“What do you do when - You find yourself sitting by the side of the road”
By
Pastor M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
Mark 10:46-52 “46) And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47) And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, [thou] Son of David, have mercy on me. 48) And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, [Thou] Son of David, have mercy on me. 49) And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50) And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51) And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52) And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way”.
Opening:- Life is a journey that we all must travel. It is filled with lessons, hardships, heartaches, joys, celebrations and special moments that will ultimately lead us to our destination and cause us to fulfill our purpose in life. The road will not always be smooth and exciting in fact one song writer said it like this “Nobody told me that the road would be easy”; in fact, throughout our travels, we will encounter many challenges that will test our courage, challenge our strengths, wreak havoc on our weaknesses, and try our faith.
Rather in the natural or in the spiritual we are traveling on this journey from one point to another. In the natural we go from infancy to toddler to childhood to adolescence to young adult, adult, and finally to senior citizen. We travel from our past to our present and into our future. In the spiritual we travel from justification to sanctification and into glorification. However, along the way we will encounter obstacles some will be filled with joy, and some will be filled with heartache. How we respond to these obstacles determines how the rest of the journey will be.
Here in our text we find Jesus is on a journey out of Jericho and he is headed to Jerusalem to ultimately complete the journey for which he came and that is the cross. As he leaves Jericho he encounters a man that is traveling through life literally sitting on the side of the road. Sometimes on the journey of life you find yourself sitting on the side of the road.
The question becomes and is the subject of this message “WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD”?
There are several points that I must bring out in this lesson so let me get right into it.
Verse #46a:- “And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people”. Notice the Bible say as He (Jesus) went out of the city of Jericho with his disciple and a great number of people. WATCH THIS:- Following him were his disciples and a great number of people. I like to call them church folk and those that hang around the church. They are the one that are there just to see what is going on, you know them they are nosey, they are looking for something and what they can get. They hang around they church but their purpose is not the church neither the things of the church. They say I want a husband or I want a wife so they hang around the church looking think that they can name it and claim it or they are there to gossip, stir up mess and watch and see what the true disciples are going to do.
Verse 46b:- “blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.” WATCH THIS “blind Bartimaeus” it gives his condition before it gives his name. He is identified by his condition and not his name. It is a terrible thing to be identified by your condition rather than your name. God told Abram in Genesis 12:2 “and make your name great” regardless of the condition you are in. Your condition does not dictate who you are and what you can be or what God is able to do.
Many people in life may have a disability, but that disability does not dictate who they are and what they are able to accomplish. WATCH THIS:- a disability does not make a person handicapped. A disability refers to the inability of a certain person to carry out certain task or movements while the term handicapped refers to inability to accomplish something a person wants to do. Handicapped describes the shortcomings of the environment around a person which prevents a person with a disability from being able to participate in society.
Bartimaeus was blind that was his disability, his condition. Because of this condition he was handicapped in society and not able to travel to Jerusalem to worship.
His condition kept him from gaining employment and providing for himself.
Hid condition caused him to become a beggar and rely on the sympathy and generosity of others.
Oh you see them today they stand at a busy intersection with a sign in their hand looking pitiful and desperate, dirty and destitute with a sign that says I will work for food. They are there standing on the side of the road begging hoping someone will have pity on them and show some kind of generosity towards them and put some change in their hands.
Some of the signs say homeless, stranded, abandoned, unemployed with 5 kids and a wife that is terminally ill. They are being identified by their condition.
Blind Bartimaeus was disabled because of his condition of blindness and it caused him to sit on the side of the road begging.
Let’s talk about the road for a minute. In Bartimaeus’ time there were no automobile, no paved roads, the roads were dirty and dusty. The mode of travel was by foot, donkey, or camel and we all know what donkeys and camels do. So this highway was a dusty, dirty, smelly, polluted place that no doubt stank and was extremely hot. The heat, stench, dust, and dirt made this an ugly place a terrible and nearly unbearable place to be, but his condition caused him to sit there and beg for someone to have compassion and pity on him and put some change in his hand.
WATCH THIS:- His condition caused him to sit by the side of the road, but his name was Bartimaeus, he is the son of Timaeus. In Hebrew the “Bar” means sons of.
In Matthew 16:17 when Jesus said to Peter “Blessed art thou Simon Barjona” he was saying blessed art thou Simon son of Jona.
Timaeus was his father and the name Timaeus means value and honor.
Therefore Bartimaeus is the son of value and honor.
WATCH THIS:- There is some privilege of being the son of value and honor. Price Charles is the son of Queen Elizabeth because he is her son there is some honor and privilege he is entitled to. He can walk up to the Queen and put his arm around her and say I love you, but you try to walk up to the Queen and watch what happens.
Because he is her son he is the next in line to rule on the throne of England – you and I don’t have that privilege because the relationship is not there.
Bartimaeus was the son of value and honor yet his condition had him sitting by the side of the road.
