Sermon Notes for Quinquagesima Sunday 15 February 2015 Anno Domini
The Sunday called Quinquagesima, or the
Sunday next before Lent.
The Collect.
O LORD, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; Send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whoso-ever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God. (Luke 18:31-43)
We will see today how Christ was so exceedingly constant in His love for us even while His death was impending. He never waivered in the face of His coming passion, It is an unattainable standard to which we must aspire. It is not a simple matter to consider the welfare and spiritual disposition of others while we are headed for a cruel cross ourselves, but Christ DID, and He did so as earnestly as He did at the beginning of His ministry.
We will not also how prevailing prayer, in the face of detractors, will be heard by God. Though many – even supposed believers – may attempt to severe our voices from a direct access to God, with perseverance, no wall can divide from the Springs of Mercy in Christ.
We would miss the great thrust of the day if we did not make mention of the prescribed Epistle for today – 1 Cor 13 – the Love Chapter. All that Christ bore in His body and soul for us was an open demonstration of that love presented in 1 Cor 13.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (1 Cor 13:1-10)
This beautiful chapter tells us that all our labors, works, and service must have their foundations in love.
No matter the good we do, if love is not the motivator and cause, it is a waste to us for heavenly approval.
Christ gave, out of love, His very lifeblood for us. He was longsuffering and patient. He did not sound a trumpet before Him, but came speaking in a voice of kindness and soft accent. Christ bore all things for us – what have we born for Him?
Let us now address the text of Luke 18:31-43
Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem for the last time. He is fully aware of the cataclysmic events that will occur: His betrayal, His trial, His torture, and His terrible death on the cross. But He continues to love and serve as long as His life’s breath remains – even forgiving and receiving a thief on the very cross upon which He suffered.
31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
As Jesus approached Jericho, there was a certain man who had sat begging by the roadside. He had sat there year in and year out begging for the mere sustenance of life. When he had been led by his friends to the place he sat down that morning, he had not dreamed of the blessings the day would bring.
Often, we worry about the days events but most often, our worries are unfounded and God will provide an unexpected blessing.
Though the man knew not of the Coming Christ, the man’s plight and circumstances was fully known by Jesus. He had watched all those years as the man sat begging beside that dust road to Jericho. Perhaps the pre-incarnate Christ would have wanted to touch the man’s eyes with healing before he ever came to beg, but, with God, there is a time and season for all things.
It may be that Christ desired us to glorify God more mightily in the visible example of His healing of the man. Even the blind have glorified the Father by His manifest works.
35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging
How random this sounds – how accidental even. But with God, there is no random thought or action, and there are no accidents. Christ was surely coming to the very place that this blind man sat begging.
Christ knew the man was worried with the cares of life much more greatly than those who were whole. The man would have been satisfied, before he met Christ, to have received a few shillings with which to buy food – but after we have met Christ, those concerns fall away. Our souls loom before us and we must care for them in Christ.
Though blind in sight, the man was privileged to retain his hearing – and it was made more acute by his blindness. : 36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. He wondered at the approaching crowd and what this meant. Little did he know that he had come to this place as a blind beggar, but would leave a blessed child of God, rejoicing and glorifying God. He would also be a follower of the Lord who had healed his eyes as well as his soul.
37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by God must have seen to it, in His divine Providence, that this man had heard of Christ being discussed by passersby and his friends. He had hung on to every word that he had heard – not knowing or believing that such as him would SEE Christ face to face!
When we while away our hours and days contemplating our troubles and loneliness, little do we know that the Savior is on His Way to us.
38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. The blind man may never have even given thought to the possibility that Jesus would restore his sight. That was not important to the man. The most important blessing that would outweigh all else was that Christ would simply have mercy upon him. That mercy of Christ is of greater benefit than all else.
It is sadly true that those nearest to Christ are often the very ones who bar the way to others in coming to Him. This is often true even in the Church. We stake out our territories and spheres of influence and woe be unto any who trespass.
We too often want to keep the blessings of God to ourselves and by that desire loose them.
39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
As Paul counsels “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free …” (Gal 5:1) Give no ground to the nay sayers. When the enemy attack becomes most intense, retreat not – commit your reserves. No man was going to silence this man’s voice when God was listening. He simply redoubled his effort and his volume.
40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him
When God stands still it is the moment of His greatest action. Christ stopped for the blind man.
You and I were blind too before Christ came to us. When we call on His Name, He will stop and command us to be brought to Him – often by the Holy Ghost, but now by men. He has commanded us to bring many souls. Have we done?
When we are near to Christ, we can hear His voice.
Now that the blind man was assured of the mercy of the Lord, he felt free to ask whatsoever he needed most: “41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. Please observe that Christ heals fully and not partially, immediately and not with delay. When we have called upon Him, when we have COME to Him, when we have HEARD His voice – He will heal us and SAVE us. The man had great faith – and His faith was well-placed.
We should remember how the man came to the roadside, but also how he left it. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
Once we have seen and known, our souls should be changed completely. We do not depart from Christ in the same manner in which we came. We must, if we have been made whole, depart praising Him and glorifying His Holy Name. Our lives will be an inspiration and curiosity to others who need to know Christ.
AMEN