#45 A Blind Man
Series: Mark
Chuck Sligh
July 18, 2021
NOTE: A PowerPoint presentation are available for this sermon by request at chuckcsligh@gmail.com. Please mention the title of the sermon and the Bible text to help me find the sermon in my archives.
Much of the conclusion for this sermon is adapted from David Dykes’ sermon on this text on SermonCentral.com. Many thanks for his excellent observations.
TEXT: Please turn in your Bibles to Mark 10:46.
INTRODUCTION
Illus. – You get used to sleeping in your own home, but when you go somewhere else, sometimes you can get yourself in a bit of a pickle. When we were raising support to go to the mission field, I went on a trip with two other missionary men and some nights we shared the same room in little mission apartments in churches.
Staying in a different room every night kept us off-kilter, or at least it did for me. Early in our experience, I jumped out of bed in a mission apartment we were staying in to use the restroom, which was not in our room, but down the hallway of a basement of classrooms. Forgetting I wasn’t home, I walked where our bathroom door was at home in the pitch-black and walked right into a wall!
Remembering only then I wasn’t at home, I felt around for the door and found one, only to walk into a closet where I bumped my head on a shelf. Feeling my way around the room I almost fell over a chair until I finally found the door to the hallway.
The men’s restroom was somewhere halfway down the long hall, so I felt my way down the hallway until I found the restroom. But when I came out, disoriented, I exited to the right instead of to the left from which I had come. All along the way it was pitch black and I couldn’t find a light switch for the life of me. I just couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong. I just kept checking doors to rooms and they were all locked.
Finally, I gave up and shouted, “Hey, guys, where are you?” No answer.I got louder—Crickets, and then louder still until finally a door down the hall opens up and a light comes on from inside the room and one of them says, “Chuck, are you alright?” Only then did I realize I had gone the wrong way down the hall.
We all had a good chuckle and went back to bed. Then I had the good fortune to be used as an illustration in church the next day!
Here’s the thing: I knew I had a problem; I called out for help until I was heard; and I was rescued. That story illustrates the story in today’s text in Mark 10:46-52. Mark tells us about a blind man who knew his condition and cried out to Jesus repeatedly until he got His attention, and Jesus turned on the lights and healed him.
Let’s read about this blind man and see what God would have us learn from this story:
I. FIRST NOTICE WITH ME A BLIND MAN’S NEED IN VERSE 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.”
Jesus and his disciples are on the inevitable path to Jerusalem where suffering, torture, death and resurrection await Jesus, and where failure, disillusionment, renewed hope and restoration await the apostles. They cross the Jordan river (see the bottom line on the map) and arrive at Jericho. This is not the Old Testament city of Jericho where God made the walls fall down. By New Testament times, Herod the Great had built a new city, which was about 5 miles from the Old City and 18 miles northeast of Jerusalem. Though only 18 miles, the road to Jerusalem was uphill all the way from Jericho, with Jerusalem 3,400 feet higher in elevation (or about 1015 meters).
As usual, at Jericho word spread that Jesus was in town, so a large crowd assembled. By the roadside, probably at the edge of the city was a blind man named Bartimaeus. Let’s call him Bart because that’s easier to say!
Not only was Bart blind, but he was also a beggar, the only way most blind people could support themselves unless born into a wealthy family. So Blind Bart had a great need: He was destitute and without sight.
Mark rarely mentions names of characters in his gospel. The fact that Bart is named is thought to be due to the fact that he was probably still living and part of the church of Jerusalem when Mark wrote his gospel.
II. IN VERSES 47-48 WE SEE A BLIND MAN’S PLEA – “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.’”
Blind Bart’s day began like every other day. He woke up and with his walking stick to guide him, he cautiously made his way to the place he begged every day. He had a cloak with him which he used to collect the coins people dropped for him. Blind Bart heard the city come to life as people trekked to and fro, as donkey, oxen and camel hooves clopped by, as carts creaked by and as people talked and bartered and argued.
Then he began to notice a hubbub of people walking excitedly to the edge of the city. With the sensitive ears of the blind, he could sense that something was in the air. As someone passed by, he asked, “What’s going on?” and the person replied that “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
His heart jumped and He thought Jesus of Nazareth, the HEALER is passing by! Suddenly hope arose within him and he realized this was the chance of a lifetime. He might never have the opportunity to meet the miracle worker again! He must act quickly and decisively.
