Joke: There was a blind man at Wal-Mart the other day. He seemed to be doing alright until he started spinning his dog around his head on its leash. The sales lady ran over and asked, “Can I help you?”
To which the blind man replied, “No thanks, I’m just looking around.”
Bartimaeus acts like I dream of people acting, the eagerness to get to Christ, persistence in the face of adversity.
Luke 18:38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
Luke 18:39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
Why? What made the difference? What the blind man saw!!!!
Luke 18:42 ... thy faith (“sight”) hath saved thee.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
People who are not blinded by sight often have a better view of the unseen.
The famous blind songwriter Fanny Crosby wrote more than 8,000 songs. This fact and other interesting highlights in the life of Miss Crosby were revealed by Warren Wiersbe in his book Victorious Christian.
Wiersbe explained that when Fanny was only 6 weeks old a minor eye inflammation developed. The doctor who treated the case was careless, though, and she became totally and permanently blind. Fanny Crosby harbored no bitterness against the physician however. In fact, she once said of him, “lf I could meet him now, I would say thank you thank you over and over again for making me blind. “She felt that her blindness was a gift from God to help her write the hymns that flowed from her pen. According to those who knew her, Miss Crosby probably would have refused treatment even if it could have assured the restoration of her sight. Wiersbe concluded by commenting: “It was said of another blind hymn writer, George Matheson, that God made him blind so he could see clearly in other ways and become a guide to men. This same tribute could be applied to Fanny Crosby, who triumphed over her handicap and used it to the glory of God.” Yes, this talented woman allowed her tragedy to make her better instead of bitter.
Someone said to Helen Keller, “What a pity you have no sight!” to which she replied, “Yes, but what a pity so many have sight but cannot see!”
1. Bartimaeus saw his blindness
It was his blindness that caused his interest in Jesus, People don’t go to the doctor unless sick (blind)
Sat by the wayside - heard about Jesus, did much listening, contemplated seeing.
Ridiculous point? He knew he was missing something he wanted to see.
There are a whole group of people who don’t know they are missing something.
I remember when I put on my first pair of glasses at 16th & Glenarm in Denver and immediately was able to read the signs across the street. I didn’t know I was blind until I put them on.
2 Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
How did they become blind - 2 ways
1. some were born to blind parents,
Mark 10:46 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.
Timaeus = Blind Man
Bartimaeus = Son of the blind man
He never knew anything else.
Many blind parents - never considered their eternal destiny - taught their children that all there is, is the here & now.
A German lady during World War II was going to have a baby. When she was assigned a hospital room, she noticed upon the wall a picture of the crucified Saviour. Being a brainwashed Nazi, she screamed for the nurse: “Get the picture of that Jew off the wall!”
The nurse said, “I can’t. I have no authority to do that.”
“Then get me the head man.” Again she cried, “Get that Jew off the wall!”
He too informed her that he could not remove the picture.
The husband came to visit; and when he saw Jesus hanging on the cross, he too went to the authorities. “Get that Jew off the wall. I don’t want my baby’s eyes to see that Jew!”
The picture was removed. The baby was born. The baby was brought to the parents. No, the baby would never see the picture of that Jew; it was born blind.
1. Some were born to blind parents
2. Some are led by blind guides
Luke 6:39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
Mat 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
2 Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Some preach everything but Christ: Social Issues, world hunger, world peace, be a good neighbor. Or they preach Christ as everything except a savior.
1. Bartimaeus saw his blindness
In Denver you can see a Cross lit up on the mountains to the west. My brother in laws family talked about the cross on the mountain as they would drive south on I25 when he was young. He never saw it for himself until he discovered his blindness. When he finally was fitted with a pair of glasses he told the rest of the family that he always thought they were kidding about the cross.
Some will never see the Cross till they find out they are blind.
1. Bartimaeus saw his blindness
2. Bartimaeus saw his opportunity.
Possibly he had dreamed of the day he would see Jesus.
Had heard about Jesus, “Maybe he could heal me”
Had heard how the lame could walk
Blind were given sight
Sinners were forgiven
The hungry were fed
Luke 18:36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.” When he heard the crowd approaching his heart must have skipped a beat.
Luke 18:37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
Luke 18:38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
Luke 18:39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
Sight is blurred by:
A. Passing opportunity
Not a great opportunity, just a passing opportunity, with a crowd between. He may have missed others:
1st X maybe heard about the next day
2nd X had been to afraid
Would have liked to travel to where Jesus was but he couldn’t. This was Jesus last time thru that area vs. 31
What is stopping you from calling on Jesus? This may be your last opportunity as well??
A. Passing opportunity
B. Pressing opposition
1. The crowd? Perhaps you are intimidated by the crowd this morning. You wont get a great opportunity. But it may be your last.
Mark 10:48 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.
Mark 10:49 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.
There will sometimes be people who will try to stop you.
When you see your opportunity, you’ll forget about your self.
Mark 10:48 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.
My son wandered out into the middle of the road on a blind curve when he was very young. I could care less that I acted like an idiot when I saw him in the middle of the highway. Do you think the blind man cared?
