Jesus of Nazareth is Passing By
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35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road.
36 When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening.
37 They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by.
38 So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him,
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”
42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”
43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road.
47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!”
50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
INTRODUCTION:
There are some phrases in scripture that capture attention and speak in a special way. "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by" is one of those phrases.
Can you imagine what it must have meant to blind Bartimaeus to hear those words? Surely he must have hear of the mighty works performed by Jesus... works that only God could do. Now someone tells him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
Then Bartimaeus "cried out." The words meant a loud, despirate cry. It was the cry of a man whose first chance was to be his last chance. Indeed, it would be his last chance, for Jesus would be crucified a week later.
The scriptures say that Jesus “stood still." He called Bartimaeus to him and asked a penetrating question. Jesus asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" This was not a foolish question, as we will see.....
Jesus of Nazareth is passing by right now! What does this statement mean to you?
TS: There are three questions
I want to ask you that will help bring this issue into focus.
I- WHAT DO YOU WANT JESUS TO DO? (Luke 18:41 ; Mark 10:51)
I- WHAT DO YOU WANT JESUS TO DO? (Luke 18:41 ; Mark 10:51)
A. This is a personal question.
A. This is a personal question.
1. This is not a corporate question..
a. Jesus zeros in on you and I personally.
1) Individually
2) He spoke to Bartimaeus personally.
b. We are great at confessing corporate guilt or need- if we ever get personal, then we'll be on target.
* Like Adam and Eve, we attempt to move the spotlight to someone else (Genesis 3).
1) Instead, we need to open our lives to God’s searchlight. (Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
* Old Black Gospel Hymn: “It's me O' Lord"
B. This is a probing question. ("Is this really what you want?")
B. This is a probing question. ("Is this really what you want?")
1. There may be something you need more.
* Paul thought that he needed the removal of his thorn in the flesh.
*What he really needed was a revelation of God’s power.
(2 Corinthians 12:7-10 )
7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.
9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2. With great blessing comes great responsibility.
a. The deeper our spiritual life—the greater our accountability.
* Moses lost the right to enter the promised land because he lost his temper and claimed part of the credit for what God alone could provide.
He knew better—talked with God face-to-face.
b. A blessing received and then despised brings greater judgment.
(James 3:1)
1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.
C. This is a promising question.
C. This is a promising question.
1. If you ask, he will answer.
a. There are some things that God will not do unless we ask.
(James 4:2)
2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
2. Many times, Jesus healed only those who asked.
a. Note the flip side to the coin:
(John 14:13-14)
13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.
14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
b. There are some things that God will do unless we ask him not to.
1) Bring judgment (Ezekiel 22:30)
30 “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.
2) Prayer can change God’s mind. (Exodus 32:11-14 )
11 But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God. “O Lord!” he said. “Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand?
12 Why let the Egyptians say, ‘Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth’? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people!
13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’ ”
14 So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.
II- HOW BAD DO YOU WANT HIM TO DO IT?
II- HOW BAD DO YOU WANT HIM TO DO IT?
(Luke 18:32-39)
32 He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon.
33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”
34 But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road.
36 When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening.
37 They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by.
38 So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!”
50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
A. Do you want it bad enough to work for it?
A. Do you want it bad enough to work for it?
1. Many people want something for nothing.
*Some want to be accomplished musicians without the practice.
* Man who talked to Spurgeon about his son going to college.
“It takes weeks to grow a squash and years to grow a tree… just depends on which you want him to be.”
B- Do you want it bad enough to overcome some obstacles?
B- Do you want it bad enough to overcome some obstacles?
1. Sometimes the obstacles are people.
a. They were for Bartimaeus.
b. Sometimes “wet-blanket committees” is the obstacle.
2. Sometimes pride is the obstacle.
a. We think it undignified to show emotion, more concerned about saving face than getting down to business with God.
* King Saul- more concerned about saving face than getting right with God (1 Samuel 15:30)
30 Then Saul pleaded again, “I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the Lord your God.”
C- Do you want it bad enough to cast aside what hinders you?
C- Do you want it bad enough to cast aside what hinders you?
(Hebrews 12:1-2)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
1. Bartimaeus had to cast aside his clothes in order to get to Jesus.
a. It may appear foolish to some, but may be necessary.
b. It might be sin.
c. It may be something that is not sin, but is keeping you from getting closer to Christ or obeying him.
* The Israelites didn’t kill the Canaanites as commanded, but made them slaves. Later became slaves to the Canaanites.
III- WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH IT WHEN YOU GET IT?
III- WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH IT WHEN YOU GET IT?
(Luke 18:41-43)
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”
42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”
43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
A. Will you use it to follow Jesus?
A. Will you use it to follow Jesus?
1. Bartimaeus followed Jesus after receiving his sight.
2. Jesus will do anything for us that will enable us to follow him more closely.
B. Will you use it to point other people to Jesus?
B. Will you use it to point other people to Jesus?
(Luke 18:42-43)
42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”
43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
1. Bartimaeus became a doxology of praise for Jesus.
2. What will you do?
CONCLUSION:
A. Jesus is passing by… He is asking “What do you want me to do for you?..
1. What do you want him to do for you?
2. How bad do you want him to do it?
3. What will you do with it after you get it?
Is your prayer?:
Vs. 1
Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
Vs. 2
Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.
Vs. 3
Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.
vs. 4
Thou the spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee,
Whom in Heav’n but Thee.
Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
