WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:02.879 So good to see you for real today. 00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:07.120 Encouraging to be back with a few of you in the house of the Lord to worship together. 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:09.439 If you're still at home worshiping, that's great. 00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:14.480 We're trusting that you're also encouraged in Jesus Christ as we s as we worship and study God's word. 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:21.920 And we look forward to seeing you again as the uh government opens things up and as you feel comfortable and are ready to come back to church, but no pressure. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:26.079 Uh we are all celebrating the way that we feel comfortable at this point, and so we want to continue to do that. 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:30.000 And so we're going to continue our study this morning uh with Mark chapter 10. 00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:36.719 If you want to turn up in your Bibles there, Mark chapter 10, uh verses 45 to 52, just a little end section. 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:48.479 I know we're skipping some here, and it's not because it's content that is not any good, but I've already preached the message on uh really the greatness, and that's really what the next uh next passage is the quest of James and John to be first in heaven. 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:50.880 I've already preached the message on that, so you can go back and see that. 00:00:51.039 --> 00:01:01.679 And so we're gonna skip right on here to uh the last part of uh Mark chapter 10, and really we're wrapping up our whole mini-series that we've been doing since Easter on what it is to follow Jesus, following the leader. 00:01:01.840 --> 00:01:04.159 And really, it's an intense call to discipleship. 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:10.560 And Jesus has already shown us some in some in-depth realities of what it's gonna look like if we're truly gonna follow him. 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:18.400 We see in the call to discipleship, Jesus longs for our best, but he calls also for our all. 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:19.519 That's really discipleship. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:26.000 Jesus longing to give us our best, but also Jesus asking us for our all. 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:27.120 And it's really intense. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:28.640 The call to discipleship is intense. 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:34.159 We've studied topics so far like deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Jesus. 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:44.319 We've looked at things like sin and overcoming sin and even allowing Jesus to rearrange our thinking on marriage and money and teaching us how to walk by faith. 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:49.599 And if you're anything like me, as we go through Mark, we're like, man, this is an intense call, this discipleship thing. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:52.159 We so often put it in our little package from church, right? 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:53.840 Well, discipleship is this little study idea. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:56.159 No, it's a lifelong calling. 00:01:56.400 --> 00:02:02.879 And it can be a little intimidating, yet when we see Jesus, we long to follow him in any way he calls us. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:05.519 But it's not just a calling, it's not just an intense calling. 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:12.719 We've also seen in the last few months the reality that Jesus Christ has also given us immense blessings when we're his disciples. 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:16.240 Remember from a few weeks ago, we see the glory of God. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:18.080 And remember the Jesus on transfiguration. 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:20.080 We see the glory of God as we follow him. 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:26.159 We have the privilege and joy of serving him as we serve others and finding true greatness. 00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:28.479 We find fellowship in his family. 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:33.919 We find the greatest inheritance of all, eternity with Jesus Christ in glory. 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:37.039 So it's not just a like, I'll give, give, give, give, give. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:40.479 It's it's also, man, like I receive, receive, receive. 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:45.840 And I just want to end this kind of miniseries with reminding you that Jesus just isn't just a taskmaster. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:51.520 So you might already have this impression from this study that, man, just a taskmaster, and you have to do, do, do, do, do. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:52.080 That's not it. 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:55.599 Jesus isn't the coach with the whistle going, like, come on, give me more, give me more, give me more. 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:56.800 You can give me more. 00:02:57.039 --> 00:03:00.560 Yes, he does demand our everything, but Jesus also has another side to him. 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:04.560 It's he's like the grandfatherly qualities, I guess you can say. 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:07.520 He loves us immensely. 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:10.479 He always has the time of day for us. 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:14.159 He enjoys having us over, he defends us at all costs. 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:17.039 The grandfather, even against your parents, sometimes. 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:20.400 He's your biggest advocate that's always there for you. 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:22.240 This is equally Jesus. 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:27.680 Yes, he has demands for us, but he also gives to us tremendously. 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:43.840 In fact, if you look at the last part of Mark chapter 10, verse 45 here, uh 45, it says this for even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:46.400 Isn't that verse ever striking as odd? 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:52.080 For Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:55.360 And this is really the nature of Jesus. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:04:02.719 He gives and he gives and he gives and he welcomes us tenderly in as little children to what? 00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:08.080 To honestly, we're much more on the receiving end than the giving end when it comes to Jesus, isn't it true? 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:17.279 That's what we're gonna see in the text today, his care for us and the fact that he will always, always give us the time of day. 