Having a determined faith, which comes in knowing our deepest need.

The Account of Bartimaeus

Mark 10:46-52

Your Deepest Need

(BROKENNESS CIRCLE): Each person in this room has one thing in common. We are all broken. No matter the excuse, no matter who or what you choose to blame, no matter what you think…there is one thing for certain, man has in common with one another—we are broken. This directs us to another truth, which for certain—we all share—we all share in the need to be mended, we all share in having the need for God’s mercy.

For so many people, the means of mending their brokenness are found in the things which could never and can never restore their brokenness:

Addictions/Strongholds (my testimony—addiction stemming from tragedy) Earthly relationships—we cannot enter relationships thinking we can fix others, who they can fix us—the deepest need of your heart and soul, can never be met in an earthly relationship-why do you see so many people leave one relationship to another? And if a man cannot find it in a woman, they may turn to a man and vice versa Religion/Religious activity

The point is, no matter what we try and do—we cannot mend the brokenness which our sin has brought upon our lives.

This is one of my favorite accounts of the four gospels. It is the account of a man named Bartimaeus, who was blind all of his life until He encountered King Jesus—it is a stark representation of the darkness and blindness man walks in—and a humbling reminder that each of us has a need—a need only Jesus Christ can meet.

(v.46) Setting and Set-Up

Mark 10:46 “Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.”

(Context and culture)

The place—Jericho

One of the most important cities in Palestine

Busy, Chaotic, commercial/trade

Passover Week—so there were countless people swarming the city making their way to Jerusalem

It is interesting to note in this account, that these countless people were consumed with getting to Jerusalem to celebrate and remember God’s deliverance through the Passover—when all the while He who was foreshadowed and promised as the Passover lamb for man’s sins walked right with them—

Religious activity had so consumed and blinded them—they couldn’t even recognize that their delivery from sin was walking right in front of them.

Religion and religiousness can and will blind you from recognizing your deepest need and that it has been met through Jesus Christ.

Religion doesn’t require surrender—a relationship does!

The person--Bartimaeus

His condition--

Blind, most likely from birth

No one to care for him (cast out, unclean, not a member of society)

His position:

Beggar—for food, clothes, shelter

Season of Passover—he knew religious people were prone to give more during this “religious” time.

Luke 18:36-38 “And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!””

From Luke’s account it appears possible that Bartimaeus knew Jesus was in Jericho and if so, he knew where to go in order to get help…at the city limits on the side of the road

(You and me)

Blind Bartimaeus is a picture of our spiritual blindness apart from Jesus Christ

Bartimaeus had been blind for life—until Jesus Christ entered the picture…so are you

Bartimaues had no hope—until Jesus Christ entered the picture…so are you w/out hope

Bartimaeus was an orphan—until Jesus Christ entered the picture…so too are you

The condition of blindness in Bartimaeus had left him in bondage:

in bondage to the world.

In the bondage of depending on the things of the world to satisfy and sustain him.

In bondage to his condition—

Your condition of sin--your spiritual blindness leaves you in bondage:

To this world.

The things of this world.

Your condition…until Jesus Christ enters the picture

The enemy, who make no mistake, is at work in this world, would love nothing more than to keep you stuck in fear;

The enemy who is at work in this world would love nothing more than to keep you distracted and deceived;

The enemy who is at work in this world would love nothing more than to keep you bound to your brokenness.

The enemy who is at work in this world would love nothing more than to keep you from recognizing your deepest need (mercy) and the One who can fully meet that need (Christ).

B/C if the enemy can keep you here, bound to your blindness, You will continue to go through life w/out awareness of your spiritual condition and your spiritual need; and you will be unable to overcome and stand against the culture, temptations, and deceit this world inundates you with

“And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

II. (v.47) How do we get Jesus? How do we get help for our deepest need?

Mark 10:47a “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth...”

First? Believing what is being said about Jesus-HIS WORD

(Context)-What Bartimaeus was used to hearing:

The noise of people-groups of people-and a lot of them.

The noise of all the worldly conversations that were happening around him (rude, off-colored jokes, talking about vanity, talking religion, and all other types of.

He would have also heard the partiality and prejudice of these people: the gossip, the slander.

He would have heard how they thought about him—as a cast-out, as unclean, as undeserving, as dirty, and as not one to belong to society (v.48 shows this)

(Context) What he heard on this day would change his life forever: “when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth.

Remember: Bartimaeus was blind, he had been blind his entire life—he had no hope of seeing—no way of knowing Jesus was walking through town—what Jesus looked like— But what he could do was hear…he could hear all that people talking and walking about…and their conversations shifted the moment Jesus walked by!

