Sermon Tone Analysis

Service Notes

Please take note of the Christmas schedule.

Also, be on the look out for an email this week concerning a Church Directory.

This has been requested for some time.

The link will allow you to decide what information you want shared.

In the days to come we will share with you how this directory and other online tools can help you stay informed with the Groups and Ministries in the church that you are involved.

The Browns are with us today.

Tonight they will share about their ministry in Asia, in a predominantly Muslim country.

We will not be streaming, so let me encourage you to be here to hear the update and message.

Thankful to have Joseph and Abi Hodges in from Honduras, Joseph will be preaching in tonight’s Spanish service.

Bible Reading

Introduction / written on the front pages of my Bible

A friend inquired of me yesterday, “Will you preach on Sunday morning to saints or to sinners?”

I could not, at the moment, answer him, but afterwards I thought to myself—“If I preach concerning Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, I shall kill two birds with one stone and give both saints and sinners a profitable theme for thought.”

There is but one message of the gospel and it has a voice to all.

Saints know no sweeter music than the name of Jesus and sinners know no richer comfort than His person and His work.

We preach to all when we preach Him who is all in all.

Christ comes as life to the dead and He is equally life to the living.

- Spurgeon

Luke 18:34–43 (KJV 1900)

34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

Review from last week

Disciples still had a hard time understanding the role of suffering in the great redemption story

They followed him trusting, believing

Jesus had his face set like a flint headed to the cross with joy, knowing it was pleasing to the Father and necessary for mankind

Introduction

So much joy in this story, we are heading into dark, difficult days for Jesus and the disciples as they head to Jerusalem - this is our exceptionally warm day before winter comes

Last public miracle, Jesus will cause a fig tree to wither, but this is the last miracle involving a person

Story is told in Mark 10 & Matthew 20

In Matthew we learn his name is Bartimaus

One last thing before we read

We have been given insights into the qualities of followers, examples both negative and positive.

These are the characters Jesus brings to his outdoor classroom of discipleship:

The Persistent Widow (18:1-8)

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (18:9-14)

The Children (18:15-17)

The Rich Young Ruler (18:18-30)

The Insightful Blind Beggar (18:35-43)

The Chief Tax Collector Zacchaeus (19:1-10)

Jesus has just allowed the most "desirable" potential disciple (the rich young ruler) to escape without being saved.

Now he pauses on his journey for the social outcasts who depend on others' kindness for his very survival.

What a contrast!

35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

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.

40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?

And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Pastoral Prayer

Thank you for all those you have brought here today

Thank you for those serving to make sure all ages are hearing from God’s Word today

Thank you for the believers and unbelievers who will hear today’s Text and be challenged by the sweet music and comfort of the Gospel

Sermon Introduction

If I told you that I would meet you in downtown Dawsonville would you be waiting by a courthouse or near a crazy intersection and outlet mall?

This is what we have with new and old Jericho.

Miracles started at a wedding in North Galilee and will end here in Southern Judah

There would have been so many people.

They were all headed for Jerusalem for the Passover

Most likely passed by where Jesus was baptized, very likely saw the area was Jesus was tempted for 40 days,

Quote from my niece Tegan (7) “Jesus did not just come to earth to just heal people.. that is just what God does on the way to the cross”

Retelling of the story

Jericho had to have been filled with all kinds of sights, all kinds of sounds, all kinds of memories, including the dusty commotion of a huge crowd following Him, kicking up dirt everywhere.

Today we will focus on the CROWD, the CRY, and the CHRIST

The Crowds Confusion

Luke 18:35-39 “35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

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.”

They had convictions but no compassion

Theological debate of John 9:9 concerning a blind man.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Jesus saw “a man” 9:1

Disciples saw a theological debate.

Luke 18:39 “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.”

Jesus saw a person to minister to and they saw someone or something to rebuke.

The religious multitude can be brutal.

The people going inside the temple to worship were supposed to have a soft heart and so they would give to the beggars.

Instead of being moved with compassion; we are moved to create memes, sign petitions, create brochures full of shocking stats.

Simply, People were not helping get him to Jesus.

As the people of Bethsaida did in Mark 8:22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

No hole cut in roof like we saw in Mark 2

Same crowd that will cause Zachaeus to climb up in a tree, for the Lord he wanted to see.

The crowd always wants conformity

Desired to silence the blind man.

The pious probably thought they were doing the Lord a service.

Jesus would want to hear the cry of mercy over their shallow hallelujahs.

Jesus came to help those who were in need.

Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

We should say “that is not my crowd.”

Let us be the the crowd that pulls down roofs, carries blind men, makes way for others.

They wanted him to fall in line.

The Country for the Blind / HG Wells - Explored falls into a valley that only has the blind.

He can see but they tell him that sight was a distraction and tried to convince him to get his eyes removed.

Bartimeuas saw by faith what they did not. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

They saw Jesus of Nazereth, he say Son of David; the Messiah.

Luke 18:39 “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.”

The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.

- Helen Keller