Help is on the way
TEXT Mark 10:46-52
Introduction: this is the picture of a man needing help and needing it desperately. As we read the story, there is no question but that the man’s blindness is a picture of the blindness, darkness, and needs of a world that reels in desperation for help. The need may be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual; it may be some problem with the mind, some desperate loneliness, or some tragic sin. Whatever it is, this passage spells out the steps for getting help.
I. Jesus in Jericho (10:46)
A. Jesus had been in Jericho (how long we do not know).
1. In the days of Jesus, Jericho was one of the most important cities of Palestine.
2. One of the world’s main commercial roads ran right through the city, north to south.
3. The city was only about seventeen miles from Jerusalem, and it is thought to be the oldest city in the world.
4. It was the Passover season, which means that thousands of pilgrims were making their way to Jerusalem.
5. The pilgrims were passing right through Jericho. Blind Bartimaeus knew this, and he also knew that religious people were more sensitive to the needs of helpless people who had to beg for a living.
6. It is also possible that Bartimaeus had heard that Jesus was in Jericho (Luke 18:35-43).
7. If so, he knew that his best chance to find Jesus would be to station himself at the city limits where Jesus would be passing as He left the city.
8. Whatever the case, Bartimaeus had to beg for a living, so he “sat by the [main] highway...begging.”
B. A man must go where he knows Jesus is, where Jesus “passes by.”
1. A man must go where he can hear Jesus, or he may miss the chance of eternal life.
2. “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” Isaiah 55:6
3. “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” Luke 11:10
II. Belief: (10:47) the first step to getting help is believing the reports about Jesus.
A. Sitting there, Bartimaeus heard all kinds of noises coming from the people passing by—the noise of individuals, of groups, of whole caravans.
1. He heard the noise of feet tramping along, of animals, of conversation, of laughter, of play among children. He heard all kinds of talking: serious, jovial, commercial, vain, rude, off-colored, religious. But then something happened: the size of the crowd and the noise and talk changed.
2. The passers-by became a throng, a multitude of people; and the noise and talk were about Jesus, the One for whom he had hoped and longed.
3. Bartimaeus had been blind for years, maybe for life, with no hope of ever seeing.
4. Apparently he was a beggar with no one to care for him.
5. But then the most glorious event of his life happened, he heard about One called Jesus of Nazareth who was claiming to be the true Messiah.
a) For the first time in his life, hope swelled up in him.
b) He knew there was a possibility that he might be healed and enabled to see.
c) From the very first day that he had heard about Jesus, he had hoped and longed for the chance when Jesus might pass by. Why?
6. He believed the testimonies about Jesus.
a) Sitting there by the road as Jesus passed by, he had no way to know it was Jesus.
b) He could not see Him. He could only hear people walking and talking.
c) When he heard people talking about Jesus, he believed it was He.
d) He believed and trusted what he was hearing.
B. A man must believe the report, the testimony about Jesus.
1. All Bartimaeus ever had was what he heard.
a) He had never seen or been around Jesus.
b) He only knew the testimony people were sharing: Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of David. And he believed the testimony.
c) “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31).
d) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).
III. Decision, Profession—(10:47) the second step to getting help is acknowledging personal need.
A. As soon as Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus, he instantly began shouting out to attract Jesus, creating as much fuss and noise as he could above the crowd and its noise.
1. The point is this: Bartimaeus acknowledged his need and he confessed it publicly.
2. He did not approach Jesus secretly or quietly by asking someone close by to appeal to Jesus in his behalf.
3. He had a desperate need and he accepted the fact. He wanted the help of Jesus no matter what.
B. Note two facts.
1. He cried to the “Son of David.”
a) This was an inadequate concept of Jesus.
b) But Bartimaeus approached Jesus as his hope, his savior, his deliverer, his leader.
c) He used what knowledge he had of Jesus and cried out to Him.
d) No man has an adequate concept of Jesus when he first comes to Jesus.
e) No man understands Jesus until after he is saved and has received the Holy Spirit into his life and learned of Christ.
