How Blind Beggars Get Healed
Shall we stand for the reading of the Word . . .
Mark 10 (NKJV) . . .
46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
Shall we pray . . .
Introduction
In 2007, I found myself in downtown Alexandria, Louisiana in the middle of a Jena Six protest. As I sat near the courthouse, grabbing some wifi to post a video to Youtube . . . the rap artist and actor, Ice Cube, emerged from a limousine . . . right in front of me. I didn’t recognize him . . . although he was RIGHT in front of me.
I just heard the crowd – the HUGE crowd – begin to go nuts. They were shouting, “Cube” . . .
I asked the lady next to me, “What’s goin’ on? Who is that?” She said, “That’s Ice Cube”, as if I was completely stupid! But even though I didn’t recognize him, at least I could see!
The fella in our story – this beggar – was BLIND!
Jesus was on his way out of Jericho . . . a large crowd was following him. It was noisy . . . tumultuous . . . chaotic . . . and this beggar HEARD the ruckus . . . but he couldn’t see. He was curious – no doubt – even inquisitive about its cause. Then he HEARD . . . at the center of all the noise . . . was Jesus.
In a sense . . . we are all like this blind beggar. We are all saddled with spiritual disabilities . . . we’re full of broken places!
But I believe It is the will of God . . . for the POWER of God . . . to HEAL those broken places! It is NOT the will of God for you to be “blinded and begging” the rest of your life!
But notice, however . . . and this is VIP . . . this is a game-changer . . . when it was all said and done, Jesus didn’t say to the healed blind beggar, “My POWER has made you well!” No! Jesus said, “Your FAITH has made you whole!”
Now we know it was Jesus’ power . . . but that blind beggar had faith that DREW FROM and RECEIVED the POWER of Jesus that healed his blindness – and took him off skid row for the rest of his life!
Let’s zoom in a little closer . . . I want you to see just how BROKEN this man really was . . . I want you to see how deep his wounds – his disadvantages – his disabilities went . . .
He was called “Bartimaeus”, but that was not his real name. “Bartimaeus” is made up of two words and means “Son of Timaeus. He was known as Timaeus’ son. In South Louisiana, we’d call him T-Timaeus or "Lil' Timaeus"! WE DON’T EVEN KNOW HIS NAME!
Here’s what nameless blind beggars do . . . here’s how blind beggars get healed . . . and it’s in the form of 3 DARES . . .
IT’S A TRIPLE-DOG-DARE . . .
1. They dare to CONSIDER . . .
This blind beggar had heard that the Messiah had come . . . God in flesh! And that Messiah had a name – Jesus. Wisps of these rumors had been circulating throughout all of Palestine. And then . . . he heard that Jesus was in the crowd . . . right in front of him.
The blind man in our story couldn’t VERIFY with his eyes that this really was Jesus. I mean . . . he had never seen Jesus. He had never seen any of Jesus’ miracles. He had never SEEN anyone healed by Jesus . . . he was blind!
He had to CONSIDER TESTIMONY OF OTHERS . . . that this really was Jesus . . . and that Jesus would do something for him.
Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
To “draw near to God” we have to BELIEVE THAT GOD EXISTS AND THAT HE REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK HIM . . . how do we do that? WE CONSIDER THE TESTIMONY OF OTHERS!
You hear the Word! You hear what others say about Jesus! That doesn’t seem like a lot to go on! He couldn’t see . . . there was no real empirical evidence!
But you’ll be surprised what can happen when YOU CONSIDER THE TESTIMONY OF OTHERS!
Now . . . let me ask you . . . do you think everyone that spoke to the blind beggar was a reliable source? Do you think everyone the blind beggar listened to was a theologian? Do you think they had the deep things of God figured out?
No. Let’s draw a parallel . . .
There are over 1 billion Christians – in the world and over 30,000 denominations. And everybody’s got something to say about Jesus.
And so much of what is said is FULL of theological and philosophical CONTRADICTIONS!
There is so much NOISE when it comes to Christianity . . .
There is so much CONFUSION when it comes to the Bible . . .
There is so much RACKET and RUCKUS around this man called Jesus . . .
WHO’S – WHO’S WRONG – WHAT IS “THE REAL CHURCH” . . . WHAT’S TRUE? WHAT’S FALSE?
But here’s what blind beggars who get healed do: THEY DARE TO CONSIDER THAT MAYBE . . . JUST MAYBE . . . IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MAYHEM THERE IS A MAN NAMED JESUS!
And SOMEHOW He’s God in flesh! And He can heal them! And He can set them free! And He can CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER!
