Reading: Luke chapter 18 verses 31-43:
Ill:
• Stevie Wonder (the blind singer) and Tiger Woods (the greatest golfer in the world);
• Meet up in a hotel dining room and start talking.
• Inevitably the conversation turns to golf and Tiger Woods;
• Is surprised to find out that Stevie Wonder, who is blind, has been playing golf for years.
• The golf pro can’t believe it.
• He wants some details so Stevie Wonder explains how he does it:
• “My caddy stands out in the middle of the fairway and calls out to me.
• I listen for the sound of his voice and play the ball towards him.
• Then when I get to where the ball lands, the caddy moves further down the green,
• Shouts out and I hit the ball again.
• Tiger Woods is obviously impressed but then he asks, “But how do you putt?”
• The famous singer replies:
“Well, I get my caddy to lean down in front of the hole;
And he calls to me with his head on the ground and his mouth just over the cup.
I just play the ball towards his voice.”
• Tiger Woods finds all this very amazing;
• And then asks Stevie Wonder if they can play a round sometime.
• Stevie agrees but says that because people don’t take him very seriously;
• He only plays for money and he never plays for less than $10,000 a hole.
• Tiger Woods thinks about it for a minute and then says,
• “OK, that’s serious money, but I’m up for it. When do we play?”
• To which Steve Wonder answers,
• “You name the night.”
Blindness dominates this latter chapter in Luke’s gospel:
(a).
• Last week when you looked at the Rich Young Ruler;
• There was nothing wrong with his natural eyesight.
Quote:
• Someone said to Helen Keller;
• The deaf-blind American author, activist, and lecturer:
• “What a pity you have no sight!”
• To which she replied, “Yes, but what a pity so many have sight but cannot see!”
• This young ruler was physically okay but spiritually blind;
• He was unable to see what was hindering him from finding eternal life.
• Sadly, he was a man blinded to the true way of God by materialism.
• He loved the things of the world more than he loved the things of God!
• We read those tragic words; “He went away very sad for he had great wealth;
• Those who reject the call of Jesus Christ always leave sad! Be warned!
(b).
• The disciples were blind in their understanding regarding the way he would die.
• They could not understand how the Messiah would die;
Quote: William Barclay:
“The Jews were obsessed with the idea of a conquering king; they still clung to hope that he would let loose his power in Jerusalem and blast his enemies off the face of the earth.
Here is a great warning to ever listener. The human mind has a way of listening only to what it wants to hear. There are none so blind as those who refuse to see”.
(c).
• Then we have the story of the man who was physically blind;
• But who could spiritually see and left Jesus physically seeing as well!
(1). The Future revealed (Verses 31-34).
“Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him, insult Him, spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him. On the third day He will rise again.””
(a). His death:
• This is the third time in the Gospel of Luke that Jesus predicted His impending death.
• Chapter 9 verse 22, & 43-45.
• And, each time He told them about what was to come, he got more explicit.
• Earlier he had told them (chapter 9 verse 22):
• He would go to Jerusalem, & suffer at the hands of the “elders, chief priests and scribes”,
• These three groups of men made up the Sanhedrin who would condemn Jesus.
Now in these verses Jesus introduces another aspect:
• Verse 32: “He will be handed over to the Gentiles”.
• That is the Romans.
• It was a degrading thing for a Jew to be turned over to Gentiles.
• Not only were they the enemy (an occupying force but they were also outside of God’s laws).
Ill:
• The Jews stoned their victims;
• It was the Romans who brought crucifixion to this part of the world.
• Crucifixion was an awful punishment;
• Inflicted by a cruel & powerful empire on its enemies.
• It’s intention was not just to kill its victim;
• But also to deter others, so they made it as public and degrading as possible.
• As well as the sheer horror of crucifixion;
• The Jews believed anyone crucified was cursed of God;
• Deuteronomy chapter 21 verse 23:
• “Cursed is anyone who dies on a tree”.
