"PEOPLE TO MEET AND LESSONS TO LEARN"
TEXT: LUKE CHAPTER 18
Today, we are going to be studying Luke chapter 18, and we are going to jump right into our text; because as the title for this message says, we have people to meet and lessons to learn.
PRAY
I. FIRST WE MEET A DEMANDING WIDOW WHO TEACHES US TO BE PERSISTENT IN OUR PRAYER...
LUKE 18:1-8
Before we can properly understand this parable we need to understand both the context (what was going on when Jesus gave this parable) and the culture background behind the parable.
First, let’s talk about the context. Jesus as recorded by Luke in the 17th chapter has just reminded his disciples, "THAT HE MUST SUFFER MANY THINGS AND BE REJECTED BY THIS GENERATION..."
And Jesus then told them, that a time would come when they would long to see Him, but they would not -- because he would no longer be with them physically... He told them That they would be left alone to carry on the work of the kingdom in a world that was like the days of Noah where they would find people both unprepared and unconcerned about the things of God and many times standing in direct opposition to it.
Things would not always go the way they wanted... there would be times of hardships, difficulties, persecutions, sorrow, pain and disappointments.
And Jesus knew, that whenever they faced those dark times/ whenever, they were asked to walk through the valley of the shadow of darkness that there would be a tendency on their part to give up -- to throw in the towel -- to believe their cause was hopeless, that God was not answering and that God did not care -- and they therefore would stop praying to the Father.
And in light of all this and what they were about to go through Jesus TOLD THEM THIS PARABLE "TO SHOW THEM THAT THEY SHOULD ALWAYS PRAY AND NOT GIVE UP.."
Now let’s briefly talk about the cultural background, because as we study this parable, we need to try to see it in it’s Eastern setting. The "courtroom," was not a fine building, but a tent that was moved from place to place as the judge covered his circuit. The judge not the law set the agenda; and he sat regularly in his tent surrounded by his assistance.
Anybody could watch the proceedings from the outside, but only those who were approved and accepted could have their cases tried. Usually this meant bribing one of the assistants, so that he would call the judge’s attention to his case.
Now the widow in our text, and any widow in this culture for that matter, had three things going against her. First, being a woman, she had little standing before the civil law. Second, being a widow she had no husband to stand with her in court. And third, she was poor and did not have enough money to pay a bribe to have her case heard, even if she had wanted to.
But this widow was very persistent -- we don’t know for how long she kept coming to this judge for justice, but the scripture says she kept coming..(energizer rabbit)
Perhaps, every day for months, even years she came pleading for justice... And at first the judge just turned her away... And each day when he rode his BMC (brown - massive -- camel) into work there she would be -- and she’d still be there when he went home at night... And finally, because she was wearing him down one day he bellowed, "EVEN THOUGH I DON’T FEAR GOD OR CARE ABOUT MEN, YET BECAUSE THIS WIDOW KEEPS BOTHERING ME, I WILL SEE SHE GETS JUSTICE, SO THAT SHE WON’T EVENTUALLY WEAR ME OUT WITH HER COMING.."
Again Jesus told this parable to encourage His people to pray.. But Jesus is not in this parable saying that we are like this woman, or that the judge is like God. In fact He is saying just the opposite. Jesus is making an argument from the lesser to the greater. IF A POOR WIDOW WOMEN GOT WHAT SHE DESERVED FROM A SELFISH JUDGE, HOW MUCH MORE WILL GOD’S CHILDREN RECEIVE WHAT IS RIGHT FROM A LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER...
LET’S CONSIDER THE CONTRASTS:
1. THE WOMAN WAS A STRANGER TO THE JUDGE, BUT WE ARE GOD’S CHILDREN.
2. THE WOMAN HAD NO ACCESS TO THE JUDGE, BUT GOD’S CHILDREN HAVE AN OPEN ACCESS TO HIM AND MAY COME INTO HIS PRESENCE AT ANY TIME..
3. THE WOMAN HAD NO FRIEND TO HELP HER GET HER CASE TO COURT (ALL SHE COULD DO WAS WALK AROUND THE TENT AND MAKE A NUISANCE OF HERSELF) BUT WHEN Christians PRAY, THEY HAVE IN HEAVEN AN ADVOCATE WHO SEATS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, JESUS CHRIST, WHO CONSTANTLY REPRESENTS US BEFORE THE FATHER.
