Seeing Christ in Trials - Mark 10:46-52

Mark 10:46-52 Seeing Christ in Trials 2020-02-02 In humility, follow Christ as Lord and Master I remember as a child in Minnesota seeing breaking news being scrolled across the bottom of the television screen. Sometimes, when the news was urgent and vitally important, the entire television program would be interrupted for this breaking news. Maybe a tornado warning, urging everyone to take shelter. What takes place in our passage this morning seems a little like that to me. We’ve been following Jesus as Jerusalem becomes more of a focus, and not just the city, but what he would accomplish there. He is speaking more often with his disciples about his death and resurrection. He is preparing and teaching his disciples more pointedly about service, about being the least and going low in service. He is traveling toward Jerusalem, getting ever nearer. He knows the mission he would accomplish there, and he is determined to do so. But then we get what seems like an interruption to our regularly scheduled programming - this account of the blind beggar in Jericho. But I want us to see that this isn’t an interruption, it’s not a delay, but a valuable lesson about service, about need, and about discipleship. Scripture Passage: Mark 10:46-52 The Cry for Help (vv.46-48) 1. v.46 “And they came to Jericho… Bartimaeus, a blind beggar…was sitting by the roadside.” 1. Interestingly, he is the only person in Mark’s gospel that receives healing that is named. I think this was so that the readers could associate this with a person they were familiar with. If Bartimaeus became a loyal disciple, other believers would know him, and having his name recorded in this account would allow them to know this was him. 2. He was a blind beggar. Our memory verse from the last 2 weeks, and our passage last week, focused on being the lowest, of being one who doesn’t aim for greatness in the way the world understands greatness. This man was about as low as you could go. Begging wasn’t by choice, but out of necessity. He wouldn’t have a job, he didn’t live in an ADA world, there was no welfare system to take care of him. So begging and depending on the kindness, or the pity, of others is how he was sustained. Day by day sitting in the same place on the roadside with his cloak spread out before him to catch the coins offered to him. Night by night wrapping himself in that same cloak to serve as a bed and a blanket. The next day the pattern would repeat. There was no upward trajectory, no light for a brighter tomorrow. 2. v.47 “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out…” - In this place of dependence and desperation he begins to cry out. He can’t see, but he can hear. He hears the footsteps, maybe even feels the shaking of the earth from all of the feet pounding. He hears the rumble of the crowd as they talk along the way. The crowd kicks up dust as they walk along, and here this blind beggar is sitting by the roadside, dust beginning to fill his nostrils. He cries out, calling in the direction of the crowd. There’s one in that crowd that might change his life, that might give him a better future, and he doesn’t want to miss out. 1. “Son of David, have mercy on me!” - This is profound. 1. He recognizes Jesus. Son of David. This is messianic. The Jews knew that, according to God’s promise, David’s throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:16). This blind man, even without sight, recognized who Jesus was. I’m sure as a blind beggar on the side of the road in a busy place like Jericho, he would have had opportunity to hear all sorts of news and gather all sorts of information. He had heard about Jesus as people talked about him, either residents of Jericho or those passing along this popular route to and from Jerusalem. 2. He recognizes himself. Have mercy on me. This is humility and dependence. He recognizes the greatness of Jesus, and recognizes his own need and dependence. He needs kindness to be shown; undeserved and unearned. This is the right posture of heart to come to Jesus with. 3. v.48 “And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.” - But he calls out all the more. The Call to Help (vv.49-50) 1. v.49 “And Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’” - Jesus stops on the roadside leaving Jericho to serve this poor, blind beggar. Determined to go to Jerusalem, his face set to go there and suffer and die, the hour of his grief looming over him, yet he is willingly interrupted to serve this man. 1. “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” - Take heart means to have courage. The man’s life and routine was about to be beautifully interrupted and transformed. Jesus was calling him and things would never be the same. Take courage to answer the call of Jesus; respond to him. 2. v.50 “And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.” - The man responds by throwing off his cloak, jumping to his feet, and coming to Jesus. I picture the cloak being something of a security blanket to the man. He likely didn’t have much, so it would be a garment, a tool, and bedding. But coming to Jesus was such a priority that it was tossed off to the side to make it quickly to Jesus. The Commitment to Follow (vv.51-52) 1. v.51 “And Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’” - This is precisely the question that James and John were asked by Jesus, when they came to him asking him to do whatever they wanted. But although there are similarities in the question, the differences in the answers couldn’t be greater. 