"I Want to See"

Introduction

Love is Blind: Singles who have come to their wits end with traditional dating that involves superficial tangibles that tickle our senses but may not give way to form meaningful connections that last embark on this experimental journey in which they seek out love without having ever seen the love they seek. With walls diving them, these vocal pen pals engage the cerebral and intellectual, the cardial and emotional, rather than the visual and sensual. Those who graduate to a level of comfortability and dare I say faith, commit to one another and finally are able to see one another with their tangible eye only after they are committed in engagement. While the term “Seeing is believing” may ring true in many instances, this show asserts that sometimes, you can believe before you see.

Focus: This text teaches that while encounters with Christ may result in both tangible and intangible things we may receive from Him, they should ultimately result in us following after him.

Function: We should not hesitate to drop what we have, jump up, and run to Jesus for the sake of a new and better perspective on life.

Big Idea: You haven’t fully seen, until Jesus is the one who has given you sight!

Context

Mark chapter 10 is Jesus's final journey from Galilee through the region of Judea and across the Jordan River on his way to Jerusalem. This section is part of a larger theme in Mark's Gospel (chapters 8-10) where Jesus focuses on teaching his disciples what true discipleship means as they head toward his crucifixion. The chapter is a collection of intense teachings that continually redefine the nature of the Kingdom of God and what it means to follow Jesus, contrasting His values with the world's values (power, prestige, wealth).

Here are the main events and themes in Mark 10:

Marriage and Divorce (Mark 10:1-12): Jesus confronts the Pharisees on the lawfulness of divorce, restoring the teaching on the permanence of marriage as a creation ordinance.

Jesus Blesses the Children (Mark 10:13-16): He rebukes the disciples for keeping children away and uses the children as an example, stressing that the Kingdom of God must be received with the humility and dependence of a child.

The Rich Young Man (Mark 10:17-31): A man seeks eternal life, and Jesus challenges him to sell all his possessions and follow him. This illustrates the danger of wealth and the impossibility of salvation by human effort ("It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle...").

Third Passion Prediction and The Request of James and John (Mark 10:32-45): Jesus predicts his suffering, death, and resurrection for the third time. Immediately following, James and John ask for the highest positions of glory in His kingdom. This highlights the disciples' persistent misunderstanding of true greatness. Jesus responds with his famous teaching on servant leadership: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant... For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Healing Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52):

What’s the point? Mark 10 shows us that the highest (Pharisees), youngest (children), richest (rich young ruler), closest (James and John), and furthest(Blind Bartimaeus) all need Christ. Because You haven’t fully seen, until Jesus is the one who has given you sight!

Who is Blind Bartimaeus?

Name: His name, Bartimaeus, is a hybrid Aramaic and Greek phrase meaning "Son of Timaeus." The Gospel of Mark (10:46) explicitly calls him "Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus."

Who is Timaeus?

The name itself is of Greek origin and means "honored" or "highly prized."

Interestingly enough, Bartimaeus’ condition doesn’t reflect his heritage. On one hand he’s being called what he looks like, and on the other hand he doesn’t look like what he’s being called.

What a prime candidate for discipleship?!

Someone identified by their condition before their lineage

Someone at the mercy of the systems and structures that seem to keep them trapped

Someone made in the image of God

What can we learn about Blind Bartimaeus on our journey of discipleship?...

He Risked believing the rumors (vv. 47)

This man is blind.

According to Harvard Medical School, the brains of those who are born blind make new connections in the absence of visual information, resulting in enhanced, compensatory abilities such as a heightened sense of hearing, smell and touch, as well as cognitive functions (such as memory and language) according to a new study led by Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers.

In other words, when someone is unable to see, they pay more attention to what they hear.

As human beings we all have parts of us that feel like deficiencies and issues. And when we are aware of them, they heighten our senses to other things. Example, you trip and fall. Maybe 5 people saw you fall, but you now look over your shoulder as if everyone at the office is talking about the fact that youve fallen.

