LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON NOTES
Read Peter's preaching notes....
“From ‘Shut up!’ to ‘Get up!’”
Mark 10:46-52
3/17/19
No matter how important and loved you may be, may have bit of Bartimaeus in you
feel like invisible, no one seems to notice or care: even when you know that they do
if can’t relate, can assure you that you are surrounded by Bartimaeuses
probably don’t even realize it, because that’s part of what it means to be Bartimaeus
Let’s start out w/ most glaring part of Bartimaeus’ invisibility: not even his name
bar-Timaeus = “son of Timaeus:” similar to some last names: Davidson= David’s son
today’s St Pat’s day: McDonald: son of Donald, O’Brien: of (from) Brian
man only known by relationship to father
I grew up in small town, dad respected physician (Becky G, “Dr Alsopp’s daughter?”)
no mistaking it: look a lot like him
grew up constantly hearing: “You’re Dr. de Vries’s son, aren’t you?”
as much as I love & respect my dad, honored to be assoc w, got tiring after a while
as grew older, able to make name for myself, become own person
fellow in our story never had that chance to make name for himself, literally
born blind, unable to support self
long before days of ADA accommodations: couldn’t walk down street w/out help
couldn’t farm, couldn’t trade, couldn’t dig ditches, anything productive
so family just put alongside of road, like curbstone, to beg for living
depended on charity of people’s hearts to get from one meal to the next
no idea if had brother or sister or other relative who helped him out
forgotten, unnoticed & disposable
wish we knew what his name really was: “Bartimaeus” almost an insult
let’s call him Steve
But then something happened one day, day when Jesus was leaving town
like circus parade: disciples, huge crowd
probably dancing, singing, cheering
spectacle looked like dress rehearsal for Palm Sunday (very next story in Mark)
while all this is going on, there’s Steve, usual spot along side of road
wouldn’t surprise me if got bumped into or stepped on
1st hint Mark gives that something special about to happen: sentence structure
Steve the blind beggar is subject of sentence: main clause “he sat by road”
marching band, trick ponies, belly dancers, disciples, X himself in subordinate clause
Mark puts spotlight on Steve
Steve sat by the road: that’s what Mark wants us to notice
everyone else caught up in excitement of moment that most didn’t even understand
kind of like people celebrating St. Pat’s w/out a thought about why they’re doing it
eventually, in midst of getting jostled & trampled, Steve got wind it was Jesus going by
no idea how Steve knew who Jesus was: had he heard him teach?
overheard conversations?
don’t know how, but Steve knew a few things about Jesus
son of David: true leader of nation, promised leader of God’s people
one who shows mercy, when everyone else could care less
discover later knew one more thing: Jesus could make impossible happen
so began to shout: “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!”
Other people didn’t take too kindly to this outburst from man who should know his place
everyone else cheering & celebrating: no talk of mercy or help
time to be happy, not reminded of those in need
told him to hush up: remember who he is: no right to ask Jesus for anything
didn’t even think had right to his own name, let alone pestering man of honor
They tried to shut Steve up, but notice what he did
efforts to silence him only egged him on even more: shouted even louder
like Hannah, when rival wife Peninnah mocked because had no children
clueless husband Elkanah only made it worse when tried to comfort
what did Hannah do? suck it up? take it like grown-up? remember her place?
no! KJV “Hannah rose:” got up: sought Lord’s help and favor
refused to accept miserable lot in life, and how people treated her for it
Whether barren woman in society that valued for child-bearing above all else
or blind in town where barely even counted as being human
neither of them let world dump on them: refused to be overlooked, ignored, humiliated
both had hutzpah, grit, determination, resolve: whatever you want to call it
both called out to God for help: Hannah at tabernacle, Steve to Jesus himself
wouldn’t let Peninnah or bystanders shut them up
what or who is trying to get you to shut up? stay in your place, accept your lot in life
take Steve & Hannah has role models: seek God even more vigorously
Steve’s shouts brought the parade to a halt: Jesus stopped, told people to call him
good news for us, when we are beaten down, forgotten, ignored, silenced
as we continue to cry out, Jesus stops for us: summons us
notice how suddenly, now that Jesus cared about Steve, everyone else did too
moved from “Shut up!” to “Cheer up! Get on feet! He’s calling you!”
