Blind Bartimaeus

Mark 10:46-52

Blind Bartimaeus

Would you open up your Bibles to Mark 10, and today we are going to look at a man who refused to be silent.

There is term that has gain prominence in recent years, and I am sure many of you have heard these two words. It is called “Cancel Culture”. And the simple definition for it is ostracizing, boycotting, or shunning an individual or group that have acted or spoken in an unacceptable manner to some.

Our society today, has brought own the element of fear on people for speaking up about Jesus Christ. And those who do are often blacklisted in society and told to be quiet. In a recent article on the New York Post, Kevin Sorbo who played “Hercules” stated that he is a victim of cancel culture over his Christian beliefs and conservative opinions.

And while it is easy to see it on the national platform, it even happens in our everyday lives. Where people are silent in their work and school environments when it comes to Jesus. We are constantly told by those in the world that we are to be quiet, that this is not the time, that we should not speak up.

But friends, today is the day that we should be shouting out the name of our Lord. Now in our passage today, we find a familiar name that refused to be quiet when it came to Jesus.

(Read Scripture)

The account of Blind Bartimaeus is one that many of us learned as children. A man that was blind but was healed by Jesus so that he could see.

And while that miracle stands out, there is another thing that happens in this passage that stands out as well. And it is when Bartimaeus refuses to listen to the crowd, and instead cries out for Jesus.

Now when we come to church, we sit in this room and many of us are intimidated by the crowd. We are afraid to cry out to Jesus, but friend, today what we must do, is ignore the decorum, and cry out for Jesus.

Now I want you to notice these things from this passage that really stands out.

The Sad Situation of the Blind (vs 46)

Explanation:

· Here was a man that had been blind, we are not told exactly how long, but some believe that he had been blind since he was an infant.

· Blindness was not uncommon in those days, in fact much blindness was brought on by an infectious disease that children got when a fly would land on sleeping infant’s eyes at night.

· Here is a man that has not been able to see the world like you and I, his eyes have remained shut.

· And because of his blindness he is reduced to begging. He cannot work like the others in society, and so he find himself on the lonely road leaving Jericho, asking for help from anyone who would give it.

· Now the blindness that impaired Bartimaeus was not appealing for others to look at. Often, the blind would have mucus and discharge around the eyes, and it made it quite appalling.

· And on top of this, he was judged by society for being this way, because these kinds of afflictions were thought to be brought on by sin of the parents or the person.

· Here is a man in a sad situation. Life has thrown him a bad hand. And so there he is on the road wrapped in his cloak, hoping for a miracle.

· Now Bartimaeus’s real life calamity illustrates really the condition of the world. A blindness that impairs people.

· While there are those who physically blind, there is a far worse blindness that has infected many in this world. A Spiritual blindness, where they have not been able to see the real beauty of life.

· In fact, the blindness has left you like Bartimaeus, on the side of the road, basically an outcast, longing for help, being judged by others.

· While you might be able to see physically, you have been blind to wonders of God’s Word, you are unable to see the love of Christ manifested in life, because the spiritual blindness brought on by the infection of sin that has sealed your eyes.

· I think there are many in this room who can relate to Bartimaeus’s situation.

· And it is sad that we find ourselves in this place, but the sad situation we might find ourselves in, doesn’t have to be where we remain.

· Because there is a man who can change that sad situation, and his name is Jesus.

The Rebuking Remarks to Bartimaeus (vs 47-48)

· And that brings us to the next thing that we see, and that is the rebuking remarks to Bartimaeus.

· As this blind beggar hears of Jesus approaching, he begins to cry out to Him, and he says Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

· Now this cry he is not at a low volume, instead he is crying out as loud as he can these words. Because in his heart he knows that this is the Messiah.

· The one come to redeem man, and save them. He repeatedly cries out these words.

· Now those around him seem annoyed by his constant shouting. This detestable man, should just be quiet.

· And so, they rebuke him for calling out to the Lord.

· Now this is sad, that someone wants to keep this blind man from Jesus. His physical condition tells them he is a sinner, and that is why he afflicted.

· You know, we are surrounded in life by a lot of people, some who are much different than you and I. Some who dress differently, some who talk differently, some who live differently.

· And many of these people are spiritually blind. And so they seek whatever help they can find.

· And when they hear that Jesus is coming, and they want to come to him. They are rebuked. They have a door shut in their face.

· Who are we to refrain someone coming to Christ. Who are we to rebuke someone because we do not think they are worthy?

· Yet, what we find here is the mentality of many who know who Jesus is, but don’t have any concern for others.