Our lack in one area increase our sensitivity in another area. As disciples and disciple-makers, we are in a world of people with issues, struggles, and deficiencies. The question becomes, “With people blind to eternal life, what do they hear about God from us?!”

A risk of Christian discipleship is not the decreasing of knowledge, but the increasing of faith.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.”

He hasn’t seen because he’s blind. He’s only heard. Based on what he’s heard from what others have said, he’s willing to believe.

Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.”

As disciples who make disciples, our job is to say what God says so people hear what God said, know what God does and who God is.

Interestingly enough, after hearing all this about Jesus from whomever he heard it from, when Jesus got near him, the people around him wanted him to keep quiet...

The people who have seen Jesus and walked with Jesus tried to get in the way of someone trying to get to Jesus. The worst thing we can do as a church and as disciple-makers is to get in the way of people meeting Jesus because we don’t think Jesus wants to meet with them.

So what did he hear?

Notice he calls Jesus “Son of David” and asks him to have mercy on him. The title "Son of David" explicitly recognized Jesus as the Messiah, a King who would usher in God's kingdom (Source 1.5, 3.1, 4.6). Bartimaeus, despite his physical blindness, was the first person in Mark's Gospel to publicly acknowledge Jesus with this title. The crowd, in contrast, was eager for the triumphal entry to Jerusalem, possibly seeking an earthly, political king, and did not understand that the Messiah's ministry was fundamentally one of mercy and service, especially to the poor and needy. It seems as if the people were concerned with Jesus’ entry while the blind was concerned with his encounter.

The unapologetic persistence of the call is what shouts me because the able-bodied people walking with Jesus are not allowed to get in the way of the blind man who’s heard about Jesus. They tell him to keep quiet and he shouts louder. Yall remember David in 2 Samuel 6 ushering in the ark of the covenant and his wife is upset about how he’s acting, but he does let her patrol his praise. This man does let people patrol his petition.

Could it be that the reason he didn't let them patrol his petition was because they had eyes, but he had vision?! Because You haven’t fully seen, until Jesus is the one who has given you sight!

Could it be that we are living in a day where the need for discipleship is because we have people around Jesus worried about the parade, when there are people who need to experience Jesus’ promises?

The followers finally fulfil their job description in verse 49 after Jesus calls for the man. They told him to have courage, and to get up and answer the call.

Friends, discipleship calls people up and compels them to answer the call of Christ. Discipleship doesn’t silence the needs of people, it brings those needs to the only one who can meet the needs. Disciples and disciple-makers, don’t get in God’s way!

He Responded to the call of Jesus (vv. 50)

"Throwing off his cloak" (\text{ἀποβαλὼν τὸ ἱμάτιον}, apobalōn to himation): The cloak (\text{ἱμάτιον}, himation) was the outer garment, often the most valuable possession of a poor person, serving as a blanket at night (Exodus 22:26–27). For a beggar like Bartimaeus, it likely served as a mat on which he sat and a container for collecting alms. Throwing it off meant willingly parting with his primary source of warmth, shelter, and livelihood.

"He sprang up" (\text{ἀναπηδήσας}, anapēdēsas): The Greek word here vividly depicts a leaping or springing motion, expressing Bartimaeus' overwhelming eagerness and joy.

"And came to Jesus": Despite his blindness, his certainty and excitement propelled him toward the source of his hope without hesitation.

Might it be that this seemingly simply act is actually a significant act representing Bartimaeus’ baptism? Death to/shedding off the old way and resurrection to a new life in Christ.

Philippians 3:13–14 “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” Because You haven’t fully seen, until Jesus is the one who has given you sight!

He Remained a follower, even after his deliverance (vv. 52)

Jesus qualifies the man’s salvation by emphasizing that it was due to his faith. Jesus never calls based on ability, he calls based on faith. The beauty of the God we serve is that when the creation is unable, the Creator is always able.

