Roadside Assistance

46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

This story reminds me of a time when my car broke-down and I had to call on some roadside assistance to tow my vehicle away. They gave me an estimated wait time of 45 minutes but it ended up being two hours. I remember being so tired, worn-out, wondering how long they would be, or are they going to show up at all.

We have all experienced something like this. Where life throws us a curve ball. The good news is that we have a spiritual roadside assistant in the Holy Spirit who helps us in our times of need

In our text today, We see Bartimaeus here, who was not only poor but he is also blind and couldn’t see. He had needs like many of us do

1. The condition of Bartimaeus: He was poor and blind

We see the condition of Bartimaeus..

Several years ago a news report revealed the story of an adult man who received his sight back through the wonders of modern medicine. An interviewer asked the man, "What's life like now? Tell us what does it mean to after all these years suddenly be able to see?" And the man initially said what you would expect—things like colors are amazing and it's a wonderful gift to be able to see the faces of those that he loved. But the interviewer expected him to say those things. He wanted the man to say something extraordinary, something totally unexpected about how his life had changed since getting his sight back. So he asked him, "What's the most unexpected thing?" Now if you were asked that question how do you think you would respond? Perhaps you might talk about a sunset, the stars in a clear nights sky, the crystal blue waves in the ocean as you see the waves seeminglesly glide smoothly back and forth. The formerly blind man didn't mention anything like that. Instead, he said that the most incredible thing was watching the leaves falling every autumn. He said, "I know that leaves fall. I know that people rake them and put them in piles and burn them or throw them away. But I'd always imagined that the leaves would come down just like a blanket. I didn't know that when leaves fall that they pitch and glide and turn in the wind as they come down to the ground. It's beautiful."

“I cant believe my eyes”

2. The position of Bartimaeus: He was seated by the road

Next, we see the position of Bartimaeus. He was seated by the road. He was sitting there for a while, begging people for money. Kind of like today what pan handlers do. They will sit by the roadside of the busy streets hoping to get some money for their next fix or meal.

Sometimes we position ourselves too.

I remember going to the 4th of July Parade with Kim and ian. We’d bring our seats with us and leave early so we can get a good spot for when the parade came by we would be in a good position to get some of the candy and other stuff that was being thrown out. It was such a hot summer day. I heard that someone was throwing out pop-sickles. This excited me because I was both hot and thirsty. So’d look intensely at the people going through. I’d look behind to see if I missed it and i’d look forward to see if they were coming.

This is a lot like what Bartimaeus was doing on the roadside. No doubt he heard about Jesus and all the miracles that he had performed. His soul was quenched and he was thirsty for this living water that would give him new life. So he put himself in a position where he could encounter Jesus.

The song we sung earlier “Pass Me Not O Gentle Savor” is a hymn written by Fanny Crosby.

Crosby had been blind since she was six weeks old, but wrote over 8,000 songs in her lifetime.

One evening, Fanny Crosby was invited to speak to a group of prisoners at the state prison and heard one of the men say “Good Lord! Do not pass me by!” Do not turn your back on me. Do not ignore me, forget me, neglect me.

Fanny told that she was so touched by the pleas of these men that she could not get the thought of them out of her mind; indeed she said, I wrote the lines with the men’s pleading wail still in my ears.

She went home that night and wrote all four verses of the hymn. One of them were...

“Pass me not, O gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry; While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.”

3. The Opposition of Bartimaeus: He continued to cry out to Jesus despite opposition.

When we take steps to encounter Jesus, then we should expect opposition. It was no different for Bartimaeus. When he heard Jesus was in the area he cried out “Jesus, son of David. Have mercy on me! At that point many told him to be quiet, hush-up and shut-up because he was causing a disturbance and a scene. When was the last time that we prayed like that? When was the last time that we cried out to the Lord so loudly that we made a scene and a disturbance not just in the earthly realm but, also made a disturbance to the kingdom of darkness by calling on the king of light?

I love Bartimaeus and how he responded to the opposition. When they told him to be quiet, he just cried out to the Lord louder. “Jesus, son of David. Have mercy on me!” This is how we should be. People who pray through no matter what opposition we face!

4. The Direction of Bartimaeus: So Jesus stood still commanding him to be called

After Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus the second time it caused Jesus to stand still. It caused God to stand still! He got Gods attention with his persistant crying out to Him!

It makes me think of how a parent can recognize toe cries of their children. If you know kids, you know that they always are crying, screaming or hollering. Some adults can be like that to but, anyways…You know the different sounds of your children. You know the sound of when they are just playing, you know the sound of when they are just complaining and whiny, you also know the sound of when they really are in trouble don’t you?

