The Blind Beggar

The Lord said unto John, "Come forth and receive eternal life," but John came fifth and won a toaster.

I want to start the message with an old proverb that says:

There's none so blind as those who will not see

The meaning behind the proverb is simple: You will never be able to make someone understand or accept something if they are too stubborn or unwilling to learn or notice.

There are people who are walking around right now who’s eyes work just fine, yet they cannot seem to see that they way they are living their lives are leading them down paths that are going to ultimately hurt them.

There was once a man named Jonny Benjamin. He was only 20 years old when he found out that he had a debilitating mental disorder. He dropped out of school, quit his job, and felt there was no hope for him to have a normal life. His response was to climb out onto the edge of a bride and end it all.

Just as he was about to jump, a stranger pulled him back to safety. Jonny had a conversation with the stranger and it helped him regain some metal clarity. Enough for him to rethink that terrible decision to end his life.

Six years after that event Jonny could look back and say: “I always thought of that time as being very negative; I thought of that place as being the worst in my life. I feel that I can look at it a very different way now. I’ve overcome that. I’ve come full circle and am able to close that chapter.”

There are times in our lives when we’ve been blind. It seems like all hope is gone. We can be tempted to throw in the towel in some way or another.

I want to encourage you today. I want to give you hope today. I am asking the Lord to restore your vision so that you can see He has a plan for you.

I want to share with you a story from the scripture about a man who was absolutely blind. His name was:

Bartimaeus

Bartimaeus could see nothing with the physical eyes, but he could see things one a spiritual level that others were blind to. Physically, he was blind, but spiritually he had perfect vision.

As I look at out at this congregation I am reminded about the truth that not everyone came here today with perfect spiritual vision. Your physical eyes might be working fine, but you could be having a hard time seeing the truth of God’s love and plan for your life.

Jesus is who we need. Above everything else in our lives, we need Jesus. To see Jesus, you must not only open your eyes, but you must also open your heart. If you do, you’ll find mercy.

Jesus gives us Mercy.

Mercy: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone even though they deserve punishment.

None of us are perfect. We’ve all made mistakes. You may be at the lowest point in your life, but I’m here to tell you that Mercy is here. Jesus wants to wrap you up in His unwavering love.

Let’s read our scripture today. As we read, put yourself in the position of the blind beggar Bartimaeus; Blind and in need of mercy.

Mark 10:46–52 CEV

Jesus and his disciples went to Jericho. And as they were leaving, they were followed by a large crowd. A blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus son of Timaeus was sitting beside the road. When he heard that it was Jesus from Nazareth, he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” Many people told the man to stop, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him over!” They called out to the blind man and said, “Don’t be afraid! Come on! He is calling for you.” The man threw off his coat as he jumped up and ran to Jesus. Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man answered, “Master, I want to see!” Jesus told him, “You may go. Your eyes are healed because of your faith.” Right away the man could see, and he went down the road with Jesus.

This story is a story of a blind man who needed Jesus.

He called out to Jesus, Jesus asked him what He needed, Jesus showed mercy, and the man was healed.

But this is also a spiritual story. One that reveals our need for a touch from Jesus.

My prayer is that you call out to Jesus, tell Him what you need, and allow His mercy to heal you.

Blind, Poor, & Hopeless

All of us in this room need a touch from the Lord today. Why?

We are all blind

Romans 3:23 (CEV)

All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

The first step in receiving God’s healing touch is seeing that we are in need. A blind person cannot see themselves.

The Word of God reveals the truth we need to hear.

We are all Poor

Bartimaeus was sitting beside the road begging. He understood his own poverty.

Without Jesus, we have no hope. Our life is destined for destruction in the end. You can own everything, but if you don’t have salvation, you’re blind to your poverty.

Revelation 3:17 (CEV)

You claim to be rich and successful and to have everything you need. But you don’t know how bad off you are. You are pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

We are all Hopeless

Bartimaeus could not expect to receive his sight except through a miracle. There was no doctor. No one else could help except Jesus.

We are in the same condition. We need a touch from Jesus. You could be struggling with something that no one else knows about, you might feel hopeless. When you feel hopeless you need to call out to Jesus.

Mark 10:47 (CEV)

When he heard that it was Jesus from Nazareth, he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”

Our spiritual blindness will never be healed unless we realize that we are blind, poor, and hopeless without a touch from the Lord.

Once we know this truth, we start to cry out to Jesus! Earnestly.

Nothing could stop Bartimaeus.

Mark 10:48 CEV

Many people told the man to stop, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have pity on me!”

Jesus heard him.

Jesus can hear you too. What are you crying out for today?