He shouts repeatedly, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd, hardened by all the beggars around town, told him to be quiet. But he refused to be silent, and he shouted even more loudly and doggedly. This was his only chance; he WOULD be heard!
Notice that he openly referred to Jesus as the “Son of David.” This was a title for the long-awaited Messiah. While many Jews refused to recognize Jesus as Messiah, and it was only vaguely understood by the disciples, this blind beggar believed and expressed it openly. What Blind Bart lacked in EYESIGHT he made up for in INSIGHT.
Illus. – Someone once asked blind and deaf Helen Keller, “Isn’t it terrible to be blind?” – She replied, “Better to be blind and see with your heart, than to have two good eyes and see nothing.”
III. NOTE THIRD, A BLIND MAN’S HOPE IN VERSES 49-50 – “And Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. And they called 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.”
Jesus is resolutely on a course to Jerusalem…BUT He has time for a blind beggar! Hearing his cries of despair, the Bible says Jesus “stood still.” He had an appointment in Jerusalem to carry out God’s appointed plan, but He stopped everything to minister to such unyielding faith. So He ordered that Bart be brought to Him. They called for him and said, “Bart, be of good comfort [or literally, “be courageous”]…get up, Jesus is calling for you.”
Instantly Bart casts aside his cloak he used to collect his coins. That was what he had used to survive in his old life. He was going to SEE and would never need that dirty old garment again. Then he rises up and quickly goes to Jesus. With the help of others, he’s led to Jesus—JESUS!…the healer, the miracle worker, the Messiah! HE can help me, he thought with the eyes of faith!
IV. LAST, WE SEE IN VERSES 51-52 A BLIND MAN’S HEALING – “And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What will thou that I should do to thee? The blind man said to him,’ ‘Lord, that I might receive my sight.’ 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.’ And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus in the way.”
Jesus asks Bart what he would like Him to do for him? Jesus didn’t ask this question because He didn’t know the answer. Jesus asked Bart this question so that he could state his need and express faith. He said, “Lord, that I might receive my sight.” And then, without so much as a touch, Jesus simply said his faith had made him well, and at the word of Jesus, Mark tells us that Bart received His sight.
Notice that at the end of verse 52, Mark adds that Seeing Bart followed Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. This is the perfect picture of discipleship. First, he receives his sight by faith, and then He follows Jesus down the road to suffering and sacrifice and death.
CONCLUSION
What can we learn from this story for our lives personally? Physical blindness in the Bible is often a metaphor for spiritual blindness. Jesus refers to the Pharisees as “the blind leading the blind” in Matthew 15:14. Paul refers to the lost as those who have their “…understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.”
The story of Blind Bart’s healing teaches us 4 truths about faith and spiritual blindness:
First, faith believes even when you cannot see.
Bart couldn’t see Jesus, but he had heard about Jesus, which led to his persistent outbursts, saying over and over again, “Son of David, have mercy on me!’” Somehow, somewhere, Bart had heard of Jesus, or else he wouldn’t have so excitedly and doggedly pleaded for Jesus to have mercy on him and to heal him. He must have heard how Jesus could heal the sick and restore sight to the blind, but that was all abstract to him until he heard that Jesus was in town.
Even though he couldn’t see Jesus, he instantly believed Jesus could heal him personally. In other words, he believed before he saw any proof. Many people say they cannot believe until they have proof. Sadly, I’ve discovered that even when I can prove through sound reasoning that God exists to someone, it rarely leads to conversion, at least not then. Ultimately, the problem of unbelief is not a matter of the head, but the heart. It’s one thing to be persuaded of the existence of God or Jesus or to be convinced the Bible is true; it’s quite another for someone to submit to the authority of God and Jesus and the Bible in his or her life.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:7 that “…we walk by faith and not by sight.”
And the writer of Hebrews says that, “Faith is the substance [or literally “assurance” or “certainty”] of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1).
If you can see something, it doesn’t require any faith; faith is the certainty of something or someone you cannot see.
