Good News Club: Mark 10 and Blind Bartimaeus

Introduction: Friends, that past 4 weeks we have seen Jesus create wine out of water, help us understand that we’re all sinners who need new spiritual life from Jesus and the Holy Spirit, extend His love to a woman at a well as He does to the whole world that He knows all about, and heal an official’s son who was at the point of death. Today, we’re going to see someone in great need come to Jesus and we’re going to see Jesus respond in an incredible way.

Mark 10:46 “46 Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.

In addition to Jesus, His disciples, and a large crowd following Jesus, who are we introduced to?

Bartimaeus.

We know who Bartimaeus’ dad is, Timaeus; we even know what he was doing when Jesus was passing by, sitting by the road.

Why was Bartimaeus sitting by the road?

He was begging.

What does it mean to beg?

To ask someone for something.

This asking can be for things that you want.

Often it’s for things that you need.

Do you think that this man was begging because he wanted something or needed something?

Something that he needed.

Why?

Because Bartimaeus is blind.

What does it mean to be blind?

You cannot see.

Bartimaeus had this condition where he could not see and there was no way that he could work since he could not see.

So, Bartimaeus had to beg and rely on others to get what he needed to survive.

We know that Jesus is passing by; what do we know about Jesus?

He created wine out of water, demonstrating He’s Almighty, Creator God.

He knew everything about the woman at the well, proving He’s God Who knows all things.

He healed the official’s son who was at the point of death, helping us to understand that He’s the powerful God Who keeps His Word.

Do you think that Jesus can help Bartimaeus? (let’s keep reading …)

Mark 10:47 47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Notice, Bartimaeus does not ask Jesus for money, which we would expect since Bartimaeus is a beggar.

Bartimaeus does not even immediately ask Jesus to heal him.

Instead, Bartimaeus asks Jesus for mercy!

What is mercy?

Mercy is helping someone by relieving them of the difficulty that they are facing.

Illustration: I have 2 younger sisters, one time, one of them had fallen and done the splits and they could not get up to get out of the splits.

I helped pick them up.

You see, they were in a difficult, probably painful spot.

I intervened to help them in their need and picked them up.

So, if Bartimaeus needs help, how is it that Jesus can intervene to show Bartimaeus mercy? (let’s keep reading …)

Mark 10:48 48 Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

How is Bartimaeus’ crying out received by the crowd?

They tell him to be quiet!

Why do you think that they would tell him to be quiet?

Maybe they were embarrassed by how noisy he was being.

Illustration: Have you ever been out somewhere and seen someone make a big scene that was out of the ordinary and felt embarrassed for them.

That may be what happened here.

Did Bartimaeus stay quiet?

Did he just say, “ok, I’m being too loud?”

No!

Bartimaeus just got louder!

Did Jesus respond to Bartimaeus? (let’s keep reading…)

Mark 10:49 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.”

What is it that Jesus does?

He tells the crowd to call Bartimaeus to him.

How does the crowd respond?

They tell Bartimaeus to take heart.

They’re telling Bartimaeus to be encouraged.

Why?

Jesus has called him.

This is such great news because when Jesus calls someone, that means that He is going to act using power that only He has to provide beyond what one could imagine.

How does Bartimaeus respond? (let’s keep reading …)

Mark 10:50 50 Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus.

Back then, a cloak went over your regular clothing, almost like a coat.

Bartimaeus does not let anything get in the way of getting to Jesus.

He jumps up as quickly as he can (emphasize).

Mark 10:51 51 And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!”

What is it that Jesus asks Bartimaeus?

“What can I do for you?”

How is Bartimaeus referred to here?

As “the blind man”.

This is brought to our attention to remind us that Bartimaeus is in great need.

How does Bartimaeus respond to Jesus?

First, Bartimaeus calls Jesus “Rabboni”; a term meaning teacher.

He then tells Jesus what he needs: his sight.

You see, in calling Jesus “Teacher” Bartimaeus is helping us to understand how he perceives Jesus, someone Who tells the truth.

What does Jesus do? Does He heal Bartimaeus? (let’s keep reading …)

Mark 10:52 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.”

What is it that Jesus says to Bartimaeus?

“Go”

Wait a minute, Bartimaeus is blind.

He can’t just go!

But that’s not all Jesus tells him!

Jesus tells Bartimaeus that he can go because Bartimaeus’ faith has made him well.

What is faith?

Belief in action.

Illustration: Bartimaeus believed that Jesus could help Bartimaeus when he needed to see by healing his eyes.

Friends, in a way, we can all identify with Bartimaeus.

You might be thinking, “What a second Pastor Bill, I’m not blind.”

That’s true.

But we all have a need that only Jesus in His mercy can meet.

You see, we are all sinners (def.).

We cannot save ourselves from the punishment for our sin that we deserve, forever separated from God in hell.

But Jesus, in His mercy, came to this earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead to never die again.

If you believe in Jesus as your Savior from your sins, He will show you the mercy that you need in forgiving your sins and saving you from the power and punishment for your sins.

Friends, don’t let anything stand in the way of going to Jesus for His mercy to save you. Believe in Him today!

Look, friends, at what happens to Bartimaeus.

He receives his sight!

The Lord merely spoke and Bartimaeus is healed!

Jesus Words have power in them to create and restore beyond our ability to fully imagine!

Friends, look at how Bartimaeus responds to Jesus.

Does Bartimaeus just leave and say, “thanks Jesus?” (No!)

Does Bartimaeus return to the roadside to beg? (No!)

What does Bartimaeus do?

Follows Jesus!

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

To receive Jesus’ teaching.

To live by Jesus’ teaching in order to please Jesus.

What’s an example of Jesus’ teaching that one should follow? (take answers; love God, love others, etc.)

Friends, if you have received Jesus’ mercy by believing in Jesus as your Savior from your sins, then you need to follow the example of Bartimaeus who followed Jesus.

Bartimaeus lived the rest of His life to please Jesus by obeying God’s Word.

The only way that you live to please the Lord is to know what His Word says.

You also need the Holy Spirit to help you to live according to God’s Word.

Conclusion: Friends, we all need Jesus’ mercy to be saved from our sins that can be received by believing in Jesus. If you have believed in Jesus as your only Savior from your sins, then I’d like to ask you to raise your hand. For those of you who could not raise your hand, I want to invite you to speak with one of our counselors about believing in Jesus as your only Savior from your sins.