Blindness and Renewed Vision

Transcription

1 October 28, 2018 Proper 25 Semicontinuous Job 42:1 6, Ps. 34:1 8, (19 22) Complementary Jer. 31:7 9 Ps. 126 Heb. 7:23 28 Mark 10:46 52 Goal for the Session Youth will, with Bartimaeus, reflect on what in their lives must be cast aside in order to be a more faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. n PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on Mark 10:46 52 WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, A.K.M. Adam Mark shows us Jesus making the transition from his role as an itinerant healer to the fullness of his identity as the regal Son. The interaction between Jesus and Bartimaeus manifestly invokes both those roles, and Bartimaeus demonstrates persistent reliance specifically upon the Son of David as the one who could restore his sight. In the healing of Bartimaeus, Mark gently affirms Jesus identity as the anointed Son, but Jesus accepts that role by helping a noisy beggar. Together, the healer and the beggar recognize in one another more than the distracting, misguided crowd (or the imperial forces, or the temple establishment) understands: that regal authority comes to divine expression in deliverance, in persistence, in fulfilling the vocation of recognizing and strengthening one another. WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, Victor McCracken Bartimaeus follows Jesus on the way, a sharp departure from the normal pattern of healing stories in Mark s Gospel, which usually end with Jesus sending the healed away from him with the command to be silent (1:44; 5:19, 37, 43; 7:36; 8:26). At one level the conclusion to the Bartimaeus episode suggests something about the life-altering consequences that accompany the granting of sight. Bartimaeus will accompany Jesus on the way. Having been granted sight, Bartimaeus can do nothing but follow the Messiah who has brought the good news of God s kingdom to bear in such a tangible way. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, Cynthia A. Jarvis This story invites us to consider our own ministry to the outsider, the voice silenced by institutional pronouncements. How easy it is to let the manageable needs of a congregation buffer us from those who await word of God s mercy on the margins. When our ministry is marked by encounters with the blind who want to see, the lame who want to walk, the leper who wants to be cleansed, we catch a glimpse of what it must be to come close to Jesus. For through them we hear the word he speaks to us anew. NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, Lincoln E. Galloway The blind man is portrayed as a model of Christian discipleship. He comes to Jesus and does so by casting aside his cloak. It is quite reasonable to regard his cloak as representing his most treasured possession. It has kept him warm through the cold nights. It may also hold the meager spoils of his begging. In his act of throwing off his cloak, we see the image of one who leaves his former life behind. To those who have always known honor, power, affluence, and prestige, this image reminds us of the transforming effect of the gospel to call forth a life of renunciation and dramatic change. 1

2 FOCUS SCRIPTURE Mark 10:46 52 Focus on Your Teaching As we engage the story of blind Bartimaeus, we are reminded that the challenges young people face must be cast aside, like his cloak, in order to truly follow Christ. Young people regularly face both circumstances beyond their control and self-created obstacles that prevent them from fully living their faith and their dreams. When they identify and cast aside these obstacles, however, they are free to encounter Christ in a life-changing way. Draw me close to you, O Lord, through the examples of those who are able to overcome great challenges and demonstrate great faith. Amen. YOU WILL NEED Resource Sheet 1 small basket scissors Bibles beach towel copies of Resource Sheet 2 newsprint markers For Responding: option 1: paper, pens option 2: sticky notes, index cards, pens For Video Connection: Glee (Season 1, Episode 9: Wheels ) and video-playing equipment n LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Before the participants arrive, cut apart the questions on Resource Sheet 1 (Focus on Mark 10:46 52) and place them in a small basket. For all three options of Responding, write this question on a posted sheet of newsprint: What do you need to cast aside in order to be a more faithful disciple of Jesus Christ? As participants arrive, have them take turns selecting and responding to a question in the basket. After each question is answered, the participant should place the question back in the basket. It s OK for participants to answer the same question. Once everyone has had a chance to answer a question and once all of the questions have been answered at least once, explain that today s focus scripture is about what we can do to become faithful disciples. Pray: Holy God, through the power of your Spirit, give us insight into the ways you are at work in the Scriptures, in our lives, and in the world around us. Amen. EXPLORING Form groups of two or three. Have groups read Mark 10: Then have each group create and present a newscast about the story found in this Scripture passage. Elements of the newscast might include a basic report that tells the facts as from a news desk, an interview with Bartimaeus describing his experience, and an interview with an eyewitness (one of the disciples). Give each group a beach towel to use as Bartimaeus s cloak as participants retell this story in their newscast reports. 2