When Jesus called him over, he asked Bartimaeus a question:

“What do you want me to do for you?”

Imagine Jesus is asking you that question today. You have a big decision to make. What will you ask?

Ask for the right thing

Why did Jesus, the great healer, ask a blind man what he wanted?

I think it’s because Bartimaeous needed to CONFESS that Jesus was the Lord and acknowledge that He was able to heal him.

Before we ask the Lord for anything, we must first ask him for Mercy and forgiveness which is a confession of faith that He is the only only who can heal our sinful condition and make us righteous to a Holy God.

We think we are so strong. But in the kingdom of God, we must become weak so that He can become strong.

2 Corinthians 12:8–9 CEV

Three times I begged the Lord to make this suffering go away. But he replied, “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am.

In order for our blindness to be healed, we must bow our knee in surrender to Jesus as our strength.

We need to ask for the right thing. We need to ask for forgiveness and healing.

Ask to the right One

Bartimaeus cried out “Jesus, Son of David!”. All his hope was centered around Jesus.

Acts 4:12 (CEV)

Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone.

If Jesus wasn’t the great healer then this man had no hope.

Nothing else in this life can set us free. Jesus is the only hope for Salvation.

John 14:6 CEV

“I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father.

We place our faith in the one who CAN heal.

Ask at the right time

Luke 18:37 (CEV)

Some people told him that Jesus from Nazareth was passing by.

Bartimaeus didn’t know if he had another opportunity. Jesus was passing by right then. He didn’t wait for a more convenient time. He new the danger of waiting was that he could miss his chance.

What if today was your last opportunity to get your heart right with the Lord?

We aren’t promised another minute.

He is Calling for You

Mark 10:49 CEV

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him over!” They called out to the blind man and said, “Don’t be afraid! Come on! He is calling for you.”

Jesus stopped

The goal of prayer is the ear of God. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him.

The Lord is stopping here today for you! This moment is your moment.

James 5:15 ESV

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Our cries to the Lord are heard. He cares for those who need help. His love is what motivates and moves His heart to heal and forgive the broken.

When Jesus heard the cry of the blind man He stopped, to listen. Then what happened?

This is one of my favorite parts of the story, because He’s doing the same thing right now for you who are hurting and lost in despair...

Jesus Called

Verse 49 the man is told that Jesus was calling for Him.

Matthew 11:28 CEV

If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.

We need to believe Jesus is calling us to come find rest and peace in His healing presence.

What did the blind man do when Jesus called? What can we learn from what he did when Jesus called?

Let’s look again to what happened:

Mark 10:50 CEV

The man threw off his coat as he jumped up and ran to Jesus.

He RAN! The blind man RAN to Jesus!

I was wondering, how can a blind man run to Jesus?

He couldn’t see Him. He just had to move in the direction of Jesus’ voice.

I think we can all this Faith.

The Bible tells us in the book of Hebrews that part of faith is moving toward and placing our hope in things that we cannot see.

Hebrews 11:1 NLT

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

I’m telling you the truth, you might not know everything about Jesus. You might even have some doubts that he can help you in your situation. But I’m telling you that He is calling you today and the best response you can have is to throw off those heavy garments of doubt and run to His voice!

Throw off the heaviness of depression, old mindsets, thoughts of suicide, thinking that you’re not good enough, that your life doesn’t count, and that you don’t matter.

Bartimaeus RAN to Jesus because he had faith that He was able to help him. He had faith that Jesus could do something to change his situation.

And that’s exactly what Jesus did.

He healed Him.

Mark 10:52 (CEV)

Jesus told him, “You may go. Your eyes are healed because of your faith.”

How can faith heal us today?

It’s when we come to Jesus and accept His gift of salvation. It’s a free gift. You can’t earn it. You don’t deserve it. But you can have it when you hear Him calling your name.

Ephesians 2:8 CEV

You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own.

The Bible is very clear that when you confess Jesus as the Lord that you WILL be saved.

What does the cleansing touch from Jesus do in your life?

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Maybe you’ve been blind. You’ve been dealing with things in your own strength. Like Bartimaeus, you are crying out for Jesus to touch you. He’s here. Have faith that He is able to save you.

There’s one last thing we need to see from our story.

It’s the second half of verse 52

Mark 10:52 CEV

Jesus told him, “You may go. Your eyes are healed because of your faith.” Right away the man could see, and he went down the road with Jesus.

After the man could see, he went down the road with Jesus.

You see, Salvation means that you’re now going down a new path. A path of hope, peace, and new life.

God has a new plan for your life.

You might have said a prayer of surrender a thousand times before, but today is your new start.

The struggles might meet you when you leave this building, but you need to know that you’re not alone.

He is with you.