That’s what blind beggars WHO GET HEALED do . . .
THEY CONSIDER!
Do you know how much easier it would’ve been for this guy to just stay put? He could have just sat on his tail and said, “There’s nothin’ to it!”
“I’ve been this way a LONG TIME . . . I’ll ALWAYS be this way . . . that’s just a bunch of smoke and mirrors!”
“That’s just a bunch of fanaticism!”
“They’re just a bunch of hypocrites and fakes!”
But had he done that . . . he never would have received his miracle! The POWER of God . . . that could make him whole . . . would have NEVER been ACCESSED by his faith . . . had he NOT DARED TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITIES!
I wonder who in this room today will DARE TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITIES. . . AND TAP INTO THE POWER OF GOD!
Maybe Jesus REALLY IS HERE!
Maybe some of these stories REALLY ARE TRUE!
Maybe if He did it for Wesley or Kevin or Tabitha or Donavon or Valerie . . . THEN HE REALLY WILL DO IT FOR YOU!
Maybe you REALLY DON’T HAVE TO HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER to call on His Name!
So . . . how do blind beggars get healed? First . . . they DARE to CONSIDER . . . maybe it IS true . . . maybe . . . just maybe . . . it IS real!
2. They dare to COMMIT . . .
We hear the Word preached . . . we hear the testimonies of what God has done in other people’s lives . . . and we CONSIDER . . . maybe it’s true . . . and then we COMMIT to seek Him . . . based on THESE considerations.
Now I KNOW the Holy Spirit moves on us . . . I know the Holy Spirit leads and guides us into all truth . . . but this is mainly done through the witness . . . through the testimony of others!
And once they consider . . . blind beggars commit to seek Him. . . they begin to CRY OUT TO JESUS!
Now . . . notice . . . it’s not a cry for Jesus to recognize the blind beggar’s strengths! Look at it . . . HE BEGAN TO CRY OUT, “JESUS THOU SON OF DAVID HAVE MERCY ON ME!”
THIS IS A CRY FOR THE MERCY OF GOD!
He wasn’t saying . . .
“Looky here Lord . . . I’ve got some good qualities!”
“I have a LOT TO OFFER!”
“You could really use a guy like me!”
“Here’s my resume!”
No . . . he was saying . . . “I’m MESSED UP! I NEED MERCY!”
The blind beggar was not leaning on his own merits – he was leaning on the mercy of God!
And he was all in! He was crying! He was shouting! He was TRYING TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE MESSIAH HE HAD HEARD ABOUT!
He was ALL IN! This isn’t a SAFE COMMITTAL . . . THIS IS A FULL COMMITTAL!
PRETTY MUCH ALL HE HAD WAS A NAME – AND A TITLE – AND STORIES ABOUT HIS MERCY – AND HE PUT IT ALL TOGETHER – "JESUS – SON OF DAVID – HAVE MERCY ON ME!"
He got personal! Have mercy ON ME! Oh . . . we need to get PERSONAL!
“IT’S ME . . . IT’S ME OH LORD STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER!”
“SAVIOR, SAVIOR, HEAR MY HUMBLE CRY. WHILE ON OTHERS THOU ART CALLING, DO NOT PASS ME BY”!
People tried to get him to shut up . . . and isn’t that the way people are?
They’ll say things like, “Don’t ask God for that!” “That’s so presumptuous!” “You’re being ARROGANT!” “Who do you think you are?”
I’ll tell you who I think I am . . . I AM A BLIND BEGGAR! I NEED HIS MERCY!
Listen . . . this was THE LAST TIME JESUS WOULD PASS THAT WAY . . .
JESUS HAD A LOT ON HIS MIND! HE WAS HEADED TO JERUSALEM FOR PASSOVER WHERE HE WOULD BE CRUCIFIED!
HE HAD A LOT ON HIS MIND . . . HE WAS PREOCCUPIED . . . BUT HE HEARD THE CRY FOR MERCY! AND HE STOPPED!
AREN’T YOU GLAD HE STOPPED FOR YOU?!
“Shut up! You’re so arrogant! You’re presumptuous! If He wants you to be healed, then He’ll heal you! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!”
People will try to SHUT YOU DOWN! But blind beggars are healed when they CRY OUT! YOU GOTTA CRY OUT!
How Blind Beggars Get Healed, Page 6,
NO! I’m CALLING on HIS MERCY! ON HIS GRACE! ON HIS GOODNESS! ON HIS KINDNESS!
