Lutheran Sermon Mark 10 What Do You Want Me to Do for You

Stewardship Sunday

October 8, 2017

"We Are Beggars; Information technology Is True"

Mark 10:46-52

Rev. John R. Larson

Ascension Lutheran Church  Littleton, Colorado

No one likes to beg.  Information technology's demeaning.  Information technology'due south embarrassing.  Information technology seems to accept away our dignity.

It seems that my travels take me to the corner of Littleton Avenue and Broadway every few days.  I'grand heading north to Swedish or Porter's to see you in the hospital.  But even more than importantly, Wendy'due south, Burger King and Subway are that management.  At that corner there is a homeless man who holds out his sign to every auto that passes that way.  He needs assistance.  That light is quite long and we had a gamble to talk for a little bit a few weeks ago.  He told me nearly his pes that is injured and bandaged – he has a definite limp.  I guess he is just a ragamuffin.  And I bet he doesn't like doing it.

All over our area, at many intersections, on the on-ramp or the off-ramp, at that place are beggars.  Men, women, teenagers, erstwhile people and some in the middle are beggars.  They agree out a sign, telling of their situation and enquire for assist.  But, I imagine, no one likes to beg.

A few Saturdays ago we had a meeting of about 30 folks.  The gathering was about the preparations for our Severe Weather Shelter Network – our intendance for the homeless on cold nights.  We talked about the responsibilities that the guests – the homeless – have before they leave in the morning.  But we have seen, as in whatsoever situation – some folks work and some don't.  One of our team leaders said of it, "I'grand not going to beg for them to practise the work."  No one likes to beg!!

If we don't become plenty attending from another, or not enough affection from those closest to usa, it is difficult to bring information technology up.  Information technology is hard to beg for something that we demand.  At a recent Wednesday Evening Bible Study nosotros seemed to go sidetracked, somehow, from our topic.  I person started talking about a pastor at her church some time ago said that if he had to beg for money for the church that he needed to preach somewhere else.  No one wants to beg!!

But the Bible is filled with beggars.  Our reading is about a proud ragamuffin. "And so they came to Jericho.  As Jesus and His disciples, together with a big crowd, were leaving the city, a blind human being, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus) was sitting by the roadside begging.  When he heard that information technology was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'  Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, just he shouted all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'  Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him.'  And so they called to the blind man, 'Cheer up!  On your feet!  He'due south calling you."  Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.  'What do you want me to do for y'all?'  Jesus asked him.  The blind human said, 'Rabbi, I want to see.'  'Go,' said Jesus, 'your organized religion has healed you.'  Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road."  (Marker 10:46-52)

Possibly begging isn't then bad.  Bartimaeus couldn't see a thing merely he had heard most Jesus and the miracles He was doing.  If Jesus would make him see he wouldn't have to beg any more.  He wasn't going to let this opportunity pass him by.  His life could modify in an instant if Jesus would merely practice His work.  But those effectually him told him to be quiet, only that got him more than determined – "He shouted all the more than."  He got louder and more obnoxious.  I think in that location are various levels of persistence when people won't take no for an respond.  Permit'southward see – they beginning out as a nuisance, then they become a whiner, and then they are a hurting, followed by a pest, and finally a beggar.  Bartimaeus was a beggar.  He was loud and persistent and he wasn't concerned that he made some of those folks uncomfortable.   "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me."  "Jesus, Help me!!"

A month ago Pastor Langness preached on the Matthew xv passage about the faith of the Canaanite woman whose daughter was affected past a demon.  The disciples of Jesus complained about her abiding begging.  They tell Jesus, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us!"  (Matthew fifteen:23b)  Merely she wouldn't go abroad.  She wouldn't take no for an reply.  Her request from Jesus was answered.  Her daughter?  Made well!!  Begging isn't always bad.

