Cry Out to Jesus

Introduction

It is truly good to be with you this morning. My wife and I have been teaching Young Adult Sunday School for some time now and I enjoy preparing for that a great deal, but it has been good preparing for this sermon. I love sermon prep, especially during times such as lent. It is a special season when we get to consider the sacrifice of Jesus and reflect on what that means for us. Lent is about receiving opportunity and hope where none previously existed. I am particularly happy to preach today on the blind man crying out to Jesus, seizing opportunity because it is completely relative to lent.

During Covid, we have all probably watched a little more television than we should. I know that I have. One of my favorite things to do is watch Youtube videos and I am a person who looks for the cute ones. I came across one about a baby squirrel named Mossy. It was just a few weeks old, injured and abandoned, cleaning to a tree. This lady heard it crying out as baby squirrels do and had the intent to help it, nurse it to health and eventually release it. But she ultimately, in his eyes, and probably hers too, became his mommy and he did not want to leave. He wanted to stay with her. After all, she heard his cries, tended to his needs, and he became loyal to her. He wanted to stay with her.

I am a sucker for stories like this. They just make me feel good. They give me some sense of hope for humanity and just leave me feeling a little more secure in life, especially during a hard day or week.

Today’s scripture does something similar for me. On the surface, it seems like one thing, but when you launch into it in study, we see something very amazing, and completely relative to the lenten season. I want to share some of that with you today, but first, let’s approach God together in prayer!

Setting

So today’s scriptural account is found in all three of the synoptic gospels. Each has slight variations as they are all different accounts, none of which should give us concern to the accuracy of the account. When sports writers come away from a baseball game, they have all watched the same game but do not write the same article. Each highlights things they found to be important and unique. It is the same here. The Lucan witness does not name the blind beggar. Mark names him to be Bartimaeus. Matthew says it was two blind beggars while the other two only highlight one. These variations are common and, again, are no reason to have concern. These are different witnesses to one account of Jesus interacting with Bartimaeus on his way to Jerusalem.

How Did Bartimaeus Get To This Point

Sin places us in unpleasant situations. It has changed the model of humanity that God intended. Our bodies are less impressive as a result of sin. I heard one scholar explain it by saying we are less than the human model God planned for us. Consider Jesus following his resurrection in John 20:19 and John 20:26. His body can simply do things that ours cannot. But Philippians 3:21 promises that we, too, will be changed. Just not yet, at least not in that way. So, Bartimaeus, as a result of the fall of man, is in a body with limitations, begging for help to a less than helpful world.

The unethical reign of the rule of satan is one that holds people down, taking advantage of them in every way. During the time of Jesus, people were subjected to unfair and unreasonable taxation. Some, like Bartimaeus, were subjected to the cruelties of physical inability. People were sold into slavery. Some were having their homes taken from them because they owed a debt they could not pay. Some, like the Samaritans, were very much looked down upon. Sounds a lot like the world today, doesn’t it. I think that Ecclesiastes 1:9 captures the reality of our fallen world reading that “there is nothing new under the sun”. Every generation has to deal with the same old hard knocks of life.

Back then, just like today, God often received the blame for these types of subjugation. Many felt that people with physical limitations were being punished by God. Today, when people feel like they are subjected to a less than favorable life, He still gets the blame because He is supposed to be in charge, right? But remember, humanity chose a different master when, in the Garden of Eden, they rejected the truth of God and accepted the lie of satan. Besides, if we simply review a few nuggets of fact, its easy to see that the ethos of God’s reign is quite different from that of this world.

Let’s take a look at some of the Old Testament Laws. Consider God’s directives on social responsibilities in the Old Testament: Do not mistreat foreigners, and do not take advantage of widows - Exodus 22:21-22. Do not lend money to brethren and treat it like a business deal expecting interest - Exodus 22:25.

Let’s consider His directives on justice and mercy in the Old Testament. Do not spread false accusations - Exodus 23:1. Do not follow a wrong intentioned crowd - Exodus 23:2. Only on the evidence of two or three witnesses shall a person be convicted - Deuteronomy 19:15. Leave the outer edges of your crops for the less fortunate to glean from - Leviticus 23:22.

Now, I know that there are laws that are difficult to understand, difficult to find peace and justice in. Helping us discover the justice in some of them would take much longer than the time we have today, so if you are curious about them, we can speak later. Just trust me when I tell you that every law of God is filled with an ethos of love and justice discoverable when viewed through the proper lens.