4. THE WOMEN CAME TO A COURT OF LAW, BUT WE APPROACH THE THRONE OF GRACE... "LET US THEN APPROACH THE THRONE OF GRACE WITH CONFIDENCE, SO THAT WE MAY RECEIVE MERCY IN OUR TIME OF NEED..."
5. SHE PLEAD OUT OF HER POVERTY, BUT WE HAVE ALL OF GOD’S RICHES AVAILABLE TO US TO MEET OUR EVERY NEED "AND MY GOD WILL MET ALL YOUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS GLORIOUS RICHES IN CHRIST JESUS."
JESUS TOLD THIS PARABLE TO ENCOURAGE US TO PRAY -- TO ALWAYS PRAY AND TO NOT GIVE UP... BECAUSE WE ARE GOD’S CHILDREN AND HE IS OUR FATHER -- AND HE IS FATHER WHO WILL ALWAYS ANSWER OUR PRAYERS TO HIS GLORY AND FOR OUR GOOD....
THE LAST SENTENCE IN VERSE 8 IS VERY FAMILIAR TO ME -- BUT UNTIL THIS WEEK I NEVER UNDERSTOOD OR SAW IT’S CONNECTION WITH THIS PARABLE... "HOWEVER, WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES, WILL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH...?"
HERE IS WHAT JESUS IS SAYING --- WHEN I RETURN WILL I FIND MY PEOPLE PRAYING WITH THE PERSISTENCE OF THIS WIDOW... TRUSTING IN MY GOODNESS AND POWER EVEN WHEN TIMES AND CIRCUMSTANCES ARE TOUGH -- OR WILL I FIND PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN UP ON LIFE AND ON ME... PEOPLE WHO HAVE STOPPED BELIEVING AND TRUSTING IN ME, AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR FAILURE TO PRAY -- WILL I FIND PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONVINCED THEMSELVES THAT GOD EITHER DOES NOT HEAR, CARE OR IS NOT POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP...
IF THE SON OF MAN CAME TO EARTH TODAY WOULD HE FIND YOU PRAYING... OR QUITTING? FIGHTING OR FAINTING?
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I AM GOING TO KEEP ON KNOCKING/PRAYING/ASKING/SEEKING/BELIEVING... I KNOW THAT GOD LOVES ME AND WANTS THE BEST FOR ME.... AND I KNOW HE WANTS ME TO CAST ALL MY CARES ON HIM BECAUSE HE CARES FOR ME....
II. NEXT WE MEET A DELUDED PHARISEE AND A DELIVERED SINNER THAT TEACH US ABOUT JUSTIFICATION AND THE GRACE OF GOD.
LUKE 18:9-14
To understand this parable we must understand Jesus’ purpose in telling it. Luke tells us that he directed this parable to those who were self confident of their righteousness and looked down upon others. And apparently in the audience at that time, were some who thought just that way, so Jesus told this parable..
Two men went to the temple to pray... Well, really only one went to pray. You see, the Pharisee did not go there to pray to His Father -- rather he went to the temple to tell God how good he was -- and to let anyone who was within hearing distance marvel at his "works of righteous" -- he felt that he had arrived and was accepted by God because of what he had done... And he despised and looked down upon those who were not as good as he thought that he was. He approached the throne of grace saying to God -- "I don’t need your mercy or grace God, for I am righteous on my own..." This man stood before The throne of grace and left without it -- because he didn’t think that he needed it.
We as Christians have to be careful or else we may adopted the same attitude... You see, we can begin to think that we are more righteous and look down on others, because of our "righteous works" -- we pray more, read our bibles more, give more, serve more and sin less --
NOW THOUGH THOSE THINGS ARE GOOD (AND GOD EXPECTS US TO DO THEM) THEY DO NOT MAKE US RIGHTEOUS -- ONLY GOD CAN MAKE US RIGHTEOUS... NOTHING WE EVER WILL DO WILL ADD TO OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS... YOU SEE ALL OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS AS FILTHY RAGAS...
BUT SCRIPTURE SAYS IN 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21;
"GOD MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD..."
DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID!!!!!!