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Bartimaeus continued to cry out. Basically saying JESUS! IM IN TROUBLE! Maybe today we need to really cry out to Jesus.

JESUS, MY MARRIAGE IS IN TROUBLE!

JESUS MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ARE IN TROUBLE! THEY DONT KNOW YOU!

JESUS, MY SOUL IS IN TROUBLE. IM JUST WEIGHED DOWN BY THE ISSUES OF LIFE!

But, you wont see that kind of prayer in churches today because more people are concerned with their image(how they look to people) then they are their deliverance(how they look to God).

Crosby had been blind since she was six weeks old, but wrote over 8,000 songs in her lifetime.

5. The Resurrection of Bartimaeus: Be of good cheer. Rise. For He is calling you.

Next what we see is an image of the Resurrection of Bartimaeus. The disciples say to him “Be of good cheer. Rise. For He is calling you. Bart then, throws aside his garment in which he used to find warmth and comfort from harsh weather, rose up and then came to Jesus. This symbolizes how when we come to Christ that the old has gone and we are made a new creation in Christ Jesus as we put on the robe of righteousness and take off that garment of sin.

Maybe this is what Paul was thinking when he said “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us so we can run this race with endurance.

Maybe prophetically this is what David was thinking when he took off his armor to fight Goliath.

Sin dehumanizes us. It makes us unable to feel and experience God. Man was created in perfect fellowship and union with our creator until sin showed up on the scene. Sin distorts the image of God in us. We are our true-self the most when the world around us is reflected in us the least because we mirror the image of God which reveals a life of holiness which is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

6. The Destination of Bartimaeus: And immediately he recieved his sight and followed Jesus on the road

She went home that night and wrote all four verses of the hymn. One of them were...

We see next the destination of Bartimaeus. He ends up in the presence of the King. Jesus then asked Him. What can I do for you? This man who had been blind, suffered in poverty, and begged at the roadside for years now would have his sight restored and the first thing he is going to see is the face of Jesus!

What gets me though is, that Jesus restored His sight but, didn’t expect anything in return. He didn’t hold it over his head, or tell him that he now needs to worship Him. Jesus here gives him an out after healing him. Jesus told him “Go your way”! What does Bart do? He follows Jesus on the road. He moves from being on the sideline of the street to allowing Jesus to take the wheel and going where He leads. He didn’t just want the healing but, he wanted the healer. Sometimes we only think the kingdom of heaven as a place we go to when we die. But we can experience a piece of heaven on earth. A fortaste of His glory divine as we pray let your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Our destination should always be in the presence of God.

“Pass me not, O gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry; While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.”

YOU:

What need do you have? Is there a sin that you struggle with? Maybe there is a prayer that you have been begging God with. There is no better place to meet God then His altar, and it’s open to all. Bartimaeus didn’t let people stop him from crying out to God, and you shouldn’t either!

WE:

What if we as a church would be like that beggar and just pleaded with God at his throne of Grace and cried out for His mercy? What if we approached His throne boldly and prayed until something happened. I believe when we persevere in prayer that God, in his character, in who he is…must. act. That when we crash on this roadway of life, if we call out to him that he will be our roadside assistance.

Communion

(KJV 1900) 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

The Lord himself ordained this holy sacrament. He commanded His disciples to partake of the bread and wine, emblems of His broken body and shed blood. This is His table. The feast is for His disciples. Let all those who have with true repentance forsaken their sins, and have believed in Christ unto salvation, draw near and take these emblems, and, by faith, partake of the life of Jesus Christ, to your soul’s comfort and joy. Let us remember that it is the memorial of the death and passion of our Lord; also a token of His coming again. Let us not forget that we are one, at one table with the Lord.

Prayer of confession and supplication, concluding with the following prayer of consecration:

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who out of Your tender mercy gave Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption: hear us, we most humbly beseech You. Grant that, as we receive these Your creatures of bread and wine according to the holy institution of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, in remembrance of His passion and death, we may be made partakers of the benefits of His atoning sacrifice. We are reminded that in the same night that our Lord was betrayed, He took bread and, when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Likewise, after supper, He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” May we come before You in true humility and faith as we partake of this holy sacrament. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pass out Elements

After the bread is distributed, let the minister say:The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Take and eat this, in remembrance that Christ died for you. After the cup is passed, let the minister say:The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this, in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.

Concluding prayer of thanksgiving and commitment.

SONG

TITHES & OFFERING

SCRIPTURE READING

(NKJV)

12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.