The Road To Jericho
Sermon
The Roads Jesus Traveled
Sermons And Object LessonsFor Lent And Easter
What would happen if you lost your sight? In June, 1985 I had surgery for a brain tumor. When the doctor came in my room the first night I was in the hospital, he told me what my prospects were. He said I could lose my sight in one or both eyes, or my speech, or the ability to walk. He said I might not even live through the surgery. So the possibilities were frightening. I remember saying to the doctor, "I only need one good eye. More than that I need to be able to speak." I knew a preacher needed his voice more than he needed his vision. But still I did not want to lose the ability to see. None of us would want to lose our sight. Think how it might have been if you had been born blind - if you had never been able to see.
The roads Jesus chose to follow carried him always closer to Jerusalem. At one point Luke writes in his gospel, "He set his face to go to Jerusalem." He took that turn in the road which would finally lead him there. And on that road he came to Jericho.
As he came down the road to Jericho there was a great crowd of people who were with him. They knew who Jesus was by now and they had all gone out to meet him. As they came near the city limits of Jericho there was a blind man there by the road. Mark, in his gospel, identifies him as Bartimaeus.
The blind man was not able to see but he was aware that something important was happening. He heard the noise of the crowd. He stood up, reached out and grabbed someone by the arm and said, "What is it? What is happening?" They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." He may have been blind, but he knew who Jesus was. He had heard all about Jesus. The blind always listen more intently. But he had no idea Jesus would ever come down his road.
Immediately he cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." Those standing there thought he was being rude - getting out of his place. They said, "Pipe down, Bart." But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus looked at him - saw his shabby clothing - his faltering steps - the distant look on his face - Jesus knew he was blind.
What about it? What is it that is hurting you? Have you been living in the dark?
I want you to remember that all of us are Bartimaeus. You think about that blind man on the road, unable to find his way, uncertain about the present and the future. That is us. We are Bartimaeus. That being the case, would you remember these things?
I
Jesus invites you into his presence. Jesus invited the blind man to come to him. Luke tells us that when Jesus heard the cries of the blind man he stopped, "and commanded him to be brought to him." Jesus invited Bartimaeus.
Jesus always invited people to come to him. He said, "Come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
Later, when Jesus got into Jericho he found Zacchaeus up a tree. Jesus said, "Zacchaeus, come down out of that tree, for I must stay at your house today."
That was the invitation Jesus gave people everywhere he went, on every road he traveled, "Come and follow me."
Jesus invites us all to come into his presence - to bring to him who we are and whatever is happening to us. The door to his presence is always open.
A man told his preacher there were always people coming to see him. They had these little satchels they carried, filled with literature they gave out and they tried to convert him to their religion. He never knew what to say. His preacher said, "I'll tell you what to do. Hang a big American flag over your fireplace, invite them in and make them say the pledge of allegiance. They do not really believe in this and it will make them leave you alone." One afternoon the man looked out and saw a woman coming up to his door. He opened up the door, invited her in, took her into the den, stood her in front of the flag and led her in the pledge of allegiance. Then the lady said, "I've been selling Avon products for 30 years and this is the first time this has ever happened to me."
Jesus invites us to come in - to come to him. When we accept his invitation to' be with him we are on the road that leads to life.
We may not have all the answers, but we know that Jesus Christ is the answer.
We may not be all we should be, but with the help of Jesus Christ we will become all we could be.
We may not always be on top of the world, but by the grace of God we will have the best of both worlds, this world and the world to come.
We may not always be right, but our lives are drawn to him who is the light.
We may sometimes lose our way, but our hands are in the hand of him who is the Way - the Truth - and the Life.
A woodsman came upon some Boy Scouts out in the wilderness. When he saw them he said, "Are you lost?" They answered, "We don't really know where we are, but we're not lost. We are with our Scoutmaster and he knows the way home."
When we are with our Master we find the way. And he invites us to be with him. Remember something else.
II
Jesus will meet you at the place where you hurt the most. Jesus met the blind man at the point of his need. He said to Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus was asking him, "What do you need? What is the problem? Where is it that you are hurting?"
That is the question he always asks us - "What do you want me to do for you?" What is it that you really need? Is there some great hurt in your life? Is there some great burden which you bear?
Whatever it is you are not alone in your struggle. Christ invites you into his presence and there he will meet you at the place where you hurt the most.
Years ago there was a professor at Candler School of Theology at Emory University named W. A. Smart. He wrote a book called The Contemporary Christ. Christ is our contemporary. He comes among us and meets us. He understands us, whatever it is we are facing.