He heard the conversation shift He heard the talking change He heard the hustle and bustle of what was happening around him come to a halt, why? He heard the people start talking about Jesus,

The One Bartimaeus, when had heard it was Jesus—the One who was performing miracles—who was healing the lame, the leper, the sick, the blind, and the deaf—the man whose teaching was turning the world upside down—the Man who was the promised Messiah—hope began to swell up in Bartimaeus.

Heard—(describe the meaning):

The presence of Jesus changes the conversation/changes the scene:

(You & I) What are you accustomed to hearing?

The world wants to teach and define for you what/where

Your worth can be find

Love can be found

Acceptance can be found

The distractions and things of this world are what the enemy wants to keep you bound and listening to

What is it that you are bound to, where the enemy wants to keep you distracted with?

What lies of the enemy are you listening to, that are keeping you from realizing God has sent you His Son?

What is distracting you from realizing God has made a way for you to be freed from the blindness and bondage?

(You & I) Until you realize that it’s Jesus and that He alone is your Savior Until you come to terms that your sin has caused you to be spiritually blind and see that Christ came to give you “sight”—

You will be bound to the distractions of this world.

Your focus will be on your bondage, and

You live distracted and deceived, (1) living under sin and condemnation, (2) not knowing how to stand against the lies of this world

(You and I) Jesus Christ is revealed to us only through the Bible; God’s plan of redemption in Jesus Christ is only discovered through God’s Word

Redemption is

Not found in a magazine

Not found in a self-help book

Not found in all your good works and rule following

Who Jesus REALLY is and the sole purpose for which came is found ONLY in God’s Word— The witnesses, the testimonies, and the truth of the person and work of Jesus Christ are found only in the Bible: The sad truth though:

To most—Jesus is seen as a good man, a great teacher, someone who taught and showed man how to live a good life…but nothing more To most—Jesus was simply a martyr—a good man who died and said some things while He hung there, but nothing more To others—Jesus is a genie—He’s a Fabio-style Jesus—He’s someone man conforms into their image so they can stick Him in their pocket…but not the Son of the Living God.

“If Jesus was just a good man, and a good teacher, even a good prophet, He is completely acceptable. Mormons and Muslims alike love Jesus, Hindus and Buddhists are very happy with Jesus. As long as He’s just a teacher who offers sage wisdom. But the minute you step across that line and argue that Jesus is more than a prophet and a teacher, that He’s actually God incarnate, God with us; now all of a sudden those who were more than willing to gather with you scatter. Everybody loves Jesus, as long as you don’t define who He truly is.” (Voddie Baucham)

The greatest gift you can ever receive satisfies the greatest need you will ever have—but if you refuse/neglect/deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that His sole purpose was redeeming us back to God, that through His death your sins are forgiven and in His resurrection, you are given life—the gift does not belong to you.

(v.47b) Second--It takes more than merely realizing our deepest need, we must confess our deepest need

Mark 10:47 “...he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!””

(Context and Contrast )

Bartimaeus’ response to the realization that it was Jesus?

He NEVER hesitated-“…he began to cry out…”

He knew the source…Jesus, Son of David…”

It was an inadequate concept or view of Jesus, yet he approached Jesus in hope that He was Who He says He was/is.

The point to see here, is that he used the knowledge he had of Jesus and cried out to Him. He had arrived at the moment in his life where he was sick of his blindness, sick of being in bondage, and he took what knowledge he had of Jesus Christ and he stepped out in faith.

There are those in this room who may be in a similar spot, you may be in the same position as Bartimaeus. Maybe you are at the moment and point in your life where you are sick of your bondage, sick of your sin, sick of being blind, sick of trying to figure out how to navigate this life on your own

If this is you, if you’ve reached this point…take what you know about the gospel of Jesus Christ and step out in faith and WATCH WHAT GOD WILL DO!

Bartimaeus knew the issue-

Think of the needs he had:

He was blind

He was a beggar

He had been left alone in this world.

He had no one to care for him—his family had presumably abandoned him T

Think of what he could have cried out for:

Sight--Money--Clothing--A place to live

The bullies to stop

Yet he cried for his most basic need

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

(You and I)—What should your response be when you are confronted with the truth of Jesus Christ?

