MARK 10:46-52 | GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE MY NICKNAME

GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE MY NICKNAME
MARK 10:46-52
OCTOBER 25, 2015

DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME? MAYBE SOMETHING YOUR PARENTS CALLED YOU WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER?

SAM? TOOTS? SKEEZIX? KIDDO?

OUR CHILDREN ENDED UP WITH THE NICKNAMES: BRETTSKY, SMASHLEY, AND MEGWAN WAN KENOBI – AFTER THE STAR WARS CHARACTER OBI WAN KENOBI.

SPOUSES OFTEN HAVE PET NAMES FOR EACH OTHER. HOW ABOUT YOU?

OTHER NICKNAMES ARE BASED ON ALL SORTS OF THINGS:

IF YOU HAVE RED HAIR – THEY MIGHT CALL YOU “RED.”

LOTS OF JOHNs – LIKE JOHN KENNEDY BECOME JACKs; LOTS OF ELIZABETHs LIKE ELIZABETH TAYLOR BECOME LIZ; AND PLENTY OF OTHERS WITH LONG NAMES END UP WITH SHORTENED VERSIONS: TERRENCE – TERRY, LAWRENCE – LARRY, CATHERINE – CATHY.

BOB SMITH IN OUR CHOIR (AND OTHER SMITHS I’VE KNOWN OVER THE YEARS) END UP WITH THE NICKNAME “SMITTY.”

FOLKS WITH THE NAME SULLIVAN ARE OFTEN CALLED “SULLY;”

AN ENGLISH FELLOW I KNOW BY THE NAME OF COLLINS, WHO WAS ONCE IN THE BRITISH NAVY, IS NICKNAMED “JUMPER.”

PILOTS ARE OFTEN GIVEN CALL SIGNS – THE MILITARY’S VERSION OF NICKNAMES – BY THEIR FELLOW PILOTS.

AND WHILE THERE NOT EXACTLY NICKNAMES SOME FAMOUS PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR NAMES TO STAGE NAMES TO MAKE THEM MORE APPEALING, EASIER TO REMEMBER:

JOHN DEUTSCHENDORF JR – BECAME JOHN DENVER; KATHRYN ELIZABETH HUDSON IS KATY PERRY; AND DEMETRIA GUYNES BECAME DEMI MOORE.

THEN THERE ARE THE FOLKS WHO DECIDED TO GO WITH JUST ONE NAME: PELE, CHER, STING, MADONNA, PENN, TELLER, BONO, CHARRO, LIBERACE, EMINEM, AND KEISHA – WHO ALSO CHANGED THE “S” IN HER NAME TO A DOLLAR SIGN; AND PRINCE WHO ONCE CHANGED HIS WHOLE NAME TO JUST A SYMBOL SO AS TO AVOID A CONTRACT DISPUTE WITH HIS RECORD COMPANY.
ANYWAY – FOR SOME REASON WE’VE ALWAYS GRAVITATED TOWARD NICKNAMES FOR PEOPLE AND THE BIBLE IS NO DIFFERENT.

IN FACT, IN THE BIBLE, PEOPLE’S ACTUAL NAMES WERE OFTEN SELECTED FOR VERY SPECIFIC REASONS, OR BECAUSE OF CERTAIN EVENTS, ETC.

ADAM IS THE HEBREW WORD FOR MAN; EVE MEANS “TO LIVE” OR “TO GIVE LIFE.”

ISAAC (HEBREW FOR LAUGHTER) IS NAMED FOR THE LAUGHTER HIS AGED PARENTS ABRAHAM AND SARAH DISPLAYED WHEN THEY WERE TOLD THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE A BABY AT THEIR RESPECTIVE AGES OF 120 AND 100 YEARS OLD.

EVEN THEIR NAMES WERE CHANGED FROM ABRAM AND SARAI TO ABRAHAM AND SARAH.

JACOB’S NAME WAS CHANGED TO ISRAEL AFTER HIS NIGHT IN THE WILDERNESS WRESTLING WITH THE ANGEL OF GOD;

HE – NO LONGER THE CHEAT, LIAR, AND SCOUNDREL HE ONCE WAS, ESPECIALLY TOWARD HIS BROTHER ESAU, BUT NOW THE ONE THROUGH WHOM GOD WOULD RAISE UP A CHOSEN PEOPLE BEARING HIS NAME – ISRAEL.

