Luke 18:31-43 Blind Faith Good Morning Church, It Is a Joy to Be Back with You All

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Luke 18:31-43 Blind Faith Good morning church, it is a joy to be back with you all. We had a good time traveling through Israel, and tracing the footsteps of Paul through Greece, but there is no place like home. Let’s pray before we get into God’s Word this morning. This morning we are going to continue our study of the Gospel of Luke, we will be in Luke chapter 18, verses 31-43. Now, we made a dear friend in Israel, our wonderful guide Edo. I will tell you, Edo knows the Bible, Old Testament, New Testament, he knows the History of God’s people, he knew the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and he could articulate and teach better than most Christians I know. He could break down the message of the cross, and can even explain how the Old Testament foretold the coming Messiah, and we heard him teach the Gospel of Grace a couple times. I was super impressed with our guide through Israel, but upon further inquiry, our friend Edo was an intellect, and a humanist, and he only knew his market, and how to appeal to those he was guiding. P a g e | 2

And we all marveled at how a Jew, with such incredible knowledge and perception could be a secularist, and not believe in Jesus as the Savior of the world, or even in God. Oh, he respected the historic Jesus as a philosopher, and championed Jesus’ progressive views toward religion, but he did not believe Him to be Messiah. He knew the prophecies that spoke of Him, He knew how Jesus fulfilled them, but blindness was over his eyes. It brought a new clarity to what Paul explained about the Jews in Romans, after speaking about their rejection of Jesus, and what it meant for the Gentiles, or non-Jews, and that Salvation was now offered to everyone, regardless of bloodline. Paul says this, Romans 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Our dear friend Edo had a blockade over his heart, he is so close to the truth, his knowledge even brings him nearer than most, but his heart rejects it. We had many wonderful discussions, and yet there was one thing that Edo could not intellectually reject, it was our groups love for the Jewish people and even him. P a g e | 3

Even as we said our goodbyes, Roger embraced him, reminded him of the love we have for him, and the love Jesus has for him, that planted an everlasting seed in his heart, as tears began to come from his eyes. I ask you keep him in your prayers, I sure would love to spend eternity with him. But it struck me at how someone can have so much knowledge and still not truly understand, and be so spiritually blind. Well in our text this morning, we will see that even when things are clear and obvious, sometimes our own preconceived ideas drown out the truth that we know. Let’s look at verses 31-34... Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection (Matt 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34) 18:31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again." Now remember back in Luke chapter 9, Jesus had begun this journey toward Jerusalem. P a g e | 4

We read in that chapter Luke 9:51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, Jesus was then rejected in Samaria, and He went through the region of Peraea teaching and healing as He traveled toward the Holy City. And we see here, sometime after the encounter with the Rich Young Ruler, Jesus pulls His Twelve Disciples aside. Jesus for the third time is revealing to them what will happen to Him in Jerusalem. He already explained in Luke 9:22 immediately after Peter revealed that Jesus was the Christ of God... Luke 9:22 "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." And then again after He healed the demoniac boy, and all were marveling at this great demonstration of power... In Luke 9:43-45 And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, 44 "Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men." 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying. P a g e | 5

If we count all the indirect references of His death, this would be the seventh time Jesus has told them. Think about Luke 5:35 when Jesus said... Luke 5:35 “But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days." Or Luke 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Or even Luke 17:25 But first He (The Son of Man) must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. These men have been clearly warned of Jesus’ looming death. And we will see shortly that Jesus is approaching Jericho, only about 17 miles from Jerusalem. Understand the reality that Jesus is so close too, is haunting Him at every step, as He thinks about the brutality that awaits. And here in our text this morning, again Jesus plainly adds to the details of His death. This time on top of the fact that He will be rejected by the Jewish leaders, and betrayed by His own, we see here in verse 31-33... Luke 18:31-33 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be P a g e | 6 mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again." They are getting close to Jerusalem, and Jesus says all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. Jesus had been studying the scriptures since He was a Child, He knew all that was written about Him, and what His future entailed. The triumphal entry was foretold in Zech. 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. Even the betrayal of His friend was foretold, Ps 41:9 9 Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me. The cross and all its horrors was even revealed in the ancient manuscripts. In all of Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, Even the nails that would be driven into His hands and feet were Divinely revealed... Ps 22:16 They pierced My hands and My feet; P a g e | 7