We must never hesitate to cry out

We must never hesitate to cry out to Jesus Christ (right source)

We must never hesitate to cry out to Jesus Christ for what we need the most

Some of our needs may be physical Some of our needs may be mental Some of our needs may be circumstantial or situational

But please hear me on this: Jesus Christ cares about and knows your hurts, your pains, the lies you’ve been told and have believed—He knows the stress and anxiety you’ve been living under—He knows the circumstances and situations you are facing—He knows about your addictions, He knows about the strongholds, He knows and He’s not shocked or surprised by any of them—and He is not and has not turned and run the other way

Jesus also knows that true freedom from these things, freedom from the bondage of how you have been living, can only come through salvation; Jesus knows that unless your sin is dealt with and unless your heart is changed, you will remain in bondage to these things.

III. (v.48) Third-Persisting and Persevering after Jesus

Mark 10:48 “Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!””

Remember the crowds

They were telling him to quiet down

They were dismissing him

They were trying to silence him

What did Bartimaeus do?

He was desperate.

He was determined.

He was dead set on seeking Jesus

Despite the rebuking crowds, Bartimaeus’ cry to Jesus was louder and stronger than the rebuking of the crowds; he was not discouraged, silenced or stopped He repeated louder and louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me."

What we must we do?

We must remember we have an enemy who will stop at nothing to keep us distracted and deceived from crying out to Jesus. He will use whatever he can:

Your family/friends

Religion

Fear/Doubt

False identity and false value/worth

Distraction of any kind (Example from C.S. Lewis’ book, “Screwtape Letters,”)

We must remember the serpent didn’t deceive or tempt Eve to do anything other than dis-trust God and His Word.

Where a lack of trust in God and His word exists, decisions of sin are not far behind.

Think about the deceit of the enemy in your life, where were baited to not trust in the goodness of God, and then look at what the truth of God’s Word says—and let this overwhelm you (these are just a hint of all the promises and truths found in God’s Word)

(Enemy) The enemy says, your sin is too deep--(God’s Word)—

Ephesians 3:16-18 “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—”

(Enemy) You are not worth it to God--(God’s Word)—

Genesis 1:26-28 “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;

Psalm 139 “For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. For …”

(Enemy Just stay where you are, there’s no hope for you--(God’s Word)—

Romans 5:5 “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

(Enemy) All is useless-it’s not worth it--(God’s Word)—

Ephesians 2:4-8 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”

(Enemy) No one can love you--(God’s Word)—

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

In crying out for mercy we must be persistent…because the enemy is persistent. In crying out to Jesus, are you determined to cry out to Him amongst the noise, distraction, and lies of the enemy?

IV (v.49-50-Fourth) to receive Jesus’ help

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.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.”

(v.49) Jesus stopped and sent…why?

Because of his need..the man could not reach Jesus by hjimself

Because of the man’s persistence.

Because Jesus never turns away for a person who cries for help

(v.50) Bartimaeus threw away every hindrance

Bartimaeus—the stress of this verse is the eagerness in to reach Jesus and allowing nothing to hinder him

He cast anything and everything that would cause him to be hindered or impeded in reaching Jesus.

He wanted to nothing to stand in the way of getting to Jesus

(You and I)—few people are so eager to let go and let God

How many of are on the verge of giving up…don’t give up

How many of are not willing or scared to throw everything off that hinders you

Hebrews 12:1 How many of you are being hampered by your bondage.

WORSHIP TEAM

V. (v.51-52-Fifth) Confession

Actions of Bartimaeus are the actions you must have

He knew exactly what he needed and he had no difficulty in stating it

(You and me) Admitting that our deepest need is the mercy of God

He needed to make it personal

Mark 8:27-29 “Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?” So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”” He needed to confess

(Us) Describe confession

VI. (v.52-Sixth-Follow

Mark 10:52 “Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.”

Salvation is the start of a journey—it is a process in which you are conformed moment by moment, day by day, more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. Don’t sit where God saved you from, move in obedience where God saved you towards! Listen to what the Bible records and the words of Jesus in.

John 11:44 “And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.””

In the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, the last thing Jesus says in this account, was to tell Lazarus was to shed the grave clothes…He was to remove that which represented His bondage and blindness

This is what Jesus Christ does when a person comes to salvation, comes to trust and faith in Him…He cleanses and removes what once bound you, he unshackles the sins which once condemned you, and He tells you to get up and go!

Jesus did not call you out of the grave to stay there, He called you to move away from what’s dead and decaying and towards what is holy and godly.

THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT IS:

Are you tired of walking around blind, do you need sight?

If so, come lay what needs to be laid at the cross, at the feet of Jesus, so you can experience the mercy, grace, and love of Jesus Christ