Three things will blind you to opportunity.
A. Passing opportunity
B. Pressing opposition
C. Procrastination
Dr. Clarence Macartney told a story 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, the chief of the devils, 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 most dangerous of all delusions is that there is plenty of time. The most dangerous day in a man’s life is when he learns that there is such a word as tomorrow. There are things which must not be put off, for no man knows if for him tomorrow will ever come.
* Come When your called
Mark 10:49 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.
Have you heard people say something like this? “I’ll call on the Savior just before I die.”
Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
1. The Blind man saw his blindness
2 The Blind man saw his opportunity
3. The Blind man saw his need
Luke 18:40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
Luke 18:41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
He asks you “ What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” What did you come to Jesus for?
What do you feel is the purpose of the church? Health & Wealth?
“give me a million dollars”
“Allow me some pleasures”
“health”
The blind man saw his need: “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” The purpose of the church is to restore sight.
Why do you go to church do you want Jesus for the right reason? Do you see the same thing the blind man saw?
What keeps you from seeing your need? Perhaps your garments of self-righteousness. Cast them away and come to Jesus.
Mark 10:50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
* Garments of self-righteousness. Adam and Eve
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
John Wesley who started the Methodist Church, went to Oxford Seminary for five years and then became a minister of the Church of England where he served for about ten years. Toward the end of this time he became a missionary from England to Georgia, in approximately 1735.
All of his life he had been quite a failure in his ministry though he was, as we would count men, very pious. He got up a four o’clock in the morning and prayed for two hours. He would then read the Bible for an hour before going to the jails, prisons, and hospitals to minister to all manner of people. He would teach, and pray, and help others until late at night. he did this for years. In fact, the Methodist Church gets its name from the methodical life of piety that Wesley and his friends lived.
On the way back from America there was a great storm at sea. The little ship in which they were sailing was about to sink. Huge waves broke over the ship deck and the wind shredded the sails. Wesley feared he was going to die that hour and he was terrified. He had no assurance of what would happen to him when he died. Despite all of his efforts to be good, death now for him was big, black, fearful question mark.
On the other side of the ship was a group of men who were singing hymns. he asked them, “How can you sing when this very night you are going to die.” They replied, “If this ship goes down we will go up to be with the Lord forever.”
Wesley went away shaking his head, thinking to himself, “How can they know that? What more have they done?” Then he added, “I came to convert the heathen, ah, but who shall convert me?”
In the providence of God, the ship make it back to England. Wesley went to London and found his way to Aldersgate Street and a small chapel. There he heard a man reading a sermon which had been written two centuries earlier by Martin Luther, entitled “Luther’s Preface to the Book of Romans.” This sermon described what real faith was. It is trusting Jesus Christ only for Salvation—and not in our own good works.
Wesley suddenly realized that he had been on the wrong road all his life. That night he wrote these words in his journal: “About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”
—Evangelism Explosion, p. 38, Kennedy, D. James
1. The Blind man saw his blindness
2 The Blind man saw his opportunity
3. The Blind man saw his need
4. The Blind man saw his Savior
Luke 18:38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
Messianic title: With all the religious leaders present only a blind man could see clearly enough to recognize the Messiah.
A blind man once stood on a corner at a busy intersection reading aloud Acts 4 from a portion of a Braille Bible. A gentleman on his way home stopped at the edge of the crowd that had gathered to listen. At that very moment, the sightless man lost his place. While trying to find it, he kept repeating the last three words he had just read: “No other name. . . No other name. . . No other name. . .” Many smiled, but the inquisitive bystander went away impressed. He had been searching for inner peace and therefore was ready to be influenced by a few words spoken “in season.” He had heard the verse before, but that one phrase haunted him. Before morning he surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s wooing and accepted the Savior. “I see it all now,” he cried. “I’ve been trying to be saved by my own works and prayers. But Jesus alone can help me. He is my mediator. There is no other name whereby I must be saved.” Thus a blind man’s witness, given in a stumbling manner, was used to lead a seeking soul to Christ.
Luke 18:42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
1. The Blind man saw his blindness
2 The Blind man saw his opportunity
3. The Blind man saw his need
4. The Blind man saw his Savior
5. The Blind man saw his privilege
Luke 18:43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
One of Fanny Crosby’s hymns, based on a combination of the thoughts in Ecc. 12:6 and Rev. 22:4, 5 was so personal that for years she never let others see it. Professor Kenneth Osbeck says its revelation to the public came about this way.
“One day at a Bible conference in Northfield, Mass.. Miss Crosby was asked by D.L. Moody to give a personal testimony concerning her faith and Christian experience. At first she hesitated, then quietly rose and said, “There is one hymn I have written which has never been published. I call it my soul’s poem. Sometimes when I am troubled, I repeat it to myself, for it brings comfort to my heart.’ She then recited while many wept, “Someday the silver cord will break, and I no more as now shall sing; but O the joy when I shall wake within the palace of the King! And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story-saved by grace!’ At the age of 25, Fanny Crosby’s wish that the face of Jesus would be the first she would ever see was realized.”