WE CAN’T EARN THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS -- NOTHING WE COULD DO COULD IMPROVE ON IT --- WE CAN ONLY RECEIVE IT -- it is a gift --
BUT WE BETTER BE GRATEFUL FOR IT....(ARE YOU? DOES YOUR LIFE SHOW IT?)
BROTHERS, OUR PRAYER TO GOD NEEDS TO LIKE THAT OF THE SINNER;
"LORD I AM A SINNER -- I AM NOT PERFECT -- I FALL SHORT FAR TOO OFTEN.... I SAY AND DO THINGS THAT HURT OTHERS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY HURT YOUR CHURCH. I MAY THINK I HAVE ARRIVED BUT YET
I FIND MYSELF STILL STRUGGLING WITH ENVY, PRIDE, LUST, BITTERNESS, WORLDLINESS, SELFISH AMBITION AND 1/2 HEARTED COMMITMENT.
LORD FORGIVE ME HAVE MERCY ON ME -- WITHOUT YOUR SON’S SACRIFICE I WOULD HAVE NO HOPE. LORD I ASK THAT YOUR SPIRIT STRENGTHEN ME, TO BE THE PERSON OF GOD YOU WANT ME TO BE... LORD, I PLACE MY LIFE IN YOUR HANDS -- MOLD ME INTO YOUR CHILD...MAY I EACH DAY BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS AMEN.."
"I TELL YOU THAT THIS MAN, RATHER THAN THE OTHER WENT HOME JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD... FOR EVERYONE WHO EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, AND HE, WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED..."
HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF -- HOW DO YOU APPROACH GOD -- LIKE THE PHARISEE OR LIKE THE SINNER.....
III. NEXT WE MET SOME DELIGHTFUL CHILDREN WHO TEACH US ABOUT ENTERING THE KINGDOM
LUKE 18:15-17
They were hanging on Jesus’ every word... The disciples were gripped by His teaching. And then suddenly an interruption, as parents began to bring their children to be blessed by the Great Teacher. The disciples could believe that this was happening so they rebuked the parents... Now, Luke choose not to tell us what they said but perhaps it went something like this;
"HOW DARE YOU Interrupt THE TEACHING OF JESUS, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? CAN’T SEE THAT HE IS DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT HERE-- HE DOESN’T HAVE THE TIME TO WASTE MESSING WITH THESE CHILDREN OF YOURS MOVE ON NOW...."
TO WHICH JESUS RESPONDED WITH THESE WORDS....WORDS WHICH WE WOULD DO WELL TO LISTEN TO;
"LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME, AND DO NOT HINDER THEM
FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD BELONGS TO SUCH AS THESE. I TELL YOU THE TRUTH ANYONE WHO WILL NOT RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIKE A CHILD WILL NEVER ENTER IT..."
I WANT TO DRAW 2 THINGS FROM THOSE WORDS OF JESUS -- FIRST HOW JESUS FEELS ABOUT CHILDREN AND SECOND, TALK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO RECEIVE THE KINGDOM LIKE A CHILD....
HOW IMPORTANT ARE CHILDREN TO JESUS?
"WHEN WE READ ABOUT THIS INCIDENT WE SHOULD BE REMINDED THAT JESUS WAS ANGRY ONLY TWO OR THREE TIMES IN ALL THE RECORDS OF HIS LIFE -- (MARK TELLS US THAT JESUS BECAME INDIGNANT OR ANGRY AT WHAT THE DISCIPLES DID). THIS ISSUE OF FORBIDDING THE CHILDREN TO COME TO HIM IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER TO JESUS!
IN LUKE 17:2 JESUS SAID, "IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR HIM TO BE THROWN INTO THE SEA WITH A MILLSTONE TIED AROUND HIS NECK THAN FOR HIM TO CAUSE ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES TO STUMBLE.."
IT IS CENTRAL, TO THE VERY LIFE OF THE CHURCH THAT THIS ISSUE BE NOTED AND UNDERSTOOD! CHILDREN, EVEN CHILD LIKE ADULTS, WILL WANT TO COME TO JESUS ALMOST THE MOMENT THEY ARE INTRODUCED TO HIM. GET A CHILD IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS, OR TELL A CHILD WHO JESUS IS, AND THAT CHILD WILL ALMOST ALWAYS GO STRAIGHT TO HIM. FOR THIS REASON, IT IS SIGNIFICANT TO NOTE THAT JESUS DID NOT SAY, "BRING THEM TO ME," BUT RATHER "LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME."
