The Squeaky Wheel

The Squeaky Wheel

Text: Mark 10:46–52 (KJV 1900)

46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Introduction:

* We have all heard the expression “The Squeaky Wheel gets the Grease.”

* I want to take the Bible this morning and show you that when it comes to receiving something from God, this saying hold true.

*In the book of James, the Bible says “Ye have not because ye ask not.”

* I am convinced this morning that we have a lot of Christians going around squeaking and griping and complaining like an old rusty wheel!

* These folks are always grumbling and complaining because they aren’t getting any oil, or grease if you will.

* The Holy Spirit is represented in the Bible as oil. Being filled with the Spirit is the oil we need to keep us from whining, griping and complaining.

* The oil of the Holy Spirit is freely available to all who ask for it:

Luke 11:9–13 (AV)

9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

* In our passage I have selected this morning to preach from, we have the perfect example of the “Squeaky Wheel.” A blind man by the name of Bartimaeus. * In our text, Jesus is journeying out of Jericho up a strenuous uphill journey to Jerusalem for the great feast of the Passover.

* The event of our text ends Mark’s records of healing ministry of Jesus as he now focuses on the events of the triumphant entrance to Jerusalem and the Passion Week.

* There ware a great number of people present on that day.

Mark 10:46 (KJV 1900)

46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people

* There were two Jerusalem’s, the old, ancient city, and the new city, the home of King Herod’s summer palace.

* Coming out of this great City were hundreds of pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the great feast of the Passover.

* It is at this great feast that Jesus makes his triumphant entry into Jerusalem and is presented to the people of Israel as their awaited messiah and king.

* No doubt many of the people in this great throng will also be witnesses of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus in only a matter of a few days.

*There were people pulling carts and leading pack animals laden with the necessary items need to sustain them for this coming week of events of the Passover feast in Jerusalem.

* People were no doubt leading animals that intended for sacrifice and exchanging money in order to buy the animals that were for sale in and around the temple.

* The scene here is one of steady stream of people headed from all over the land of Palestine, making their journey to the great feast.

* There were the shouts of merchants selling their wares, people trying to keep up with their family members, shouts of Roman soldiers keeping order, the sounds of horses and bleating sheep.

* Along this busy route to there was also another crowd of people.

* This was the “parade watching” crowd.

* This crowd of people was made up of the people who were too poor to go up to Jerusalem.

* In this crowd also were the sick people, the infirm in body such as the lepers and those were social outcasts because of their diseases. * In this crowd of watchers were also were the drunkards, and the harlots, and the rest of societies outcasts, who stood and watched as these traveling worshipers made their way to Jerusalem.

* These were the down and outers. Those how were trodden down and cast to the wayside by the mainstream of society.

* In this crowd we find our main character of this passage of scripture. A man called Bartimaeus.

Mark 10:46 (KJV 1900)

46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

* Bartimaeus, being a blind man, had set up by the side of the road from Jericho to Jerusalem, along with no doubt many others, to beg for money from the wealthy travelers headed to the great Passover feast.

*In my mind I can picture both sides of the road lined with the lame and the blind, and merchants hoping to benefit from the large crowds of travelers.

* In this furry of confusion and sound Bartimaeus somehow overheard that Jesus of Nazareth was head his way and he began to cry out with a loud voice “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. “

* Being blind and not able to see where Jesus was, he began to cry out over and over “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. “- Jesus help me! Jesus help me! Jesus help me! Jesus help me!

* Bartimaeus cried out to the top of his lungs! He cried out not doubt his eyes filled with tears and a voice full of emotion- Jesus help me!

* The cries of this poor blind man were so obnoxious to the people around him that they told him to shut up! Stop yelling for Jesus they said! Stop crying after Jesus! Sit down and shut up!

Mark 10:48 (KJV 1900)

48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

* As the people derided Bartimaeus, as strange and wonderful thing happened!

* The Bible says that Jesus stood still in his tracks! The son of the living God stood still for the cries of a blind beggar! The heart of the Creator of the universe was moved to compassion by the awkward obnoxious cries of one man.

* Above the sounds all that crowd of religious worshipers Jesus heard the cries of a social outcast- a man who had been marginalized by society- a man who had no social standing- a man who was poor and needy- a man who had absolutely nothing to offer Jesus!

* This poor a man had commanded the attention of God Almighty!

* This morning we, like this poor blind beggar, need to get the attention of God too! We need our need met to!

Three Main observations from this passage:

I. The ears of God are open to the cries of the Down and out.

* My friends if you take nothing away from this sermon but this one thing, I want you to see that the Ears of God are open to the cries of the down and out people of this world!

* Jesus stood still in His tracks!

Mark 10:49 (KJV 1900)

49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

* This morning I want you to know that just as Jesus called out to Blind Bartimaeus, He is calling out to you this morning with words of comfort and cheer!

* Just as Jesus called out that day on his way to Jerusalem, He is calling out to you to rise and come to Him this morning!

