What do you want me to do for you?

I was part of the caravan.

The caravan traveling to freedom, the caravan

traveling to find love.

The caravan traveling to Jericho.

You see, I am Bartimaeus.

I am blind and so I am a no body.

I could not work.

There are no social programs.

I am useless to society…and frankly, I was not

wanted.

No one wanted the blind guy, the free loader around.

Townspeople throw stones at me and worse.

The only thing I can do is to join the caravan with others like me…the blind, the crippled, the unwanted.

Look.

We are on our way to Jericho.

Jericho, the city, where, if we are lucky, we can beg

for handouts.

Our hope is that some merchant or shopper can spare

a coin or two, enough for some bread.

Maybe someone will care about us and what we are

going through.

Its too much to think anyone could love us.

This stream of humanity, this caravan, begins in the

outlying small villages in the country.

There is only one road so the group gets larger and

larger as it passes through villages and towns

picking up people as it moves through the

countryside…like a massive conga line.

That day we had just reached the outer gates of

Jericho.

We each find a spot to plop ourselves down in order

to get ready to panhandle.

We pulled out cloaks around us…not only to catch

the hoped for coins, but to protect ourselves

from the kicks and spit of the passersby.

We are lined up on either side of the dirt road,

hundreds of us.

And we each began to plead: “Help me.

Alms for the poor.”

Or “ I’m Homeless.”

“I’m a vet. Help.”

Our voices form a discordant cacophony chorus.

To beg is demeaning, but it is the only thing we can

do.

I felt a few coins drop into my lap.

Maybe enough for a small fish……my first protein

in weeks.

We had been there for hours, when suddenly a hush

came over the crowd.

Everything went quiet.

Since I could not see what was happening, I asked

“what’s going on?!”

The old woman next to me said, “It’s Jesus of

Nazareth.”

I could not believe it!

Jesus…here?!

Jesus had cured some folk.

He had fed 5000 people.

He was known for helping people like me.

I knew he could help me and so I shouted: Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!”

“Shut up you fool”, someone yelled.

Another voice said, “Quiet.

You are not allowed to speak.

Nobody cares about you.”

But I was not going to be quiet.

You see, this was Jesus.

So I shouted even louder: Jesus! Jesus!

And Jesus heard me…ME and asked ME to come

over.

I did not waste anytime.

That cloak was off my like butter on hot pancakes.

I jumped up like a jack in the box.

And somehow I made my way to Jesus.

He asked: what do you want me to do for you?

“Teacher, teacher,” I said.

“Make me see again.”

And Jesus did not touch me, he did not lays hands

on me, he did not even say a prayer he just said,

“Go. Your faith has made you well.”

And immediately, I could see.

Just like that!

I could see and I knew that Jesus was God.

I knew that Jesus was love.

I saw it!

And I was not going to miss out.

Right there and then I joined a different caravan.

I joined Jesus’ love train.

Listen.

I got more than sight that day.

I got real vision.

I could see all right…I could see that Jesus’ way was

different.

I wanted to be a part of it.

I wanted to form my life around his way of doing

things.

I wanted to tell the whole world what he was about.

Jesus might have said “go”…but I took that to mean

go with I’m so…I followed him to Jerusalem.

I am here to tell you I saw what he did on the cross.

Only love does that.

He could have come down at a moments notice.

He could have escaped anytime he wanted.

He did not have to hang there like that, and he

certainly did not have to die like that.

A man with the power, the power to make a blind

man see…

That’s a power more powerful than Rome or any

government.

That’s a power more powerful than any cross.

That’s a power more powerful than hate.

That’s a power more powerful than even death…

AND THAT’S THE POWER OF LOVE.

And that love did not stop with the first nail.

That love did not stop with the second nail or the

third.

That love did not stop when they raised up the cross

on the hill.

That love did not even stop in the grave.

No spree…on Easter Jesus walked out of that old

tomb…Jesus stomped on death, Jesus turned his

back on the grave and the Jesus love train

rolled right on through…changing our lives and

giving the world a vision of the way things can

be.

And that’s what Jesus wants us to see.

That’s the blindness we all can overcome.

Jesus wants us to see that His love makes a

difference in this world.

Jesus wants us to see His love can transform evil.

Jesus want us to see that His love can transform

hate.

Jesus wants us to see that His love can transform

violence even in a house of worship.

I am here to tell you that Jesus love you…and you…and you…

Jesus loves anybody.

From the nobody, to the somebody, to the

everybody.

Jesus loves us.

That love can get you through anything.

That love changes the world.

So friends, join me…

On the Jesus love train…in fact I think I hear it

coming now…

CELEBRATE

cue: The O’Jays “Love Train” video with lyrics

Stand up…join hands and get on board the love train…the love train of Jesus.

The congregation very eagerly joined hands, sang and danced around the church…ALLELUIA!