Made Whole Series

INTRODUCTION

• Today we will examine an account of a healing Jesus performed just eight days before His Triumphal entry into Jerusalem, just before he would be crucified.

• Jesus is leaving Jericho when a blind man named Bartimeus hears Jesus is passing by.

• Because of his blindness, Bartimeus makes a living by begging people for money.

• Begging is his only means of taking care of himself.

• Can you imagine being in his position?

• One thing about Bartimeus is that he knows he is not whole and needs healing.

• Anytime one is blind, it would affect their life; today, we have many things that help.

• Blindness is not the end of your ability to make a living in our day, but in the time of Jesus, there was nothing unless your family could take care of you.

• Bartimeus was in dire straights.

• Truth be told, we are all in need of healing.

• We all face the ramifications of sin in our life and the pain and separation it causes.

• One of the issues we face is that we may not realize we need healing because we can live life marred in sin.

• There is nothing much worse than having a problem and not knowing it.

• I believe most people understand they have a problem; they do not know what it is; so they search and search for answers, never coming to the right source for answers.

• As we examine the healing of Bartimeus, I want us to see some principles we need to understand regarding our spiritual healing.

• For Bartimeus, his life will experience profound change because of Jesus.

• All the pain, shame, and separation we experience as a result of sin can be healed; you can be made whole again!

• For Bartimeus, Jesus healing his blindness will change his life forever.

• Jesus healing us from our sin problem will change our life for eternity!

› Big Idea of the Message: Profound healings take place when Jesus is near!

• Let’s begin in Mark 10:46-48.

Mark 10:46–48 (NET 2nd ed.)

46 They came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.

47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 Many scolded him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

SERMON

I. The plea.

• As Jesus was leaving Jericho, a blind man, a beggar, was sitting along the road doing what he had to do to survive; he was begging for money.

• Bartimeus’ condition was horrible, and it was obvious to him that he needed to be healed.

• Bartimeus’ condition was so desperate that there was no doubt about what he needed.

• Only a miracle could save you when you have the condition he had during the days of Jesus.

• There were no surgeries, vocational training, or brail to help you read.

• There were no social safety nets; you would beg and hope you got enough each day to survive.

• As we live life, we too can suffer from blindness, not just physical but also spiritual.

• This world can blind us to our spiritual condition.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 (NET 2nd ed.)

3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing,

4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.

• Bartimeus is sitting along the road and hears the crowd; he is told that Jesus is coming!

• Could it be the miracle Bartimeus had been waiting for, praying for, and maybe even lost hope would ever come; was coming?

• Bartimeus existed; his world had no hope and no future.

• Many of us are in his condition spiritually, with no hope, no future.

• We are existing, not living.

• We live under the burden of sin and shame and can feel hopeless.

• We may live under the bondage of personal insecurity, shame, guilt, and loneliness.

• The world has not been kind to us; maybe life has been unkind and unloving to us?

• Bartimeus, when he finds out it is Jesus, starts to shout out for Jesus to hear him.

• Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!

A Commentary on the Gospel according to Mark (8. Blind Bartimeus Healed (10:46–52))

Bartimeus addressed Him not as Jesus the Nazarene.