Sermon Tone Analysis

Jesus Is Here! -- What Should We Do?

The Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43

Sermon by Rick Crandall

(Prepared December 9, 2022)

BACKGROUND:

*Please open your Bibles to Matthew 20:29.

Here Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem to die on the cross for our sins, and He had reached Jericho, only 15 miles from Jerusalem.

As the Lord headed north out of Jericho, miraculously healed two men who were blind.

*One of the healings is also reported in Mark 10 and Luke 18, but only Matthew tells us that there were two blind men healed that day.

Mark and Luke both tell us that these pitiful men were sitting by the roadside begging.

And Mark 10:46 tells us one of their names: It was Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus.

*Let me also mention that Matthew's Gospel and Mark 10:46 tell us that this happened as Jesus was leaving Jericho.

But Luke 18:35 tells us that it happened as Jesus was coming near to Jericho.

On the surface, this looks like a contradiction, but A. T. Robertson tells us that there were two towns called Jericho.

And "it is probable that Mark and Matthew referred to the old Jericho, the ruins of which have been discovered, while Luke was talking about the new Roman Jericho."

This makes good sense to me because our city of West Monroe is just across the river from Monroe.

(1)

*And I point this out to say that there are some things in the Bible that we won't understand, but we can always trust in God's Word!

As Psalm 119:89 says, "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven."

Praise the Lord!

*The miracles in our Scripture today show us what we should do when we realize that Jesus is here.

Please think about that as we read Matthew 20:29-34.

MESSAGE:

*I am very grateful for the parents and grandparents who faithfully bring their children to church.

I am also grateful for all of the people who give their time to help our children know Jesus.

*King Duncan told the story of a little girl like that.

This preschooler was blessed to have a family who brought her to church.

One day she was sitting in her mother's lap as they looked at a magazine together.

Then they came across a picture of Jesus, and her mother asked, "Do you know who that is?" "Yes," the little girl answered matter-of-factly, "He goes to our church."

(2)

*That little girl was surely right about that!

Jesus Christ does go to our church.

In fact, Jesus is here right now, just as He promised in Matthew 18:20.

There Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

*Jesus is with us by the Holy Spirit of God, and here's how it happened: After the Lord died on the cross, rose again from the dead, went back home to Heaven, and was glorified, He asked His Heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit in a brand new way.

And that's exactly what God the Father did on the day of Pentecost.

*John Phillips explained that the Holy Spirit came to do something He had never done before.

He came to baptize believers into the Church, the spiritual Body of Christ.

He also came to live in everyone who receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

(3)

*Jesus is here right now by the Holy Spirit of God, and on the night before He died for us, the Lord went into detail about how this would happen.

For example, in John 16:5-11 Jesus explained how the Holy Spirit would work in the world.

There Jesus told His disciples:

5. "But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'

6.

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth.

It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (or Comforter) will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

8.

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9. of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

10. of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and you see Me no more;

11. of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."

*Earlier that same night, the Lord explained how the Holy Spirit would live in everyone who believes in Jesus.

In John 14:15-23 our Savior said:

15. "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

16.

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper (or Comforter), that He may abide with you forever,

17. even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

18.

I will not leave you (as comfortless) orphans; I will come to you.

19.

A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me.

Because I live, you will live also.

20.

At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

21.

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.

And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.''

22. Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?''

23.

Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."

*Christians: By His Holy Spirit, God the Father and our Risen Savior are not only here with us, they are living in us!

Jesus is here!

-- So what should we do?

1. FIRST: WE SHOULD CRY OUT TO THE LORD.

*We see this truth in vs. 29-30, where God's Word says:

29.

Now as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed Him.

30.

And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!''

*These men were in a terrible situation.

Simon Rundell explained that "today, people with serious vision problems can live full, happy and productive lives.

But back then, it was very different: No sight, no work, -- no work, no food.

So these two blind men sat by the roadside hoping that someone would pity them and fill their bowls with food, or maybe give them a few coins to purchase the things everyone needs.

*Because they were blind, these men were less than human to many people.

They were objects to be pitied, or cursed, or ignored.

They were desperately trapped on the side of the Jericho Road, as the world passed them by." (4)

*The world had little or nothing to offer to these blind men.

And it can be hard for us to relate to them, but surely, we know about troubles, too.

Some of us may feel the same way they felt that day: Like the world is passing us by.

We can feel left out in life, trapped in our jobs, trapped by problems or habits, unable to break free, unable to change things.

*These men were in a terrible situation, but they did the best thing we can ever do.

In vs. 30-31 they cried out to Jesus, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" Then in vs. 33 they said, "Lord, we want our eyes to be opened!"

Their prayers were passionate, simple, and sincere.

That's the way God wants us to pray.

2. JESUS IS HERE! SO WE SHOULD CRY OUT TO THE LORD, AND WE SHOULD COME TO THE LORD.

*Notice in vs. 32 that "Jesus stood still and called them" to come to Him.

Mark 10:49-50 says this about blind Bartimaeus: "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."

Just like He called these two blind men to Him, Jesus calls us to come to Him.

Don't let anything keep you away.

[1] DON'T LET YOUR PAST KEEP YOU AWAY FROM JESUS.

*These two blind men weren't important people.

They didn't have good jobs or good resumes.

They weren't the kind of people everybody wanted to be around.

They were just blind beggars, but they didn't let that keep them from Jesus!

*Sometimes people do let their past keep them from Jesus.

I have heard some people say, "I've been too bad."

"It's too late for me."