I attended a meeting of our conference board of ordained ministry where we interviewed candidates seeking to be ordained at our upcoming annual conference. One of them was a woman who had been born deaf. She told us that at the age of 15 she had an operation which enabled her to hear. Someone asked her what it was like the first time she could hear. She said, "Noisy!" She overcame the silence and the noise and met Christ in the middle of her struggle.
Has life become too noisy? Perhaps there is too much going on around you and within you. Christ will meet you in the midst of it.
A preacher was at a movie one evening. It was one of those films on the life of Christ. When the story came to the crucifixion scene the preacher noticed two young ladies in front of him. As the nails were being driven in his hands one of the girls said to the other, "Let's go, this is the place where we came in."
It always is, of course. And so often it is in the depths of our experience that Christ comes in. He meets us there. Then remember this.
III
Jesus will give you a new vision. He gave the blind man a new vision. Jesus said to Bartimaeus, "Receive your sight, your faith has made you well." Then Luke tells us that this blind man who now is able to see became a follower of Jesus. He not only received his sight; more importantly, he was given a new vision, a new vision of himself, of the world, of Jesus and how he could follow him.
Jesus Christ still opens blind eyes. He still offers to all of us a new vision. If you will accept that new vision he offers you will see things you have never seen before.
I have always loved that hymn: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace."
Some things will grow dim but some will be seen more clearly.
You will see - if you dare to look - more clearly the person God created you to become.
In a small town five men operated bakeries, all on the same street. One put up a sign, "Best Donuts in Town." So the others put up signs which said, "Best Donuts in This State" - "Best Donuts in The Country" - "Best Donuts in The World." And the last one put up a sign which said "Best Donuts on This Street." You will see a vision of your best self where you are.
You will see - if you dare to look - the best way you can follow Christ.
You will see - if you dare to look - the things about your life you need to change and the ways God is calling you to change the world.
Some see the world and say, "Look what the world is coming to." Others see Christ and say, "Look what has come to the world."
Some see things as they are and ask why. Others see things as Christ can make them and ask why not.
Some see only problems and give up. Others see Christ is the solution and give him their lives.
Some see nothing but shadows and spend their days living in the dark. Others see Christ the Light and live by the new vision he has given them.
Over a period of several months a man had cataracts removed from both eyes. He went back to his doctor for a final check. The doctor handed him a bottle which contained the cataracts, and said, "This is the thing which kept you from seeing." The man replied, "Doctor, I want to thank you for giving me my sight back. I want to thank you for a new set of eyes. I'm glad I don't have my old eyes. I have seen some things lately I never saw before."
Jesus will give you a new vision. You will see some things you never saw before.
When Robert Louis Stevenson was a boy he was being cared for one evening by a sitter. The sun had just gone down. Little Robert went into the living room and looked out into the darkness. As he stood there he saw a lamplighter coming up the street lighting the street lamps. And, he turned and called to the sitter, "Look, there's a man out there punching holes in the darkness!"
There is someone who will punch the darkness right out of your life. And you will see things you never saw before. And with a new vision and the light of his love you will find your way.
Pastoral Prayer
Our Heavenly Father, we gather today to sing praises to thy name and to worship thee, for thou art the source of life and from thy merciful hands we have received an abundance of good things.
Because of thy goodness we thank thee Father for blessings we sometimes take for granted, rather than with gratitude. We thank thee for sun and moon, for air we breathe, for water, beautiful flowers, smiles of children, a warm greeting, an uplifting word. We thank thee for home and family, for work to do, for energy and rest from our labors. We are thankful for the church and all it means to us. We are thankful for the fellowship of this church and the call to be disciples of Jesus Christ.
We are thankful for the way thy Son traveled the road to Jerusalem and as we think of him on that road, we pray that we would be people who would also receive new sight and new insights.
We pray Father, also, that as we offer our thanks may we also leave some other things here. May we leave any hurt feelings, pride, doubt, anger. May we leave here the desire to have our own way.
May we take from here a new resolve to seek thy will and way. May we take away from here a fresh vision, some renewed hope, more faith, a deeper kind of love.
Bless our sick and those of our church family who need thee today, maybe more than they realize.
Bless the leaders of the world with good sense and a concern for their people and all people of the world.
For we offer this our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Discussion Questions
Read Aloud: Luke 18:35-43
1. What are some things which cause us to be blind today, and rob us of a clear vision?
2. Are there ways you can identify with blind Bartimaeus?
3. How has Christ given you a new vision?
4. In what ways have you been invited into the presence of Christ?
5. At what point in your life have you been most aware that Jesus Christ has come to meet you?
6. Share the new vision you have received because of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith.
7. What has this new vision led you to do?
Closing: Have a time of sentence prayers and a benediction by the group leader.
