Intro: This was the last time Jesus would come through the city of Jericho before his death on the cross. One day Jesus will pass by where you are for the last time. What you do with Jesus will determine your destiny. In this story we see the blind man: (1) At the right place; (2) With the right purpose; (3) Calling on the right person; and (4) Receiving the right promise. Notice some things about this blind man –
I. THE CONDITION OF THE BLIND MAN (v.46)
A. The city was Jericho, the blind man was Bartimaeus.
B. Imagine how it is to be both blind and a beggar.
C. Is mere survival considered life? (cf. John 10:10)
D. Bartimaeus hoped for larger crowds at Passover.
E. We take our eyesight and state in life for granted.
F. Bartimaeus is a type of the poor sinner (Eph. 2:12).
II. THE CRY OF THE BLIND MAN (v.47)
A. When you lose one sense, the remaining compensates.
B. He had heard about the wonderful rabbi, a gentle healer, a miracle worker, a loving and compassionate man.
C. He heard and confessed who Jesus is (Rom. 10:13, 17).
D. He had no eyesight, but he had INSIGHT!
E. Better to be blind and see with your heart, than to have two good eyes and understand nothing at all (Eph. 4:18).
III. THE COURAGE OF THE BLIND MAN (v.48)
A. The Jews’ Passover was near; there was a festive mood.
B. Bartimaeus was to act now, or be blind forever!
C. It is painful to live with regret and lose opportunity.
D. Some moments in life have make-or-break decisions.
E. When Jesus comes your way, you either accept or reject Him and what you do with Him determines your destiny!
F. He did not allow the opposition of the crowds to deter him. He did not worry about his being a beggar nor felt ashamed to call upon Jesus in his time of great need.
G. A very religious crowd is on its way to a religious festival yet missed the mark! (cf. Luke 10:30-32; Matt. 23:23)
H. These are the people who listened to Jesus’ teach about the kingdom of God! They were in the right place listening to the right thing, but they had the wrong motive and attitude!
I. They were so interested in listening to Jesus and yet so miserably failed when it came to obeying Him. They falsely told the blind man that Jesus did not have time for him.
J. Being in church thrice a week does not matter much anymore than what we do when we leave it. We must apply the truths that we have heard! (Jas. 1:22; Luke 11:28)
IV. THE CHRIST OF THE BLIND MAN (vv. 49-51)
A. That title “Son of David” had royal and Messianic implications (cf. Matt. 1:1). It froze Jesus in His tracks!
B. Jesus heard two things from Bartimaeus: (1) An earnest plea; and (2) A prophetic salute at the same time!
C. And so Jesus, on His way to becoming the Saviour of the world, stops to become the Servant of a blind beggar! What a great difference there was between the attitude of Jesus and those of the religious leaders (Mark 10:45).
D. Verse 50: Like Bartimaeus, an unsaved man must first cast away his “filthy rags” of righteousness and his “old man” as he approaches the Lord (Isa. 64:6; Eph. 4:22).
E. Notice that Bartimaeus “came to Jesus,” NOT to the apostles, saints, priests, the temple or its rituals (v.50b).
F. The Lord responds to faith and requests (Heb. 11:6). The Light of the World gives light and sight (John 8:12).
V. THE COMMITMENT OF THE SEEING MAN (v.52)
A. The first person Bartimaeus ever saw was Jesus!!!
B. Bartimaeus (like Paul) followed Jesus in the way.
C. He was a new man never turned back to his old life.
D. Bartimaeus joyfully joined the procession to Jerusalem.
E. It must be hard for Bartimaeus to have seen Jesus as the very first thing, then a few days later he sees Him again with bloody face as He was mocked, tortured and crucified!
CONCLUSION: Frankly, you may not be physically blind like Bartimaeus but you might be spiritually blind. This type of blindness can only be healed by Jesus. Come to Him today for spiritual sight. Come to Jesus Christ alone for eternal life!