YOU SEE, IF A CHILD IS NOT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY DRAWN TO JESUS AFTER HE HAS HEARD OF HIM -- IT IS BECAUSE SOME ADULT HAS PIT A STUMBLING BLOCK IN THE CHILD’S WAY. HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF "LITTLE ONES" HAVE BEEN FORBIDDEN TO COME TO JESUS BECAUSE OF EITHER DELIBERATE OR UNCONSCIOUS ADULT BARRIERS?
ONE WAY THAT PARENTS CAN DO THIS IS BY TEACHING THEIR CHILDREN THAT CHURCH IS NOT IMPORTANT BY THEIR INFREQUENT ATTENDANCE (AS THEY FIND MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO LIKE THE BEACH AND DISNEY), AND BY THEIR LUKEWARM SERVICE.
AND ANOTHER WAY THIS HAPPENS IS FOR CHURCH MEMBERS TO SEE MINISTRY TO CHILDREN AS A DUTY AND A HASSLE -- A NECESSARY EVIL THAT THEY MUST TRUDGE THROUGH.
CHILDREN ARE THE VERY LIFE OF THE CHURCH ON EARTH. AND THE CHURCH DARE NOT BE SUPERFICIAL AND HASTY ABOUT SELECTING THOSE WHO WILL INTRODUCE CHILDREN TO JESUS, JUST TO FILL A SPOT ON THE TEACHING ROOSTER.. BECAUSE THERE IS NO MORE IMPORTANT MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH THEN IT’S MINISTRY TO CHILDREN.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT? I HOPE WE REALLY DO.... AND I PRAY THE DAYS OF BEGGING FOR NURSERY WORKERS AND CHILDREN WORSHIP LEADERS -- FEELING LIKE I AM ASKING PEOPLE TO GO ON A 100 DAY FAST -- WILL COME TO END... AND I PRAISE GOD FOR THOSE WILLING WORKERS WHO CONSISTENTLY MINISTER TO OUR CHILDREN OUT OF A LOVE FOR JESUS AND A LOVE FOR THE KIDS -- BUT WE NEED MORE!
HOW DO YOU THINK JESUS FEELS WHEN WE FORBID THE CHILDREN TO COME TO HIM... WHEN WE PUT MINISTRY TO THEM ON THE BACK BURNER, ALL BECAUSE WE LIKE THE DISCIPLES ARE SELFISH AND ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HEARING JESUS FOR OUR SELVES...
"I WANT TO BE IN WORSHIP MYSELF AND I DON’T REALLY CARE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE KIDS."
AND WE LIKE THE 12 WE REBUKE THE PARENTS, "CAN’T YOU DO SOMETHING WITH THOSE KIDS -- SOMEBODY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEM, I’M TRYING TO HEAR JESUS,"
AS I SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE ANYONE WITH KIND OF ATTITUDE MAY BE SITTING IN A CHURCH BUILDING, BUT THEY ARE FAR FROM WORSHIPPING THE LORD..
THE SECOND THING FOR US TO LEARN HERE, IS THAT ONLY THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE KINGDOM AS CHILDREN WILL EVER ENTER IT...
JESUS, IS NOT SAYING THAT ADULTS MUST REGRESS TO A CHILD LIKE LEVEL MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY. BUT WHAT JESUS IS SAYING HERE, IS THAT ADULTS MUST STRIP THEM SELF OF ALL THE FACADES OF ADULTHOOD AND RETURN TO THE UNCOMPLICATED SIMPLE FAITH OF A CHILD.
WHAT IS CHILD LIKE FAITH LIKE THEN: (AND REMEMBER AS I SAY THESE THAT THIS IS HOW CHILDREN ARE NATURALLY UNTIL ADULTS MESS THEM UP..)
CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS EAGER TO LEARN AND BE TAUGHT, THEY LIKE TO BE HELPERS, THEY RECEIVE PEERS WITHOUT BIAS TO RACE AND COLOR, THEY WILL GIVE IN AND BEND TO TRUTH, THEY ARE TRUSTING, EXCITED, JOYFUL, FUN LOVING, RECEPTIVE, OPEN, HONEST, THEY ARE FORGIVING AND THEY DELIGHT TO MAKE OTHERS PLEASED WITH THEM BY GIVING LOVE AND AFFECTION...
JESUS IN THIS PASSAGE IS WARNING THE DISCIPLES THAT THEY HAD THE WHOLE THING BACKWARDS.. INSTEAD OF EXPECTING AN ADULT LIKE EXPERIENCE IN A CHILD -- WE SHOULD BE STRIVING TO BRING ABOUT A CHILD LIKE EXPERIENCE IN AN ADULT. YOU SEE, THOSE WHO ARE SCORNFUL OR CONTEMPTUOUS OF THE SIMPLICITY OF A CHILD, HAVE MISSED THE VERY ESSENCE OF A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.
THE WIDOW TEACHES US TO KEEP ON PRAYING AND NOT GIVE UP
THE PHARISEE AND THE SINNER TEACHES US ABOUT GOD’S GRACE
AND THE CHILDREN TEACH HOW WE MUST BE TO ENTER THE KINGDOM (AND JESUS HERE ALSO WARNS US ABOUT PREVENTING CHILDREN FROM COMING TO HIM). JESUS, LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN/SACRIFICED HIS TIME AND LIFE FOR THEM -- AND SO SHOULD WE....
IV. NEXT WE MEET A RICH YOUNG RULER WHO CHALLENGES US TO ASK OURSELVES, "WHAT ONE THING DO I STILL LACK"
LUKE 18:18-30
From humans eyes this man when he came to Jesus -- appeared to be a great prospect for the Kingdom. He was: rich/young/a ruler -- And he was courteous (MARK TELLS US THAT HE RAN UP TO JESUS AND KNEELED BEFORE HIM) -- He had a deep interest in religion ("What must I do to inherit eternal life) -- He was enthusiastic in his pursuit of spiritual help -- AND He was unafraid of public opinion (seeking help from Jesus, who was already in disfavor with most Jewish rulers) -- he was also a moral man (He had kept the commandments of God more than most men) -- He had lived a life a purity -- He was honest in business -- He respected his parents -- He was no liar or slanderer -- He was successful in the world -- He was a man of influences and authority...
HE WAS EVERY PREACHERS DREAM PROSPECT. MOST PREACHER WOULD HAVE HAD HIM SIGN A COMMITMENT CARD RIGHT there ON THE SPOT. WHAT A GREAT ADDITION THIS GOOD LOOKING YOUNG CELEBRITY WOULD MAKE.
THIS YOUNG MAN FELT HE WAS RIGHT ON TARGET WITH GOD -- BUT JESUS HAS A WAY OF LOOKING INTO A MAN’S HEART, OF SEEING BEHIND THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE -- OF REMOVING THE LAYERS AND REVEALING THE TRUE MAN... JESUS KNEW THAT THERE WAS ONE THING THIS MAN STILL LACKED.... ONE ROAD BLOCK THAT WAS STILL PREVENTING HIM FROM COMING HUMBLY AND COMPLETELY TO GOD.
AND JESUS KNEW JUST HOW TO PEEL THOSE LAYERS AWAY...AND WHEN HE DID WE THAT YOU SEE, THE PROBLEM WAS HIS WEALTH -- THOUGH HE TALKED ABOUT FOLLOWING GOD -- JESUS KNEW THAT HIS WEALTH AND WORLDLY RICHES WERE REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO THE RULER... NOW IF JESUS SIMPLY SAID "KEEP THE 10TH COMMANDMENT THOU SHOULD NOT COVET.." THE YOUNG MAN MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE SAID, "TEACHER I ALREADY DO, I DO NOT DESIRE ANYONE ELSE PROPERTY, I AM COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH WHAT I HAVE AND WHERE I AM..."