Now let’s take a look at the person of Jesus. Jesus is the embodiment of God in man. He is the Good News. One may ask “What is the Good News of God”? The Good News is that in the person of Jesus, the Kingdom of Heaven has come near the people of earth. Why is this important? Because in Jesus, people are now seeing the ethical reign of heaven. He is loving, healing, offering grace and justice for the oppressed. If the reign of evil oppresses and takes advantage of its subjects, the reign of God sets them free and offers peace.

So it is easy to see that God intends good for those who belong to Him. Therefore, Bartimaeus is not in this position by any doing of God’s. In fact, God is working to undue the affects of sin. We can truly say that even though we do not know how Bartimaeus physically was blinded, we know that ultimately, it is because we are subject to the cruel unethical reign of evil in the world. But thank God for Bartimaeus that his story didn’t end there!

Cry Out to Jesus Above the Noise

I believe that Jesus passing by him that day is not haphazard. In God’s love, in this thing that we Wesleyan-Arminians call prevenient grace, God regularly brings about opportunity. For Bartimaeus, it was the passing by of Jesus in verse 37 that is the prevenient grace of God, the grace that comes before decision. It is God seeking us out, bringing about opportunity that the world will never offer.

I don’t know about you but I can picture Bartimaeus sitting there…helpless…begging. I can see some offering a little assistance here and there, but I can also see those that pass by in disgust. Many would have nothing to do with him. After all, as a blind man, he would have surely…inadvertently…came into contact with unclean things. By skewed interpretation of the law, it would be spiritual and social taboo to touch him. So most passed by in disgust, disdain. Or worse yet, some did not even acknowledge his presence. You see, in many respects, he was not just damaged, but discarded as well.

But where the world was failing Bartimaeus, God was providing opportunity. All Bartimaeus had to do was seize the moment…and he did. He cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”! These words are much greater than they appear on paper. You see, this phrase “Son of David” is a messianic declaration. Bartimaeus was literally affirming that Jesus was the chosen one of God. He was saying “Jesus, I know who you are! You are the hope that our ancestors told us would come”!

How would he have know this? 2 Samuel 7:12-13 declares it as does Isaiah 9:7, both of which were passed down from generation to generation. They would have been readings that the priests would have offered in temple. This was a time of great tribulation and the coming Messiah would have been a focal point of hope in that day.

So Bartimaeus cries out. He seizes opportunity, and what does the world who barely notices him do? They try to silence him. This world who has seen him as small and insignificant now acknowledges him but in an adverse way. I can hear their response, “Shut up! Do not hinder the man. He has no time for someone like you!”

But Bartimaeus will not allow this opportunity to go by without making every effort. “Son of David, have mercy on me”! And God’s hope, His prevenient grace is intentional, so Jesus stops and has this blind beggar brought before him. Look at this counter-cultural act! Others dare to touch him, but Jesus, the King of all kings welcomes his presence; even insists upon it. “What can I do for you”? “I want to see! All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you”.

It is a Life Long Pursuit

And then look at what happens, “Instantly, he could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God”. Bartimaeus realized this was not a one and done moment. This was not a “now I can physically see. Thank you Jesus, I will be going and getting on with my life now. Thanks again and best of luck in Jerusalem”. No, he could REALLY SEE!

He not only gained sight, but also insight and perspective that day. Jesus was more than healer; he was LORD! There could be no other response than to follow him while praising God! Bartimaeus sought for something good, seized the opportunity, and received something even better! That is how God works! He wants better for us than we want for ourselves.

So What?

So what does this mean for us today? That is a question that we should all be asking. The answer: sin has changed the world and we all are affected by it. If we were honest with ourselves, we would all acknowledge moments where we feel in need, discarded, ignored, and told to shut up. It may not look exactly like the issues that Bartimaeus dealt with. Perhaps we feel lonely, disheartened, powerless, and oppressed for other reasons, but the feelings are there, and they have truth behind them.

The good news is that this wonderful mercy of God that He made available to Bartimaeus is available to us as well. It is a mercy that, during this moment in the lenten season, is journeying to a cross on our behalf. It is a mercy that offers healing and justice, but healing that shall not be forced upon us. Like Bartimaeus, we have to cry out acknowledging that Jesus is the promised saviour. We have to confess it and acknowledge him as Lord. The world will try to get in the way, but we need to cry out above it. We abandon fear and embrace hope, confessing that he is Lord.

In this message, God’s grace is passing by for some of us today ready to extend mercy. Will you listen to the world and remain silent, or will you lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus, confessing his lordship in your life? This is the time, and this altar is the place. His grace is passing by, will you come?

For those of you with us electronically today, wanting to cry out to Jesus, you can meet him at the altar of your heart. I always say that there is something special about about coming to the altar in front of a family of believers, but God will meet you at the altar of a pure heart as well.