Notice the man’s motivation is revealed in his disposition after his deliverance. He’s saved and healed, and then he follows.

Kenneth Boa has a section in his book Conformed to His Image, called Motivated Spirituality. One of his objectives in this section is to raise an awareness to the fact that as followers of Christ, we can be drawn to both temporal and biblical incentives. This is to suggest that there are temporary, physical, tangible, things that we are motivated by when it comes to our faith due to God’s generosity, grace, mercy, and favor. But moreover, we should be motivated by the biblical and eternal things that come as a result of our salvation.

As markers of identification, Boa asks his readers these questions: Do you love God more for himself than for his gifts and benefits? Are you more motivated to seek his glory and honor than you are to seek your own? If you've answered no, do you want your answer to be yes? Since this level of commitment always costs, are you willing to pay the price?

What motivates you to follow Christ?

Jesus tells him “go” and for this man his going involves following. Discipleship is the going of following.

Matthew 28:18–19 “Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

What is the significance of Bartimaeus’ response?

This man finds it necessary to go by following, but where he is following to must not be overlooked. He’s following Jesus from Jericho to Jerusalem. Jericho is one of the first conquered territories of the Israelites, representing God’s promise to His children through Abraham. Jerusalem on the other hand is that great city of God. Its the place where Jesus is to ultimately lay down his life in place of the sins of the world. Both Jericho and Jerusalem are places of promise. One was a promise of land to a people. The other was a promise of forgiveness to the world. Essentially, this once blind man determines to follow Jesus to his death. As disciples and disciple-makers, we are called to follow Jesus to his death.

Luke 9:23 “Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

What else is significant about Bartimaeus’ response?

Well when Jesus opened his eyes, he did not just open his eyes to an isolated view of himself. When he opened his eyes he was able to see the world around him with all its temptations. I wasn’t there but maybe he caught a glimpse of the radiance of a beautiful woman. He could’ve gone after that. Maybe he saw the shimmer of a shines fine piece of jewelry, and could’ve gone after that. Maybe he examined the tethered tapestry of the finest of linens and clothing, and could’ve gone after that. Maybe he looked up and saw the anatomy of the birds of which he’s heard chirping above his head for so many years, and mesmerized by the grandeur of nature could've been gone with the wind, dancing in the fields. But instead, this man, after receiving what he’s been waiting for probably his entire life, decides that while the women may be beautiful they tried to keep him quiet. While the jewelry may be shiny it doesn't have salvation in it. While the clothing may be finely tethered, it doesn't have deliverance in it. While the birds may be chirping, their songs pale in comparison to what he feels in his heart.

What song could Bartimaeus been thinking of? Well if he was here with us today he may be singing these words...

Close

1 Amazing grace (how sweet the sound) that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

2 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!

3 Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come: 'tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

Is there anybody here that is glad you have the sight of your salvation? Maybe he sang the song “Open the eyes of my heart Lord. I want to see you. I want to see you high and lifted up, shining in the light of your glory. Pour out your power and love, as we sing holy, holy, holy....”

Because You haven’t fully seen, until Jesus is the one who has given you sight!

Sight to live right. Sight to walk right. Sight to talk right. Sight to pray right. Sight to forgive the offender. Sight to listen to the rambler. Sight to give rather than receive. Sight to pray without ceasing. Sight to be angry and not sin. Sight to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. Sight to hold your peace. Sight to give grace. Sight to Sight to have faith the size of a mustard seed. Sight to wait on the Lord, and be of good courage. Sight to walk in victory. Sight to take up your cross and follow him. Sight to look for a miracle. Sight to expect the impossible. Sight to feel the intangible. Sight to see the invisible.

And if anybody asks you, how’d you get your sight, tell em “I met a man on the side of the road, and he heard my cry. When he called out to me, I came running and i’m not tired yet.” My question is Do you know him? Have you tried? Aint he alright?!