He began seeking a one-on-one encounter with Jesus by SPEAKING with his voice . . . by crying out . . . he wanted his own personal “come-to-Jesus meeting”!
IF YOU’RE REAL . . . I WANT TO KNOW YOU!
I’m telling you . . . the devil would like you to think it’s not worth it! It’s not real! He’ll never listen to you . . . I’m telling you the devil is a liar!
He is a liar!
He has been lying to you!
He has been misleading you!
That’s why you’re still blind!
You haven’t had the ENCOUNTER THAT JESUS WANTS YOU TO HAVE!
“SUBMIT YOURSELF THEREFORE UNTO GOD RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU!”
GOD WANTS TO OPEN THE BLIND EYES TODAY!
How do blind beggars get healed? They dare to CONSIDER . . . maybe there is something to this Jesus stuff. They dare to COMMIT to seek Him . . . and . . .
And let me throw this out to you . . .
We didn’t even know this man’s name! I think it’s amazing that a NAMELESS, blind, beggar could call on THE NAME that is above every other name . . . and JESUS WOULD RESPOND!
Hey . . .
You don’t have to have A GOOD NAME to call on THE GREAT NAME!
You don’t have to have GOOD CREDIT for Him to hear your cry!
You don’t have to be MORALLY PERFECT speak that Name Jesus!
You don’t have to be SOME KIND OF BIBLE EXPERT to call on the Name of the Lord!
Joel said it – Peter and Paul quoted it: “WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED”!
Listen . . .
Some of you don’t come from the “right” families!
Maybe you come from a family of addicts and thieves and whores and gamblers . . .
But I’m telling you: WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED!
Some of you DO come from the “right” families – good families! But maybe YOU are the one who’s let the family down! Maybe you’re the black sheep of the family!
In our story, Timaeus means “honorable” or “revered”. Apparently this blind beggar’s daddy was a SOMEBODY . . . but he was nowhere to be found in our story!
Bartimaeus wasn’t on his daddy’s payroll . . . THERE WAS NO HONOR SURROUNDING THIS SON OF TIMAEUS!
His daddy was out of the picture! Ol’ NO-NAME-BLIND-BOY was OUT ON HIS OWN – BEGGING IN THE STREETS!
NOBODY KNEW HIS NAME! But the one with NO NAME called out to the one with a MATCHLESS, GLORIOUS NAME . . . AND HE HEALED HIM!
Hey . . . I KNOW A NAME!
I know a Name that is above every name! I know a HEALING NAME! I know a SAVING NAME! I know a Name that’s high and lifted up! I know a Name . . . and the BEARER OF THIS NAME condescended to GIVE it to YOU! It’s been GIVEN to you!
That’s what Peter said in Acts 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven GIVEN among men whereby we must be saved.”
I know a Name!
Funny . . . the very ones who were saying “SHUT UP” . . . when Jesus said, “I wanna see Him” . . . came to Bartimaeus and said . . . “Good news! He wants to see you!”
SO suckin’ up to Jesus!
Bartimaeus took that beggars cloak and threw it away! He knew . . . if I ever get to Jesus . . . I’ll never be the same!
I’m so glad I got to Jesus one day and I’ve never been the same!
And if you get to Jesus . . . you’ll never be the same!
3. They dare to COMMUNICATE . . .
When the blind beggar got his face-to-face . . . his own personal come-to-Jesus meeting . . . Jesus asked him, “What do you want?”
The blind beggar WAS NOT MODEST! “The fact that You’re talking to me is enough.”
No! He answered very specifically . . . and very boldly . . . “That I may receive my sight!
You’ve gotta dare . . . to go there . . . the blind beggar went straight to the heart of the matter!
He didn’t ACT LIKE he was OK with the blindness . . .
The wording is he had once seen and wanted to “regain” his sight. He wanted to see “again” . . .
He had lost something that he wanted back . . . he didn’t act like he was OK with not having it . . . he wanted it back!
“That I may receive my sight!”
“I want to see again!”
He didn’t say, “THOU KNOWEST ALL THINGS!”
What if He would have said that? Duh!
This guy GOT HIS HEALING . . . WE OUGHTA DO WHAT HE DID!
“Jesus – THOU SON OF DAVID – HAVE MERCY ON ME!”
Closing
Any blind beggars in the house? Begin to CONSIDER with me that what I’m telling you about Jesus JUST MIGHT BE TRUE!
Begin to COMMIT TO SEEK HIM . . . based on HIS MERCY!
Begin to COMMUNICATE YOUR DEEPEST NEEDS TO HIM!
He has the POWER to match His MERCY . . .