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:19.759 And so Jesus' tender care is what I've called this sermon. 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:22.399 Let's look at verse uh 46 here to the end. 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:25.439 Let me read this and then I'll comment on it uh briefly this morning. 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:29.519 Here's what it says Jesus heals blind Bartimius. 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:39.920 And they came to Jericho, and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and with a great crowd, Bartimius, a blind beggar, the son of Tim Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:46.160 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. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:52.319 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he cried out all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me. 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:55.040 And Jesus stopped and said, Call him. 00:04:55.199 --> 00:05:01.120 And they called the blind man, saying to him, Take heart, get up, he is calling you. 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:04.720 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:08.160 And Jesus said to him, What do you want me to do for you? 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:13.600 And the blind man said to him, Rabbi, obvious, let me recover my sight. 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:15.519 And Jesus said to him, Go your way. 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:18.480 Your faith, this is this, your faith has made you well. 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:22.720 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:27.120 As always, let me stop and pray before we get into unpacking this text. 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:34.000 But I pray you've already seen the fact that Jesus wants to speak to us this morning about his tender, loving care for our lives. 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:35.279 Let me pray. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:41.120 Heavenly Father, you have been so faithful to us over the past 14 weeks. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:47.759 All that's going on in our world, it seems like it's upside down and things are chaos, but God, you stand firm. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:52.639 You are upside right, and everything is calm in your world. 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:57.360 Thank you, God, that you're sovereign, God, that you are in control. 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:02.160 And thank you, God, that you've you've uh you're doing such deep work in our lives through this season. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:03.920 And God, we just ask for more this morning. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:06.560 Thank you for the privilege of gathering with just a few today. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:11.600 It's it's such a joy to see faces and even from a distance talk and have conversations. 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:15.199 Thank you for the little glimpse of the family of God we're seeing today. 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:21.759 And God, we pray that you would continue to move and continue to act and continue to work in all of our lives and in the world around us, God. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:25.040 Continue to work out your perfect will. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:30.399 We love you, God, and we pray that you'd speak powerfully to us this morning in Jesus' name. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:31.279 Amen. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:34.639 All right, number one in your notes, you can put this down. 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:37.759 Uh, Jesus will always give me the time of day. 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:39.759 Jesus will always give me the time of day. 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:42.399 Let me just help you understand what's going on in this text. 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:44.319 Most likely, this is an eyewitness account. 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:46.480 You know, sometimes we get detaxed, we're like, is that really true? 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:49.600 Or is that one of those fables that was passed on from generation to generation? 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:58.480 This is an eyewitness account, as obvious by the vividness and the precision of the story, including even the names that are used within the story. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:00.639 Most healing accounts don't give a name. 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:03.759 It's just somebody saying, and this person was healed, or that person was healed. 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:07.920 This is very clear, the person that was healed is Bar uh Bar Bartimius. 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:13.439 And so it's clearly somebody who ended up being uh in the Christian community. 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:16.079 And so what's happening here is Jesus again is in Jericho. 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:16.720 We see it in the text. 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:17.439 He was in Jericho. 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:18.240 Where is Jericho? 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:23.360 It's about five miles west of the Jordan and about 18 miles northeast of Jerusalem. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:26.560 So it's a little town about 18 miles from the city. 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:27.519 And so Jesus is there. 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:29.120 And what's he doing in Jericho? 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:30.720 Probably what he was doing in every town he went to. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:31.279 What was he doing? 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:35.600 He was preaching and he was healing and he was ministering and teaching his disciples. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:37.920 And so as he's leaving the town, notice he's leaving now. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:39.759 It doesn't tell us what he did there, but he's leaving. 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:45.600 Maybe he stopped overnight, but he's got everything packed up again, his disciples ready to go. 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:50.160 And as he's leaving the city with a great crowd, no, what's with the great crowd? 00:07:50.319 --> 00:08:01.519 Well, it's either because he was teaching a lot and they're enthralled with him as many times it happened, or it's now the crowd heading to Jerusalem for the religious festival festivals, and Jesus is leading the crowd. 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:06.319 Remember, the next the next text actually goes into the triumphal entry in Jerusalem. 