Sunday, October25, 2009
Sermon: "A Servant Among Servants"
Scripture: Mark 10:46-52
Reverend Larry M. Gerber

When life gets fuzzy, we need focused light.
What's that guy doing holding his cell phone at arm's length, like it's a rancid diaper?

And why is that woman leaning away from her menu with eyes agape, like the blue-plate special is chocolate covered scorpion?

Gotta be presbyopia.

It's not a religious disease, like something only Presbyterians catch. Presbyterians may come down with presbyopia, but Methodists, Lutherans and Baptists are equally susceptible.

Presbyopia is a common eyesight problem. It comes from presby (meaning "elder/old man") and opia (meaning "eye, or having to do with sight"). It's the slow deterioration of close-up focus. Presbyopia develops when the clear lens of the eye loses its elasticity. Elasticity changes focus, and focus determines whether you order shrimp scampi or sirloin steak.

So he was trying to make out the caller ID, and she was trying to read the menu. And they are like millions of others who hold their reading material like God never gave them elbows.

Until recently, presbyopia was most often treated with inexpensive reading glasses or repeated laser surgeries as the disease progressed.

But switching between readers and distance glasses is irritating. You juggle not just four eyes but six. People usually stash several pairs of cheap readers in all the places they read ? one by the nightstand, one in the office, one lost in the couch cushions. But none seem to be around when the cell phone rings.

And laser treatment is still gaining credibility...slowly. Think about it--lasers are used to carve steel, burn off ulcers and blow up bad guys in sci-fi flicks. Who thought up the idea of aiming these things into eyeballs? Although lasers are effective, it's understandable that so many are still skeptical of the concept and the huge associated cost.

Eighty-five million Americans have presbyopia and are looking for better solutions than glasses and expensive surgeries. Now, there's a treatment for the condition called Transcleral Light Therapy. Although the procedure is still undergoing confirmation with the Food and Drug Administration, it looks to be a no-brainer one's for vision.

A light beam is aimed at the ciliary muscles (the lens focusers), increasing their strength and flexibility. After five 10-minute sessions and periodic tune-up treatments, patients report that their glasses are obsolete.

In other words, application of Light sharpens our focus on the world.

The text gives us a natural connection. Bartimaeus has two strikes against him--he is blind, and he is begging. In Jesus' culture, that was a perfect prescription for being overlooked by society.

As Jesus passed by, Bartimaeus called out for mercy. But the crowd rebuked him--tried to put him back in his place on the socioeconomic sidelines (v. 48). But his faith told him that this Light was his only chance at sight, so he yelled out even louder.

It turns out Bartimaeus was the only person in the crowd who could truly see Jesus that day.

When the Rabbi asks what he wants from him, Bartimaeus simply says, "My teacher, let me see again" (v. 52). He knows enough about Jesus to call him teacher and has enough personal belief to say "my."

Healing him, Jesus connects Bartimaeus' receipt of sight to his faith. The blind beggar knew the message that we need to hear: Application of Light sharpens our focus on the world.

We need to make the connection to those things we don't see clearly, spiritually speaking. What is blurry to us? What do we need to focus on, and how does Jesus sharpen our vision? Those of us studying the Gospel of John are finding out that John doesn't just tell about Jesus, but repeatedly says: "Come and See", "Come and See."
 
To be a servant among servants one must be able to see clearly what is before him or her and then to play the game of life with their sight on the whole field with a clear understanding of the rules and regulations as well as understanding how to use the equipment necessary to play the game. Jesus asked Bartemaus what he wanted from him. The answer was to be able to see again. Once Jesus restored his life he told Bartemaeus: "Go your faith has made you well." Immediately he gained his sight and followed him.
Today is Stewardship Sunday. We are focusing on the Game Plan for 2010: Transforming Live's for Jesus. You will be getting a letter to that effect in about 10 days. We have the opportunity to help people to restore their spiritual life as Jesus did for Bartemaus. He game him the game plan for life.

Jesus did the same with the woman at the well (John 4:14). He knew everything about her and offered a new life. Here is the game plan...drink from the cup I give you and you will never be thirsty again...

Life is a game just like many sports:
 Baseball: I have a baseball in my hand, but I can't play the game unless I have a baseball field with bases and foul lines and rules and regulations let alone a glove for defense and a bat for offensive play. I need a team and an opposing team. It helps to have fans cheering me on...
Softball: similar, but different equipment and different rules and regulations.

Basketball: I need more than a ball - a basketball court with out of bound lines, foul lines, a back board, a hoop and a net, team mates and referees, etc.

Football: the proper field, a tee for kicking off to start the game, a goal post, lines marking the yardage, special equipment for protection, referees and coaches...

Soccer: a similar field to football yet different with different rules and a different kind of goal post.

Tennis: I need tennis balls, a racket, a tennis court, boundaries, proper shoes...

Golf: a golf ball of course, but a full set of golf clubs for varying shots, a golf course...most importantly I need to know the rules and regulations and I need to know which club to use for each situation throughout the game. I can play it alone, but it is more fun when I am joined by others.

There are many other games. Some we sit on the sidelines as spectators. Others we participate in.
The Game of Life into 2010 is not a spetcator sport. It is a game that calls us into action, to be a servant among servants. Our goal is to hit a home run, ...sink a three pointer, score a touchdown, ace a shot, make a hole in on.

We need to offer a cup of cold water to the stranger, a cup that will transform ones life so that he or she will never thirst again.
When you receive your letter from Miles Black (Miles is our stewardship liaisan with your Finance Committee) in about 10 days read the letter prayerfully, consider the times that Jesus has been there for you in your life, think about the vows you took when you gave yourself to Christ in commitment to the  work of the church: (time, talent, service, and gifts). Then hold the pledge card in your hands and pray again asking Jesus what He wants of you. The answer of course is to transform lives as He transformed yours. Are you prepared to play the game?

Can we learn from Bartimaeus' faith? Can we be inspired by his courage to live it out? Will we take the lens of Scripture and the Light of Christ and apply them to issues that we don't focus on and don't see clearly?
The work of the church is never done. The game never ends. But victory along the way is the goal that Jesus has in store: We will be victorious if we each give according to how much we have received. Prayerfully consider what you can do for Jesus this coming year.
Let us stand and let us sing as if we mean it:  Victory in Jesus - # 370...