1. “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” - We don’t see it in our English translation, but the Greek word Bartimaeus uses to address Jesus is Rabboni, which is stronger than the more typical Rabbi. This was a reverent term, a title used to show respect and to recognize authority. Master, teacher, lord are all wrapped up in Rabboni. 1. James and John came with all their senses and faculties, followers of Jesus and recipients of his teachings and his example. They picked up baskets full of fragments when Jesus served a tremendous multitude with only 5 barley loaves and two fish. They were sent out by Jesus, taking only a staff and sandals, and saw how they were provided for and used mightily in service of the Kingdom of God. They had watched Jesus heal person after person, serving the outcasts and the oppressed. They had watched him walk on water and calm violent storms with the word of his power. James and John were present when Jesus was transfigured before them, appearing with Moses and Elijah. Yet for all of this they wanted more prestige, more acclaim, a greater position. They had so much, but wanted more. This was no godly ambition, striving for greater holiness or meaningful service, but recognition and rank. It was selfish and self-serving, advancing the kingdom of self with a sense of entitlement. 2. I said last week that James and John were really a poor example of prayer, and that we should learn the lesson of humility in our prayer, of listening in our prayer, not making our demands and then going our way. Bartimaeus is a solid example of humility and listening in prayer. Why was he such an astute listener? Why did he hear the sound of the crowd and begin calling out? Why did he recognize, clearly not by sight but by other senses, that Jesus was the Son of David and the one he should look to for mercy? I would suggest to you that it wasn’t in spite of his blindness, but because of his blindness. 1. It humbled him. You won’t find an attribute that is more lovely in God’s eyes but despised in the world’s eyes than humility. 1. James 4:10 tells us to humble ourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt us. 1 Peter 5:5 tells us to clothe ourselves, all of us, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 2. It taught him to learn to listen, even better than if he had the function of his eyes and sight. 1. 2 Corinthians 1:8–11 “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” 2. Where are you suffering in trial and adversity? What is it that you think you’ve gotten the short end of the stick on, thinking you deserve more or better? What hardship have you faced? Might I suggest that it’s not a change of circumstance that is needed, but a change in heart? To recognize that God brings us through adversity and trial to shape us and mold us, to cause us to appreciate all the more what we have in him. 2. v.52 “And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.” - This is a beautiful picture of discipleship. Bartimaeus comes to Jesus in humility and dependence, is a recipient of mercy, and becomes a follower of Jesus. Conclusion: We see, then, that this isn’t an interruption of the regularly scheduled programming, but fits perfectly within the plan of God. Jesus came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. He has come leading the way, that we might follow him. He shows mercy to us and leads us as Master and Lord. y l i m Fa Table Talk GOD’S TRUTH February 2, 2020 In humility, follow Christ as Lord and Master! Key Verse Family Discussion ?s “Go your way, your faith has made you well.” Mark 10:52 (ESV) 1. Take a look at Mark 10, verses 46-48. How would you describe Bartimaeus’ situation? In the time in which he lived, how bad was it? 2. Notice the words spoken by Bartimaeus in these verses- were they words of woe and complaint? Describe his reaction to the recognition that Jesus was near. 3. How would you describe the way Bartimaeus comes to Jesus when he is called? Do you hear and respond to Jesus in these ways when He is calling you? 4. This poor, blind beggar had a much more difficult situation than most of us. Yet, he had a great measure of something Jesus tells us to have. Read the Scriptures in the Table Reading. Can you find out what these things are? 5. Are these admonishments heeded in your life? Are you humbly and faithfully coming to Jesus in prayer? Be encouraged that the opportunity is present for you to do this. Hebrews 4:16 DING A TABLE RE Go d’s ther into r u f s id r k Lead yo u Word... tt 21:22; 10:52, Ma k r a M : 6; tion #4 ws 11:1, For ques :5; Hebre 5 r te e P :10; 1 James 4 James 1:6 Scripture Memory: James 4:10 “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” - Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (ESV) www.pillarhoodriver.org