Children's Object Lesson
Lent 5
Seeing The Light
Object: A flashlight
Good morning boys and girls. It is good to see each one of you here today. In our Scripture lesson today we will be reading about a man whose name was Bartimaeus. Have you ever heard of him? Do you know anything about him? That is right. He was a blind man.
Someone tell us what this is. That is correct. It is a flashlight. Why do we have flashlights? They help us see in the dark. If you go out for a walk at night you can use this flashlight to see where to walk so you will not fall down.
Now someone show us how to use this flashlight. That is correct. Now press the button forward. Go ahead. You did? What is wrong? I do not see any light. Can any of you see any light? Wait a minute. Something is wrong with this flashlight. Did you check to see if it has any batteries? Open up that end of it. Look inside. No batteries, no light. Oh, wait, I forgot, I have the batteries right here. Let's put them in and close it back up. Now try it. There it is. Now all of us can see the light.
There is an old song you may have heard called, "I Saw The Light." Sometime you may see in a cartoon a person who suddenly has a light bulb above his or her head. What does that mean? It means they suddenly understand something, or have an idea or see something.
In our Scripture today, Jesus gives sight to the blind man. For the first time in his life he is able to see. It is as though the light comes on for him for the first time. Not only is he able to see with his eyes, but he is able to see what his life can become because of Jesus.
Jesus helps us to be able to see. He helps us see God. He helps us see him. He helps us see ourselves. He helps us see each other. He helps us see what God wants us to do with our lives.
Jesus once said of himself, "I am the light of the world." When we see Jesus we have really seen the light and had the light turned on in our lives.
Thank you for being with us today.
May we pray: O God, keep your light shining upon us and help us to see it. May it shine on us, in us and through us. Amen.
Order Of Worship
Organ Prelude
The Lighting Of The Candles
The Choral Call To Worship
Welcome And Attendance Registration
*The Hymn Of Praise: "O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing"
*The Affirmation Of Faith: The Apostles' Creed
*The Gloria Patri
The Children's Message: "Seeing The Light"
The Pastoral Prayer
*The Hymn Of Preparation: "Come, Christians, Join To Sing"
*The Dedication Of Tithes And Offerings
The Offertory
*The Doxology
The Anthem
The Message: "The Road To Jericho" (Luke 18:35-43)
The Invitation To Christian Discipleship
*The Hymn Of Consecration: "Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed"
*The Benediction
*The Choral Response
Organ Postlude
*Congregation Standing
The roads Jesus chose to follow carried him always closer to Jerusalem. At one point Luke writes in his gospel, "He set his face to go to Jerusalem." He took that turn in the road which would finally lead him there. And on that road he came to Jericho.
As he came down the road to Jericho there was a great crowd of people who were with him. They knew who Jesus was by now and they had all gone out to meet him. As they came near the city limits of Jericho there was a blind man there by the road. Mark, in his gospel, identifies him as Bartimaeus.
The blind man was not able to see but he was aware that something important was happening. He heard the noise of the crowd. He stood up, reached out and grabbed someone by the arm and said, "What is it? What is happening?" They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." He may have been blind, but he knew who Jesus was. He had heard all about Jesus. The blind always listen more intently. But he had no idea Jesus would ever come down his road.
Immediately he cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." Those standing there thought he was being rude - getting out of his place. They said, "Pipe down, Bart." But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus looked at him - saw his shabby clothing - his faltering steps - the distant look on his face - Jesus knew he was blind.
What about it? What is it that is hurting you? Have you been living in the dark?
I want you to remember that all of us are Bartimaeus. You think about that blind man on the road, unable to find his way, uncertain about the present and the future. That is us. We are Bartimaeus. That being the case, would you remember these things?
I
Jesus invites you into his presence. Jesus invited the blind man to come to him. Luke tells us that when Jesus heard the cries of the blind man he stopped, "and commanded him to be brought to him." Jesus invited Bartimaeus.
Jesus always invited people to come to him. He said, "Come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
Later, when Jesus got into Jericho he found Zacchaeus up a tree. Jesus said, "Zacchaeus, come down out of that tree, for I must stay at your house today."
That was the invitation Jesus gave people everywhere he went, on every road he traveled, "Come and follow me."
Jesus invites us all to come into his presence - to bring to him who we are and whatever is happening to us. The door to his presence is always open.