SAUL’S NAME WAS CHANGED TO PAUL AFTER HIS CONVERSION TO CHRIST;

AND JESUS CHANGED SIMON’S NAME TO PETER – THE ROCK ON WHICH HE WOULD BUILD HIS CHURCH – SO THAT HE COULD CREATE AN ACTUAL PLAY-ON-WORDS ON THE MEANING OF HIS NAME.

OTHER OF JESUS’ DISCIPLES ALSO WOUND UP WITH NICKNAMES DUE TO THEIR PERSONALITIES, THEIR JOBS, OR EVENTS WHICH OCCURRED DURING JESUS LIFETIME:

I MENTIONED LAST WEEK HOW BROTHERS JAMES AND JOHN WERE KNOWN AS THE “SONS OF THUNDER.”

MATTHEW’S NAME WAS ALWAYS FOLLOWED BY THE IDENTIFIER – HIS JOB – THE TAX COLLECTOR; ANOTHER JAMES WAS CALLED JAMES THE TWIN TO DIFFERENTIATE HIM FROM JAMES THE FISHERMAN;

AND POOR THOMAS ENDED UP WITH THE NICKNAME “DOUBTING THOMAS” BECAUSE OF ONE MOMENTARY LAPSE IN FAITH;

IN ACTUALITY HE HAD PROVEN HIMSELF ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AS ONE OF THE MOST FAITHFUL AND BRAVEST OF ALL THE DISCIPLES.
WHICH BRINGS US TO THE MAN IN OUR STORY FOR THIS MORNING, BARTIMAEUS, FOR EVER KNOWN IN OUR BIBLES AND IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH BY HIS NICKNAME, BLIND BARTIMAEUS.

BY THE WAY YOU WILL OFTEN SEE THE WORD “BAR” ASSOCIATED WITH NAMES IN THE BIBLE, LIKE JESUS BAR JOSEPH; SIMON BAR JONAH; “BAR” SIMPLY MEANS “SON OF” AS IN JESUS THE SON OF JOSEPH, SIMON THE SON OF JONAH, AND IN THE CASE OF THE MAN IN OUR STORY FOR THIS MORNING BAR TIMAEUS – THE SON OF TIMAEUS;

BUT IT’S REALLY THE FIRST PART OF HIS NICKNAME – “BLIND” BARTIMAEUS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT FOR A MOMENT THIS MORNING – BECAUSE – WELL, BECAUSE AFTER HIS ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS, HE ISN’T ANYMORE…

HE ISN’T BLIND, I MEAN, SO SHOULDN’T WE CHANGE HIS NICKNAME?

HE’S NO LONGER BLIND BARTIMAEUS – HE’S SEEING BARTIMAEUS – WHICH DOESN’T HAVE NEARLY THE SAME ALLITERATION AS HIS OLD NICKNAME DOES.

THE POINT, OF COURSE, IS NOT SO MUCH WHAT WE CALL HIM NOW THAT HE IS HEALED, AS IT IS THAT HE IS NO LONGER WHAT HE ONCE WAS; AND ALL BECAUSE OF HIS ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS.

SHOULDN’T WE CHANGE HIS NAME? PERHAPS, SEEING-IS-BELIEVING BARTIMAEUS?

THERE’S PRECEDENT FOR THIS, OF COURSE, AS WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT; HOW JESUS CHANGED SIMON’S NAME TO PETER; AND HOW SAUL BECAME PAUL AFTER HIS DAMASCUS ROAD EXPERIENCE WITH THE RISEN CHRIST.

EVEN TODAY – POSTULATES ENTERING THE CONVENT CHANGE THEIR NAME FROM THEIR WORLDLY NAME TO THE NAME THEY WILL TAKE AS A NUN, WED TO CHRIST AND TO HIS CHURCH.

SHOULD WE, AS CHRISTIAN, CHANGE OUR NAMES AFTER OUR ENCOUNTERS WITH THE LIVING CHRIST?

IN A WAY WE DO, SORT OF, OR AT LEAST WE CLAIM OUR “CHRISTIAN NAME” IN BAPTISM. IT’S ONE OF THE REASONS WE ALWAYS ASK PARENTS ON BEHALF OF THEIR CHILDREN BEING BAPTIZED;

OR THE INDIVIDUAL THEMSELVES IN THE CASE OF OLDER CHILDREN, OR ADULTS, THEIR FULL NAME:

“JOHN JACOB JINGLEHEIMER SCHMIDT – I BAPTIZE YOU IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.”
SOME FAITH TRADITIONS LIKE TO CALL THIS CHRISTENING – THAT IS “CHRISTIANIZING” THE PERSON WITH THEIR GIVEN NAME, BUT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN INFANT BAPTISM, WE BAPTIZE.

