6. The Bartimaeus Principles are as follows:
        1. You must call on the One who has the power to heal and reform.
        2. You must refuse to stay put
        3. You must refuse to slow down
        4. You must refuse to shut up.
        5. If you want to model the Bartimaeus Principles, this is where you begin.
      7. The crowd, including the Twelve, are shocked by Bartimaeus' outburst.
        1. They tell the upstart start-up to be quiet.
        2. But Bartimaeus refuses to stay put
          1. He's not going to let others put him in his place.
          2. What others, even the disciples, think is his proper place.

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        1. It would have been easy to follow the conventional wisdom that says that everyone should row with the oars one has.
      1. But Bartimaeus ignored the CW and calls out even more loudly
        1. He addresses Jesus as the Son of David
        2. He thus acknowledges his royal lineage - politically risky.
      2. He also explains what he wants: "Have mercy on me."
      3. Bartimaeus senses - correctly - that Jesus is willing to make an investment in people when they are determined to seek spiritual wholeness.
      4. Jesus stops dead in his tracks and says, "Call him here."
        1. Bartimaeus, refusing to stay put, immediately throws off his cloak, springs up and comes to Jesus.
        2. This is no easy maneuver for a blind man.
      5. Jesus asks, "What do you want me to do for you?"
      6. Bartimaeus replies, "My teacher, let me see again."
      7. It's a stunning request, one that must have made the crowd gasp.
      8. Jesus doesn't hesitate. "Go," he commands. "Your faith has made you well."
        1. Bartimaeus could have sat in the dirt content to be on the sidelines as an observer.
        2. Jesus comes and Jesus goes and opportunity is lost.
        3. Bartimaeus knew that to be an over comer, he must be willing to come on over.
        4. He couldn't stay put when Jesus passes by.

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      1. Of course, Bartimaeus regains his sight instantly, but the next comment of the gospel writer is telling:
        1. He "followed him on the way" (v. 52).
        2. He had been sitting
        3. Then he's standing.
        4. Now he's following.
        5. He refuses to slow down.
        6. Bartimaeus understood that "following" was the natural and necessary product of "seeing."
        7. That one follows the other.
        8. He would not be like those who want to grab and hoard whatever spiritual blessings they can without expressing gratitude in the form of discipleship and service.
        9. He won't slow down.
      2. Although the text doesn't say so explicitly, it is likely that Bartimaeus refused to shut up.
        1. We know that the crowd attempted to silence him.
        2. We know he was not afraid to speak against accepted standards of protocol.
        3. It's not plausible to assume that, given his sight, and reveling in his new life as a follower of Jesus, he kept his good news to himself.
        4. It's inconceivable that Bartimaeus would shut up,
          1. Never to offer a testimonial, never to express "customer satisfaction,"
          2. Never to offer thanks and praise to the One who has so radically changed his life.

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      1. As a follower of the way, he is someone who has learned how to make a go of his new life.
      2. Jesus is willing to invest spiritual capital in those who are blind and want to see, who won't stay put, slow down or shut up.
      3. He sees the potential for a return on his investment.

CONCLUSION:

  1. On this Reformation Sunday, we acknowledge the constant need for re-formation.
    1. What do we want Jesus to do for us?
    2. We can use the experiences of Jesus, Luther and Bartimaeus to help us understand that is needed and how it may be acquired.
    3. Then we can also appeal to Jesus Christ for the courage of our convictions so that the necessary personal or congregational reforms may be made.
      1. This is the appeal of the writer of Psalm 34
        1. [Psalm 34.4] I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
        2. [Psalm 34.6] This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD, and was saved from every trouble.
        3. [Psalm 34.8] O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.
        4. [Psalm 34:19] Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD rescues them from them all.
        5. [Psalm 34.22] The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
      2. Why?
        1. [Psalm 34.7] The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
        2. Remember fear is not to be afraid, but to respect to reverence, to stand in awe of.
  2. In the Information Center at Wittenburg there is much to see and purchase.
    1. Imagine the surprise to see socks for sale.
      1. Not ordinary socks for written on them is a most famous statement of Luther's.
      2. At is hearing before Papal representatives, he was finally reduced to clearly and succinctly stating his position: "Here I Stand. I can do no other."
      3. Here I stand. I can do no other.
      4. Written on the souls of socks.
    2. Would that this would be the spiritual and intellectual position of us all.

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