But because the Jewish leaders did not have the power to kill anyone:
• Only the Romans had the authority could do that
• The Jewish leaders needed to hand Jesus over to them.
• They could not kill him on their own!
• They needed the willingness & permission of their occupying rulers to do this.
Ill:
• Who killed Jesus!
• There is a four-fold dimension to the cross.
• (1). The Jews (yes – they handed him over to Romans on false charges).
• (2). The Romans (yes – they did the dastardly deed).
• (3). God the Father (yes - death of Jesus was a plan of salvation).
• (4). You and I (yes - it was our sin that took him to the cross).
• Death would not be an accident, nor even martyrdom.
• It was part of a master plan and his death would be an offering, a sacrifice!
Ill:
• If you were to look at Rembrandt’s painting of The Three Crosses,
• Your attention would be drawn first to the centre cross on which Jesus died.
• Then as you would look at the crowd gathered around the foot of that cross,
• You’d be impressed by the various facial expressions of the people gathered.
• Finally, your eyes would drift to the edge of the painting;
• And catch sight of another figure, almost hidden in the shadows.
• Art critics say this is a representation of Rembrandt himself,
• For he recognized that by his sins he helped nail Jesus to the cross.
Ill:
• Mel Gibson had the same idea in his film: ‘The Passion of The Christ’.
• It is his hand that is holding the hammer that bangs in the nails.
(b). His resurrection (Verse 33):
On the third day He will rise again.””
• One thing we must not forget;
• Is that Jesus never spoke about his death, without also speaking of his resurrection!
Ill:
They are Siamese twins that cannot be separated.
• Jesus knew that shame lay before him,
• But he was equally certain that triumph & glory also lay before him.
• He knew would have to face the malice & hatred of men,
• But he also knew he would also experience the power of God the Father!
Ill:
• Purchase something in a shop, you are given a receipt;
• If anyone questions your honesty, you simply pull out the proof of purchase!
• The resurrection is the receipt for the cross;
• Evidence of proof of purchase!
Verse 34:
• Jesus spoke of both his death and resurrection.
• But notice that the disciples were blind to these truths.
• The human mind has a way of listening only to what it wants to hear.
• There are none so blind as those who refuse to see”.
(2). The Faith He rewarded (verses 35-43):
• Verse 35 we see that Jesus is now approaching the city of Jericho,
• Which is about 15 miles from his final destination.
• Since it is about 800 feet below sea level,
• Jericho has a climate that is tropical and at times very hot.
• The town is known as an oasis because of its fresh water spring and is also called,
• “The city of palm trees.”
• It was here in Jericho that many Passover pilgrims gathered;
• Before making the final leg of the journey to Jerusalem.
• As Jesus heads into Jericho, he meets a blind man;
• I want you to notice that the blind man went through 4 stages to receive his sight.
(1). His Blindness (vs 35).
• We see this in verse 35:
• “As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.”
• Blindness was a very common problem in Palestine.
• This blind man has to support himself by begging.
• Which tells us he has no family, or that his family is so poor;
• That they cannot support a mouth that isn’t contributing to the family’s income.
• In Luke’s gospel, he doesn’t even have a name;
• He is just an inconvenience to those around him.
• He’s just a bundle of rags on the side of the road,
• Day after long day, he sits there trying to beg enough to survive.
Ill:
• Memories of modern day Jerusalem was a elderly woman;
• Dropped off early in morning and was still out to late at night!
• It was a miserable existence;
• For the man his lifestyle was dominated by his blindness!
Application:
• The idea of darkness and light, of blindness and sight;
• Are terms often used in the Bible to describe our spiritual condition before God.
Quote: 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 4 states that
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers
so that they cannot see the light of the gospel…”
• The Bible teaches that men& women are spiritually blind;
• And there is nothing within themselves that they can do to change that situation.
Ill:
• Edward J. Smith was the captain of the Titanic;
• He refused to believe the ship was in trouble till water was ankle deep in the mail-room.
• Only then was it apparent the multi-layered hull had been pierced
• And the unsinkable ship was going to sink.
