Gospel of Mark: When Jesus Stops

Text: Mark 10:46-52; Psalm 34:1-8; 19-22

Theme: The Story of Bartimaeus is a story of The Human Race, Courage and Perseverance, Transformation, Discipleship and Destiny

Date: 05/09/19 File name: GospelOfMark28.wpd ID Number:

Sometimes a bible story is more than a story. This is true of the passage before us. Bartimaeus’ story is our story as humans created to be a reflection of God's glory and honor. It is our story as seekers. It is our story as followers. It is the story of what Jesus can do in the life of a willing and surrendered person.

The Story of Bartimaeus is a multi-dimensional story:

It is the Story of the brokenness of humanity

It is the story of courage, faith and perseverance

It is the story of transformation

It is the story of radical discipleship

By happenstance, tonight’s message finds us back in the city of Jericho. But this is not the Jericho of Joshua, chapter 2. That city had never been rebuilt due to the curse Joshua had laid on it ... “At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: “Cursed before the LORD is the man who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho: “At the cost of his firstborn son will he lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest will he set up its gates.”” (Joshua 6:26, NIV84). The Jericho of Jesus’ day was a thoroughly Jewish city, very prosperous, and the home of over ten thousand priests and Levites. The ruins of old Jericho were on the outskirts of the city, and stood as a silent witness to God’s providence in the life of Israel. It’s a lush oasis city which the Jewish historian Josephus referred to as “a little paradise.”

Mark 10:46 sets up the story for us, “Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging.” (Mark 10:46, NIV84)

Though his followers don’t know it, this trip was Jesus' final trip to the city of Jerusalem and to the Temple. It would be his final time to celebrate Passover with His Disciples. In just a week Jesus would become the paschal lamb slain for the sin of the world. This Passover would be more than just the celebration of an ancient ritual commemorating how God rescued the ancient Israelites to bring them into the Promise Land. At this upcoming Passover, Jesus would defeat once and for all the powers of evil on the Cross. Jesus would open the way for humans everywhere to be free from the power and penalty of sin. Jesus would usher in the Age of the Holy Spirit when anyone who called upon the name of Jesus could experience New Birth from above and be filled with God's Holy Spirit.

On His way to accomplish all of this Jesus is once again stopped. And once again Jesus does what Jesus always does; He pauses to meet the needs of those who need Him the most. Only this time in the life of this one man we see the lives of all men. In this story of Bartimaeus we see that all of humanity is represented.

I. THE STORY OF BARTIMAEUS IS A MICROCOSM OF THE STORY OF THE HUMAN RACE

1. look carefully at the life of Bartimaeus

a. consider what the term blind says about this man

b. because Bartimaeus is blind, he is powerless, he is broken, he is an outcast, he is poor, and he is a vagabond

1) his condition excluded him from almost all of Jewish community life

2) his job is to beg — it’s all he can do, and it’s all he’s expected to do

ILLUS. No sheltered workshop, no vocational thereby.

c. worst of all he is a sinner whom God’s judgement rests upon

1) in 1st century Israel almost any kind of physical disability or personal tragedy was considered God’s judgement upon sin in that person’s life — even if the sin was not obvious

2) that Bartimaeus is blind was proof that God’s curse was upon his life

A. BARTIMAEUS IS A PERFECT PICTURE OF THE HUMAN RACE

1. at one time he could see

a. the Greek word that is used to describe his condition is a word that speaks of shadows, of a person whose sight has been slowly taken away from them

ILLUS. All of us have known of family or friends who have experienced cataract surgery. It’s one of the most prevalent surgeries in America, and in most cases is done as an out-patient procedure. And though cataract surgery has actually been around for hundreds of years, it wasn’t until the 1960's that it became safe, reliable and relatively inexpensive. There was a time in America, however, when the onset of cataracts meant an ever increasing inability to see. Another possibility was macular degeneration. When we were in Adrian, we had a retired minister in the congregation who has macular degeneration. Toward the end of his life he was nearly blind, being able to see only faintly things right in front of him.

2. by the time we meet Bartimaeus he is completely blind

a. he has lost his ability to see the world around him

b. he now lived in a world of shadows at best and darkness at worst

3. this evening, sin has done that to the human race

a. at one time, in Adam and Eve, we could see God, we could see and experience truth and purity, and walk with the Father in perfect fellowship

1) but no longer

b. sin has blinded our eyes and darkened our hearts

1) like Bartimaeus we no longer can take care of ourselves

2) we no longer have the power or the position that God originally gave us as His Highest Creations on His Good Earth

B. BARTIMAEUS IS A PICTURE OF THE MAN WHO DISCOVERS HIS DEEPEST NEED

1. listen again the Bartimaeus words in vs. 51 - "Rabbi, let me recover my sight." (ESV)

a. in those words are a deep longing ...