Jesus’ death and burial was foretold... Ps 16:10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. The prophet Jonah served as a picture of the resurrection, Jesus knew this.... Matt 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Psalm 24 foretold the ascension of Christ... whereas Psalm 45 spoke of His enthronement in glory... Ps 45:6-7 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions. God has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every other Name! Phil. 2:9 And you see, Jesus moved boldly ahead knowing of all that awaited Him as the scriptures, the Prophets had revealed. Jesus tells His disciples specifically that the Romans, the Gentiles would mock Him and spit upon Him. P a g e | 8

You see the Romans did not allow the Jews to carry out capital punishment, and Jesus knew the Jewish authorities would hand Him over to the Gentiles. He had to hang on a cross as the scriptures foretold, the Jews would have picked up stones to kill Him. The scourging Jesus predicted would be a prelude to the Roman execution on the cross. But, as before, this prediction, or prophecy by Jesus ends on a glorious note, a note of triumph, on the third day He would rise. Now, notice the title used here in His prophecy, Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man. Now, you see no other person ever called Jesus by this title, Jesus gave this title to Himself. And the title alone should have been a clear indication for the disciples... You see it came from the seventh chapter of Daniel. Daniel records a vision of world history very demonstratively using a series of beasts, all culminating at the ultimate judgement presided by the Ancient of Days, God the Father. The vision ends with Dan 7:13-14 "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, P a g e | 9

And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed. God the Father, the Ancient of Days, gives another Divine, Majestic Being, “One like the Son of Man,” dominion, glory, the Kingdom, worship, and an everlasting reign. Ruins in Israel - Jesus will have an everlasting Kingdom Jesus has over and over again referred to Himself as the Son of Man. Jesus has constantly replaced the pronoun “I” with this Messianic title, especially when He spoke with His disciples. Jesus could not have been more precise about Him being the Son of Man and He made it very clear that the suffering foretold in the prophecies of Old were getting nearer and nearer. But even with such precision and effort by Jesus, the disciples just could not get it! P a g e | 10

Look at verse 34... 34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken. This is pretty remarkable, Luke puts huge emphasis on their blindness, in three different ways he describes it. They understood none of these things, it was hidden from them, and they did not know. These guys have spent the better part of 3 years night and day with Jesus. And soon they would be walking into the Passion Week, the final chapter for Jesus’ earthly ministry, and they were walking ahead blindly. Now, they were blind by their own ideas of what the Messiah would do. They had no room in their minds for a dying Messiah, or a tortured Messiah. It was beyond their understanding, because in their heart of hearts they were expecting a Military King, much like David, a Deliverer, and a Mighty Warrior King to dispose of Rome’s Iron Fist. Even after the Resurrection of Jesus, and just prior to His Ascension to His throne in Heaven, the disciples burning question was Acts 1:6 "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" P a g e | 11

For which Jesus had to remind them of their mission... Acts 1:7-8 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." And when the Holy Spirit came upon them, their eyes were truly opened to all that Jesus had been telling them. But they saw it hindsight, and here, just prior to the Passion Week, they are blinded by their ambitions and preconceived ideas. Now before we look down upon the Twelve to hard, we must take an honest look at ourselves, and our approach to God’s Word. You see THE WORD THEY WERE HEARING DIDN’T LINE UP WITH THEIR OWN THINKING ON THE MATTER and THEY CHOSE THEIR THINKING OVER GOD’S WORD TO THEM…. DO WE DO THE SAME THING? – OF COURSE WE CAN – and MANY DO THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS…. THE WORD OF GOD SAYS THAT GOD HATES DIVORCE – YET I HAVE SAT WITH MANY WHO WILL NOT HEAR THAT or UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE THEY SAY TO ME THAT THEY BELIEVE GOD WANTS THEM TO BE HAPPY…. NO – P a g e | 12

OBEDIENCE IS WHAT HE WANTS…. God wants you to be Holy. Happiness is only a by-product of obedience.

