A Call to Religious Beggars

Bartimaeus was missing out on the festival parade to Jerusalem, this great celebration of national identity and of the nations hope. He wasn't missing out entirely. He was taking advantage of this time to press his trade. He was beggar. It was a high season for him. This was prime begging season and this blind beggar working at his pathetic best to reap some reward that may trickle out of the pockets of the pilgrims onto his begging cloak. He was situated near the road. He could not even be an onlooker but he was listening in as people came by begging for whatever trinkets he could pathetically nurse from their hands.

Let me just say… There is a parade going on today as well. It is the greatest parade of the ages. It is the sentinel parade of all human history. It is the parade of redemption. The destination is the heavenly city.

But in history those along the road side of this parade are more than those who are in this joyous march.