THE CRYING BARTIMAEUS!
Mark 10:46-52 (KJV)
46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Of all the healing Jesus did, the opening of the eyes of blind Bartimaeus is one of the most exciting and one event where we can learn a lesson on how to receive from the Lord answer to our prayers. In this outline we list what he did to receive his sight.
I. …. blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
A. He waited on the Lord. They that wait on the Lord receive strength.
B. See his condition.
1. Poor.
2. Born blind.
3. No education.
4. Hungry.
5. Worst of all, NO HOPE!
a. Of all human emotions hopeless is the worst.
II. He heard of Jesus.
A. The side of the Jericho Road was where you heard the latest news from people going by. .
B. Bartimaeus heard of Jesus.
1. People are changed when they hear about Jesus.
2. He heard what Jesus did for others.
a. In our 50 years of missionary evangelism we have seen God do many wonders and healings.
b. Uruguay a 19 year old brought by his mother born blind received his sight in the crusade.
c. In one crusade in Honduras 6 blind people were healed in one crusade.
C. He was too poor to travel to Jesus meetings so he waited for his moment.
D. He kept listening. Faith began to grow. Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
1. He knew one day would be his day and Jesus would pass his way.
III. Came the day…. he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me
A. Those around him said be quiet…… And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
1. The more they said be quiet the more he cried out.
B. Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called.
1. As a young person sitting in the choir of Kathryn Kuhlman I heard her say many times "God will stop making worlds to hear
the cry of one of His children."
2. Bartimaeus was determined.
C. Those who said be quiet now have to take him to Jesus.
IV. First thing he does is throw away his blind garment.
A. Why did he this? In Bible days a blind person would wear a garment that was a symbol of his blindness as today we see a white care and dark glasses.
1. He was coming Jesus.
2. He was putting his FAITH IN ACTION.
V. Jesus saw his faith.
A. How do you see faith?
1. You see it in action.
2. Jesus said….. What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?
a. Jesus knew what he needed.
b. He was waiting for the request… Lord, that I might receive my sight.
VI. Jesus seeing his faith, a man who has already thrown away his symbol of blindness says….
Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.
VII. What happens then, two things?
And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way
A. He received his sight both physical and spiritual.
B. He then follows Jesus everywhere.
C. To receive the blessings of the Lord we must be willing to receive the one who gives us the blessing.
1. There are many that want the blessings but do not want to follow the Lord.
2. Let us open our hearts to Him today. Let us call on Him for our salvation.
- Romans 10:13 (KJV) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
God bless you and yours!
