Mark 10_46_52 Sermon (2)

Text: Mark 10:46-52

Title: Merciful Jesus

Intro: Leon Trotzky was in frequent contact with Christians in New York during his youth and his manhood – but no ever tried to lead him to the Lord.

We understand this don’t we? There are people hopelessly lost all around us, when was the last time we tried to bring them to Jesus not merely invite them to church. This is another example of us being caught up in ourselves.

This passage finishes a division in Mark where Jesus is teaching true discipleship. This division opens in 8:22 with Jesus healing a blindman at Bethsaida now it concludes with Jesus healing the blind beggar Bartimaeus.

This passage is tied to last week’s passage by the question “What shall I do for you?” John and James wanted positions of glory. Bartimaeus wanted one of life’s most basic needs, to be able to see. Jesus could not nor would not grant the request for glory but will show MERCY to one in desperate need.

MERCY Characteristic and action that comes from the very nature of God. On the human level it is best described as one’s consideration of the condition and needs of his fellowman.

In both OT and NT mercy is an action taken by the strong towards the weak, the rich towards the poor, the insider towards the outsider, those who have towards those who have not.

CPS:. In essence those who have Jesus need to show mercy towards those who do not.

The Blind Beggar Sitting Vs.46

The setting (Jericho)

Explanation: Jericho was one of the most important cities in the Jordan valley and was the key to western Palestine. There are two Jericho’s which helps us understand a textual question when Mark and Luke are compared. Marks say’s leaving Jericho where Luke says entering Jericho. There is the OT Jericho (5 miles from the Jordan) which was destroyed by the Israelites during the conquest and NT Jericho built by Herod the Great (1.5 miles south).

Matthew tells us there were two blind beggars yet Mark only mentions one, perhaps this is because Bartimaeus became a faithful follower of Christ, which the mere fact we are given his name gives insight to the possibility that Peter and John Mark knew him.

Jericho was a rich agricultural community, with considerable trade due the richness of the soil, the city is adorned with palm trees given it the name the city of palms. This would be a fitting place for beggars to beg.

The condition

Explanation: Blindness was common in biblical times, but the suffering of blindness was made worse by the common belief that the affliction was due to sin. Because of their handicap the blind had very little opportunities in life making begging one of the very few options for survival.

There was great possibility that the blind would be exploited and mistreated and this was recognized by God and forbidden. God gave Moses laws prohibiting the giving of misleading directions (Deut. 27:18) or doing anything to cause the blind to stumble (Lev.19:14)

There was nothing for Bartimaeus to do, but sit. He couldn’t roam around or hold down a Job, he was helpless and homeless and his survival depended on the Mercy of others to give him some change so he could buy food. So, day after day he would sit at the city gate on one of his only possessions, his cloak and beg!

Strict Judaism consider it righteous to help, but

How would you like to be totally at the mercy of others for your existence?

Here is a Picture of our society

Illustration: Robin Hood Cartoon (Beggar, sheriff throws coins in the cup making the other coins jump out so he could catch them.

Application: How would you like to be totally at the mercy of others for your existence? No home, no food, you could only beg, “HAVE MERCY ON ME.”

Look around us, could you count on the mercy of those in society today, all we care about is ourselves. The proof that we could care less about life is seen in the mothers who choose to end the life of their babies. And the law is trying to make so much easier to do so that you can wait until the baby is born to decide whether or not you want it.

WE may understand the concept of Mercy but we stink at being merciful, there are people just as blind as Bartimaeus that needs the mercy of Jesus and we do little to nothing.

Transitions: Bartimaeus sat around all day waiting on someone to act merciful to him just so he could live to see another day.

The Blind Beggar Crying Vs. 47-48

His Cry

Explanation: A great commotion going on “Large crowd” * A royal procession, the disciples and many others were behind Jesus celebrating because the King was headed to Jerusalem, finally all the years of tyranny were over. There was much to be excited about and Bartimaeus would be questioning, “What is happening” he learned that Jesus of Nazareth was coming through Jericho, His cry became exceedingly more purposeful. He had been asking man to have mercy on him, now the Son of man was in range of his voice!

Son of David have mercy on me! {Son Of David} (2 times in Mark, twice in Luke all by Bartimaeus) This is a messianic term, the Jewish Messiah would be a descendant of king David, who God promised his heir would sit on the throne forever.