THE BIBLE SAYS DO NOT BE UNEQUALLY YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS – YET MANY CHOOSE TO GO AGAINST THIS BIBLICAL STANDARD THINKING THEY ARE THE EXCEPTION…. This leads to DISASTER UPON DISASTER within MARRIAGES and with BUSINESS PARTNERS You see THERE IS A REASON THE BIBLE TEACHES THIS PRINCIPLE…. LIGHT and DARKNESS HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON – THERE IS FRICTION AHEAD IF YOU CHOOSE THIS PATH….

THE WORD OF GOD SAYS THAT SEXUAL RELATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE MARRIAGE CONTEXT IS FORNICATION – THE BIBLE FORBIDS FORNICATION – YET MANY WILL NOT HEAR THE WORD OF GOD…. THEIR MIND IS ALREADY SETTLED ON DOING THINGS THEIR OWN WAY – SO THE TRUTH OF THE SCRIPTURE IS NOT UNDERSTOOD…

OTHERS WILL DO THIS WITH DRUG or ALCOHOL USE – GOD’S WORD IS CLEAR THAT WE ARE TO HAVE A SOBER P a g e | 13

MIND – WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST… YET MANY WHO SAY THEY ARE BELIEVERS WILL USE EXCUSES TO USE DRUGS or DRINK PAST THE POINT OF SOBRIETY OF MIND…. WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE SCRIPTURE – THEY CAN’T SEE PAST THEIR OWN PRECONCEIVED THOUGHTS ABOUT THE MATTER… THE LIST CAN GO ON and ON WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES. But THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS – WE NEED TO LET THE WORD OF GOD FORM THE STANDARDS FOR OUR LIFE….

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHY WE VIOLATE BIBLICAL STANDARDS or FAIL TO LISTEN TO BIBLICAL TEACHING ON A SUBJECT – THE FACT THAT WE THINK WE ARE THE EXCEPTION IS OUR PROBLEM… WE NEED TO COME TO THE WORD OF GOD WITH A HEART THAT SAYS “CHANGE ME LORD” – I DON’T WANT TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO ANY LONGER…. WE HAVE TO COME TO JESUS WITH A HEART THAT SAYS “WHATEVER YOU SAY, I WILL DO” – EVEN IF IT GOES AGAINST WHAT I LIKE TO DO…. OUR OPINION OF THE WORD OF GOD MATTERS – IF THE BIBLE IS JUST A BOOK OF GOOD THOUGHTS and SUGGESTIONS IN OUR OPINION – THEN WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHATEVER WE DESIRE TO DO…. P a g e | 14

THIS BOOK YOU HAVE IN YOUR LAP IS MORE THAN GOOD THOUGHTS and SUGGESTIONS. IT IS THE OWNERS MANUAL TO HUMANITY – GOD HAS GIVEN US HIS WORD TO DIRECT OUR VERY LIVES and TO KNOW HOW TO CONDUCT OURSELVES… HIS WORD IS THE STANDARD WE NEED TO EMPLOY IN OUR DECISION MAKING PROCESSES…. We should ESTEEM HIS WORD at the highest place in our lives. David declared Ps 138:2 For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. The Word is the Ultimate, Final, and Definitive Authority in our lives. Even when it goes against our preconceived notions, when our feelings are challenged, when our happiness is not considered, God’s Word is the Only Way... SO, ALL OF THIS TO SAY, THE DISCIPLES CAME TO THIS MEETING WITH THEIR OWN THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THEY GOT TO JERUSALEM. SO THEY DIDN’T HEAR WHAT JESUS WAS TELLING THEM….. They were spiritually blind, and next, as Jesus now moves into Jericho, we will see a physically blind man who has immense spiritual insight. P a g e | 15

The next scene stands as a dramatic contrast to that of the blindness of the disciples. Look now starting in verse 35... A Blind Man Receives His Sight (Matt 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52) 35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" We see here Jesus coming by way of Peraea to Jericho. Actually many Galilean pilgrims would be taking the same route, to avoid Samaria, about the same time as this encounter, making their way to Jerusalem for the Passover. Jericho would be a very popular stopping place. Now Jesus would have had His large crowd of disciples with Him, as He taught along the way. It was customary for distinguished rabbis to travel with an entourage and to teach as they walked. Hughes So we can picture this movement of shuffling feet, perhaps a great deal of faint whispers, much clamor, and right there at the gate of the city sat a blind man. Mark gives this man’s name, Bartimaeus. P a g e | 16

