We know Bartimaeus by Name

Part of my sermon on Mark 10 compared Bartimaeus the blind beggar with the man often called the 'Rich Young Ruler'.

One detail that escaped me until I was biking home through fish creek. We know Bartimaeus by name, the name of the 'Rich Young Ruler' has been forgotten. I'm sure at the time few would have known Bartimaeus and many would have know the name of the 'Rich Young Ruler'. "This is once again the Great Reversal: Many who are first will end up last, and the last first."

- Peace

One Thing

Mark 10:17-22

As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?"

Jesus said, "Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, don't cheat, honor your father and mother."

He said, "Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all!"

Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, "There's one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me."

The man's face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.

I think the one thing in this quote has two parts, give away your wealth and follow me. We tend to focus on the giving up of the wealth in the story cause that's as far as the man in question got. I think the rest of Mark 10 shows a great deal about the follow me and helps make sense of this request.

I'll be following that line of thinking when I preach on Sunday at South Meadows.

Update: I'll also be teaching at Xalt Sunday night. Melissa was scheduled to speak but will be in BC this weekend for a funeral and doesn't know if she'll make it back in time.

- Peace