Try to visualize that surging mass of people. Who, because of their long journey, were all hot and sweaty. The dust clung to them. They were weary, but Jesus was at the height of His popularity and the great crowd of people pressed close to Him. They were jabbering endlessly. Asking questions. Seeking favors. They could be heard a mile away. And Bartimaeus, who was sitting on the side of the road, in a ditch hears the noise of this passing crowd and raises the question, “What’s this noise all about?” And someone informs him that it is Jesus passing by. "You mean Jesus of Nazareth, the man they claim can heal the sick and the blind?" "That’s the One." And as the crowd came closer and closer, excitement filled the air. The noise became intense. Dignity was dismissed. "This is it," said Bartimaeus. "I may never see Jesus again. I want to be healed." So, seeking to drown out the noise of the crowd. Bartimaeus yelled at the top of his voice, "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!"
And the crowd said, “Brother, calm down. You’re making too much noise. There are so many others here you don’t stand a chance of getting to Jesus, so just relax and keep quiet!" Now I been to some churches that have their own self-appointed “keep ‘em quiet” committee. Folk who never say, “Amen.” Folk who don’t get involved in the worship. They won’t praise God and they don’t want you to praise God either. I mean when you begin to praise God, they’ll look at you out of the corner of their eye, they’ll draw all up, and if you don’t stop they’ll try to get up and move to another pew. But the word says that the more they tried to stop Bartimaeus, the louder he got! "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!" And as he cried, verse 49 says, “And Jesus stood still.” There are not three greater words in the Bible than all of that; JESUS. STOOD. STILL. This crowd was ready to keep on marching but Jesus stood still. The crowd tried to get Bartimaeus to be quiet. We don’t want to have to have Him stop. He’s on His way somewhere. But Jesus stood still. It’s not a president, not a preacher, not a potentate, it’s just a blind man sitting by the side of the road; who cries, “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” “And Jesus stood still.”
Do you know that the only reason we can really call on God is because of His mercy. Mercy is withheld judgment. Now, if judgment took place in this room this morning, it would be empty. Because not any of us really deserve to be here this morning. We are here this morning because of God’s mercy. We are here this morning because God has withheld His judgment. You nor I have not lived well enough today to warrant being here this morning; but we are here because of God’s mercy.
Sometimes as I am witnessing to people and ask them why they are not a member of the Church; they often tell me, Well Reverend I don’t go because the Church is filled with so many hypocrites. And whenever I hear that I realize that I am talking to someone who really doesn’t know what the church is all about. Because as members of the Church, we are not here today because of any self-righteousness on our part. But we are here because we have a consciousness of our sinner-hood. The saints of the Church are sinners who cried out for mercy! In other words, we are all sinners saved by grace; and we are here because of God’s mercy! And yet, there are still some folks who want to block your blessing.
But the book says, “Jesus stood still.” Not just anybody but Jesus. This fellow who is on an eternal errand from God, Jesus. This man who is on a cosmic timetable that’s leading Him to the Cross, Jesus. Lord of the Universe, Creator of Heaven and Earth, God in the flesh. Jesus. Stood. Still. And you know that’s just like Jesus. When you check His record out that’s a thread that runs all through the Bible; Jesus stood still. He’s on His way to Jarius house to see about a sick little girl but a woman elbows her way through the crowd and touches the hem of His garment and Jesus stood still. He is on His way up to the temple and He passes by a pool and He sees a lame man and Jesus stood still. Passes by the grave of Lazarus and He stood still long enough to call him from the tomb.
Now what shall we say to these things. What does the Lord want us to take from this Gospel message. The first thing is to BE PERSISTENT. Look at verse 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.” We must understand that the enemies of our souls; the enemies of God have a job and that is to distract you and disrupt you from your goal. You must understand that not everybody is looking for you to make it. Amen. Not everybody rejoices in the fact that you’re happy. But we used to sing a song that said, “Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me around. I’m gonna keep on a - walkin’ keep on a - talkin’ Marchin’ down to freedom’s land!” And in verse 49 we see that Jesus “commanded him to be called.“ But there is something else that happens; We notice that after failing to silence this poor man’s cry, these same folk, who were following Jesus, were commanded to call the beggar. In fact, they even encouraged him by saying, "Be of good comfort. Rise! He calleth thee." The very same folks who ignored you, and tried to keep you quiet but stand there and public watched you get blessed. The scripture says, "He prepares a table before me in the presence on my enemies."