more to “cheer up” than emotional cheerleading, put on happy face
Gr: to be confident, courageous, bold in face of difficult situation
in other words, went from dis-couragers to en-couragers
Jesus wants to do the same thing to us: turn us into people who tell people to get up
to have the courage & confidence to seek Lord’s help in midst of their difficulty
can encourage & build up, because we have a God who does the impossible
Steve believed Jesus could make see again: and he did
just as God gave Hannah child: son who would change course of nation’s history
when see someone overwhelmed by burden of life: 1st, notice them
then remember what God did for Steve & for Hannah
encourage, in best way you can, to get up, seek God who does amazing things
Mark 10:46-52
3/17/19
No matter how important and loved you may be, may have bit of Bartimaeus in you
feel like invisible, no one seems to notice or care: even when you know that they do
if can’t relate, can assure you that you are surrounded by Bartimaeuses
probably don’t even realize it, because that’s part of what it means to be Bartimaeus
Let’s start out w/ most glaring part of Bartimaeus’ invisibility: not even his name
bar-Timaeus = “son of Timaeus:” similar to some last names: Davidson= David’s son
today’s St Pat’s day: McDonald: son of Donald, O’Brien: of (from) Brian
man only known by relationship to father
I grew up in small town, dad respected physician (Becky G, “Dr Alsopp’s daughter?”)
no mistaking it: look a lot like him
grew up constantly hearing: “You’re Dr. de Vries’s son, aren’t you?”
as much as I love & respect my dad, honored to be assoc w, got tiring after a while
as grew older, able to make name for myself, become own person
fellow in our story never had that chance to make name for himself, literally
born blind, unable to support self
long before days of ADA accommodations: couldn’t walk down street w/out help
couldn’t farm, couldn’t trade, couldn’t dig ditches, anything productive
so family just put alongside of road, like curbstone, to beg for living
depended on charity of people’s hearts to get from one meal to the next
no idea if had brother or sister or other relative who helped him out
forgotten, unnoticed & disposable
wish we knew what his name really was: “Bartimaeus” almost an insult
let’s call him Steve
But then something happened one day, day when Jesus was leaving town
like circus parade: disciples, huge crowd
probably dancing, singing, cheering
spectacle looked like dress rehearsal for Palm Sunday (very next story in Mark)
while all this is going on, there’s Steve, usual spot along side of road
wouldn’t surprise me if got bumped into or stepped on
1st hint Mark gives that something special about to happen: sentence structure
Steve the blind beggar is subject of sentence: main clause “he sat by road”
marching band, trick ponies, belly dancers, disciples, X himself in subordinate clause
Mark puts spotlight on Steve
Steve sat by the road: that’s what Mark wants us to notice
everyone else caught up in excitement of moment that most didn’t even understand
kind of like people celebrating St. Pat’s w/out a thought about why they’re doing it
eventually, in midst of getting jostled & trampled, Steve got wind it was Jesus going by
no idea how Steve knew who Jesus was: had he heard him teach?
overheard conversations?
don’t know how, but Steve knew a few things about Jesus
son of David: true leader of nation, promised leader of God’s people
one who shows mercy, when everyone else could care less
discover later knew one more thing: Jesus could make impossible happen
so began to shout: “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!”
Other people didn’t take too kindly to this outburst from man who should know his place
everyone else cheering & celebrating: no talk of mercy or help
time to be happy, not reminded of those in need
told him to hush up: remember who he is: no right to ask Jesus for anything
didn’t even think had right to his own name, let alone pestering man of honor
They tried to shut Steve up, but notice what he did
efforts to silence him only egged him on even more: shouted even louder
like Hannah, when rival wife Peninnah mocked because had no children
clueless husband Elkanah only made it worse when tried to comfort
what did Hannah do? suck it up? take it like grown-up? remember her place?
no! KJV “Hannah rose:” got up: sought Lord’s help and favor
refused to accept miserable lot in life, and how people treated her for it
Whether barren woman in society that valued for child-bearing above all else
or blind in town where barely even counted as being human
neither of them let world dump on them: refused to be overlooked, ignored, humiliated
both had hutzpah, grit, determination, resolve: whatever you want to call it
both called out to God for help: Hannah at tabernacle, Steve to Jesus himself
wouldn’t let Peninnah or bystanders shut them up
what or who is trying to get you to shut up? stay in your place, accept your lot in life
take Steve & Hannah has role models: seek God even more vigorously
Steve’s shouts brought the parade to a halt: Jesus stopped, told people to call him
good news for us, when we are beaten down, forgotten, ignored, silenced
as we continue to cry out, Jesus stops for us: summons us
notice how suddenly, now that Jesus cared about Steve, everyone else did too
moved from “Shut up!” to “Cheer up! Get on feet! He’s calling you!”
more to “cheer up” than emotional cheerleading, put on happy face
Gr: to be confident, courageous, bold in face of difficult situation
in other words, went from dis-couragers to en-couragers
Jesus wants to do the same thing to us: turn us into people who tell people to get up
to have the courage & confidence to seek Lord’s help in midst of their difficulty
can encourage & build up, because we have a God who does the impossible
Steve believed Jesus could make see again: and he did
just as God gave Hannah child: son who would change course of nation’s history
when see someone overwhelmed by burden of life: 1st, notice them
then remember what God did for Steve & for Hannah
encourage, in best way you can, to get up, seek God who does amazing things
Old Union Presbyterian Church | 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com