His Cry (Idea of a continual cry) “Messiah, savior of Israel, have mercy on me a blind man who has nothing to give you or offer you except my devotion.” Picture the desperate beggar’s plea, “I have heard of your miraculous cures, help me, only you can help me!” Bartimaeus understood something about Jesus. He should trust Him as the healer. The OT teaches that God is the healer of His people.

JESUS, TAKE ACTION AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT MY CONDITION!

His rebukes

Explanation: Those who followed Jesus and were involved in the celebrating didn’t want the blind beggar to hinder the joyous occasion. Many warned/charged him to be quiet. (Idea of continually forbidding him to cry out.) Jesus’ disciples view this blind man’s loud plea as an intrusion the way they had viewed the children’s intrusion a few vs. earlier.

SHHHH! Be quite you pathetic beggar the King is here!

His Continued Cry!

Here is a man desperate and his only cure is in reach but he can’t see to get to Jesus he can only cry out. Desperate people do not permit the crowd to keep them from Jesus! Have mercy on me Son of David.

Application: Are you here today and are you desperately in need of Jesus, don’t let this crowd of friends who love you keep you from crying out to Jesus. There is no reason to be ashamed, embarrassed, or reluctant; CRY OUT TO JESUS he is our only hope for each and every circumstance life throws at us. He is our only hope for Salvation.

The once blind beggar rejoicing Vs. 49-52

His Call

The Disciples wanted to get on with setting up the kingdom, they didn’t understand that stopping for a blind beggar is the sort of thing Jesus’ kingdom is all about.

Jesus Stopped, rebuking those who were hindering Bartimaeus by saying “Call him to me” Now the rebukers are encouraging Bartimaeus to go to Jesus.

His Shedding of Hinderance

Cast off His Cloak – Idea of throwing it to the side. Cloak was a long outer garment, possible his only possession, it would be his bed at night, his warmth during times of coolness, it would be spread out before him as he begged to catch the coins people would toss his way. This was a treasure to him. But it was also a hinderance, a cloak would often reach the knees or even the ankles, slowing him down as he went to Jesus. Perhaps this signified his forsaking dependence on anything and trusting only Jesus.

His Request

Jesus asked, what shall I do for you? He answered RABBONI (Lord, Master). The beggar had twice called him Son of David a national messianic title. But RABBONI was an expression of Personal faith.

“Jesus I want to regain my sight and Jesus simply said “GO YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU”

Immediately he could see!

His Rejoicing

This once blind beggar who could only sit and cry for assistance now followed Jesus. Luke tells us. began to follow him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Jesus’ merciful action, He saved Bartimaeus. Had Bartimaeus starved to death the night before he would be separated from God in a sinners hell forever.

There is Hope for the Hopeless and Joy for the Desperate found only in faith in Jesus Christ.

Application: So what?

Do you feel hopeless in life, depressed and feeling all alone? Perhaps your life hasn’t turned out as you wanted it to. Your troubles can be turned into joy…. Perhaps you are as lost as a goose in a snow storm. Cry out to Jesus, have mercy on me!!!!! and don’t let the crowds get in the way. The bible promises that all who cry out in the name of the Lord will be saved.

The follower of Jesus is to take to heart the examples that Jesus gives them.

Jesus is not seen as displaying an emotion called mercy but as taking merciful action.

Was Jesus so caught up in the “Royal Procession” “Caught up in himself” that he strolled past one in desperate need? One who is hopelessly lost and has no future other than begging for a few crumbs or a misally few cents?

No! He showed mercy to the hopeless and fed Him the bread of life from His very hands.

When was the last time we personally fed someone the bread of life?

Bartimaeus may had been physically blind, but true blindness was in the eyes of the disciples, they hindered the hopeless form receiving hope.

How often do we do the same thing? When was the last time we invested in someone’s spiritual life not only inviting them to Church but teaching them the only hope for the their hopeless state.

Conclusion: Jesus is calling and is willing to give eternal life to anyone who comes to Him, because He is merciful, willing to keep man from what he deserve.

We see this in the truth of blind Bartimaeus, not only did he receive physical sight but he received spiritual sight.

Once he was a blind beggar sitting on the road side pleading for mercy and the next moment, he is following Jesus praising and glorifying His name.

Show mercy! Take action! It could mean eternity for someone.