• Sadly, ships that could have arrived before the great ocean liner went down;
• Were not summoned, when he realised his condition it was too late!
Question: How about you?
The Bible teaches that:
• Just as Jesus gives sight to those who are physically blind,
• So too He grants spiritual insight to those who are in moral darkness.
• This man knew he was blind, and so did everyone else.
• But only this man was willing to come to Jesus – ‘The light for the world.’
Verse 36: Now, take a look at verse 36:
• “When he heard the crowd going by, He asked what was happening.”
• This man may have been blind but he was not stupid!
• He knew that there would be a mass of people in Jericho that day;
• Preparing to make the final journey to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.
• That’s why he was sitting by the side of the road with his hand out.
• He had got himself a key place to beg and get some money or food!
• He was also smart enough to enquire as to what was happening;
• When he heard the commotion and excitement of the crowd.
Verse 37:
• Gives us the answer to his question, “…Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
• The blind mans heart begins to race.
• Could it be, that the person He had heard so much about, was right here in front of him?
• It was almost too good to be true.
(2). His Belief (vs 38).
• The first stage in the man receiving his sight was to admit his blindness.
• The second thing we notice is the mans belief.
• Verse 36b: The man asks what is happening?
• Verse 37: He is told that “Jesus of Nazareth” is passing by.
Notice:
• In verse 37 the crowd referred to the place where Jesus had grown up.
• That is the earthly geographical location of his childhood – Nazareth.
• But notice the blind man did not say; “Jesus of Nazareth have mercy on me!”
• Instead he cried out in verse 38: “…Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!”
This blind man was able to see what those with physical vision could not see.
• He saw the messianic heritage of Jesus.
• He is the Son of David,
• The one who the nation has been patiently longing, waiting for;
• The one that Old Testament has predicted as the Saviour of the World.
• This blind man can see that Jesus is more than just a man from a small town in the north;
• He’s the Messiah, sent from God to be the Saviour of the world.
His use of that title is important:
• It suggests that he had some knowledge of the Old Testament (or of the Messiah):
• And the Jewish people were aware that when the Messiah comes;
• One of the things the Messiah would do when he came;
• Was to give “Recovery of sight for the blind” Ill: Jesus in Luke chapter 4 verse 18:
“When Jesus up in the temple and read from the book of Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind…”
When this blind man called out for the Son of David to have mercy on him:
• He was expressing his belief that Jesus was more than just a healer;
• He believed that Jesus was the Messiah sent from God.
Question:
• What about you?
• Do you know who Jesus is?
• He’s much more than just a good teacher.
• He is the promised one, the Messiah, the Saviour of the World.
• The man was aware of his blindness, and his belief in Jesus was right on.
• But, he did more than just believe He acted on what He knew to be true by his boldness.
(3). His Boldness (verse 39):
• In the first part of verse 39:
• We see that the crowd of people is bothered by the blind man:
“Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet…”
ill:
• The crowd probably expected Jesus;
• To respond to the man the way that their religious leaders (Pharisees) treated blind people.
• They had no time for the likes of beggars.
• They considered them worthless, just above an animal in value, but not quite as useful!
I love the second half of verse 39:
• “…but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’”
• This guy was really bold and courageous!
• He chose to not listen to the crowd and shouted out even louder than the first time.
• He broke all the cultural rules of etiquette.
• He didn’t want Jesus to get away.
• He knew that for him this was a once in a lifetime opportunity!
Note:
• In the English N.I.V. Bible two different words are used:
• Verse 38 says: “He called out” and verse 39 says he “Shouted all the more”
• In the Greek text two different words are also used:
• The first word means; “To shout out loud”.
• The second word used in verse 39 is worth emphasising.
• Quote: Bible scholar William Barcley says;
• “It is the instinctive shout of ungovernable emotion… an almost animal cry”
In other words;
• In this shout there is a lifetime of groping in the darkness and grubbing for food,
• A lifetime of being told to shut up and get out of the way went into that scream!”
