Quinquagesima - 2001

Todd A. Peperkorn, STM
Messiah Lutheran Church
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Quinquagesima (Feb. 25, 2001)
Luke 18:31-43

TITLE: “The Seeing Blindman”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this morning is from the Gospel lesson just read, the story of blind Bartemaeus in Luke 18. We focus on the words of the blind man, Son of David, have mercy on me!

Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy. It is perhaps the simplest prayer you could pray or sing. Yet within those two simple words are packed more great stuff about God than we can hardly imagine. We pray them at least twice in our liturgy every week. At the very beginning of the Divine Service, we pray In peace let us pray to the Lord, Lord have mercy. Then later on in the service, right before receiving Christ’s body and blood in the Sacrament, we pray: O Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy. The words roll off your tongue like you’ve been saying them your whole life. But what do they mean? What do they tell you about who you are as a sinner and who Jesus is as Lord?

Our text begins with Jesus taking his disciples aside to tell them what’s what. He takes them aside to tell them that he is going to be handed over to the Gentiles, he will be spat upon and mocked, he will suffer as a common sinner and He will die the death of a criminal. This is God’s future. Now even though Jesus’ disciples had been with him for over two years by this time, they still couldn’t hear what He had to say. They couldn’t understand that Jesus’ death was the point on His life. The point of Jesus’ life was hidden from them. But it would be revealed in the faith of a blind man sitting alongside the road.

Before we go on to look at this blind man, let’s stop here for a minute. How often is it that people come to church, go to Sunday School or Bible class their whole lives, and yet never get the point? We like to think that just going through the motions is enough. Well, I’m here to tell you from God that going through the motions is not the same as faith. Remember that Jesus’ disciples had been with Him every step of the way. Some had even seen Him transfigured before them. They had a glimpse of God’s glory. Time and time again he had predicted His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. This was the point! Yet Jesus’ disciples didn’t get it. They couldn’t believe that Jesus would eat and drink with sinners. They couldn’t believe that He was going to die. They couldn’t believe, even though it was right in front of their faces!

This is true in our own lives as well. How many of you have children or grandchildren or parents or siblings or cousins who grew up in the Church? They came to God’s house. They heard the Word. Yet they never got it. They have fallen away from the faith. Like the seed that went upon the rock or in the thorns from last week, many come week after week, but it’s like they are sitting in a different pew. They don’t hear the simple truth of Law & Gospel: You are a sinner, and Jesus comes to save sinners just like you. It’s pretty straightforward, isn’t it? Not too complicated. Jesus wants you to be in His house so that He can forgive your sins and bring you to heaven. This was the message that the disciples couldn’t get, and this is the message that we as sinners forget again and again week after week after week. It shouldn’t surprise us, then, that some stop coming to church entirely.

So let’s move on. Jesus then is on the road to Jericho. While he’s on the road, a crowd of onlookers follows him around. As they are on the road, a blind man alongside the road hears the crowd and asks what’s going on. We learn from Mark that the man’s name is Bartemaeus. Bartemaeus heard from the crowd that it was Jesus who was passing by. When he heard this, Bartemaeus cried out, saying, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Kyrie eleison! It is the cry of every sinner who needs Jesus. It is the cry of every soul that is weighed down by the cares of this life, by the trials that we all face as children of Adam. It is the cry that doesn’t try to manipulate God or make demands. It is the cry of faith. Kyrie eleison! Lord have mercy.

This blind man, upon hearing that Jesus was close by, cried out to the Son of David for mercy. And notice that this cry continued, even after the crowds tried to shut him up. Bartemaeus cried out because He knew that God would give Him mercy. He knew that God loved Him with an everlasting love. He knew that God would hold him in the palm of His hand and would keep him forever.

Lord, have mercy. What does it mean? It means first of all that Bartemaeus recognized that Jesus is Lord. That is to say, Jesus is God and has power over life and death. Because of this, though, Bartemaeus could cry out to this Lord for mercy. He is asking that God won’t give Him what He deserves. Bartemaeus knows that he deserves the blindness of his eyes just like we deserve the blindness that sin brings. But Bartemaeus prays that God would open his eyes in sight just as He opens our eyes to see His mercy. Have mercy.

Bartemaeus isn’t afraid to ask God what he wants. Are you? Are you afraid to ask God for forgiveness? Are you afraid to ask God to be with you in times of trouble? Are you afraid that God will abandon you when you need Him most?