The word “trust” best describes faith that results in salvation. [GO TO A CHAIR.] I can believe with my head that this chair will hold me up, but biblical faith would be if I trusted that it WILL hold me by ACTUALLY SITTING IN IT [SIT IN CHAIR.]. To trust in Jesus to be saved and forgiven from sin is to not only to believe in Jesus’ existence, but to trust that He’ll be true to His Word when he said, “Whoever believes in me will not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Second, faith refuses to let anything or anyone stand in the way of coming to Christ.
The crowd told Blind Bart to shut up, but he shouted all the more. When Bart first was crying out to Jesus, the crowd didn’t say encouragingly, “You go Bart! Go to Jesus. Go ahead, cry out louder. Make your voice heard.” No, they reproached him and tried to shut him up.
If you’re here this morning and you have not cried out to Jesus to make you spiritually whole, be forewarned: Not everyone is going to support your decision.
In fact, some will try to hush you up, marginalize you, discourage you.
But don’t let that stop you! Do as Bart did: Resist them; refuse to be intimidated. The crowd tried to shut him up, but HE WOULD NOT BE SILENCED! Regardless of what your friends or your coworkers or your family or your neighbors might think, cry out to God, “Lord, have mercy on me.” God WILL have mercy on you if you realize your need and cry out to Him for mercy and grace.
Third, faith admits a need to be changed.
When Jesus asked Blind Bart what he wanted Him to do for him, he said, “Lord that I might receive my sight.” They say beggars can’t’ be choosers, but Jesus gave Bart a choice.
He asked Bart this question because he wanted him to admit his point of need and to confess that he believed Jesus could heal him. After Jesus had asked him what he wanted Him to do, Bart could have said, “Can you give me the name of a good eye doctor?” Or if he really didn’t believe Jesus could heal him, he could’ve said something generic like, “Bless me, Lord.”
But, no…He cried, “Lord, that I might SEE!” In that simple prayer, Bart expressed his need and demonstrated his belief in the power of Jesus. The best prayers are simple, short and specific.
At some time in their lives, people come to a point where they realize they need forgiveness and a relationship with God. They go through many years thinking they need this or that: Money, success, a good husband, a good wife, power, and these always come up short and empty because that is not their real need in life. Their real need is to know Jesus and to be forgiven of their sins. They need God in their lives to give their lives meaning and purpose. When you come to the point of recognizing your need and crying out to Jesus, there is plenty of grace for your sin-sick soul.
Finally, discipleship is a natural result of faith.
It’s true that faith is free and clear. But it’s also true that faith in Christ leads naturally to following Christ. Following Christ means to take up your cross and be willing to suffer for Jesus. – We examined that demand of the Gospel in a previous sermon.
Second, following Christ means to obey Him and His Word.
Jesus commands us in the Great Commission to make disciples in all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them all things that Jesus has commanded us. (Matthew 29:19-20)
We are to obey those commands. Obeying Christ’s commands does not save us, nor does it keep us saved, but obedience to Christ is the natural fruit of a saved life.
The idea of a believer who has not followed the Lord in believer’s baptism is an oxymoron in the scriptures. – You won’t find one instance of a person who is saved who was not immediately baptized.
The thinking that people do not need to assemble with God’s people to worship God, and hear His word, is nonsensical. – We have a clear command: Hebrews 10:24-25 – “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
To believe that you can simply live your life for yourself without obedience to Christ is a ridiculous concept. – Paul said, “If any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creation. Old things are passed away; all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:27)
Third, following Christ also means doing good works as Jesus did.
Many of you are aware that Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
But every scripture must be taken in its context. In the very next verse, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said this in verse 10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
God does not save us and make us new creatures in Christ in order for us to sit on our posteriors and soak up the blessings of God. He created us as a unique workmanship to do good works and He ordained that we should walk in good works.
Can I ask, What about you?...
Have you recognized your need for forgiveness of sins against the holy God of heaven, and confessed to God that you believe in Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary as your only way to be forgiven, and cried out to God for spiritual healing? My heart’s prayer for you today is that you do that. Cry out to Jesus to be saved!
Believer, are you on the road with Jesus in discipleship: taking the reproach of His name, carrying your cross even if it means suffering, obeying Christ’s commands, and doing good works for the Savior and His Kingdom? You were saved to obey and serve, whether the path is easy or hard, and it will be both at various times in your walk along the road with Jesus. Start living your life that way…starting today.
