Now You Have Something To Shout About

NOW YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT

Mark 10:46-52

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. A first grade teacher seated her students in a circle. She asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up. One child announced, "I'd like to be a nurse like my mother," or "I want to be a banker like my father," or "I want to be a teacher like you, Miss Smith."

2. The last child to speak was the most shy and timid little boy in the class. He said, "When I get big, I'm going to be a lion tamer in the circus. I'm going to face those animals with my whip and chair and make them leap through hoops of fire."

3. Seeing the disbelieving looks on the faces of his classmates that he could ever act so boldly or bravely, he was quick to reassure them, "Well, of course, I'll have my mother with me."

4. We are sometimes shy and timid about standing up for Christ in the midst of an immoral society. We only need to remember the promise, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13).

B. TEXT

46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Mk. 10:46-52

C. THESIS

1. In the last year, we’ve all had our share of trials and troubles, but God has been good to us. We ought to enter the year 2021 shouting, because a shout is one of the purest forms of Praise to God. Psalms 22:3 says “God inhabits the praises of his people” we ought to be shouting every chance that we get.

2. Jesus had been having a busy day: He taught on marriage and divorce, he blessed the little children, and he counseled the rich young ruler. As He passed through Jericho, he met Bartimaeus—the son of Timaeus who sat by the roadside with his tin cup of bare-existence and begged.

3. In this passage, Bartimaeus opens his classroom up and teaches us four valuable lessons:

I. OUR PRESENT CONDITIONS DON’T HAVE TO BE OUR CONCLUSION

A. A BAD START

Bartimaeus had a really tough life until this day

1. HIS NAME means "Son of the Unclean"/defiled. This designation “unclean” was used of lepers or those leaking bodily fluids. Whatever they touched was defiled, in fact, that was His father’s name. How would you like the name “Defiled” on your mailbox? If ever God seemed to be against someone, it was him!

2. A BEGGAR. He was so poor that he existed from one meal to the next. His clothing was little more than rags. He was exposed to the weather -- heat, cold, rain, clammy, etc., and didn’t have an opportunity to bathe.

3. A “BLIND” BEGGAR. Not only defiled & a beggar, he was blind. But at least he knew he was blind (better than many!) and he wanted to change. But he knew there was no solution but divine intervention.

B. BUT A CHANGE WAS APPROACHING!

1. The first lesson of Bartimaeus’ class is that you can start bad but that God CAN change your situation IF you ask Him. 2020 may have had some major blows, but 2021 can be totally different.

2. Our problems may’ve pushed us down, shoved us down, and laid us down, but we don’t have to stay down! We can get up! Let 2021 be a year of victory for you!

II. DON’T LET THE OPPORT. OF A LIFETIME PASS YOU BY

A. JESUS WAS PASSING BY

1. Bartimaeus next teaches that we shouldn’t allow the opportunity of a lifetime to pass us by.

2. When Bartimaeus heard that JESUS was passing by, he began to shout. WHY? because Bartimaeus had heard how Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding of Cana; how Jesus took a boy’s fish & chip lunch and fed 5,000+.

3. He’d heard how the woman with the issue of blood found a pharmaceutical shop in the hem of Jesus garment – how she touched the hem and received her Healing from Him. Vs. 47 says, “When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"