1) Rabbi, Let me recover what I once possessed

2) Rabbi, Let me recover what I have lost

3) Rabbi, Let me once again enjoy the life that I once lived

4) Rabbi, Let me enjoy the ability to see and experience fully the world around me

5) Rabbi, Let me once again enjoy going to Temple and being with my family and loved ones

b. in a spiritual sense, Bartimaeus is asking for what all humans have lost

1) we have lost our ability to see

2) we have lost our ability to enjoy the fruits of the life God had designed for us in the Garden

3) we have lost the ability to experience and worship God freely and wholly

4) we have lost the ability to be at peace with one another

5) we have lost the ability to be at peace with ourselves

c. Bartimaeus is a perfect example of what it means to be a post-Eden human — blind, broken and a spiritual outcast

2. Mark paints for us a picture of everyone who has lived and will live on this side of the Garden

a. humanity, in its wretchedness, is plagued with a blindness — spiritual, emotional, physical and mental

ILLUS. Think about what is going to take place over the next seven days. Israel, especially her leaders, will turn a blind eye to Jesus. He will not measure up to their preconceived idea of what Israel’s Messiah will do. Certainly it did not involve arrest, trial and crucifixion. How significant that just before Israel would blindly turn away from him, that Jesus would give sight to a blind man.

1) humanity in its wretchedness finds itself incapable to truly change and transform

2) humanity in its wretchedness lives the life of an outcast, an outcast of Paradise and Holiness

3) humanity in its wretchedness is the life of a spiritual vagabond; a life that has no hope and that is ultimately going nowhere

b. as a result we do not have the innate power to create a world of peace and love

1) we are powerless to transform our hearts and lives

2) no matter how much money we throw at the brokenness of our world we are incapable of doing anything more than putting band aids on the problems

c. the human race in its own power is blind, broken and powerless

1) we may not like to think about that and most don’t

3. we are more like Bartimaeus than we realize

a. but his life is about to change because he hears that Jesus is coming!

II. BARTIMAEUS IS A SIGN POST POINTING THE WAY TO TRANSFORMATION

1. Bartimaeus is also the picture of a person who desperately wants to experience a life transformation

a. Bartimaeus is a picture of the man who mourns — he’s about to be comforted ... he is a picture of the man who hungers and thirsts after righteous — he’s about to be filled

b. he is the picture of one who understands who is coming down the road in the person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth

c. Bartimaeus has heard the stories of Jesus’ amazing healing powers

1) perhaps he has even prayed that, some day, Jesus might pass through Jericho, and pass by close enough to him for him to call out

2. Bartimaeus believes that Jesus has the love, the grace and the power to bring healing and wholeness into his life

a. Bartimaeus believes that Jesus possessed the ability to change his destiny

A. NO ONE HAD TO CONVINCE BARTIMAEUS THAT HE NEEDED HELP

1. Bartimaeus knew that, without supernatural intervention, he would never see again

a. he needed help

1) he desperately wanted to once again see the light

2) he desperately wanted to no longer be a taker but a giver and he was willing to do anything to experience a change in his life

2. the crowd, however, was not as ready as Bartimaeus

a. they wanted him to remain quiet, and out of sight

b. they wanted him to accept his fate and allow Jesus to bypass him

1) they believed that Bartimaeus should accept his sufferings, his limitations and allow his hopes and dreams to die

2) after all, his blindness was God’s curse, his judgment upon sin in his life, he simply needed to accept his condition and his fate

c. and so they wanted him to just be quiet and not bother either them or Jesus

1) Jesus, after all, is an important personality passing through their community ... he doesn’t need to be bothered by some blind beggar

3. the crowd did not see Bartimaeus as Jesus would see him

a. it was people, just like Bartimaeus, for whom Jesus came into the world

“When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” (Matthew 9:11–12, NIV84)

b. not only did the crowd that day not understand Bartimaeus they also failed to understand Jesus

1) they presumed that Jesus would walk by this man without helping him

c. they were wrong

1) the more they attempt to shush Bartimaeus, the louder his pleas grow

ILLUS. The bible tells us that when he hears that Jesus is coming down the road, be begins to cry out. The word literally means to scream. Bartimaeus is screaming at the top of his lungs, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!”

4. Bartimaeus didn't care who heard him or who tried to stop him

a. here was his chance and nothing was going to stop him from trying to get Jesus' attention

b. his eyes may be blind but his ears worked well and his tongue could speak

1) if Jesus could bring healing into his life, he was going to do his best to get Jesus’ attention

2) if Jesus could heal him then he was not going to let anything or anyone stop him

3) when others tried to dissuade him, he just made more of a commotion

B. BARTIMAEUS IS CONVINCED THAT JESUS IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN CHANGE HIS LIFE

1. Bartimaeus shows us the way for us to be healed of our sins, our shortcomings, our afflictions and our damaged emotions

2. Bartimaeus shows us the way for us to be healed from our blindness and from our inability to change

3. Bartimaeus shows us that when we want something from God bad enough we shouldn't let anyone get in our way

a. we have to have a deaf ear to those who want to stop us from receiving God's anointing, blessings and miracles

b. we cannot allow the world, our families and at times even our Christian fellowship from stopping us from receiving a blessing from the LORD

