All Saints Lutheran Church
Thanksgiving Eve
November 27, 2002
Pastor Tim Johnson

What would happen if you lost your sight?

Just this past summer, after a good bit of time needing them, I got glasses. Just like many of you, I discovered to my delight how much clearer the world became. I almost couldn't believe that I could see quite as well as I was seeing.

This story that I chose for tonight has to do with seeing as never before. As Jesus and others set out on the road to Jericho, they came upon a blind man, who Mark identifies as Bartimaeus.

Now, this blind man was not able to see but he was obviously aware that something important was happening. He heard the noise of the crowd... You can sort of imagine the scene: He stood up, reached out and grabbed someone by the arm and asks, "What is it? What is happening?" They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."

He may have been blind, but he probably knew who Jesus was. He had heard all about Him. In fact, the blind always listen more intently. But he probably 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 surely thought he was being rude - getting out of his place.

You can almost hear them: "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.

It's a good place to pause and ask something of our own lives. What about you? What is it that is hurting you? How have you, perhaps, been living in the dark?

In some very real way, 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, there are a few things to hold on to tonight.

I

First, 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, 7acchaeus, 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

The second thing to know tonight is that 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.

There was a meeting of the conference board of ordained ministry where candidates were interviewed seeking to be ordained. One of them was a woman who had been born deaf. She told about how 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.

Maybe your life has 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.

III

A third thing to know tonight is that 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 now live his life.

Jesus 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.

The words to an old hymn say: "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." With Jesus, you will see a vision of your best self where you are.

To put it differently, Jesus helps us see a different perspective--a different perspective on ourselves and upon the world.

You will see - if you dare to look - the truth about who you are in Christ. And the best person you can be because of it.

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 people 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 that Jesus is 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, "These are the things 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."

As you come into Jesus' presence, and as you let Jesus heal your hurts, Jesus will give you a new vision, a new perspective. 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 sifter. 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 sifter, "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.

And, for this, we live thankful lives.

Amen.