BUT JESUS ALWAYS GOES DEEPER AND HE MOVED THE 10TH COMMANDMENT INTO IT’S TRUE SPIRITUAL MEANING DEMANDING THAT HE ABANDON ALL OF HIS RICHES AND GIVE THEM TO THE POOR... AND WITH THOSE WORDS JESUS STRIPPED AWAY THE HYPOCRISY OF THIS MAN AND LAID BARE BEFORE ALL EYES TO SEE THAT IN REALITY HIS CLAIMING TO KEEP GOD’S COMMANDS FROM HIS YOUTH WAS JUST HYPOCRISY AND HE HAD DECEIVED HIMSELF INTO THINKING HE HAD KEPT THEM --
YOU SEE, HE KEPT ONLY THE COMMANDMENTS THAT DID NOT DEMAND COMPLETE DENIAL OF SELF OR WHOLE HEARTED TRUST IN GOD...
THIS RICH YOUNG MAN LIKE MANY SINCE, WANTED TO FOLLOW JESUS BUT ON HIS OWN TERMS -- AND HE WENT AWAY SORROWFULLY BECAUSE HE LOVED THE RICHES OF THIS WORLD MORE THAN THE RICHES OF GOD... THERE WAS STILL ONE THING HE LACKED.
BECAUSE WEALTH MEANS POWER AND A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AND THIS MORE LIKE TO CREATE PRIDE AND SELF SUFFICIENCY THAN TO CREATE THE POVERTY OF SPIRIT NECESSARY TO ENTER THE KINGDOM...
THE 12 WERE LITERALLY "VIOLENTLY STRICKEN IN MIND" THEY WERE FLOORED BY WHAT JESUS JUST SAID... THEY WERE FLOORED FOR 2 REASONS:
FIRST, THEY DIDN’T UNDERSTAND HOW WEALTH A SIGN THEY WERE TAUGHT OF GOD’S BLESSING KEEP ONE FROM HEAVEN..
SECOND, THEY WERE BEING HONEST WITH JESUS, "JESUS IF FREEDOM FROM THE WISH TO RICH AND TO HOLD ON TO ONES HARD EARNED WEALTH IS THE ONLY ROUTE TO SALVATION -- THEN WHO CAN BE SAVED? THERE IS NOT MAN WHO AT ONE TIME OR OTHER HAS DAY DREAMED OF BEING RICH -- MOST WOULD NOT MIND BEING RICH IF THEY COULD. PERHAPS THE 12 WERE BEING HONEST BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT IF THEY COULD HAVE THE YOUNG RULERS WEALTH THEY WOULD HAVE GLADLY ACCEPTED IT.... THE 12 WERE SHOCKED BECAUSE THEY KNEW JESUS STATEMENT WAS NOT MADE TO ONLY THE YOUNG RULER...
TODAY, MANY STILL COME TO JESUS WITH GREAT POTENTIAL AND EXCITEMENT -- TELLING JESUS THEY WANT TO FOLLOW HIM.... BUT THOUGH THEIR OUTWARD APPEARANCE AND ACTS MAY BE QUITE IMPRESSIVE TO OTHERS.... JESUS IS NOT FOOLED BY THEIR CLAIMS -- HE STRIPS AWAY THEIR HYPOCRISY AND SAYS TO THEM, "YOU STILL LACK ONE THING..... THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS STILL MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU THAN I AM... AND YOU MUST BE WILLINGLY TO GIVE THAT UP FOR ME OR ELSE YOUR WORDS OF COMMITMENT MEAN NOTHING... YOU CAN NOT FOLLOW ME CARRYING THAT ALONG. YOU CAN NOT SERVE ME AND YOURSELF.
NOW, JESUS ALREADY KNOWS THE ONE THING WE MAY LACK....THE ONE THING THAT WE ARE NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP EVEN TO FOLLOW HIM.
AND PERHAPS HE IS, NO HE IS LOOKING OUT INTO OUR GATHERING TODAY AND HE SEES THE EXACT THING WE LACK... THE THING WE ARE NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP EVEN FOR JESUS.
FOR SOME, LIKE THE RICH YOUNG RULER IT IS THEIR LOVE FOR RICHES, THOUGH THEY DO NOT COVET THE RICHES OF OTHERS -- THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR WEALTH BEFORE GOD -- HE SEES/HE IS NOT FOOLED.