CHRISTENING, IT COULD BE ARGUED, IS WHAT WE DO FOR SHIPS – GIVING THEM THEIR NAMES AND SETTING THEM SAIL, WHICH DOES HAVE ITS PARALLELS IN BAPTIZING AND RAISING A CHILD, BUT THAT’S WHERE THE SIMILARITIES END.

BUT MY POINT THIS MORNING IS – IF THERE IS A CHANGE IN US, IN OUR CHARACTER, OUR NATURE, OUR BEHAVIOR, IN OUR VERY LIVES DUE TO OUR ENCOUNTERS WITH THE LIVING CHRIST, SHOULD NOT THIS CHANGE OUR IDENTITIES, IF NOT OUR ACTUAL NAMES?

COULD WE AT LEAST COME UP WITH SOME NICKNAMES, PERHAPS, FOR OUR CONVERTED SELVES?

PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THOSE WHO COME TO FAITH IN GOD IN THE MIDST OF BATTLE, BARGAINING WITH GOD FOR THEIR LIVES, MUCH LIKE JACOB DID.

WE CALL THESE “FOXHOLE CONVERSIONS.” MAYBE THOSE WHO COME TO GOD IN THIS WAY SHOULD BE KNOWN AS FOXHOLE FREDDIE OR FRANCIS.

WHAT OF THOSE WHO FIND THEIR WAY BACK HOME TO GOD LIKE THE PRODIGAL SON IN THE STORY FROM THE BIBLE – WHO TURN FROM THEIR RIOTOUS AND WASTEFUL LIVING, TO ONCE AGAIN FINDING THEMSELVES, REPENTING, AND RETURNING TO GOD?

MAYBE WE SHOULD CALL THEM PRODIGAL PETE OR PRODIGAL PAM?

AND WHAT OF THOSE OF US WHO “ONCE WERE BLIND, BUT NOW WE SEE” LIKE BARTIMAEUS, WHAT SHOULD WE CALL THEM? SEEING SAM OR SAMANTHA?

AGAIN, I’M NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT CHANGING OUR NAMES, OR FINDING OURSELVES NEW NICKNAMES, GIVEN OUR CHANGE IN BEING ONCE WE’VE ENCOUNTERED THE LIVING CHRIST;

BUT I AM TALKING ABOUT NO LONGER BEING WHO WE ONCE WERE, AND INSTEAD, BEING WHO WE ARE NOW.

I’M TALKING ABOUT LIVING CHANGED LIVES. ABOUT, AS THE APOSTLE PAUL (NO LONGER SAUL) SAYS IT: “BEING MADE NEW CREATIONS IN CHRIST.”

WE HAVE LOTS OF WAYS WE REFER TO THESE SORTS OF LIFE CHANGING MOMENTS; OUR NEW DIRECTION IN LIFE:

“TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF;” “TURNING THE CORNER;” “GETTING A FRESH START;” “CHANGING COURSE;” “REBOOTING,” AS WITH A COMPUTER; AND “PICKING OURSELVES UP, DUSTING OURSELVES OFF, AND STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN.”

WITH MY APOLOGIES TO ANY OF YOU MICHIGAN FOOTBALL FANS OUT THERE…

YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE PROUD OF YOUR PUNTER AFTER HE DROPPED THE SNAP, FUMBLED THE BALL, AND COST YOU AN ALMOST CERTAIN VICTORY OVER RIVAL MICHIGAN STATE LAST WEEK.

NOT, OF COURSE, FOR HIS ACTIONS IN THE GAME WHICH ENDED IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPROBABLE LOSSES/VICTORIES EVER, BUT FOR HIS ACTIONS SINCE.

DESPITE BEING CALLED EVERY NAME IN THE BOOK;

DESPITE BEING PERSONA NON GRATA ON CAMPUS ALL WEEK, AND LIKELY FOR WEEKS TO COME; AND PROBABLY FOR AS LONG AS HE’S A STUDENT THERE;

DESPITE EVEN DEATH THREATS ON SOCIAL MEDIA; AND A PERPETUAL PLACE OF ILL WILL IN THE STORIED HISTORY OF THE RIVALRY BETWEEN MICHIGAN AND MICHIGAN STATE.