Have you ever been traveling down the road in your car moving along just fine, enjoying life, the traffic is moving at a good pace, the day is bright and you are listening to your favorite songs on the radio with your head just bobbin when all of the sudden your engine light comes on, you hear a bunch of clanging and clattering coming from your car, steam begins to rise from the hood, and you begin to slow down rapidly. You manage to pull over to the side of the road, get out of the car open up the hood when steam bellows out the top. You notice water and oil is running from beneath. Your automobile is now out of commission, you climb back in your automobile and now you find yourself sitting in your car on the side of the road. Just because you are sitting on the side of the road does not stop life from moving forward cars are passing your by –zoom zoom zoom and you are sitting there on the side of the road. Every time a truck passes you by it shacks your cars but you are still sitting there on the side of the road. While you are sitting there on the side of the road frustration begins to build because life is going on yet you are sitting here on the side of the road. Time is passing by and you are sitting here on the side of the road. Discouragement and disappointment show up while you are sitting there on the side of the road. Hopelessness and despair soon follow while you are sitting there on the side of the road.
You were doing everything right being the good wife or the good husband when all of the sudden your marriage falls apart and you find yourself sitting there on the side of the road.
You exercised daily, ate the proper food, took all the vitamins you could and go to the doctor for a routine check up only to receive a bad report now you find yourself sitting on the side of the road of life frustrated, disappointed, and hopeless.
You had plans to travel and see the world when you go into work they tell you that the company is closing and your retirement is lost now you find yourself sitting on the side of the road.
You have the vision God has given you when all off the sudden everyone leaves the church except a very few. You know what God has showed you and promised to you yet you find yourself sitting on the side of the road.
QUESTION:- What are you going to do when you find yourself sitting by the side of the road.
Bartimaeus was sitting there begging by the side of the road when he heard a sound, a commotion.
Verse 47a) And when he heard notice Bartimaeus heard something. He heard those that followed Jesus making some noise. You can’t follow Christ and be all silent. You can’t go to church and testify that God is the head of your life and sit there in the church and nothing moves you. One song writer said “When I think of the goodness of Jesus and all He has done for me my soul cries out Hallelujah thank God for saving me”
Bartimaeus heard a sound, what he heard cause him to ask what was going on. If you want the world to inquire what is going on in that church, make some noise. When you make some noise the people will become to come why because inquiring minds want to know.
When Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say,
WATCH THIS:- cry out means to scream or shout aloud. It is a sound that is made with your mouth. We have it messed up and think that to shout is to dance, that’s not it. To shout or cry out is to make a sound with your mouth. Your mouth contains your lips, the Bible says in Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name”.
Bartimaeus began to say Jesus, [thou] Son of David, have mercy on me. WATCH THIS:- This is a divine complete request or cry. The number 9 in the Bible means divine completeness Bartimaeus cried out 9 words Jesus, [thou] Son of David, have mercy on me. This is literally blind faith, because Bartimaeus never saw a miracle that Jesus had done. He didn’t see the water turned to wine, he didn’t see a withered hand made straight, he did see Jesus walk on the water but he had faith that came the Bible way. He had heard of the miracles of Jesus. Romans 10:17 says “So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. Because he heard that Jesus was passing by his faith quickened something down on the inside of him and caused him to cry out, he realized that this was his opportunity to receive what he need from the Lord and he began to cry out Jesus, [thou] Son of David, have mercy on me.
Verse 48a) And many charged him that he should hold his peace: WATCH THIS:- Church folk told him to keep quite. It is amazing to me how when you are sitting by the side of the road and life is passing you by that church folk will always try to give you advice that seems to benefit them not realizing what you are going through. Oh you know what they say “If it had been me I would of left a long time ago” “If I were you I wouldn’t go back to that church again” “I don’t understand why they just don’t go on and close the doors of the church” “If I were the pastor I would just turn in the keys and say I am done”. That’s why you aren’t the pastor because God knew if he had chosen you that you would have quit. That’s why they are still single because they left instead of standing and holding on to God’s unchanging hand. That’s why they find themselves running from church to church never becoming stable and steadfast because the moment they find themselves sitting by the side of the road they give up.
I am reminded of a commercial on T.V. that says you have come to the point in life were you don’t let things bother you. The man is driving down a muddy dirt road in a truck with a trailer on the back, the truck gets stuck in the mud, and instead of the man getting upset throwing a fit and panicking leaving the truck stuck in the mud. He gets out of the truck walks to the back of the trailer and pulls out 2 horses, he hooks the horses up to the truck, climbs back in the truck, puts it in drive and says getty-up. The horses pull the truck out of the mud, then he puts the horses back in the trailer and drives on down the road.
There are some things you have to do when you find yourself sitting by the side of the road.
Verse 48b) but he cried the more a great deal, [Thou] Son of David, have mercy on me. Bartimaeus cried more a great deal. He is louder and more persistent. His cry is a faith cry. His cry is a cry of desperation. His cry now has 8 words [Thou] Son of David, have mercy on me. 8 is the number of new beginnings, I like to believe that Bartimaeus’ cry is a cry asking for a new beginning. Lord make me over again. Restore unto me that which sin has taken away. I need a revival, a renewing, refreshing, and a restoration.