A man told his preacher there were always people coming to see him. They had these little satchels they carried, filled with literature they gave out and they tried to convert him to their religion. He never knew what to say. His preacher said, "I'll tell you what to do. Hang a big American flag over your fireplace, invite them in and make them say the pledge of allegiance. They do not really believe in this and it will make them leave you alone." One afternoon the man looked out and saw a woman coming up to his door. He opened up the door, invited her in, took her into the den, stood her in front of the flag and led her in the pledge of allegiance. Then the lady said, "I've been selling Avon products for 30 years and this is the first time this has ever happened to me."
Jesus invites us to come in - to come to him. When we accept his invitation to' be with him we are on the road that leads to life.
We may not have all the answers, but we know that Jesus Christ is the answer.
We may not be all we should be, but with the help of Jesus Christ we will become all we could be.
We may not always be on top of the world, but by the grace of God we will have the best of both worlds, this world and the world to come.
We may not always be right, but our lives are drawn to him who is the light.
We may sometimes lose our way, but our hands are in the hand of him who is the Way - the Truth - and the Life.
A woodsman came upon some Boy Scouts out in the wilderness. When he saw them he said, "Are you lost?" They answered, "We don't really know where we are, but we're not lost. We are with our Scoutmaster and he knows the way home."
When we are with our Master we find the way. And he invites us to be with him. Remember something else.
II
Jesus will meet you at the place where you hurt the most. Jesus met the blind man at the point of his need. He said to Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus was asking him, "What do you need? What is the problem? Where is it that you are hurting?"
That is the question he always asks us - "What do you want me to do for you?" What is it that you really need? Is there some great hurt in your life? Is there some great burden which you bear?
Whatever it is you are not alone in your struggle. Christ invites you into his presence and there he will meet you at the place where you hurt the most.
Years ago there was a professor at Candler School of Theology at Emory University named W. A. Smart. He wrote a book called The Contemporary Christ. Christ is our contemporary. He comes among us and meets us. He understands us, whatever it is we are facing.
I attended a meeting of our conference board of ordained ministry where we interviewed candidates seeking to be ordained at our upcoming annual conference. One of them was a woman who had been born deaf. She told us that at the age of 15 she had an operation which enabled her to hear. Someone asked her what it was like the first time she could hear. She said, "Noisy!" She overcame the silence and the noise and met Christ in the middle of her struggle.
Has life become too noisy? Perhaps there is too much going on around you and within you. Christ will meet you in the midst of it.
A preacher was at a movie one evening. It was one of those films on the life of Christ. When the story came to the crucifixion scene the preacher noticed two young ladies in front of him. As the nails were being driven in his hands one of the girls said to the other, "Let's go, this is the place where we came in."
It always is, of course. And so often it is in the depths of our experience that Christ comes in. He meets us there. Then remember this.
III
Jesus will give you a new vision. He gave the blind man a new vision. Jesus said to Bartimaeus, "Receive your sight, your faith has made you well." Then Luke tells us that this blind man who now is able to see became a follower of Jesus. He not only received his sight; more importantly, he was given a new vision, a new vision of himself, of the world, of Jesus and how he could follow him.
Jesus Christ still opens blind eyes. He still offers to all of us a new vision. If you will accept that new vision he offers you will see things you have never seen before.
I have always loved that hymn: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace."
Some things will grow dim but some will be seen more clearly.
You will see - if you dare to look - more clearly the person God created you to become.
In a small town five men operated bakeries, all on the same street. One put up a sign, "Best Donuts in Town." So the others put up signs which said, "Best Donuts in This State" - "Best Donuts in The Country" - "Best Donuts in The World." And the last one put up a sign which said "Best Donuts on This Street." You will see a vision of your best self where you are.
You will see - if you dare to look - the best way you can follow Christ.
You will see - if you dare to look - the things about your life you need to change and the ways God is calling you to change the world.
Some see the world and say, "Look what the world is coming to." Others see Christ and say, "Look what has come to the world."
Some see things as they are and ask why. Others see things as Christ can make them and ask why not.
Some see only problems and give up. Others see Christ is the solution and give him their lives.
Some see nothing but shadows and spend their days living in the dark. Others see Christ the Light and live by the new vision he has given them.
Over a period of several months a man had cataracts removed from both eyes. He went back to his doctor for a final check. The doctor handed him a bottle which contained the cataracts, and said, "This is the thing which kept you from seeing." The man replied, "Doctor, I want to thank you for giving me my sight back. I want to thank you for a new set of eyes. I'm glad I don't have my old eyes. I have seen some things lately I never saw before."
Jesus will give you a new vision. You will see some things you never saw before.