AND FOR SOME IT IS THEIR FAMILY
FOR OTHERS IT MAY BE GOING TO BARS AND DRINKING ALCOHOL
AND FOR OTHERS IT MAY BE AN OBSESSION WITH PORNOGRAPHY OR SEXUAL IMMORALITY...
FOR STILL OTHERS IT MAY BE PRIDE (I AM RIGHT -- I’M NEVER WRONG -- AND I WILL NEVER ADMIT THAT I’M WRONG OR SAY THAT I AM SORRY), FOR OTHERS IT IS: WORK, LOVE FOR SPORTS, UNFORGIVENESS, HATRED, JEALOUSY, FITS OF RAGE, LACK OF COMMITMENT....ETC
I COULD LIST MORE -- BUT I THINK YOU GET MY POINT -- IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT WE ARE NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP FOR CHRIST, FOR HIS CHURCH OR FOR THE KINGDOM -- THEN WE ARE JUST LIKE THE RICH YOUNG RULER AND WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO ADMIT IT, EVEN TO OURSELVES -- WE HAVE ALREADY WALKED AWAY FROM JESUS SORROWFULLY...
WE NEED TO BE PERSISTENT IN PRAYER
WE NEED TO BE DELIVERED BY GOD’S GRACE
WE NEED TO ENTER THE KINGDOM WITH A CHILD LIKE FAITH
WE NEED TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO ASK OURSELVES WHAT ONE THING
DO I STILL LACK... AND PUT JESUS BEFORE ALL THINGS
V. NEXT WE MET A DETERMINED BLIND MAN THAT TEACHES US HOW WE CAN SEE JESUS.
LUKE 18:35-43
IT STARTED OUT LIKE SO MANY OTHER DAYS. IT WAS DARK AND HE WAS ALONE... AND THOUGH HE COULD FEEL THE SUN’S WARMTH ON HIS FACE -- HE COULD NOT SEE IT’S GLOW. BUT IF HE HAD KNOWN THEN WHAT THIS DAY WOULD BRING, BLIND BARTIMAEUS WOULD HAVE WALKED WITH RENEWED VIGOR AS HE MADE HIS WAY TO HIS USUAL SPOT ON THE ROADSIDE.
BUT HE DID NOT, SO HE TRUDGED ALONG -- BEING PUSHED, SHOVED, AND MOCKED BY THE CROWD HE HAD TO FIGHT ALONG THE NARROW AND WINDING ROADS OF JERICHO. FINALLY HE MADE IT TO HIS SPOT -- HE SAT DOWN AND HE BEGAN TO BEG HELP FROM THOSE WALKING BY... AND HE RELAXED AS THE FAMILIAR CROWN NOISE HAD A KIND OF SOOTHING EFFECT TO HIM.
BUT SUDDENLY, BARTIMAEUS NOTICED A DIFFERENT SOUND COMING FROM THE CROWD.... HE COULD SENSE AND HERE WORDS, AND SHOUTS OF PRAISE AND JOY... THE ATMOSPHERE HAD TAKEN ON AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FEEL.
HE ASKED SOMEONE GOING BY "WHAT’S GOING ON... WHAT’S HAPPENING" -- AND SOMEONE SHOUTED BACK -- "JESUS OF NAZERTH IS PASSING BY.."
HIS HEART BEGAN RACING -- JESUS IS HERE -- HE HAS HEALED SO MANY -- HE IS THE MESSIAH, HE CAN HEAL ME -- JESUS IS HERE. AND A CLOUD OF HOPE, ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT ENVELOPED HIM.
AND HE SHOUTED OUT, "JESUS SON OF DAVID HAVE MERCY ON ME!"
AND THE CROWD GOING BY TOLD HIM TO BE QUITE -- SHUT UP YOU BLIND BEGGAR..."
BUT BARTIMAEUS WAS OBLIVIOUS TO THEIR WORDS AND BEGAN SHOUTING EVEN LOUDER -- "SON ON DAVID HAVE MERCY ON ME...SON OF DAVID HAVE MERCY ON ME..."
AND JESUS STOPPED WALKING -- AND HE HAD SOME MEN BRING BARTIMAEUS TO HIM... AND BARTIMAEUS FELT HIMSELF BEING CARRIED ALONG BY FOUR STRONG HANDS... AND THEN HE HEARD THAT VOICE, IT WAS STRONG BUT YET HE HAD NEVER HEARD A VOICE SO CLAM, SO COMPASSIONATE, SO CONFIDENT SO REASSURING. THE VOICE WAS JESUS’ AND HE ASKED BARTIMAEUS, "WHAT DO YOU WANT ME DO TO FOR YOU...?"