· The rebuke that was given to Bartimaeus is sad in the fact, that here was a man that needed a touch from the master.

· There is a memory that stands out in my life, of a Vacation Bible School that I attended. It wasn’t here but at another church.

· It was a hot summer day, and I had played in the heat probably longer than I should have. And before the VBS was to begin, they fed us hotdogs. I remember quickly eating the hotdogs down, but being hot and dehydrated, caused me to be sick. And my food came back up. Now I am a little kid, I couldn’t help what had happen, it was embarrassing for me. But the words I heard one woman say when that happen will continue to echo in my head until I die. She said, I hope he is not in my class.

· What had happen had reviled her, and she saw a kid that really didn’t matter. She didn’t care at the moment that I was lost, her concern was that she didn’t want this little boy who had gotten sick from hearing about Jesus.

· Friends, we should never hold someone back crying out for Jesus. How sad today, when a person looks at another with disgust and keeps them from finding Jesus.

· Listen, when a person wants to hold someone back from coming to Jesus, I believe that Jesus brings punishment on that person.

· Now if you are here, and you are being told to be quiet, if you are here and someone is closing the door, if you are here and you want to see Jesus, you cry out the louder.

· This blind man had more faith than all of those put around him, and he wasn’t going to let others stop him from calling on Jesus.

· And neither should you. It is sad when a person tells another “no” when it comes to serving Jesus. Woe unto you Pharisee.

The Opportune Occasion he was Bestowed

· Now this man cried out, and he cried with every ounce of energy he could muster. And what happened? Jesus stopped and listen.

· And this brings us to the third thing we see, the opportune occasion he was bestowed.

· Now the cries of Bartimaeus get the attention of Jesus, and he stops and calls for Bartimaeus to come to him.

· Now think about this for just a moment, here is a blind man that can’t see, being called to come to Jesus.

· And what does the scripture say that he did? It says that he cast away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

· Here is a man, that has laid on the road from Jericho, and here is his chance. Think about it, at this point, Jesus is nearing the crucifixion. This would be the last time he would pass this way again.

· This was his salvation moment, there was no guarantee that he would get a second chance.

· So, he cast aside his garment. That garment that had been his warmth, his protection, his home, that doesn’t matter to him anymore.

· They only thing that matters to him is coming to Jesus. This is his moment.

· Today, we come into this building, and what do find, we find that Jesus is here amongst us.

· And some of us here, we are praising the name, we are walking with Jesus, then there are some, you are aware of Jesus, and you are being the hindrance to someone.

· And then there are some of you who are Bartimaeus. You are here, you are wrapped up in your old life. But Jesus has stopped and he is calling you.

· What are you going to do, stay wrapped up, refrain from coming to him because of those around you, or are you going to be like Bartimaeus and cast aside that garment and come to Christ.

· You see the garment that you are wrapped in is the garment of unrighteousness.

· Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags.”

· Listen cast aside that filthy rag and come to Jesus. Don’t let the filth of this world hold you down from coming to Christ.

· Now here is a blind man, who can see better than so many others. He sees Jesus for who he is, the Messiah, the Son of God.

· And he comes to him. It echoes what we find in the scripture in 2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight”

· Friend, this is your opportunity. Don’t let people, don’t let your garments, don’t let your afflictions, impairments, don’t let anything stop you from coming to Christ.

· Because this is your opportunity. Be just like Bartimaeus, and ask the Lord for your sight. That you might be free.

The Sovereign Savior he Believed

· Now here is the last thing we take away from this passage and it is found in the last verse.

· What happens? Bartimaeus asks for his sight, and Jesus heals him. The man can now see, he has the opportunity now to go wherever he wants.

· But which way does he choose to go? He chooses to go the way the Lord is going.

· This man was stuck in life, his situation was bad, he had no hope until the Lord passed his way.

· But after the Lord changed his life, he didn’t go back to where he was, he went the way of the Lord.

· Friend this is what we need to understand that when Christ healed us, there is no need for us to return to that side of the road. There is no need to go back to that old garment.

· There is no need to listen to what the crowd wants us to do, because what we should want to do is go the way of Christ.

· If Jesus is going that way, that is where I want to go.

· This is for all of us, when Jesus saves us, and that is what the scripture is saying here. The phrase “made thee whole” literally means “saved thee”.

· That we should want to follow him the rest of our days. I wonder how many people Bartimaeus told about what Jesus did in his life?

· Here is a man that had blind faith, that had his life changed forever.

· You see, his physical eyes were opened and his spiritual eyes were opened to the one true God in Jesus Christ.

· And when he opens our eyes, friends we need to follow him where ever he may go.