* What a sight it must have been to see the crowd open a path for Bartimaeus as he comes to Jesus!

* Desperate people do not permit the crowd to keep them from Jesus (see Mark 5:25–34)

Mark 5:24–34 (KJV 1900)

24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. 25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

* Like the woman who had the issue of blood, and had spent all her living on doctors only to be told that they could not help her- when we reach out in faith and touch Jesus he has the power to meet your need!

* When we come to God in desperation- our faith in him can make us whole.

II. When we come to God for help, we must forsake our own works, and totally place all of our faith in what Jesus can do.

Mark 10:50 (KJV 1900)

50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

* As Bartimaeus sat by the roadside and begged, he had taken off his outer garment, or cloak, and laid it on the ground. * As people would pass by, they would throw money onto the coat. * At the end of the day, the beggar would roll this outer garment up and use it like a sack to carry the money home.

* When Bartimaeus heard the call of Jesus in response to his cries, he immediately threw down everything and ran to respond to his invitation!

* Bartimaeus so desperate to come to Jesus that he had completely disregarded his coat and the money had had collected, and jumped up throwing coad and the money aside and ran to Jesus!

* Jesus taught in Matthew 16 that we must abandon our trust in our own selves with the following words:

Matthew 16:24–26 (AV)

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

* Before this there was another man who came to meet Jesus, but the outcome was quite different.

* Later Jesus repeated the same words of Matthew 16, in the accout of a young rich man, who like Bartimaeus, came to him, but not in total faith, empty of himself.

Mark 10:18–22 (AV)

18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

* What was the difference between the two who came to Jesus? Why Bartimaeus leave rejoicing and full of faith?

* The difference is that the rich young man was not willing to himself of his own works!

* He wanted to trust in something that he could do to be saved, Bartiameus was willing to abandon everything he had and place all his faith in what Jesus could do.

* My friend you will never go to heaven as long as you are trusting you yourself and your own good works.

* We like our man Bartimaeus, must realized that Jesus is our only hope and come to Jesus empty handed, empty of our works, in order to be saved.

Rock of Ages

‎A. M. Toplady, Author

‎1 Co 10:1–4

‎1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and pow'r.

‎2. Not the labor of my hands Can fulfill the law's demands, Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears for ever flow, All for sin could not atone, Thou must save and Thou alone.

‎3. Nothing in my hand I bring: Simply to Thy cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace; Vile, I to the fountain fly: Wash me, Savior, or I die.

III. Jesus is asking you, “what will you believe me for?”

Mark 10:51 (KJV 1900)

51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

* Jesus asked Bartimaeus “What do you want me to do for you?”

* Jesus desired to meet Bartimaeus’ need. Jesus also wants to meet the need of your heart right now.

* This same story is mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew as well. In that passage the wording is a little different.

* Matthew tells us that there was also another blind man with Bartimaeus …

* Mark only mentions the one blind man, and gives his name. This is most likely because Bartimaeus had become a well-known disciple of Jesus by the time Mark how recorded his Gospel.

* In Mark’s gospel, there is a phrase mentioned I want you to see…

34 So Jesus had compassion on them,

Matthew 20:32–34 (KJV 1900)

32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

* Jesus has compassion on your needs this morning also.

* Jesus already knew what Bartimaeus needed.

* “What do you want Me to do for you?” seems like a strange question to ask a blind man.

* We would think that it would have been obvious to Jesus that this blind man needed his sight!

* Jesus wanted to give the man to give evidence of his faith to meet his needs. This is what prayer is this morning.

* God already knows everything we have need of this morning. Does this mean that automatically God will meet every need He knows you and I have? No it doesn’t.

* What did he really wanted to know from Bartimaeus was what was he willing believe Jesus could do for him?

* You see my friends; in reality it was the power of God that healed Bartimaeus, but…

* It was bartimaeus’ faith that was the channel by which that power of God could flow.

* As your pastor, I ask you the very same question of you this morning. I know that we all have great needs that only God can in this congregation, but what is it that God has burdened your heart to believe Him for this morning?

* What are you willing to have faith for this morning?

Conclusion:

* I want you to notice also that this man’s faith to believe that Jesus could restore his eyesight also saved this man’s soul! * In Luke’s record of the healing of Bartimaeus, he uses wording that is a little different than that of Mark. The story is the same, but Luke adds these words:

Luke 18:42–43 (KJV 1900)

42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

* You see my friends; in reality it was the power of God that healed Bartimaeus.

* It was bartimaeus’ faith that was the channel by which that power of God could flow and not just heal his body, but his faith in Jesus also healed his soul! His faith saved his soul!

* If you are here this morning, and you have heard about Jesus but you have never placed your faith in Jesus to cleanse you from your sin and give you eternal life, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit of God and like Bartimeus, rise up and come to Jesus- He’s waiting!

* Let’s stand together as we sing a song of invitation for anyone who has been moved to believe God for something this morning.u