"I WANT TO SEE....."
AND JESUS PLACED HIS STRONG CALLOUSED HANDS ON BARTIMAEUS’ EYES, AND HE SAID, "RECEIVE YOUR SIGHT; YOUR FAITH HAS HEALED YOU" AND IMMEDIATELY HIS EYES WERE OPENED -- AND THE FIRST SIGHT HE SAW WAS THE FACE OF JESUS....CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT.
AND NO LONGER DID BARTIMAEUS SIT ON THE ROADSIDE BEGGING FROM THE PASSING CROWD... TODAY, HE JOINED THE CROWD -- AS HE FOLLOWED JESUS PRAISING GOD -- AND WHEN ALL THE PEOPLE SAW THEY PRAISED GOD TOO!!
BARTIMAEUS WAS AWARE OF HIS CONDITION HE CONFESSED JESUS AS LORD
HE WAS PERSISTENT IN HIS REQUEST AND HE RECEIVED HIS SIGHT
HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE BARTIMAEUS -- ALONE, IN THE DARK SITTING ON THE ROADSIDE BEGGING, AS HE PARADE OF LIFE PASSES YOU BY....
JESUS CHRIST IS PASSING BY TODAY -- CAN YOU HEAR THE EXCITEMENT OF THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING HIM -- CAN’T YOU FEEL HOW THAT ATMOSPHERE HAS A DIFFERENT FEEL THEN THE CROWDS OF THE WORLD -- THERE IS HOPE, LOVE, PEACE AND FORGIVENESS..
DO WANT TO SEE?
MOST TIMES WE DO NOT KNW THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE JESUS HEALED... BUT WE DO THIS TIME, MARK TELLS US IN HIS GOSPLE THAT HIS NAME WAS BARTIMAEUS....
BARTIMAEUS STARTED THIS DAY LIKE HE SO MANY OTHERS -- LOCKED AND TRAPOPED IN A DARK WORLD OF BLINDNESS... BUT BEFORE DAYS END HE WOULD SEE.... WHAT LEAD BARTIAEUS TO RECIVE HIS SIGHT THAT DAY, IS THERE A LSEESON IN THIS FOR US... THERE IS.
FIRST BARTIAEUS RECOGNIZED HIS CONDIOTN -- HE ADMITED HE WAS BLIND THAT HE HAD A NEED...
AND IF WE WANT TO EVER SEE JESSU WE MUST ADMIT BE WARE OF OUR CONDIOTN -- WE ARE SINNERS IN NEED OF A SAVIOR.... SIN, EVEN THE UNREPONATANT SIN OF A CHRISTIAN BLINDS THEM TO JESUS.... IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY SILLY FOR BARTIMAEUS TO HAVE MET JESUS ON THE ROAD THAT DAY AND SAID -- I AM NOT BLIND -- I HAVE NO PROBLEMS -- WHEN HE COULD HAVE HAD HIS SIGHT RETORED... LIKE THE SONG FROM THE 70’S SAYS THERE IS NONE SO BLIND AS HE WHO WILL NOT SEE.... WHAT A TRADEGY TO BE IN THE LORD’S PRESCEN AND NOT ADMIT ONES DEEPEST NEED... TO LEAVE HERE TODAY STILL BLIND AND LOST IN SIN.
BARTIMAEUS HAD HIS SIGHT RETORED BECASUE HE WAS ARWE OF HIS CONDIOTN -- HE CONFESSED JESSU AS LORD AND BECASUE HE WAS PERSISTENT IN HIS REQUEST....
WHEN HE CALLED OUT TO JESUS TO SEE, THE CROWD TOLD HIM TO BE QUITE -- BUT SCRIPTURE SAYS OL’ BARTIMAEUS SHOUTED ALL THE MORE... HE WAS NOT INTIMADATEWD BY THERE WORDS -- HE DIDN’T CARE WHAT THYE THOUGH -- HE WNATED TO SEE JESUS...