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:09.600 So they're they're leading this now pilgrimage to the main city. 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:17.360 And as they're going there, they come across a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, who's just sitting along the roadside. 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:19.120 So we already see the compare and contrast. 00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:29.040 Big crowd, all the hype, people are like flocking to Jesus, this little lonely guy sitting there, the outcast of society, and and nobody probably paid any attention to him. 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:42.960 And probably, in fact, he was sitting there because that's a great place to sit when the pilgrims are going to the religious hub because they're a little pious right now, they're full of joy, and they're most likely to drop some alms in his lap, and there's some giving, like, hey, now's a great time to beg for money, right? 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:44.480 And so strategic. 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:47.519 But mostly people just walked by those people. 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:50.000 And yet, notice Jesus' response here. 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:51.039 Think of this again. 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:55.600 Whenever you're packed up for a journey, you know how long it takes to pack up your car to go on vacation, right? 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:58.159 All the guys are like, absolutely, the laser's not a problem. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:08:59.279 I just make the list and the guy does it. 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:01.120 But the us guys, we know it's a chore. 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:09.840 And when you're all packed up and you got your GPS on or your ways on and families loaded in, what's the last thing you want at this point? 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:13.200 The phone to ring and someone to ask you anything, right? 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:15.919 You're just happy to be in the car and everyone's buckling it now. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:16.960 Here we go. 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:19.679 And yet, this is what's happening here. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:20.480 They're on their way. 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:23.360 Jesus has bigger things that are coming down. 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:24.879 He knows why he's going to Jerusalem. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:26.159 Why is he going to Jerusalem? 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:31.120 Because that is where he is eventually going to die and be the savior of the world. 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:34.320 Like he is not, again, wandering through the wilderness now. 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:36.000 He is on mission. 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:44.879 And yet, in the midst of this mission, this little man named Bartimius, all that is means is the son of Timaeus. 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:47.360 Bar is the prefect, son of Timaeus. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:50.320 Also became known in the later church. 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:53.279 He hears of Jesus. 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:56.000 Can't see him, so he hears of Jesus. 00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:57.039 Well, how do you hear of Jesus? 00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:04.080 Probably because the hype was not about the religious festivities, it was about Jesus Christ being in Jericho and now going to Jerusalem with them. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:07.519 Jesus didn't walk around going, It's Jesus, I'm coming. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:10.639 Or the crowd, Jesus, Jesus. 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:13.440 Anyway, somehow he caught wind of it. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:15.279 And look what happens here. 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:24.960 The excitement in the air, disciples are probably talking him up, and he calls out to Jesus again, put yourself in the place of the blind beggar. 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:26.720 Big crowds, all these things going on. 00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:30.480 You probably would think that I'm the least of Jesus' thoughts right now. 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:32.320 I'm not going to bring him much fame. 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:33.519 There's all these people following him. 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:35.120 Like, what's he even going to have to do with me? 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:36.080 But look what it says here. 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:40.159 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, very seldom used in the New Testament. 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:43.440 This all simply means that there's only one good thing that ever came from Nazareth. 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:44.320 It was Jesus Christ. 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:46.159 So it's the Jesus. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:50.799 For you football fans, like the Ohio State University, like it's the only one. 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:55.600 But this is the Jesus, like it's the only one, because he is the only one. 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:56.559 So began to cry. 00:10:56.639 --> 00:10:57.279 And look what he says. 00:10:57.360 --> 00:11:01.759 He says, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:03.519 Notice what he calls him. 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:07.279 Doesn't call him teachers, even Peter did it some significant times, right? 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:09.919 Jesus, son of David. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:17.120 In other words, he's acknowledging that the Messiah was going to come from the lineage of the greatest king of Israel that ever lived, King David. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:25.120 But this was going to be the greatest king and not just come from his lineage, but fulfill all of the promises that they knew the Messiah was going to fulfill. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:30.720 So what he's doing here is saying, Jesus, I know, I know who you really are. 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:37.279 It's a messianic title that's stated twice in the text for impact. 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:40.639 Jesus, I know who you really are. 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:43.840 You're the Son of the Living God, the promised Messiah of Israel. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:49.679 And then what he says is so profound, it's simply this have mercy on me. 