Now Hitler turns on John and Edward

Bartimaeus follows Jesus - A sermon for Pentecost 21 based on Mark 10: 46 - 52

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. He has left Jericho a mere 15 or so miles from his destination. But now comes an interruption. It comes in the form of a blind beggar whom Mark names Bartimaeus. This Bartimaeus is one of society's nobodies. He is a man whose voice is wanted to loudly thank those of wealth who give him coins. But when that voice is used for his benefit rather than that of others then he is told to be quiet.

Mark's account would seem to suggest that Bartimaeus makes quite a racket as he learns that Jesus is passing by. Indeed I am tempted to imagine him having the noise level of Brian Haw who from a position across the road from Parliament is heard on a daily basis berating those politicians he blames for the deaths that have taken place in the Iraq and Afghan conflicts.

But Bartimaeus is not so much making a statement as simply seeking the mercy of Jesus. Unlike so many of his day and indeed our day whose understanding of God is rooted in power and domination, Bartimaeus already has the vision to see that Jesus, Son of David though he may be, is one who comes with mercy. And that vision is justified for Jesus takes time to speak with this rank outsider.

On the face of it this is a story about a physical healing. It ends after all with Bartimaeus being able to see. For this reason, our story is revered by those working in the field of blindness and visual impairment. For this reason, our story would have meant much to those who first heard of it, living as they were in a time and place where blindness was so very common with such catastrophic consequences.

And yet there is so much more to this story. After all it is a story of a man who will as a result of this encounter with Jesus find a very different vision of life than hitherto. An example of this is that Bartimaeus is transformed from being a dependent man to a man set free to make choices that he could not hitherto have made. And how he responds to such opportunity. We see it from the moment when having been called by Jesus, he throws aside the cloak upon which the coins granted him would have fallen. He is up for a new lifestyle - even a lifestyle that involves great risk as the comfort blanket of the past is disposed of and the challenge of learning new skills to support himself is embraced. But more than that this Bartimaeus becomes on of the followers of Jesus as he follows him on that road which will lead to Jerusalem and ultimately end with Jesus executed on a cross.

How Bartimaeus acquits himself as a follower of Jesus we do not know but it is a reasonable possibility that Mark takes the rare stept of giving the name of a man that Jesus healed, because Bartimaeus was someone who meant something to the community for whom Mark wrote. Maybe he lived up to a name which can be translated "Son of the Precious" which might indeed bear witness to a life greatly lifted up by an encounter with Jesus. We can't be certain but the possibility is certainly enticing.

And yet even this does not reveal the full wonder of this story. Just for a moment look back at the stories with which Mark has preceded the healing of Bartimaeus. A rich man whose security was founded on wealth rather than the way of Jesus has gone away sad. Disciples have quarelled about who should have the positions of status in Christ's Kingdom. These people have missed the whole point. Now contrast them with a nobody devoid of standing who sees even from his position of destitute disability that Jesus is about a wonderful mercy. Contrast them with that nobody who whilst they are putting life's vanity and tinsels first or seeking vain self interest, get on with the business of following Jesus and his way.

Jerusalem gets nearer. Soon Jesus and a motley gathering of Bartimaeuses will enter the city gates to confront the forces of cruel domination. In the face of overwhelming odds they will be at the beginning of a still ongoing story in which powerless love dares to confront the love of power. And guess what! That Bartimaeuses of this world are the ones who will change the world whilst the mighty, the powerful and the seemingly wise, stand exposed as dinassours whose time runs short. With "nobodies" like Bartimaeus, Jesus is bringing in the Kingdom of God and confronting the empires of self aggrandisement.

Yes indeed, the times they are a changing. For in Bartimaeus we see a story that confirms that which Jesus has already taught.

The first are becoming last whilst the last are becoming first!

Raring to go

This blog has been quiet for some time. The prime reason is that I have felt under weather whilst also going through a busy period of work. Rather than neglect my duties for the Methodist Church or my family I have neglected this blog. I now feel the urge to blog again so stand by for a relaunch this Sunday!

Who am I? - A sermon for Pentecost 15 based on Mark 8: 27-38

My son is a Liverpool supporter. It was not always thus. He was brought up much better than that by a father who would try with some success to get him to sing "Glory, Glory Man United" in the supermarkets of Cornwall. Such promise but it all went wrong. One day on the Isle of Man he watched a programme about Michael Owen entitled "Zero to Hero!" From then on he was filled with a deep desire to worship at the shrine of Anfield.

Well today's Gospel reading has reminded us of how in a matter of minutes Peter crashed from hero to zero in his case exhibiting a brilliant insight only for that insight to be shown as marred and distorted.

The episode begins at Caesarea Philippi. In this town where Herod the Great had built a temple in honour to Caesar Augustus, Jesus asks his disciples who people say he is. Their answers link him with the prophetic tradition. This is significant as there are Jewish traditions which expect the likes of Moses and Elijah to be involved in God's ultimate mission. So this is a sign that people are taking the mission of Jesus very seriously indeed.

But Jesus doesn't stop here. For now the question becomes personal;

"But who do you say that I am?"

Now the question cannot be answered by hearsay. Those present are challenged to answer the question from the very depths of their being. And so Peter responds;

"You are the Messiah."