4. notice what happens because Bartimaeus is determined to be heard — notice what happens because Bartimaeus would not be quiet and go away

a. Jesus recognizes Bartimaeus

b. Jesus reaches out to Bartimaeus

c. Jesus receives Bartimaeus

d. Jesus heals Bartimaeus

e. Bartimaeus experience a life transformation

5. Jesus is always reaching out to us, way before we reach out to Him — he’s always willing to receive us even before we are ready to receive Him

a. sometimes we just need to be desperate like Bartimaeus that we will stop at nothing to be with Jesus and to receive His divine touch in our lives

III. BARTIMAEUS PROVIDES FOR US THE PICTURE OF RADICAL DISCIPLESHIP

1. one could say that Bartimaeus is the poster child for Radical Discipleship

2. notice what happens when Bartimaeus is called to come to Jesus

a. He throws away his cloak

1) this is far more than a mere wardrobe change

2) in that one action Bartimaeus proclaims his faith, comes to Jesus, and declares that he is ready for whatever Jesus has for him

3) it’s emblematic of leaving his old life behind in the expectancy of something new and glorious

b. for years Bartimaeus had used that cloak as a symbol of his life and of himself

1) it had provided him both comfort to sit on the ground and had served as a catch all for any coins that someone may throw his direction

2) his cloak symbolized his life of blindness, brokenness and poverty

3) his cloak symbolized a life of him becoming a taker rather than a giver

c. but now Bartimaeus has the faith that he can throw all of that away

1) he wants nothing to do with being blind, broken and powerless

2) instead, he wants to see, to be whole and to have the power of Christ in his life

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV84)

A. HIS FAITH IS THE KEY THAT OPENED THE DOOR FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS

1. Bartimaeus' faith was like a key opening the door to God's blessing

a. his faith resulted in his vision being restored

vs. 52 "Go, your faith has made you well."

b. Jesus rewarded this man's faith — it may have not been Abraham faith or Moses faith but it was faith

1) Jesus tells us that we only need a grain of faith to see great miracles and wonders

2. but there is more going on here than meets the eye — this not just another miracle story, but a salvation story

a. the word well in vs. 52 (the KJV uses the word whole) is a word used repeatedly in the New Testament for salvation

1) Jesus is telling the blind man that his faith has not only healed his blindness, but has also healed his soul — he has been eternally saved

3. as a result, Bartimaeus becomes radically sold out for Jesus

a. go back and read vs. 47 where Bartimaeus cried out Jesus — Son of David — that’s quite a statement

b. when he cried out "Son of David" it’s a title that had great theological and political undertones

1) Bartimaeus was telling everyone who could hear that Jesus was more than a famous rabbi who has a significant healing ministry

2) Bartimaeus is acclaiming that Jesus was Messiah — the Chosen One — the very Son of the Living God

c. this was radical ... this was explosive

1) if the Pharisees heard him say those words then they would have excommunicated him from the Temple even before he could be declared healed and allowed back in the Temple

2) if the Romans heard him say that Jesus was a king then he could be tried and crucified for treason

4. here was a blind man who could see better and more clearly than most of the people who had listened and seen Jesus for years

a. he is now ready and willing to follow Jesus

ILLUS. History and tradition does not tell us exactly what happened to Bartimaeus. There is a little hint however in Mark's final words in verse 52. Mark ends his story of Bartimaeus by telling us that this man followed Jesus "on the way". (The ESV translates this more literally — and correctly — then does the NIV) It was only after the Resurrection that the followers of Jesus were said to follow THE WAY. "The Way" was one of the ways that people talk about the life of Early Christians. By using those words, Mark intimates that Bartimaeus became a lifelong disciple of Jesus. The healing that started in his life here continued on throughout the rest of his life.

5. what a wonderful story and what a challenging story

Do we realize that God is interested in us today? It doesn't matter who we are, what we have done or our present condition. God loves us and is interested in every part of our lives. Our brokenness does not cause him to walk away from us. Instead, it causes Jesus to come alongside of us if we reach out for Him.

Do we realize the importance of not letting others stop us from asking Jesus for the things that we need or even want? We cannot allow the disbelief of others stop us from asking Jesus to meet our needs. We cannot allow the intimidation of the crowd to stop us from receiving an anointing, a blessing and a miracle. We cannot let the world, our friends, family and even our own misgivings to cause us to miss God's blessings.

Do we realize that our faith can move mountains? We may not have a lot but what we do can do the job. We have to put our faith into walking mode - into talking mode . We can't let our faith be bottled up - we must release our faith and watch what God can do in and through all of us today.

Do we want to go from being takers to givers? Our world has a lot of takers. It needs some givers. We need to reach out and be givers of hope, compassion and love to those around us as brothers and sisters in Christ and to a world that so desperately needs us.

Do we want to experience a life transformation? Do we want to throw away our cloaks of the past and reach out for a new life/adventure in Christ? Are we willing to be radically sold out to Jesus and to Jesus Alone?!

The Story of Bartimaeus is the story of the Human Race - 1. Spiritually Blindness, Spiritual Brokenness and Powerless

The Story of Bartimaeus is a Sign Post pointing the way to Transformation. It is a Story of courage, faith and perseverance.

The Story of Bartimaeus is the story of a Sold Out Disciple. It is the Story of a Person Who Is Genuine, Whole and Healed.