3 After groups have presented their newscasts, ask: P What circumstances beyond Bartimaeus s control prevented him from living the life he wanted to live? P What actions did he take in changing his situation? P What role did Jesus play in this story? P What did Bartimaeus do after he regained his sight? Have a volunteer read aloud Mark 10:47. Ask: Why is it significant that Bartimaeus was referring to Jesus as Son of David? (See Lincoln E. Galloway s perspective in Now What? on p. 1.) Have a volunteer read aloud Mark 10:50. Ask: What is the significance of the cloak in this story? Once the participants have had time to ponder this question, distribute copies of Resource Sheet 2 (Curing Spiritual Blindness). Read the quotation together. Ask: According to this analysis, what is the significance of the cloak in the story? Invite youth to listen as you read aloud Mark 10:46 52, and to keep in mind the significance of the cloak in the story. Explain that all of us have things that need to be cast aside before we can be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. EASY PREP If possible, play contemplative music while participants write a response to the posted question. RESPONDING Choose one or more of the following learning activities: 1. Throwing Aside Our Cloaks Give each person a sheet of paper and a pen. Have participants draw the outline of a cloak on the paper. Then call the participants attention to the question on the sheet of newsprint. Have participants silently reflect on the question and write a response inside the drawing of a cloak. When all are finished, have participants wad up their papers and toss them into a recycling bin. Explain that this action symbolizes the casting aside of things that are preventing us from being more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. 2. Taking Note Form pairs of participants. Give each pair sticky notes and a pen. Have pairs brainstorm as many responses to the question on the prepared sheet of newsprint as possible, writing each response on a separate sticky note. Have pairs stick the notes on (or around) the posted sheet of newsprint. Review the various responses together. Then have each participant select one of the responses with which he or she identifies. Give each person an index card and a pen. Have each person stick his or her selected note on the index card and then write three ways in which he or she can cast aside what is written on the note in the coming week. 3

4 3. Making Music Call the participants attention to the question on the sheet of newsprint. Form groups of two or three. Have each group create and present a song or rap that responds to the posted question. When all of the groups have presented their songs or raps, invite each participant to select one of the responses to the question that was mentioned in the songs or raps. Ask: What is one thing you can do in the coming week to cast this aside? CLOSING Read aloud Mark 10:52. Ask: What do you think that the next week was like for Bartimaeus? Have participants reflect on how their lives might be different this week after casting aside something in order to be a more faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Send the participants with this blessing: May you transform your belief in God into action this week and in doing so begin to transform the world. Go to bit.ly/2k5qzar or search YouTube for Sue Sylvester auditions to cheerios Glee. n ENHANCEMENT VIDEO CONNECTION If your church has a viewing license, watch together the scene from Glee where Becky auditions for the Cheerios (Season 1, Episode 9: Wheels ). In this scene, Becky, a student with Down syndrome, auditions for the school s awardwinning cheerleading squad known as the Cheerios. A demanding (and by some accounts, mean) woman named Sue Sylvester coaches the squad. After watching the clip, discuss the following questions: P What circumstances in Becky s life could have kept her from fully living out her vision for her life? P Why do you think Becky was chosen to be on the cheerleading squad? P In what ways do Becky s story and Bartimaeus s story connect? 4

5 October 28, 2018 Youth Resource Sheet 1 Focus on Mark 10:46 52 What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? What is one way in which you ve seen someone be a disciple of Jesus Christ in the past week? What types of things can prevent people from being the disciple that Jesus calls them to be? When you see the word discipleship, what word pops into your mind? Who in your congregation (or in your life) provides a good example of discipleship? 2018 Westminster John Knox Press

6 October 28, 2018 Youth Resource Sheet 2 Curing Spiritual Blindness The blind man is portrayed as a model of Christian discipleship. He comes to Jesus and does so by casting aside his cloak. It is quite reasonable to regard his cloak as representing his most treasured possession. It has kept him warm through the cold nights. It may also hold the meager spoils of his begging. In his act of throwing off his cloak, we see the image of one who leaves his former life behind. To those who have always known honor, power, affluence, and prestige, this image reminds us of the transforming effect of the gospel to call forth a life of reunification and dramatic change. From Now What? excerpt 2018 Westminster John Knox Press