Easter Together, Day 10 - 'Jericho, Presumption & Prejudice'

And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Mark 10: 46ff (CF Matthew 20:29-34; Luke 18: 35-43)

The next two events on Jesus' journey to Jerusalem are among my favorite stories from Christ's life. They formed the text's of my earliest sermons.  And, as I read them again this morning, they speak concerning the essence, compassion and life-changing power of Christ.

Still traveling south along the Jordan Valley, the distance Jesus would have made in crossing the Jordan and into Jericho was not far.  As travelers moved south along the valley, turning southwest, crossing the river, and passing through Jericho on the way up to Jerusalem was the common route – though not for the faint of heart.  Jericho sat in Wadi Qelt (a stream bed) that ran down the mountain from Jerusalem towards the Jordan Valley where it terminated.  Being just north of the Dead Sea, Jericho was 850 feet below sea level - less than a mile in actual distance from Jerusalem but on a road 18 miles long due to a 2,700-foot drop in elevation.  The person Jesus encountered on this road was Bartimaeus - known to us by this miracle, but in Jesus’ day as a ‘beggar’ who was "blind.'    

There are many things about this story that speak to me. There is desperation – the fact that Bartimaeus, with no fear of reprisal, cried so loud for help, and that even when being rebuked by others only cried all the more.  There is presumption – the fact that many of the crowd, perhaps even some of Jesus’ very own disciples (they that went before him) rebuked Bartimaeus and told him to be quiet – causing me to wonder at their presumption over Christ’s thoughts based upon prejudices and worries of their own.  And, finally, there is elation – as Jesus rewards this man for his faith, saying – ‘receive your sight, your faith has made you well.’  

When someone lived with a physical infirmity in the first century, the presumption was this was caused from sins committed by them or their parents.  When Jesus had come upon another born blind before, He was asked by His disciples, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" (John 9:2)  Indeed, though the heart of man is quick to blame the heart of God is quick to love. 

I will never forget the day I first walked into church with my guitar. The people were unusually still, and some of the congregation got up to leave as I played the first chord.  But as I continued, and the strum from my guitar issued naught but praise, the congregation relaxed - and even the old deacons, who sat obtrusively on the front row, smiled and began to nod their heads with understanding.  Presumption was exposed – presumption that a guitar might only be used to play rock and roll. And prejudice was destroyed – prejudice against a young teen with long hair and a guitar daring to praise God.   

Jesus will meet one person more before leaving Jericho – his name is Zacchaeus, one of the more despised, even hated of all.  But calling him down from a tree, Jesus will break down the barrier yet again - showing that faith in Him is the lone requisite, not respect from mankind.  For mankind, as we are often prone, can miss elation through the mistake of presumption and the sadness of the prejudice we own.

Pastor Sam