When Robert Louis Stevenson was a boy he was being cared for one evening by a sitter. The sun had just gone down. Little Robert went into the living room and looked out into the darkness. As he stood there he saw a lamplighter coming up the street lighting the street lamps. And, he turned and called to the sitter, "Look, there's a man out there punching holes in the darkness!"
There is someone who will punch the darkness right out of your life. And you will see things you never saw before. And with a new vision and the light of his love you will find your way.
Pastoral Prayer
Our Heavenly Father, we gather today to sing praises to thy name and to worship thee, for thou art the source of life and from thy merciful hands we have received an abundance of good things.
Because of thy goodness we thank thee Father for blessings we sometimes take for granted, rather than with gratitude. We thank thee for sun and moon, for air we breathe, for water, beautiful flowers, smiles of children, a warm greeting, an uplifting word. We thank thee for home and family, for work to do, for energy and rest from our labors. We are thankful for the church and all it means to us. We are thankful for the fellowship of this church and the call to be disciples of Jesus Christ.
We are thankful for the way thy Son traveled the road to Jerusalem and as we think of him on that road, we pray that we would be people who would also receive new sight and new insights.
We pray Father, also, that as we offer our thanks may we also leave some other things here. May we leave any hurt feelings, pride, doubt, anger. May we leave here the desire to have our own way.
May we take from here a new resolve to seek thy will and way. May we take away from here a fresh vision, some renewed hope, more faith, a deeper kind of love.
Bless our sick and those of our church family who need thee today, maybe more than they realize.
Bless the leaders of the world with good sense and a concern for their people and all people of the world.
For we offer this our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Discussion Questions
Read Aloud: Luke 18:35-43
1. What are some things which cause us to be blind today, and rob us of a clear vision?
2. Are there ways you can identify with blind Bartimaeus?
3. How has Christ given you a new vision?
4. In what ways have you been invited into the presence of Christ?
5. At what point in your life have you been most aware that Jesus Christ has come to meet you?
6. Share the new vision you have received because of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith.
7. What has this new vision led you to do?
Closing: Have a time of sentence prayers and a benediction by the group leader.
Children's Object Lesson
Lent 5
Seeing The Light
Object: A flashlight
Good morning boys and girls. It is good to see each one of you here today. In our Scripture lesson today we will be reading about a man whose name was Bartimaeus. Have you ever heard of him? Do you know anything about him? That is right. He was a blind man.
Someone tell us what this is. That is correct. It is a flashlight. Why do we have flashlights? They help us see in the dark. If you go out for a walk at night you can use this flashlight to see where to walk so you will not fall down.
Now someone show us how to use this flashlight. That is correct. Now press the button forward. Go ahead. You did? What is wrong? I do not see any light. Can any of you see any light? Wait a minute. Something is wrong with this flashlight. Did you check to see if it has any batteries? Open up that end of it. Look inside. No batteries, no light. Oh, wait, I forgot, I have the batteries right here. Let's put them in and close it back up. Now try it. There it is. Now all of us can see the light.
There is an old song you may have heard called, "I Saw The Light." Sometime you may see in a cartoon a person who suddenly has a light bulb above his or her head. What does that mean? It means they suddenly understand something, or have an idea or see something.
In our Scripture today, Jesus gives sight to the blind man. For the first time in his life he is able to see. It is as though the light comes on for him for the first time. Not only is he able to see with his eyes, but he is able to see what his life can become because of Jesus.
Jesus helps us to be able to see. He helps us see God. He helps us see him. He helps us see ourselves. He helps us see each other. He helps us see what God wants us to do with our lives.
Jesus once said of himself, "I am the light of the world." When we see Jesus we have really seen the light and had the light turned on in our lives.
Thank you for being with us today.
May we pray: O God, keep your light shining upon us and help us to see it. May it shine on us, in us and through us. Amen.
Order Of Worship
Organ Prelude
The Lighting Of The Candles
The Choral Call To Worship
Welcome And Attendance Registration
*The Hymn Of Praise: "O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing"
*The Affirmation Of Faith: The Apostles' Creed
*The Gloria Patri
The Children's Message: "Seeing The Light"
The Pastoral Prayer
*The Hymn Of Preparation: "Come, Christians, Join To Sing"
*The Dedication Of Tithes And Offerings
The Offertory
*The Doxology
The Anthem
The Message: "The Road To Jericho" (Luke 18:35-43)
The Invitation To Christian Discipleship
*The Hymn Of Consecration: "Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed"
*The Benediction
*The Choral Response
Organ Postlude
*Congregation Standing