In Matthew’s account there is two blind men, and the discrepancy is easily reputed by understanding there would be a host of beggars at this very busy entrance. Bartimaeus of course the spokesmen for these two, for which Matthew tells us Jesus healed them both. I imagine the day had begun like any other day for Bartimaeus, he had learned to accept his plight in life, in ancient Israel there was no welfare system, no schools for the blind, no social programs at all. Blind Bartimaeus would have to be a shrewd and smart beggar if he was going to get any kind of modest living. Over the years, he knew that Jericho’s thoroughfare was a great place for begging, all the visitors coming through to get to the Holy City would be generous as they came on their spiritual pilgrimage. He would get his spot early, he probably knew the path well, as he began tapping the obstacles before him along the way. He knew all the turns, he knew all the dips and all the rises in the road. He had the perfect place, where he could get the best return, there he sat, in his shabby torn clothes, begging, and thankful for every coin, or even a crust of bread. P a g e | 17

That morning as the springtime sun rose over the city, and the sleeping city slowly came to life, poor Bartimaeus began his beggar’s howl. But something abnormal was hitting his ears this particular morning, a group, as it got closer, no a multitude was approaching, he tugged on a person’s cloak. But the first man perhaps shrugged him off, the second pulled away. But eventually the persistent Bartimaeus got the news, and the reason for the great commotion. Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. It is obvious that Blind Bartimaeus had heard of this Man’s reputation, perhaps an old friend, maybe one of the lepers healed leaping to the Temple to be ceremonially cleansed spoke of the Healer. Maybe one of the former blind men healed by Jesus had traveled through Jericho with the news of what the Carpenter’s Son was accomplishing all throughout Israel. Whatever, however, Blind Bartimaeus knew he could not miss this opportunity, if ever there was a chance to be freed of this life of begging to survive, this was the day, and he could not afford to let the Rabbi pass him by. P a g e | 18

He immediately cried out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Perhaps he heard that Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of Man, that Jesus came from the right lineage, and that He was from the tribe of Judah. With an amazing Blind Faith the beggar knew in his heart of hearts that Jesus was the Messiah. His heart must have been racing, as He shouted out in faith, to Jesus, the Son of David. This title, “Son of David,” during the days of Jesus had become synonymous with the Messiah or the Christ. What a proclamation from such an unlikely person, but it is interesting, Jesus does not immediately respond. Have you ever cried out for mercy, and there seemed to be a delay or a silence? Sometimes the test, is if you will keep pressing in, in faith. Blind Bartimaeus’ faith is immediately tested next when he receives some terrible opposition... 39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" The shrill of this beggar’s unrefined shout annoyed the attentive students of Jesus. They shushed the nuisance, his yelling was ruining the moment, and they warned him to be quiet. P a g e | 19

What a great disappointment, and imagine if this man listen to the popular vote, and he never pressed in further. Jesus has over and over again taught about the persistence we need in prayer. Remember after the story of the persistent widow being avenged by the unjust judge, Jesus asked, Luke 18:8 Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" We must continue, to forge ahead in our prayers of faith, knowing that our God hears us, even if at first there is no reply. Jesus knew this beggar even before this moment, He knew Blind Bartimaeus well before this cry for mercy, and Jesus knew the Great Need of this man. But He draws out his faith, and Bartimaeus realizes he will get no help from the crowd about him, there is only One who can help Him, the Son of David, and he cries out another persistent prayer for help. But this time the Word for ‘Cried’ changes here, before the Word was BO-AH-O which is to shout. “Son of David have mercy on me.” This time the Word is ‘Krazo,’ which is an animalistic scream, “Son of David have mercy on me!!!!” P a g e | 20

The word here shows the utter desperation of the blind man. “Please Jesus do not pass me by!” Blind Bartimaeus knew that there was no hope for him apart from a miracle. There was no cure for blindness in antiquity, it was a terrible condition. Bartimaeus knew only a dark world, darkness surrounded him continually, and relentlessly. But Bartimaeus knew he was blind, and that is very important. You see there is something much worse than physical blindness, and that is spiritual blindness. Many today walk gleefully through this world blind to their spiritual darkness, blind to their sin, blind to what their eternity holds, blind to their helplessness, and blind to their need for a Savior. What a life-changer when we truly see, when reality is clear, when we see our spiritual need, even when it is unpleasant and even grotesque. When we see ourselves for what we are, and we are able to admit our condition, and we look to the Light, and we cry out as Blind Bartimaeus did, “Lord, Have Mercy on me, a sinner!” We find from this revelation, this clear self-awareness, we find Grace and healing for our souls. P a g e | 21