Bartimaeus cried more a great deal – my mind goes to the scripture in Matthew 11:12 that says “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force”. Bartimaeus had suffered the violence of sin and people where trying to hold him down, but he by a force that was burning deep down on the inside said I got to get what I have need of, for it is this prayer of earnest that reaches the heart of God, for it comes from deep within your soul. Psalms 42:7 says “Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me”. This cry of Bartimaeus penetrates the ears and heart of Jesus and causes Jesus to stop in his tracks.
Verse 49a) And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. WATCH THIS:- Bartimaeus’ cry stopped Jesus for he stood still and commanded him (Bartimaeus) to be called. I like to believe that when Jesus heard Bartimaeus’ cry He turned and saw Bartimaeus sitting by the side of the road. Bartimaeus didn’t see Jesus, but Jesus saw him. Sometimes when you find yourself sitting on the side of the road you may not be able to see Jesus, it may seem like life is passing you by, it may be dark, bleak, smelly, dirty, dusty, uncomfortable, lonely, and depressing but God is looking at you, for 2nd Chronicles 16:9 says “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him”. He’s watching me, He’s got his eyes on me. I might not be able to see him right now, but he is watching me. My situation may seem hopeless, people may have told me to quit, be quite, hush-up, give-up, back-down, move-away, throw in the towel, but I got to cry even the more a great deal.
Verse 49b) And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. WATCH THIS;- Here are the very people that a moment ago told him to be quite and hold his peace now they see that Bartimaeus has got the attention of Jesus and that Jesus has commanded him to come to him. They now know that Bartimaeus is going to be blessed, he is going to have a one on one audience with the Lord and they now flip the script. They tell Bartimaeus be of good comfort for he calleth thee.
It is amazing how people will put you down, leave you alone, walk out on you, turn their back on you when things seem to be dark, but when God starts blessing they want to be right there, they want to hold your hand, carry your Bible, drive you around, get all close to you, ask is there anything I can do for you. Tell them YES GET OUT OF MY WAY I AM GOING TO SEE THE KING OF KINGS.
Verse 50) And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. WATCH THIS:- LOOK AT WHAT HE DID - casting away his garment, he had been wrapped up in this mess long enough, he knew he had to let go of some stuff. He knew what Isaiah had prophesied in Isaiah 61:3 “to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;”. He didn’t just sit there on the side of the road, but he got up, got rid of some stuff and came to Jesus. The Bible doesn’t say this, but I like to believe that people tried to hold his hand, grab him by the arm and lead him to Jesus, but Bartimaeus had faith and I believe he told the people you didn’t help me when I was sitting by the roadside so you don’t need to help me now. But I believe Bartimaeus said Psalms 199:105 “Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”. And he began to walk by faith until he got to Jesus.
Verse 51a) And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? WATCH THIS:- Jesus said 9 words remember 9 means divine completeness.
Verse 51b) The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. WATCH THIS:- Bartimaeus said 7 words, 7 is the number of perfection. This was a perfect praise!
Verse 52) WATCH THIS:- And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way”. Bartimaeus begged on the side of the road for change and possibly received some change in his hand, but when he praised the Lord he received a change.
Begging got him some change, but praise brought about a change.
CLOSING:- WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!!!!!!!
Are you gonna sit there and die or are you gonna get up from there and praise the Lord.
Bartimaeus was sitting there and heard that Jesus was passing by his faith kicked in and he began to call upon the name of the Lord.
WATCH THIS:- His faith was in him. The Bible says in 2nd Timothy 1:6 “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands”. The gift is in you but you have to stir it up.
When you are going through a test sometimes it seems like God is not speaking, but WATCH THIS:- in school when the teacher gave you a test they didn’t talk during the test because they did all their talking before the test. When the test came they just watched you take the test because the answer was inside of you. Well Jesus is the great teacher and the test has you sitting on the side of the road, but he is watching and waiting to see what you are going to do because he has already place the answer inside of you, so sit it up in faith.
Bartimaeus cried out. We got to praise in our circumstances.
Bartimaeus got Jesus attention. We must pray earnestly form the depths of our souls.
Bartimaeus got up and threw off his garment. We can’t sit here and die, but get up throw off the past, throw off the junk, throw off the hard feelings, throw off the ridicule, throw off the garment of heaviness and begin to walk by faith.
Bartimaeus gave perfect praise. We need to praise God. Stop complaining and start praising.
For it was praising that brought about a change in Bartimaeus.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF SITTING BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD? I DON”T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I GONNA PRAISE THE LORD.
One song writer said I - I GOTTA A PRAISE - I GOTTA A PRAISE AND I GOTTA GET IT OUT.
Pastor M.L. Maughmer
Apostolic Glorious Church
