"Opportunity Almost Missed"

"OPPORTUNITY ALMOST MISSED"

Mark 10:46-52 (020317)

Bartimeus was typical of every person making the journey through life. He was blind to what was going on around him other than what someone told him. We are blind to the things of God unless someone tells us and then we have the same choice that blind Bartimeus had. We can cry out for mercy and receive our spiritual eyes or we can wander through life with no hope. Jesus was within one week of the cross when a hopeless situation became a miracle.

I. THE CONDITION BEFORE JESUS

A. Bartimeus was alone - no one had much use for a blind man.

B. He was blind - he was in the dark physically and spiritually.

C. He was begging - even the rich are in spiritual poverty.

II. THE SITUATION WITH JESUS

A. Bartimeus heard - He had never seen Jesus; never heard His voice; didn’t understand all about Him;

B. He cried out - he had a need and used the opportunity he had (no matter how little knowledge or facts he had about the Savior).

C. He ask for mercy - Anything was better than what he had (what did he have to lose?)

III. THE RESPONSE OF JESUS

A. Jesus stood still - He runs the world but stops for one sinner.

B. He called - Calls sinners to salvation / the blind to see (spiritually).

C. He comforted - "What wilt thou..." - "Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole."

IV. THE RESPONSE TO JESUS

A. He received his sight - he began to see Jesus for who He was.

B. He followed Jesus - Not just faith to believe, but faith to follow (works).

When Jesus touches our lives, we are never the same again. We are to follow Him and invite others to do the same. We don’t realize what we are not seeing until Jesus opens our eyes.