1. I like the story of a receptionist at a busy dental office who said that they had a patient who was always late for his dental work. She called him to confirm an appointment and he said, “I’m very busy so I’ll probably be about 15 minutes late. That won’t be a problem, will it?” She responded, “It will not be a problem at all, we just won’t be able to give you an anesthetic.” She said that he arrived early for his appointment.
2. We get very busy in our lives and we sometimes miss the important things.
3. I wonder if we don’t transfer that busy-ness onto God and assume that He is too busy for us.
4. Mark 10.46-52
5. Jesus is on the move to Jerusalem for THE Passover. He is in a hurry to get there and make sure all the preparations are in order, yet he stops to take care of Bartimaeus. He wasn’t too busy!
I. The Desperate Sufferer
A. His Pitiful Condition
1. Blind and poor (beggar)
a. A rich blind man could have had paid help
b. A poor blind man resorted to begging
2. He may have been poor in monetary terms, but he was rich in faith. How?
a. He heard the stories of Jesus
b. He went in faith to the Healer
B. His Powerful Call – a Call of Desperation (47b-48)
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
1. In his desperation he addresses Jesus by NAME, not the traditional titles of Rabbi; Teacher; etc. He adds “Son of David” – a Messianic title.
2. A Call of Desperation gets the attention of God.
Jeremiah 33.3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Exodus 2:23-25 23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
Psalm 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
3. A Desperate Call Develops into a Fervent Prayer – James 5.16
The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
a. People tried to stop Bartimaeus
b. He kept on – Matthew 7.7; Luke 18; Jacob wrestled with God
c. Has anyone ever interfered with your prayers and tried to stop you?
d. God WILL do His will – be persistent in your prayers
4. The Desperate Call Determines a Passionate Commitment – When Jesus healed him he followed Him.
II. The Devoted Savior
A. This is an Example of “Mutual Identification.”
1. Bartimaeus Called out to Jesus (He is worthy)
2. Jesus called out to Bartimaeus (We are needy)
B. Jesus Deals in Specifics Luke10.51 “What do you want me to do for you?”
1. Jesus dealt with a specific person
2. We can pray in broad generalities
3. Be specific in our prayers
4. Jesus dealt with Bartimaeus’ specific request: “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” (v. 51)
1. This story is for the blind that need the light of the world and the Hungry beggars who need the Bread of Life.
a. Some versions, “I want to see.” ESV – “Recover my sight.”
b. The word Mark uses is anablepo and it means to see or see again.
c. Sometimes Christians start their walk with Jesus in an excited way but over time they cool off and lose “that loving feeling” towards God. (Laodiceans in Revelation 3.15-16).
• Hardened hearts
• Eyes with spiritual cataracts
• No sensitivity; joy; excitement
• Only the dull, boring routine of going through the motions
2. This story is also for those who have once seen and have been blinded again (v. 51 – recover my sight)
3. Good News: We can see and see again; we can eat and eat again!
4. Revelation 3.18-22
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