• The point I am trying to make is this:
• Jesus not only hears the mans cry, but he also feels the pain in that cry!
Application:
Ill:
• Passing opportunities.
• Quote: Billy Graham: “You cannot be saved whenever you want!”
Ill:
• An apocryphal story told about a contest in hell.
• The prizes offered were an asbestos helmet and a golden pitchfork.
• Three apprentice devils who were coming to this earth to finish their apprenticeship.
• They were talking to Satan, their chief about their plans to tempt and ruin men.
• The first said, “I will tell them there is no God.”
• Satan said, “That will not delude many, for they know that there is a God.”
• The second said, “I will tell men there is no hell.”
• Satan answered, “You will deceive no one that way;
• Men know even now that there is a hell for sin.”
• The third said, “I will tell men there is no hurry.”
• “Go,” said Satan, “and you will ruin them by the thousand.”
The Bible teaches:
• That one of the most dangerous of all delusions that men and women face;
• When encountering the living Christ:
• Is that there is plenty of time.
• It is a dangerous lie from the pit when we are tempted to believe there is always tomorrow.
• Ill: “NOW is the day of salvation, NOW is the accepted time!”
• No-one is promised a tomorrow, only today!
Verse 40:
• As a result of the blind mans boldness (cry from heart), verse 40 says that,
• “Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him…”
• Can you imagine how the crowd must have felt,
• Especially those who had just rebuked him and told him to “Shut up!”?
• You can imagine everything going real quiet.
• People are looking at the man and then at Jesus.
• Then Jesus orders some guys (maybe the very ones who rebuked him)
• To help him walk through the crowd and bring him face-to-face with his Messiah.
Verse 41: The question Jesus then asks the man is very interesting.
• Look at verse 41: “What do you want me to do for you?”
• We read that and say; “Isn’t it obvious what the man needs?”
• Jesus knew what the man wanted but waited for the man to reply;
• He wanted the man to verbalize what it was that He wanted.
• And I love the man’s answer:
• Verse 41b: “Lord, I want to see.”
Note: I think the reason he did this is because Jesus works in co-operation with us:
• He will not force his will on us;
• He always “Knocks at the door” but waits to be invited in!
• Ill: Allseley Park; “Lord kick the door open and save ‘em”
• I like his enthusiasm and sentiment but it will not happen!
(4). His Blessing ()verse 42):
• In verse 42, we read,
• “Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.’”
• There is a spiritual principle that you should never forget:
• Jesus always responds to faith!
Quote: The Great Reformer Martin Luther:
“God our Father has made all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.”
• It is because the man believed and put his faith in Jesus,
• That he received his sight back.
Verse 43 then tells us that,
• “Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God.
• When all the people saw it, they also praised God.”
• When the man got his sight back, he couldn’t help but break out into praise.
• He was thrilled!
Notice the progression here:
• The man went from darkness to the light,
• From begging to following,
• And from crying to praising.
• His blessing then led to the blessing of others as they were led into worship.
The blind man became the believer by:
• (1). He recognized his blindness,
• (2). He believed in Jesus as the Messiah.
• (3). He confessed that belief publicly!
• (3). He then received his sight - a blessing, which spilled over into the blessing of others.
He experienced four things:
• (1). A change of focus:
• From darkness to the light that’s conversion
• (2). A change of direction:
• From sitting to following that’s discipleship
• (3). A change of purpose:
• From begging to praising that’s worship
• (4). A change of scope:
• He was blessed in order to bless others that’s evangelism
For this man and for everyone whom believes in Jesus Christ the process is always the same:
• Conversion leads to Discipleship,
• Which leads to Worship,
• Which spills over into Evangelism.
Questions:
Have you experienced the same four things as the blind man?
• (1). A change of focus:
• From darkness to the light that’s conversion
• (2). A change of direction:
• From sitting to following that’s discipleship
• (3). A change of purpose:
• From begging (receiving) to praising (giving) that’s worship
• (4). A change of scope:
• He was blessed in order to bless others that’s evangelism