Don’t be afraid. This week’s epistle lesson is the great love chapter from I Corinthians 13. It is perhaps the most beloved chapter in the entire bible. But what is often missed about this chapter is that Paul is describing God’s love. That is the depth of God’s love. This love is so deep and wide that it will engulf the sinner in a flood of forgiveness. That’s you. This love of God will put you back together when you are beaten and broken by sin and oppression. This love of God doesn’t look for the easy way out. No, God’s love goes the very hard road, the road to Calvary and death on a cross. That’s God’s love. That’s how far His love will go to save you.

Our gradual this week exclaims You are the God who does wonders. That is who God is. And what is the greatest wonder of all? It’s not that Jesus healed Bartemaeus’ blindness, but rather that He gives you faith. Yes, that is the great miracle of God. He gives you the faith to journey with Him to Calvary and death, so that you may journey with Him to life eternal.

This is why we in the Christian Church hold up the faith of Bartemaeus as such a wonderful example for us to hear and follow. Bartemaeus didn’t try to make sense of things. He didn’t complain to God that his life was so miserable or that so-and-so had it so much better than him. Blind Bartemaeus looked at Jesus and cried with the only words that made any sense at all: Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy.

This week we begin our Lenten journey to the cross. This is a time of deep reflection for the Christian. This is the time when we look at our sin with the eyes of the Law and realize the depth of our sinfulness and depravity. But this is also the time when we look to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising its shame. This is the time when we cry out with the Church of all ages: Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy.

It is no accident that we pray these words right before receiving Christ’s body and blood in the Lord’s Supper, either. For it is here, at His Holy Altar, that we receive God’s mercy more than any other place. It is here that God’s mercy is poured out for you into the cup of His salvation. Oh taste and see how gracious the Lord is, blessed is the man who trusts in Him. Come to the Lord’s Table, and receive a foretaste of His mercy that knows no bounds. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all human understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith, unto life everlasting. Amen.

[ top ]

Return to Quinquagesima
This page was created on 01/15/2007 and last edited on: 01/15/2007

