CORINTH

-Sermon Notes-

(August 9, 2026)

 

“Hey! I’m Over Here!”

(Jeremiah 31:7-9, Psalm 126, Mark 10:46-52)

     A few years ago, a man exploring an area of western Arizona fell down an old mine shaft, where he remained injured and without food or water for two days.  Thankfully, he had arranged for a friend to come looking for him if he didn’t return within 24 hours.  As the rescuer approached the old mine shaft, he could hear his friend calling out “Hey! I’m over here!”

     This story may remind us of the blind man (Bartimaeus) in today’s account from the Gospel of Mark.  Shunned by society, he found himself in a deep, dark hole.  As Jesus approached, he called-out (paraphrasing) “Hey Jesus! I’m over here! Rescue me!”  Note initially the people told the man not to bother Jesus-to stay quiet. This may be because some believed that a physical malady was a reflection on one’s spiritual condition (in other words, you were spiritually “unclean.”)  They told Bartimaeus to go away because they didn’t want him to spoil the party.  Yet Jesus beckoned him to come, healing him, lifting him out of his dark hole. Interesting note: in today’s passage Bartimaeus called out: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Referring to Jesus as Son of David indicates the blind man “saw” Jesus as the Messiah, as opposed to the Pharisees and other religious leaders who were blind to Jesus’ identity.

     The Jeremiah passage points us to the defeated nation of Israel, stuck in a deep, dark hole after their captivity.  After the death of faithful King Josiah of Judah, an unfaithful King was seated on the throne, leading the people away from faithful relationship with God.  Jeremiah warned the people to turn from this destructive direction, yet they did not-only to suffer invasion and defeat at the hands of the Babylonians, who led them off to captivity during a succession of years. All was lost-stuck in a dark hole. Yet Jeremiah implored the people to call-out (V.7) “O Lord, save your people-the remnant of Israel” (Hey! I’m over here!)  Jeremiah speaks of a time when there will be much rejoicing when the people are released to freedom.

     Our psalm reading links us to Jeremiah this morning; the first verse “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion” references that time when the people’s voice has been heard as they called out for rescue.  The psalm indicates their thanksgiving and joy as they celebrated deliverance from enslavement.

     You ever feel as though you’ve been stuck in a deep, dark hole?  We are invited to call-out “Hey! I’m over here” as we seek rescue.  Yet I also wonder if God directs these same words to us?  Lately we are inundated with all of the political signs which litter our roadways and sidewalks.  The other day I noticed a cluster of these signs in front of a beautiful, colorful garden.  I wonder, are we distracted from God’s beauty?  In nature?  In each other?  Is God is calling to us: “Hey, I’m over here…Look at me, pay attention to me…don’t be distracted by what’s around you. I’m right here!