Holy Week – Discipleship, Bartimaeus, St Peter and Us! 

 Last year we walked up to Jerusalem with Bartimaeus – the blind man who Jesus cured outside the ancient city of Jericho. He immediately joined the disciples and followed Jesus. We speculated what part he might have play in the events of Holy Week

 

Palm Sunday - He would undoubtedly have been with them on Palm Sunday – been a part of the great procession into Jerusalem – perhaps he was laid palms in front of our Lord Himself

Monday – He would have been with them when Jesus demonstrated the power of faith by cursing the fig tree – witnesses Him cleansing the temple

 

Tuesday - Apostles witness the fig tree withered – Prophecies the temple's destruction 70 AD - teaches on faith in the temple and the great tribulation and second coming - Olivet Discourse which included the  Ten Virgins (Mt 25:1-13), The  Talents (Mt 25:14-30),  The Sheep & Goats (Mt 25:31-46).  At supper that night at Bethany Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with a very costly aromatic oil. Bartimaeus would have smelt its wonderful which reportedly filled the house and probably heard his teaching

Wednesday - Perhaps Bartimaeus was one of the disciples sent to follow the ‘man carrying a water jar’ to find the upper room for preparation for the Passover

Thursday - Bartimaeus would not have been at the last supper as this were for the 12 - but perhaps he went to the or at Gethsemane Garden. Was he the boy who escaped from the Temple guards when Jesus was arrested?

In our reading we first admire Peters loyalty and bravery - and then sympathize at his humanity. Initially he  bravely follows the group of soldiers arresting Jesus and taking Him to the high priest house. In doing this he would have risked being imprisoned or even crucifixion. Then he shows his humanity in denying that he was even a disciple of Jesus. Finally, Jesus’s prophesy was fulfilled – the cock crows. Peter is utterly distraught. His raw humanity is exposed. How far would we have gone down this track before yielding to our humanity?

 

If there is one thing that ‘lights my little wick’ it is people who come up to you and say things like ‘You church people go to church because you are all so good’

 

The truth is of course that we go to church because we aren’t good. Peter was not perfect!

 

·   In the Parable Lost sheep the shepherd leaves the main flock to find his missing sheep. Are we the lost sheep – at least some of the time?

 

·   In Parable of the Good Samaritan are we the Pharisee who crossed the road to avoid helping the injured man. Are we always the good Samaritan?

 

·   Parable of the two men who went to pray in the temple are we the sinner or the Pharisee or the sinner?

 

·    Parable of the Sower are we seeds scattered on stony ground, ….. or rocky ground shooting up when the time is right …. or among thorns – choked by the caries and worries and distractions of 21^st century life.

 

Can we honestly always say that we ‘love the Lord your God with all our hearts, and with all our soul, and with all our minds. and do we always love our neighbours as ourselves”?

 

We probably need to note that Our Lord also said “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God”

 

When Peter, a rich man raised this issue afterwards Jesus responded “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

 

So there is always hope! Church helps to keep us to the mark.

 

Peter not only repented, was forgiven and became one of the most courageous apostles - ultimately being not only crucified but crucified upside down at his own request.

 

Bartimaeus’s discipleship and Peter humanity and ultimate monumental commitment are example to us all.