Following Jesus in the Way: A Meditation on Mark 10 for the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost

And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho

 with his disciples and a great number of people,

blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus,

sat by the highway side begging.

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,

he began to cry out, and say,

Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

And many charged him that he should hold his peace:

but he cried the more a great deal,

Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called.

And they call the blind man, saying unto him,

Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

And Jesus answered and said unto him,

What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?

The blind man said unto him,

Lord, that I might receive my sight.

And Jesus said unto him,

Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.

And immediately he received his sight,

and followed Jesus in the way.

 

The 10^th chapter of Mark began with the story of a rich young ruler who approached Jesus asking about eternal life but went away from Jesus sorrowful, then ended with a blind beggar healed, who followed Jesus in the way.  The wealthy young man was not prevented by the crowd from approaching Jesus, and the crowd was aghast that despite his apparent holiness before the Law, Jesus called him to renounce his wealth and follow Him.  That wealthy young man who approached Jesus so confidently, left in mourning because he loved his riches more than Jesus.  The poor beggar, on the contrary, was resisted by the crowds from getting to Jesus.  Once Jesus received the persistent man, He declared to him that his faith had made him whole, and that beggar followed Jesus thereafter.  Both the rich young ruler and the poverty stricken beggar made good book ends to the teaching Jesus offered in between, regarding the first being last and the last being first, that the greatest among us are those who serve others, just as Jesus came to serve rather than be served, giving His life as a ransom for many.

 

Worldly perspectives tend to prize riches over poverty, power over weakness, command over service.  We see this clearly in the spheres of politics and business, where regardless of the rhetoric spewed to gain momentary advantage, they are rarely found without their wealth and power surrounding them.  Their clothes are finely tailored, their entourage is sycophantic, their transport is luxurious, their parties are lavish… and the world upholds them up as the ideal toward which man should aspire.  But of course, what passes in the halls of political and economic power does not remain there.  Everyone has a certain sympathy for the rich and famous, which our modern cults of celebrity reflect so clearly.  Greatly esteemed actors and academics, athletes and artisans, and any shade of popularity inspired social elevation, tends to draw the attention and affection of mankind.  Outward displays of opulence and excellence tap into deep veins of covetousness and pride within us all, where we secretly idolize that which we are tempted to pursue:  power and wealth for our own glory.

 

But such challenges are not just out there in the world somewhere—they are deep within every person’s sinful heart, which is why they sometimes manifest in our churches just like they did in the people who were following Jesus.  It is tempting to look at the people in our churches and judge them by their appearance; to appreciate and elevate some because they are outwardly beautiful, eloquent, wealthy, powerful, or respected, while denigrating and sidelining those who appear otherwise.  It is the same old covetous idolatry that hopes and seeks for personal advantage through alliance with those who have power, wealth, and influence.  What Jesus taught His disciples in the first century, He continues to teach His disciples today:  the outward affectations of life are insignificant compared to the inward realities of the heart.  A rich young man whom the world adores but whose heart refuses to trust God’s Word, is a person who will dwell in sorrow without repentance or faith.  Yet a poor beggar who has nothing to offer Jesus but faithful prayers for mercy and grace, finds the boundless joy of eternal life in the gracious presence of the King of all Kings.  While the world looks on in stymied wonder, God allows the unfaithful to walk away from Him, and the faithful to walk with Him, regardless of their outward appearance.

 

And that is a lesson which is needed in every time and place, because in every age of the world, God still calls all people to Himself only and always by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  While everyone who is given life in this world is also blessed with relative gifts of talent and wealth through which they may serve others, the only approach that any person—rich, poor, or anywhere in between—can make to God is one of faith and repentance.  Faith which trusts His living Word of Law and Gospel, and repentance which turns from the ways of darkness to follow Jesus in His Way, is the only means by which we can receive the true riches of forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation from the sin, death, and hell we all deserve.  A key distinctive between the rich young ruler and the poor blind beggar is that only one of them really knew that they needed Jesus to save them, and only one of them was willing to trust and follow Jesus to receive that salvation.  No amount of worldly celebrity or infamy can hide the heart from God, who calls all people to trust in the Vicarious Atonement of Jesus for their rescue, and for all people to follow Him according to His Word.

 

As Jesus encounters you this day through His Word and Sacraments, feel His Holy Spirit open your eyes and ears and mind and heart to see yourself as the Father sees you:  as one whom He has loved from before the foundation of the world, and loved so much that He has sent His only begotten Son to save you, that you might walk, healed and forgiven, in His paths of light and truth and joy forever.  Then let your opened eyes and ears and mind and heart rest on those around you, that the love of God which has been poured out upon you, might pour through you to them.  Let go the world’s twisted and superficial judgements, and embrace the true riches of grace and mercy and life which come from Christ alone, that you might lead others into the path of joy and grace which comes only by a living faith that follows Jesus in the Way.  Amen.