Getting Into The Game Series

Getting Into The Game Of Life

Mark 10:46-52

• “Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!

• “We’re born again, there’s new grass on the field.

• “A-roundin’ third, and headed for home, it’s a brown-eyed handsome man;

• “Anyone can understand the way I feel.

• “Oh, put me in, Coach - I’m ready to play today;

• “Put me in, Coach - I’m ready to play today;

• “Look at me, I can be Centerfield.”

• This is a song from John Fogerty, and I’m sure most of you recognize it.

• I particularly want to focus on the line, “Anyone can understand the way I feel.”

• All of us want to be put into the game of life. None of us want to sit on the sidelines.

• I read a story this week about a disable child that had watched his brothers play baseball for years.

• The little town then developed a “Challenger League”, one that allows disabled children the joy of baseball.

• Everybody plays, and everybody scores.

• This little boy’s mother took him to get his uniform and he wanted to model it for his family.

• As his mother finished helping him put on the uniform, he looked at his mom and said, “Now I can be a real boy”.

• Sometimes, that is how we all feel when we just get into the game for the first time.

• All of us who played some type of sports know how it is to be suited up but have to sit on the bench.

• Everybody wants to participate in the game.

• This is also true about God’s kingdom. Don’t you have a passion to get up off the sidelines and get into the action?

• Today, we are talking about a man who was tired of sitting on the side of the road while life went by.

• He not only left his safe spot on the side of the road, but demonstrated to us what it takes for us to get into the game. (Pray).

Mar 10:46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.

• Jesus had traveled near 35-45 miles on his way to Jerusalem.

• He was now yet 10 miles away.

• He was just off the western bank of the Jordan river, planning to turn directly west to head to Bethany, and then into Jerusalem.

• Heading west out of Jericho, many people had chosen to follow Jesus.

• The road on which they traveled probably had many beggars.

• One of them was a blind man, simply named the Son of Timaeus.

• Bartimaeus actually means “The son of Timaeus”.

• It is interesting that Mark, writing to Gentiles, uses this one’s name who was probably well known in the region, but would not be known to the Gentiles.

• It is Mark’s way of saying, “You need to hear about this man. I want you to know him.”

Mar 10:47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

• He was a beggar, but when Jesus came by, he ceased asking for money, and instead asked for mercy.

• Notice the change: He heard that Jesus of Nazareth was coming, but cried out for Jesus, Son of David.

• “The Son of David” was the title for the Messiah, commonly used in those days.

Mar 10:48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

• He was told to keep quiet. Listen. The world wants us to live in quiet desperation and be satisfied with the same misery they suffer.

• I am sure that some of those who were calling for Bartimaeus to be quiet were other beggars.

• Others were doubters. I am sure they said, “Don’t be sacrilegious, calling this pretender the Messiah.”

• Others were probably believers (yes, believers), who were saying, “This is the Messiah. Leave Him alone. He has important business to attend to.”

• But when the aching soul understands its need, it cannot be quiet.

• Listen, there will be many reasons for you to not cry out for Jesus today.

• Some of them will be emotional. Some will sound reasonable. Some will seem to be religious and based on what appears to be higher priorities. Just like here.

• But if you have a chance to be made whole, to be healed, to be forgiven, to grow closer to God, cry out today, all the louder.