Wow! I wonder if there followed one of those silences in which one could hear a pin drop. Why? Because the Messiah was the long awaited one, annointed by God, who would restore the political fortunes of Israel.

It is truly a momentous statement. In a place where A Roman Emperor had been venerated, Peter was asserting Jesus to the one through whom God would bring about the liberation of a people under colonial rule. In this moment we see a point of tension between the Jesus way and that of the empire. Certainly there was a growing movement in the empire to worship of the emperor whilst the Jesus movement saw in Jesus a liberator. And this would be a growing tension for Mark's community who would face the real conflict between the Lordship of Jesus and the Lordship of Caesar.

Now we do well to note that this does not mean a claim for the divinity of Jesus. This is something that will take longer to emerge as the belief of the Jesus community. A Messiah was a human figure even though he was one who would be mightily used by God.

Anyhow back to the story. Peter having made his bold affirmation is going to come crashing down. For Jesus starts to talk about what is involved in being a Messiah. And it's full of surprises. For the future offers not so much triumphs and banquests but suffering, rejection by an unholy alliance of disparate parts of the religious establishment and ultimately death. Peter cannot stomach the thought of this. It goes against his hopes for one he loves. It goes against his and just about everyone else's understanding of Messiahship. So protest he must. And for this he gets an almighty rocketing;

"Get behind me Satan!"

He is being spoken to in just the sort of way that he has heard Jesus speaking to demons not so long before. Poor, poor Peter! He must have wished the ground would swallow him up. Well and truly has he gone from hero to zero! From thinking he knew what Jesus was about he is condemned for the mother of misunderstandings.

Mark's Gospel is going from here to be about exploring what the way of Jesus is about. For Jesus extends the concept of denial from being about himself to being about those who follow the Jesus way.

Now he offers the call to followers to take up their crosses. There is indeed something shocking about this. After all crucifixion is a violent means of execution inflicted by Rome primarily on the lower classes or those who had offended Rome most grievously. Not least among those who were stripped naked and made to suffer the pain and humiliation of such a death were those who rebelled against Rome. Indeed many a Zealot freedom fighter in the days of Jesus suffered this fate. But first they had to carry the cross on which they would die to the place of execution.

Now Jesus is using the process by which Rome dehumanised its victims to be the model of his new way. In this we are reminded that true Christianity is at odds with empire rather than being the means by which empire is justified as became the case under Constantine and has beeen the case too often since.

But this does not mean that Christians are called on to long for suffering and death as some less than healthy traditions have suggested. Far from that it recognises the reality of conflict with the powers. And in that conflict which has an aura of inevitability, Jesus' words remind us that the Kingdom of God has an absolute calim upon us which goes beyond the claimes of empire or any of the powers. And to the beauty of that Kingdom we are called to ever be true not counting the cost. For it is in giving all we have and are to that vision that we are enabled to embrace the fulfilment. Or to borrow an evangelical phraseology concerning the way of Christ, there has to be a cross before there can be a crown.

This episode comes after a two stage healing of a blind man. Perhaps we need more than two stages in the opening of our eyes to the ways of Christ. For Christ does not fit easy packaging. He doesn't even fit into our so called commonsense. Rather he challenges us to see the world in totally new ways. And like Peter we will stumble and fall but still we are encouraged to go on seeking the counter cultural way of Christ with its new priorities. And that means holding on to his call rather than the counterfeit calls of the powers.

Holiday

During the past few weeks I have given my wife and children total priority over this blog. Tomorrow we go away for a family break. I will not be blogging until our family time is over at the end of August.

In the meantime I have but one thought in the light of current debate;

THANK GOD FOR THE NHS!

God TV, Benny Hinn and me

Just the other day I was visiting my local Morrisons in search of sustenance. On arrival I was greeted by a man trying to get people to sign up for BSkyB. Initially I railed about the expense of the sports coverage. After a bit the man tried to get me to sign up for a cheaper package and noticing my dog collar suggested that I might like the God Channel. Without thinking I snapped back;

"I am not a total lunatic!"

The man smiled as I stomped off. Anyhow I have wondered if I should not have shown a little more restraint in my response. For what it is worth tonight I feel justified. Why? Because I have received an email from God TV telling me of their latest star attraction - none other than the King of blow, Mr Benny Hinn. Doubtless our desire to watch Mr Hinn will leade to marital difficulties once more for Richard Hall and myself. Sadly our wives do not seem to appreciate our guilty pleasures.

For the rest of you I offer a touch of Benny in action;

One small step - 40 years on

I was just 9 years on when Apollo 11 landed on the moon. At school we were allowed to follow events on the television and certainly it was the talk of my home and doubtless of million of other homes. The sense of excitement was palpable. I think we thought that it wouldn't be many years before a man walked on Mars but whilst there would be returns to the Moon the whole project was becoming prohibitively expensive.

Now people speculate again on a manned craft going to Mars. Of course this would be a much longer journey. It appeals to inquisitive in all of us but it is questionable whether such an expensive undertaking is justifiable given the needs not just in the 3rd World but in the USA itself.

Still today is a day to salute Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin for the way their adventure made our hearts sing 40 years ago, not to forget Michael Collins who travelled the dark side of the Moon alone in what must have been the loneliest of experiences.

40 years ago we watched in wonder for history that could never be forgotten was being made before our eyes.