Main Menu

This Section

Quinquagesima - 2001


Main Menu Sitemap Recent Home Beliefs Liturgy and Preaching Parish Education Articles History Links Contact Pastor * Pastor's Blog Calendar Directions Photobook This Section Quinquagesima 2004 Quinquagesima 2003 Quinquagesima - 2002 Quinquagesima - 2001	Quinquagesima - 2001 Todd A. Peperkorn, STM Messiah Lutheran Church Kenosha, Wisconsin Quinquagesima (Feb. 25, 2001) Luke 18:31-43 TITLE: “The Seeing Blindman” Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this morning is from the Gospel lesson just read, the story of blind Bartemaeus in Luke 18. We focus on the words of the blind man, Son of David, have mercy on me! Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy. It is perhaps the simplest prayer you could pray or sing. Yet within those two simple words are packed more great stuff about God than we can hardly imagine. We pray them at least twice in our liturgy every week. At the very beginning of the Divine Service, we pray In peace let us pray to the Lord, Lord have mercy. Then later on in the service, right before receiving Christ’s body and blood in the Sacrament, we pray: O Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy. The words roll off your tongue like you’ve been saying them your whole life. But what do they mean? What do they tell you about who you are as a sinner and who Jesus is as Lord? Our text begins with Jesus taking his disciples aside to tell them what’s what. He takes them aside to tell them that he is going to be handed over to the Gentiles, he will be spat upon and mocked, he will suffer as a common sinner and He will die the death of a criminal. This is God’s future. Now even though Jesus’ disciples had been with him for over two years by this time, they still couldn’t hear what He had to say. They couldn’t understand that Jesus’ death was the point on His life. The point of Jesus’ life was hidden from them. But it would be revealed in the faith of a blind man sitting alongside the road. Before we go on to look at this blind man, let’s stop here for a minute. How often is it that people come to church, go to Sunday School or Bible class their whole lives, and yet never get the point? We like to think that just going through the motions is enough. Well, I’m here to tell you from God that going through the motions is not the same as faith. Remember that Jesus’ disciples had been with Him every step of the way. Some had even seen Him transfigured before them. They had a glimpse of God’s glory. Time and time again he had predicted His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. This was the point! Yet Jesus’ disciples didn’t get it. They couldn’t believe that Jesus would eat and drink with sinners. They couldn’t believe that He was going to die. They couldn’t believe, even though it was right in front of their faces! This is true in our own lives as well. How many of you have children or grandchildren or parents or siblings or cousins who grew up in the Church? They came to God’s house. They heard the Word. Yet they never got it. They have fallen away from the faith. Like the seed that went upon the rock or in the thorns from last week, many come week after week, but it’s like they are sitting in a different pew. They don’t hear the simple truth of Law & Gospel: You are a sinner, and Jesus comes to save sinners just like you. It’s pretty straightforward, isn’t it? Not too complicated. Jesus wants you to be in His house so that He can forgive your sins and bring you to heaven. This was the message that the disciples couldn’t get, and this is the message that we as sinners forget again and again week after week after week. It shouldn’t surprise us, then, that some stop coming to church entirely. So let’s move on. Jesus then is on the road to Jericho. While he’s on the road, a crowd of onlookers follows him around. As they are on the road, a blind man alongside the road hears the crowd and asks what’s going on. We learn from Mark that the man’s name is Bartemaeus. Bartemaeus heard from the crowd that it was Jesus who was passing by. When he heard this, Bartemaeus cried out, saying, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Kyrie eleison! It is the cry of every sinner who needs Jesus. It is the cry of every soul that is weighed down by the cares of this life, by the trials that we all face as children of Adam. It is the cry that doesn’t try to manipulate God or make demands. It is the cry of faith. Kyrie eleison! Lord have mercy. This blind man, upon hearing that Jesus was close by, cried out to the Son of David for mercy. And notice that this cry continued, even after the crowds tried to shut him up. Bartemaeus cried out because He knew that God would give Him mercy. He knew that God loved Him with an everlasting love. He knew that God would hold him in the palm of His hand and would keep him forever. Lord, have mercy. What does it mean? It means first of all that Bartemaeus recognized that Jesus is Lord. That is to say, Jesus is God and has power over life and death. Because of this, though, Bartemaeus could cry out to this Lord for mercy. He is asking that God won’t give Him what He deserves. Bartemaeus knows that he deserves the blindness of his eyes just like we deserve the blindness that sin brings. But Bartemaeus prays that God would open his eyes in sight just as He opens our eyes to see His mercy. Have mercy. Bartemaeus isn’t afraid to ask God what he wants. Are you? Are you afraid to ask God for forgiveness? Are you afraid to ask God to be with you in times of trouble? Are you afraid that God will abandon you when you need Him most? Don’t be afraid. This week’s epistle lesson is the great love chapter from I Corinthians 13. It is perhaps the most beloved chapter in the entire bible. But what is often missed about this chapter is that Paul is describing God’s love. That is the depth of God’s love. This love is so deep and wide that it will engulf the sinner in a flood of forgiveness. That’s you. This love of God will put you back together when you are beaten and broken by sin and oppression. This love of God doesn’t look for the easy way out. No, God’s love goes the very hard road, the road to Calvary and death on a cross. That’s God’s love. That’s how far His love will go to save you. Our gradual this week exclaims You are the God who does wonders. That is who God is. And what is the greatest wonder of all? It’s not that Jesus healed Bartemaeus’ blindness, but rather that He gives you faith. Yes, that is the great miracle of God. He gives you the faith to journey with Him to Calvary and death, so that you may journey with Him to life eternal. This is why we in the Christian Church hold up the faith of Bartemaeus as such a wonderful example for us to hear and follow. Bartemaeus didn’t try to make sense of things. He didn’t complain to God that his life was so miserable or that so-and-so had it so much better than him. Blind Bartemaeus looked at Jesus and cried with the only words that made any sense at all: Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy. This week we begin our Lenten journey to the cross. This is a time of deep reflection for the Christian. This is the time when we look at our sin with the eyes of the Law and realize the depth of our sinfulness and depravity. But this is also the time when we look to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising its shame. This is the time when we cry out with the Church of all ages: Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy. It is no accident that we pray these words right before receiving Christ’s body and blood in the Lord’s Supper, either. For it is here, at His Holy Altar, that we receive God’s mercy more than any other place. It is here that God’s mercy is poured out for you into the cup of His salvation. Oh taste and see how gracious the Lord is, blessed is the man who trusts in Him. Come to the Lord’s Table, and receive a foretaste of His mercy that knows no bounds. In the name of Jesus. Amen. The peace of God, which passes all human understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith, unto life everlasting. Amen.
	[ top ] Return to Quinquagesima This page was created on 01/15/2007 and last edited on: 01/15/2007
	Username: Password: