Getting Hold Of Jesus

Getting Hold of Jesus

Mark 10:46-52

Have you ever noticed that sometimes it’s hard to “get hold” of people?

You dial the number and a pleasant female voice comes online that says, "Hello, thank you for calling Joy, Inc. If you’re calling to check on your credit account, press 1 now. If you have questions about your order, press 2. If you would like to hear about new products, press 3. If you know your party’s extension key that in now." You key on and after 3 or 4 rings you hear "Hi, this is Joe. I’m away from my desk right now. But if you’ll leave a message, do so at the tone. If you prefer to wait, stay on the line and someone will be right with you." The tone beeps, and another voice chimes in: "I’m sorry we can’t get to your call immediately, but if you’ll hold, your call will be answered by the next available associate.”

Now a new website—www.gethuman.com lists numbers and procedures to get you in touch with a human being the first time you call. I haven’t tried it yet, but if it works, I predict it will be a very popular site.

Getting hold of the right person is not always easy to do. Sometimes it seems that way with God. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could reach God whenever you needed to get hold of Him? In life’s emergencies, you don’t have time to wait for the next available operator. How can you and I get hold of Jesus when we need Him?

I believe the answer to this important question can be found in the story of a blind man named Bartimaeus found in Mark 10:46-52. In these verses, Mark explains 3 truths you and I need to grasp about “getting hold” of the Lord:

I. IF YOU WANT TO GET HOLD OF JESUS, YOU HAVE TO CALL HIM. (v. 46-48)

Bill Hybels writes: My dad was a very busy man who traveled all over the world. In order to get him at work, you had to go through a switchboard unless you knew the private number, which rang a phone right on his desk. He gave the number to a few select business partners, but all of his children had it. I still know that number: 345-5366. We knew no matter how busy he was, we could call him any time on that direct line.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you had that open line to the ears of Jesus? This passage tells us that we do. Jesus invites you and I to call on Him in faith. f you want to “get hold” of Him, you have to do what Bartimaeus does-call Him.

Jesus and His disciples pass through the ancient city of Jericho on their way to Jerusalem and eventually the Cross of Calvary. Crowds come out to see the wonder-working prophet, and along the way they pass a blind beggar named Bartimaeus= son of Timaeus. Bart sits at this spot because he knows many people are headed to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. Odds are most people will tend to dig a little deeper in their generosity.

As Bartimaeus sits beside the road listening and begging, he notices the crowd suddenly increases. Something big is happening. He calls out to the sound of a pair of running feet, what’s going on? To which somebody replies, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by!

What clicks in Bart’s mind as he hears that Name? Has he heard about the miracles? Does he dare to dream Jesus can give him his sight back? We don’t know for sure, but the Bible does tell us Bart begins to call out loudly and continuously Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! …son of David…That’s a name full of meaning for the Jews. It’s the title reserved for the Messiah, God’s Promised King, the One Who will be the Eternal King and Son of God. Bartimaeus may not understand everything about Jesus, but one thing he does know: Jesus is God’s ultimate King. He’s calling the right number.

And he also keeps calling. In fact, he makes a nuisance of himself. His voice yells out shrill and piercing, over and over: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! (3X) His loud pleas grate on everybody’s nerves. The crowd tries to quiet him down; Bart gets louder! Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me! This helpless, sightless, hopeless man possesses a persistence born of desperation. He has to get hold of Jesus!

How do you get hold of Jesus? You have to persistently call out to Him in faith.

First, you have to call out to Him. You have to call out to Him to be saved, for the promise is