Christ always turns toward such cries for Mercy. The Blind Man believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and He was shouting it. It was dangerous to do so in the hearing of the Romans, but he did not care. Hughes He had full faith that Jesus would hear him and heal him. He had blind faith. Faith that is the substance of things hoped for, with the evidence of things not seen. Heb. 11:1 Someone once asked blind and deaf Helen Keller, “Isn’t it terrible to be blind?” To which she responded, “Better to be blind and see with your heart, than to have two good eyes and see nothing.” Perhaps being blind was not such a handicap for Bartimaeus, he did not have the visual distractions that most did. He had time to look within, to contemplate his inner self, he had a better look at his own heart. He saw himself helpless, and knew very well that Jesus was clearly the “Son of David,” and the Savior. He knew the darkness of his heart and his need for Jesus. I wonder if some of us might be so visually stimulated that we have no time for this inner contemplation. P a g e | 22

I wonder if anytime we start to get to the nitty gritty of our spiritual understanding, and self-awareness, we just dull it out with a screen, for some endless scrolling and mindless viewing. I will challenge you all, try to do a social media fast, turn off your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and whatever else for 2 weeks, and fight the temptation to reach for your screen to block out your thought life. And you will see the depth of thought, and spiritual awareness, and the deeper connection with your God. Go for two weeks, and you will see what you are enslaved too, and I am pretty confident that many will not ever go back. It is a blinding mechanism, and just think if you quit now, you will be able to sleep better when the next election comes around, you will be free of the endless fighting and debating back and forth, and your doctor will praise your blood pressure readings. Now of course, this is just a suggestion, not a legalistic demand, but you might find freedom, try it, two weeks. Maybe start with Facebook, then slowly wean yourself off the others. Listen, anyone I know who has done it, has not regretted it, and you find you don’t miss anything. P a g e | 23

Blind Bartimaeus did not have the visual distractions and he saw himself helpless, in need of a Savior. And He saw Jesus clearer than the disciples who had been walking day and night with Jesus. And his desperate cry of faith was all Jesus needed to hear, it stops Jesus in His tracks... 40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, "What do you want Me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." Jesus is shown throughout the Gospels to be so powerful, but there is no doubt a Characteristic that cannot be missed when you read through the Gospels, is that Jesus is so merciful. Jesus was headed to Jerusalem, now only seventeen miles away, so much on His mind, with a great burden laying upon Him, yet Jesus has time to minister to this man in need. Understand something about Jesus even today, He is not too busy for you, He is not tied down with running the Universe as some think, Jesus hears continually the cries for mercy. He hears each one of the millions of cries coming upon Him daily. P a g e | 24

He is able to minister to each of us a personally as He did for Blind Bartimaeus. Understand it was faith that stopped Jesus that day, among all the other noise and commotion that day, it was faith that brought Him to a halt. This is the same Jesus who in the midst of a pressing multitude knew that a woman had touched the hem of His garment in faith. Faith draws Jesus close. This man was keenly aware of his own need, he was blind, and he asks in faith, knowing that he is speaking to the Messiah, and knowing that healing can only come from God. He asks to be healed, he expresses his faith in Jesus, and acknowledges Jesus’ ability to meet His need. The result... 42 Then Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. Now, the King James translates this correctly, the man asks to regain or recover his sight. So Jesus commands him to regain his sight. You understand it seems Bartimaeus was not born blind. P a g e | 25

This man once saw before the beauty of this world, and the blindness overcame him sometime in his life. He needed to regain his sight. To never know the glory of the rainbow, or the brilliance of a sunrise is one thing, but to know the colors and sights of this world, and then to be blinded from them is even more terrible. But Bartimaeus as blind as he was went for it. In Mark, we get a little more detail about the urgency of this moment. Mark 10:49-50 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you." 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. A blind beggar always kept his cloak where he could touch it, to lose it could mean death in the cold of the night. But he knew his life was about to be changed, with the help of others he stumbles before Jesus. The petition came to Jesus in faith, and Jesus replies, “Your faith has made you well.” Doctor Luke always gives us the spectacular prognosis, the man was immediately healed, apart from medicine, apart from touch, apart from any procedure. P a g e | 26