2. He cried out for mercy, not for anything else.
a) He was blind and he was a beggar, yet he did not cry for housing or clothing or food.
b) He cried for his most basic need to be met—for mercy.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified Luke 18:13-14
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death 2 Corinthians 7:10
IV. Persistence: (10:48) the third step to getting help is persisting and persevering after Jesus.
A. Many among the crowd tried to hush Bartimaeus, but he was desperate and determined and in dead earnest.
1. He would not be discouraged, silenced or stopped. He repeatedly cried to the top of his lungs: “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.”
2. The point is that Bartimaeus persevered.
a) He had need, and he would not stop seeking to have his need met.
b) Note the voices raised against him, and they were “many.”
c) His faith in Jesus was strong. He believed Jesus could really help him.
d) His faith stood against all the voices of discouragement and against the feelings of so many that it was useless.
B. Perseverance is the answer to desperate need—persevering prayer and persevering faith
1. “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:8).
2. “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul” (Deut. 4:29). “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
C. Worldly voices will rise up against us, attempting...
1. To pull us away.
2. To tell us all is useless.
3. To convince us that our need is too desperate to be met.
4. To encourage us to try the world’s way.
V. Expectation: (10:49-50) the fourth step to getting help is eagerly expecting to receive Jesus’ help.
A. “Jesus stood still.”
1. The crowd must have been huge.
2. Jesus had to send for the man.
3. Jesus stood still...
a) Because of the man’s need, he could not reach Jesus by himself.
b) Because the man had persisted in crying despite many opposing him
c) Because Jesus never turned away from a man who cried for help.
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9)
B. The man cast aside his coat, cast aside all impediments.
1. This was an interesting act.
a) Bartimaeus wanted nothing to hinder him from reaching Jesus as quickly as he could.
b) All in one motion, he cast aside the hindrances, sprang to his feet and moved toward Jesus.
c) The stress is on his eagerness to reach Jesus and allowing nothing to hinder him.
C. What a lesson for us!
1. How few are so eager!
2. How many hang on to that which hinders and hampers and keeps them from reaching Christ?
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” Ephesians 4:22
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” Hebrews 12:1
“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” 1 Peter 2:11
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” Isaiah 55:7
VI. Conversion: (10:51-52) the fifth step to getting help is requesting precisely what is needed.
A. Bartimaeus knew exactly what he needed and had no difficulty stating his need.
1. He did not waver at all.
2. He was not like many who are vague in their prayers and requests. He had examined himself and knew precisely what he needed.
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” Matthew 21:22
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” John 14:13-14
“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” John 16:24
“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” Isaiah 65:24
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” Jeremiah 33:3
B. Bartimaeus needed, however, to make a personal confession to Jesus.
1. Jesus, of course, knew what Bartimaeus needed; but the Lord’s knowing about the man’s need was not enough.
2. The man had to make a personal confession to Jesus.
“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” Matthew 10:32-33
C. Bartimaeus needed to confess his faith in Jesus’ power for the sake of the others standing there.
1. They needed to know that it was faith in Jesus that saved a man.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” Romans 10:9-10
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” Romans 10:13
D. The word for Lord (Rabboni) means my Master.
1. It is a title of reverent respect.
2. Note the possessive “my.” Bartimaeus’ heart reached out to Jesus, desiring to belong to Him.
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me Luke 9:23
E. A specific request got a specific answer:
1. “Thy faith hath made thee whole”
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” Hebrews 7:25
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” Hebrews 11:6
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” Psalm 37:5
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” Proverbs 3:5
“Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” Isaiah 26:4
VII. Discipleship—(10:52) FOLLOWING Jesus: the sixth step to getting help is following Jesus.
A. This was a very tender scene.
1. Note what Jesus had told Bartimaeus, “Go thy way.”
2. Bartimaeus did not go, not after his Master had touched him.
3. Bartimaeus clung to Jesus.
4. Nothing was going to pry him away. He “followed Jesus in the way.”
5. There are several lessons here.
a) There is a heart of appreciation, of being grateful and thankful
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” Colossians 1:12
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful” Colossians 3:15
“When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee” Deuteronomy 8:10
b) There is the idea of genuineness of conversion. He followed through.
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” Luke 9:23
c) There is the idea of growing, wanting to learn more and more about this Savior of men.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke [service and discipleship] upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” Matthew 11:28-30
d) There is the testimony of loyalty and faithfulness.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” Corinthians 15:58