Martin Luther died on February 18, 1546 in Eisleben, Federal republic of germany.  Eisleben was the place of his birth, his Baptism and his expiry, though he lived other places in between.  In the pocket of his German pants was a handwritten note, it said, "Nosotros are beggars; It is truthful."  I gauge being a beggar, in Luther's middle, wasn't a bad thing.  He didn't regret it just acknowledged how proper it was.

That same piece of paper should be in our pockets, besides.  "We are beggars; It is truthful."  We are sinners; nosotros beg for forgiveness.  We have no righteousness of our own to present to our God; nosotros beg to exist clothed with the very righteousness of Jesus Christ.  Nosotros are weak; be beg to be made stiff.  We are very mortal; but we beg to accept immortal breath.  In the fourth stanza of the hymn, "Just as I Am, without One Plea" (LSB 570) we sing, "But as I am, poor, wretched, bullheaded; sight, riches, healing of the heed, yea, all I need, in Thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come, I come up."

So, if begging from God is actually good, then begging for God is good, as well.  That'due south what I practice today.  Begging is made because there are great needs that must be met.  Bartimaeus, the Canaanite female parent, the guy at Littleton and Broadway – they all beg because they have a need that is real.

Someone asked me if I thought the end of the world will be soon, and I gave the same impaired answer I give for lots of things, "I don't know".  Nobody knows.  But I'm wondering if everything that has happened recently isn't God telling the states that the terminate is close.  Ane disaster later on some other; one "1000 year storm" after another, an awful and gruesome slaughter in Las Vegas, are signs that Christ is coming again.  Maybe soon.

Simply what does it besides say?  It says, "We are beggars; It is true."  The needs that exist in our globe, and with our fellow human beings, are multiplying.  In the Tuesday paper was the picture that captured our eyes for these days.  A young human being is shielding a young lady on the asphalt at the music festival in Las Vegas.  Was she dead?  Injured?  Was this his girlfriend or wife?  Matthew Cobos, a soldier in the U.S. Regular army, was protecting a stranger.  He covered her from the danger and then covered her optics from her having to witness the bloodshed all around.  Shortly after that motion picture was taken they were able to run to safety, but he returned applying medical intendance to those who had been shot and were injured.   There were a lot of beggars there.  There were many who were asking for mercy.  I'1000 glad that he and many others were available to give care.

I beg you lot in Christ's name to be involved in mercy and kindness for the many people who need assistance.  That is what we are called to do in the years that God gives usa breath.  Nosotros are called to do that every twenty-four hour period of our life with our family, and those we work with, and those we go to school with, and those who are in our neighborhood.  Nosotros help those who have needs.  We exercise that individually.

And we do it collectively – together.  I am a beggar and I ask yous to involve yourself in the things that we are attempting to do together, in this church, in the proper noun of Jesus Christ.  When I get to tell someone who doesn't know what this community of Christians is all about, I tell them, with joy, near you.  I tell them how God is shown through your middle and actions, your generosity to a globe that needs the gifts from Jesus and so desperately.

Did you lot know that a beggar never stops request?  Nosotros never stop asking of God!!  Nosotros beg for His goodness, cleansing, strength and many gifts.  And this beggar, this balding senior citizen pastor, volition never stop begging from you.  I'yard going to ask for your coin – money that you fabricated, that you invested, and I'm going to ask for a sacrificial souvenir every Sunday.  I'll send those plates out after every sermon – even twice if we need to.  And I beg y'all for your time and skills.  We are in need of people who take a heart for leadership, for outreach, evangelism, social ministry, small groups, the Columbarium – where we place the ashes of our saints, and many more areas of service in this church.  A number of these areas of ministry and care have been vacant this twelvemonth and some for more than a year.  We need you, your middle, your fourth dimension, your skills, your hands.

No one likes to exist a beggar.  Only with humility we know that we are beggars before God for all the things of life.  To a globe that needs and then much, that needs Jesus, that needs your love, I beg you give, sacrifice, lead and serve.  That is what beggars do.  Amen!!

johnstonwhoultall.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.alutheran.org/sermons/5113/

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