At Jesus’ command, in accordance with the Blind Man’s faith he was instantly healed. We stopped in Jericho on November 8th, and you know it sits in a place where Blind Bartimaeus would have had a spectacular view, the Dead Sea was in the distance, with the Mountains of Moab behind it, and the Jordan Valley to the North, it would have been an overwhelming sight. But I think for Blind Bartimaeus the greatest of all sights, was that, of those merciful eyes penetrating into his restored eyes. He wasn’t distracted by the panorama at all, his focus was upon his Savior. And Bartimaeus followed Jesus, no doubt took his place among the Disciples of Christ. We have his name forever recorded for us as the last person to receive a miracle before Jesus went to the cross. Understand, the faith healing ministries, they will focus on the faith in Jesus to make this man see again as the Blind Man’s full reward. But they are missing the point of this incident, it was not faith in Jesus the healer that made Bartimaeus see. It was faith in the Messiah, the Christ, Mankind’s Savior, the One who can Redeem an Entire Life and not only grant vision. P a g e | 27

And we see here the evidence of a truly healed life, a saved life, and a changed life is one that follows Jesus. We commit our lives to Him and Follow Him, forsaking all to live for His Glory. Look again at how this story ends... Luke 18:43 And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. This is what Jesus came to do, to bring Glory and honor and praise to God. Jesus would go on to pray this in His final night here on earth... John 17:4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And every life that is changed by Jesus, is a life that brings glory to God. Such a wonderful account, Scholars say that Mark preserved Bartimaeus’ name because he became a staunch witness for Christ in the Jerusalem Church. Hughes Imagine what Bartimaeus’ faith would face, as he witnesses soon the Triumphal entry, the rejection and betrayal of Jesus, the crucifixion, and hope and joy of the resurrection. Bartimaeus will get an historic eye full. P a g e | 28

So what can we take away from this encounter this morning? What is our lesson? Well, the first lesson we have here, is we need to see our need, this man knew that he was blind, and asked, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And maybe this morning that is your first step, maybe you are blinded by your pride, maybe unforgiveness has blinded you, or greed, or hatred, or selfishness. Maybe you are blinded by your flippant attitude towards God’s Word, and you are blinded by your self- interests. Maybe, you are a Christian, but your sin has created blinding cataracts over your eyes. Whatever your condition is this morning ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart. After this, once you see your need, you need to see Jesus for who He is. Kent Hughes says, “He is ‘the Son of Man,’ the awesome, glorious sovereign who all peoples and all nations will worship and whose kingdom and dominion, will never end.” “He is the ‘Son of David,’ the deliverer who will fulfill everything King David foreshadowed. He is Savior, Christ the King.” Do you see Jesus this morning? P a g e | 29

That is the question. Our friend Edo in Israel, he kept wanting to bring the conversation to the mistakes of the Church throughout history. He wanted to talk about the Crusades, and the evil in the church today. But when I kept pressing the conversation back to Jesus, “Let’s talk about Jesus and all that He says He is.” Edo had nothing to say, because Jesus cannot be the great progressive philosopher he thought He was. Because Jesus said John 14:4 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. You see Jesus is who He said He was, or He was a madman. Jesus was not just a good teacher, not just a healer of the blind, He was not just a moral man, He was the Messiah the Savior of the world. And apart from faith in Him no one sees correctly. But when we can lay aside our pride, when we can look within and see ourselves as Rev 3:17 wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked P a g e | 30

And when we see Jesus for who He is, then like this poor blind beggar in our text this morning, we must cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Cry out in faith, “Have mercy on me!” Do you see yourself this morning, do you see Jesus? Jesus is still opening Blind Eyes today, come to Him in faith, and truly see. Exercise believing faith this morning... Cry out to Jesus, He is the only one who can Save you this morning. Let’s pray... If God has moved on your heart this morning in anyway through the text, please come up and get prayer, these men are here to minister to you this morning.