The second thing we learn from this Gospel message is that we need to BE PRAYERFUL. PRAYER HAS THE POWER TO STOP GOD and center His attention on you, just you all by yourself. Understand that there is a world full of tactics and techniques on how to take the risk and succeed; there is a substrata of books and magazines and videos and training courses all marketed to motivate you to achieve. All intent on accentuating the positive and cleaning out the negative; to prime you and pump you, to motivate you that you might spring to the top. But I tell you can read all of the books and view all of the videos and subscribe to all of the magazines and take all the pills and potions you can; but if you cannot go down on your knees in prayer you can never climb up the ladder of success. But nothing works like prayer. Prayer goes to the source to the heart of power and releases it on your behalf. Oh I tell ya, good stuff happens when you pray. Solomon prayed and the Temple was built. David prayed and armies where defeated. Moses prayed and seas parted. Daniel prayed and the lions got lock-jaw. Esther prayed and the Hebrews were spared. Nehemiah prayed and the walls built. And Oh God have mercy, 120 got up in a prayer room one day and started praying altogether and oh, all of a sudden there was a sound of a mighty rushing wind and flames where leaping over their heads. Good stuff happens when you pray…when you pray. So why don’t you have a little talk with Jesus. Tell Him all about your troubles. He’ll hear your faintest cry and answer by and by. Ain’t I right about it!? So I raise a question to you this morning; How many needs are not being met in your life because you failed to call on the Lord? If you call on Him, my Bible says, “Jesus stood still.”
The final thing is that we need to do is PUT ASIDE OLD STUFF. Look at verses 49 and 50: “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.” For the first time in Bartimaeus’ life that somebody had ever called for him. All of his life he had been calling on other folk but for the first time in his life somebody was calling him and again, verse 50: “And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.” That garment was perhaps an old coat. And it was perhaps the only security he had ever known. It had kept the heat off by day and the chill off by night. And there really wasn’t anything wrong with him have that coat but the text gives the indication that that coat was getting in the way. That coat, some kinda way, was keeping him from getting to Jesus. And Bartimaeus realizes that, “I’m not going to let anything keep me from getting to Jesus.” So he cast away that old coat and he rose and came to Jesus.
What hinders you this morning? What keeps you from getting to where Jesus is? What is there in your life that you need to pull off? What is there in your life that you need to cast aside so that you can get to where Jesus is? And when he came to the Master, the Master says, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” Man, I heard you calling. I heard this crowd trying to get you to be quiet. And the more they tried, you got louder. Now what is it that you want from me? That sounds like a strange question to ask a blind man. But there are many folks who come to church Sunday after Sunday who really don‘t want to see. Because once your eyes have been opened you‘ve got to assume new responsibility. Once your eyes are opened you gotta get off the side of the road. Once your eyes are opened you‘ve got to get out into the procession of life. And the problem is we like the side line and we really don‘t wanna see. Do you really wanna see and “The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.” Lord, more than anything else I wanna see. Lord, I’ve never seen the glory of a morning sunrise; Lord, I wanna see. I’ve never seen the enchantment of an evening sunset; Lord, I wanna see. I’ve never look upon my mother’s face. I’ve never seen the beauty of a red rose. Lord, I wanna see.
And that ought to be the child of every child of God. Lord, I really wanna see. And I don’t just wanna see anything; I wanna see the Lord’s face. Have you ever wondered what was the first thing Bartimaeus saw? Was it the walls of Jericho? Was it the palm trees of Jericho waving in the distance? Was it the hills of Moab? Nah, nah. The first thing that Bartimaeus saw was the face of the Lord. And that ought to be the desire of every child of God. Lord, I really wanna see. “And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; [for] thy faith hath made thee whole.”
Thank you God, as the Lord was passing by, Bartimaeus cried unto the Lord. There might be someone here this morning and you’ve got a need in your life. You need to know this morning that Jesus is passing by and if you cry out this morning, if you call on the Lord, He will stand still. Have I got a witness. You need to call on the Lord, while you still have a chance. Old folks used to say it like this, “this may be the last time! I don’t know.”
This may be your last chance; you ought to call on the Lord.
This may be your last worship; you ought to call on the Lord.
This may be the last sermon you’ll ever hear.
This may be your last opportunity to turn your life around.
Call on the Lord! While you have a chance!
I am so glad. Over 20 years ago. One Sunday morning.
I heard the voice of Jesus. Saying. Come unto me and rest.
Lay Down. Thy weary one, lay down.
Thy head. Upon my breast. And I tell you what I did.
I came to Jesus. Just as I was. Weary. Worn. And sad.
And I found in Him. A resting place.
(singing)
And ever since that wonderful day.
My soul has been satisfied.
I want you to know this morning that I serve a risen Savior. He’s in the world today, whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy. I hear His voice of cheer.
And just the time I need Him He’s always near.
You know what…He walks with me and He talks with me. And every now and then He tells me that I am His own. And the joy…the joy we share, as we tarry there none other has ever known.
Won’t He walk with you?
Won’t He talk with you?
Put clapping in your hands.
Stomping in your feet.
Praises in your mouth.
Peace in your mind.
Love in your heart.