BLAKE O’NEILL HAS TAUGHT US ALL A VALUABLE LESSON ABOUT WINNING AND LOSING; ABOUT SPORTS IN GENERAL; AND ABOUT CHARACTER;

WHEN HE SAID HE WOULDN’T LET IT GET TO HIM; THAT THAT’S THE GREAT THING ABOUT SPORTS, THERE’S ALWAYS THE NEXT PLAY; THE NEXT GAME; THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY;

AND HOW HE PLANNED TO PICK HIMSELF UP, DUST HIMSELF OFF, AND PLAY ANOTHER DAY.

AND LET’S REMEMBER – IF THINGS HAD BEEN DIFFERENT, IF MICHIGAN HAD BEEN ABLE TO RUN OUT THE CLOCK AND WIN THE GAME, WE’D ALL BE TALKING ABOUT THE 80 YARD PUNT – YES, 80 YARDS – THAT BLAKE O’NEILL HAD PUNTED THE BALL EARLIER IN THE GAME.

TALK ABOUT “THE THRILL OF VICTORY, AND THE AGONY OF DEFEAT.”

AND WHAT OF THE MICHIGAN STATE PLAYER, JALEN WATTS- JACKSON WHO WON THE GAME BY RETURNING THE FUMBLE FOR A TOUCHDOWN;

BUT THEN IN A PILE OF HIS OWN PLAYERS JUMPING ON HIM TO CONGRATULATE HIM – THEY BROKE HIS HIP – ENDING HIS SEASON, AND QUITE POSSIBLY HIS FOOTBALL CAREER.
TALK ABOUT “THE AGONY OF DEFEAT AND THE THRILL OF VICTORY!”

AND BY THE WAY, KUDOS TO MICHIGAN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JIM HACKETT FOR HIS OPEN LETTER TO MICHIGAN FANS, AND STUDENTS, AND ALL THE REST OF US FOR THAT MATTER, FOR REMINDING US THAT WE WIN TOGETHER AND WE LOSE TOGETHER AS A TEAM, AND THAT ANY SORT OF DEMONIZING OF BLAKE O’NEILL OR OTHER PLAYERS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

SO HOW IS IT IN OUR LIVES WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS TO CHANGE WHO WE ARE, OR HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVES, OR THE THINGS WE STOP DOING, OR THE THINGS WE START DOING, THAT MAKE A CHANGE IN US?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US TO NO LONGER BE “BLIND BARTIMAEUS,” “DOUBTING THOMAS,” OR “JACOB THE LIAR, CHEAT, AND SCOUNDREL?”

WHAT “LEAF” DO WE NEED TO TURN OVER? WHAT CORNER DO WE NEED TO TURN? WHAT CHANGE IN COURSE DO WE NEED TO MAKE? WHERE DO WE NEED TO MAKE A FRESH START, OR REBOOT OUR LIVES SO AS TO BEGIN AGAIN? START OVER? BECOME A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST?

WE TEND TO PERSONIFY THE PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE AS PERFECT PEOPLE, AS SAINTS OF THE LORD, BUT UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION, WE SEE THAT THEY ARE ANYTHING BUT.

THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE ARE STORIES OF EVERYDAY, ORDINARY, AVERAGE JOEs AND JOANNEs JUST LIKE YOU AND ME;

WHO INTERACT WITH GOD AND WITH HIS SON JESUS, AND WHO COME AWAY FROM THESE ENCOUNTERS AS CHANGED PEOPLE WITH CHANGED LIVES.

AND SO THE STORY GOES – A NEVER ENDING STORY WITH NEW LEAVES, NEW PAGES, NEW CHAPTERS, NEW CHARACTERS WITH NEW NAMES – MAYBE EVEN NEW NICKNAMES – AND GOD CONTINUES TO HELP US ALONG THE WAY TO MAKE THE CHANGES WE NEED TO MAKE;

TO REFORM OUR LIVES;
TO RECREATE US IN GOD’S IMAGE;
TO RESURRECT US TO NEW LIFE.

“A ROSE MAY STILL BE A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME, AND MAY STILL SMELL AS SWEET…”

BUT AS FOR US, “WE ARE NEW CREATIONS IN CHRIST” AND THE NAME BY WHICH WE ARE KNOWN IS “CHRISTIAN.”