“WHAT IF...THE POWER OF FAITH”
Rev. Robert Kaiser, Guest Preacher
November 8, 2009 Mark 10: 35-52
Do some of you like to read mysteries and adventure stories? I do and anything from Ludlum to Mary Higgins Clark to Grafton is a good way to end a day. Have you ever thought of the Bible as similar to a good mystery? For instance, there was so much material handed down about the life of Jesus: some of his teaching and events in his life had been written, others came via oral tradition. How and why did the writers pick and choose what they wrote down?
A good example comes from our morning scripture reading from Mark 10. The writer had heard two stories, one about two disciples asking for special favors, the other dealing with a blind man seeking assistance. Why did the writer choose to place them back-to-back? That’s our first mystery.
Let’s look more closely at the stories in order to get some answers. Jesus in both accounts in Mark 10 asked the same question: “What do you want me to do for you?” But notice the difference in the responses. James and John wanted nothing less than to have places of honor at the right and left hand of Jesus in the coming Kingdom. Don’t lots of people today tend to see Jesus in the same terms as did the disciples?
Bartimaeus‘ request, on the other hand, was much more humble and basic. The custom in the First Century was that handicapped people were placed by the side of the road each day in order to beg from travelers. Bartimaeus sitting by the roadside simply wanted his sight so that he could get on with daily life. It’s interesting that the text says that Bartimaeus became a follower of “The Way,” the earliest designation of those who modeled their lives around Christ. In contrast, James and John along with the rest of the disciples, our Lord’s closest friends, fled as soon as he was arrested. Mark’s moral is obvious: the Christian faith is not about elitism and grandeur but rather about humility and service. He put the two incidents together in order to point out the true meaning of faith.
Another part of the mystery emerges as we realize that Mark was written 30-40 years after the death of Jesus. What did the writer intend to be the message for the early Church? Clearly Mark was concerned about the spiritual blindness of the original faith community. The Church, like James and John, did not fully understand its mission and, of course, the same charge could be leveled today. It’s tempting in talking about discipleship to think in terms of what Jesus can do for us and he can do a great deal, but always there is a component of service in our activities in the Church. Always there is a cross, a suffering servant, and one person giving his life for many, as a model for all of us.
Thus, Mark’s hope was that in contrasting the two stories it would help to lead the Christian community out of its limited vision into a new appreciation for its calling. Looking at the cross as we do every Sunday opens our eyes and removes the blindness so that we truly see life with Christ-colored glasses.
Now the third part of the mystery concerns 2009. Suppose we, like Bartimaeus, really could SEE and each day became a partnership with our Creator. What would be the result of gaining such spiritual sight?
You may know of Dr. Robert Schuler, who is on TV and famous for the Crystal Cathedral in California. I confess that I have not been a great fan of Dr. Schuler. His comments often seem far too simplistic. For instance, in one of his books, “Power Thoughts” he writes about the battle between David and Goliath in these terms. He says the Israelites were saying, “He’s so big, we can’t win” while David the shepherd boy said, “He so big, I can’t miss.” Life is a little more complex than that , but in that same book he keeps making a point about the power of faith and how we need to expect more from trusting in the Almighty. That got me to thinking about our text and Bartimaeus.
What if there is a power in our faith that we haven’t taken seriously enough? Peter Jennings of ABC TV once pointed out that camera crews descend soon after an earthquake, riot, storm or crash so the news can get on TV quickly. Invariably, he said, a reporter sticks a microphone n a survivor’s face and asks: “How did you get through this terrible experience?” Often the survivor replies: “I just prayed and without God’s help I don’t think I could have made it.” Jennings say at that point there usually is an awkward moment of silence and then the reporter asks another question that, even if they don’t come right out and say it goes something like this: “Now, that’s very nice but what really got you through this ordeal?”
Jennings suggested that there is a huge gap between what the media presents and the attitudes of people when it comes to the power of faith. Interestingly, ABC subsequently hired a reporter to deal with the religious side of news stories and the D&C has done the same. Can it be that in our secular world we have become inured to the possibilities of our faith? We hear the story of Bartimaeus on Sunday but do we ever consider that a similar power might run through our lives on Wednesday?
I’ve been thinking about the possibilities of the power of faith the last few weeks. It has been quite a hectic time: two friends have been diagnosed with breast cancer, two others have the beginning of Alzheimer’s, and then there was Jim’s terrible accident. The evening after the crash when the congregation gathered for prayer and to discuss how to help, you could sense the anguish surrounding life issues. I have led quite a few retreats for men in AA and perhaps we need to follow their model. All recovering alcoholics have stories about what God has done in their lives. Indeed, they would say that without a Higher Power they would have been lost forever. Does it seem strange to say that perhaps we have neglected the power of our faith? As a starting point, we need to give more significance to our time of prayer on Sunday morning. Of course, not all our prayers are answered but still there is a power that radiates out when “two or three” gather to seek God’s help. I always have said in my ministry that the greatest miracles are not people suddenly recovering but rather the strength, hope and courage that God has given to people that has enabled them to move through “the valley of the shadow.”
What would happen this week if we lived as though the power of Christ were very much a part of our lives? I’m speaking of more than just prayer but a whole way of life. Thomas More, a popular writer, certainly was right when he said, “The things, good Lord, that we pray for, give the grace to labor for.” We definitely have a role in the healing process in whatever circumstances we face in the days ahead. Your commitment to “be there for Jim and Robin” certainly was evident that night when the congregation gathered. In life situations instead of thinking of all the reasons why something can’t be done, maybe we need to be more aware of the powerful possibilities in our lives that could result from combining faith and action. Maybe we need to pick up on Dr.Schuler’s image of David and Goliath: Instead of thinking, “”this problem is too much for me”, we need to say, “ the problem’s so big I can at least help a little.” If our efforts don’t work that’s o.k. because God is there to give us new opportunities.
The Episcopal bishop of the largest diocese in Oklahoma was in Rochester some years ago. He told of his reaction when he received his first pair of glasses at the age of 10. Putting them on, suddenly, the world came into focus for the first time in his life. He actually could see across the street, read all of the signs, see and recognize people! He rushed home and began to share his excitement with his parents over his new vision. Finally his father asked him, “Son, why didn’t you tell us you weren’t able to see very well?” He answered, “Daddy, nobody ever told me how far I should be able to see.”
Could it be that we, like Bartimaeus, are not really seeing all that there is to see in life and that our faith in Christ could make much more of a difference?
The Rev. Robert Kaiser until his retirement was the Pastor of the Gates Presbyterian Church. He has since served a variety of short-term interim positions, most recently at the East Bethany Presbyterian Church. He has also served a term as Moderator of the Presbytery of Genesee Valley. Bob and his wife Marilyn live in Chili. On this particular Sunday he was substituting for Rev, Renfrew, following a recent car accident.
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