Jericho Jubilations

As we gather for worship at Seneca Presbyterian Church this coming Sunday, the Sunday before Palm Sunday, the Narrative Lectionary text that will greet us is more a triptych than a single painting. Check out Luke 18:31-19:10 and you will find three pericopes (as they are called in seminary) combined into one.

First, Jesus offers his third and final passion prediction to the twelve, namely the disciples who are in his inner circle. It is a prediction full of dire warnings about betrayal, violence, brutality, death – and rising. But the twelve just don’t get it.

          Then Jesus encounters a blind man as he enters the city of Jericho. Mark tells the same story and gives the blind man a name. He is Bartimaeus. The contrast is a bit obvious. The twelve disciples who have traveled with Jesus for three years don’t understand what he is trying to tell them about the events that are about to unfold in Jerusalem. But a blind man hidden in a crowd in the city of Jericho recognizes Jesus and calls out to him: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Jesus hears him. He brings the crowd to a standstill, and offers Bartimaeus the most amazing gift imaginable: What do you want me to do for you?  “I want to see,” is the answer. And Jesus restores his sight.

The third story is the one you came to know as a child. It’s the story of the short, nimble, very rich, and determined tax collector named Zacchaeus. He’s the one who gets to host Jesus for dinner. It’s a meal that changes his life forever. The very rich tax collector becomes the very generous philanthropist. He gives away half of what he owns and promises to repay fourfold anyone whom he has defrauded.

          When we as faithful seekers to explore these three stories, we found ourselves wondering, questioning, and challenging each other about the people in them.

• How did the disciples not understand what Jesus was trying to tell them? If they had, what would have been different? Would they have fled far sooner?
• How could a blind beggar ever know about Jesus? Was his faith based on hearsay and the hope against hope that this One could heal? What was there to lose in the trying? Or in his physical blindness, could he truly recognize the hand of God?
• Who would Zacchaeus be today? Was he really a crook? Or was he an honest man who happened to be successful? Why did Jesus choose him?

 Where do you find yourself in these stories? Is it with the disciples, the blind man, the rich tax collector, or the crowd? Is it the grumbling, inhibiting, controlling, judging crowd? Or is it the crowd that praises God?

          Let me know what you think. And then join us for worship on this Sunday before Palm Sunday where we will explore some more, and praise God.