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:50.960 See it. 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:58.559 Have mercy on me for powerful words. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:01.919 What's he asking on here? 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:05.360 He's acknowledging that he is the greatest king that's ever come. 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:10.000 And oh king, you have all power, you have all dominion. 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:15.360 I don't deserve anything from you at all. 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:25.440 But just show me mercy, like in your compassion and your kindness, show me a little bit of mercy. 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:27.200 Here's what mercy is. 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:36.080 Mercy is simply, by the dictionary, is compassion and forgiveness shown towards someone to whom it's within one's power to punish or harm. 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:41.759 In other words, someone who has all their right and ability to punish and harm us to show mercy is like this, let me off scot-free. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:47.039 Please don't exact that punishment on me, that you're exercise your power over me. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:49.200 It's like when you're a kid and you're wrestling. 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:55.600 Remember when you're wrestling with when you're kids, and sometimes you're on the bottom of this, sometimes you're on the top of this, but you get somebody in a hole and they can't move, and you're loving it, right? 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:57.519 If you're on the top and on the bottom, you're hating it. 00:12:57.679 --> 00:12:59.679 And what do you say to the person on the bottom if you're on the top? 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:01.679 Like, say, Uncle, right? 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:02.799 I got you. 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:05.360 Or if you're in the bottom, you're like, what up, what up? 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:07.519 No, like say, Uncle, like, have mercy. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:08.960 Like, like, I'm in need. 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:11.039 You can give me reprieve. 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:12.559 That's what mercy is like. 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:14.159 God, give me reprieve. 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:23.039 And notice though, when he calls out, the many rebuked him, like angry at him, telling him to be silent. 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:26.320 Why would they be so angry at a blind beggar, telling them to be silent? 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:28.639 Why would they rebuke this poor man on the side of the road? 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:36.320 Probably because their hearts were hard to beggars, and they just saw them as the nobodies of the world, the cast off, and they're like, Like, don't you see Jesus has something big going on here? 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:38.320 Like, we're on our way somewhere important. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:41.200 Like, what what time is he gonna have for you? 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:43.679 They rebuked him. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:52.320 Interesting that oftentimes when Jesus healed somebody, it was after they were healed, he'd say, No, go no tell anyone. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:54.480 This time before they're healed, or even told to be silent. 00:13:54.559 --> 00:14:00.480 But I I love the the urgency and the gumption of the blind man Bartimius. 00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:01.279 Look what happens. 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:02.639 You know, if it was me, you know what I'd be doing? 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:03.840 I'd be probably crawling up in shame. 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:04.559 You're right, I got nothing. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:06.399 Like, yeah, you know, I'm just a lowly beggar. 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:08.080 Like, you're right, I deserve nothing. 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:10.000 I just shut up and not be unseen. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:11.279 But look at look at Bartimius. 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:13.039 He knows it's Jesus' only hope. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:14.799 He knows Jesus' only hope. 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:17.200 So he gets louder instead of quieter. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:20.080 He gets louder instead of quieter. 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:26.240 And he calls out again, Son of David, have mercy on me, like the persistent widow. 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.639 Come on, Jesus, come on, you're my only hope. 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:30.799 If you don't see me, I'm gonna sit here for life. 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:32.559 Jesus now, Jesus now. 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:40.159 And then I think the most profound words of this text are the next few words, the next three words. 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:45.679 Uh look at them, verse 49, and Jesus stopped. 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:50.159 I think those are the most profound words of this whole text. 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:57.279 I know we've heard a lot of uh uh healing stories already in Mark and a lot of Jesus' great miracles, but think of this. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:00.080 And Jesus stopped. 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:08.000 This person on the side of the road that we would probably pass by. 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:14.879 Think of going to church at Sir Winston when we went there, and the people in the corners, we drive right by with a blink and a having a blink, and challenging before. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:16.960 Like, think about who you're passing on the way. 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:22.799 There's this guy that we'd probably pass by and we'd probably scoff at, and Jesus, even though people were rebuking him, the crowd's probably pushing him. 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:23.759 Jesus, what do you do? 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:24.960 He stopped. 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:29.360 What do you think would happen when Jesus stopped? 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:33.679 The disciples stopped. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:36.960 The crowd stopped. 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:47.039 The chatter of the disciples ceased, the crowd got quiet for Bartimius, probably his world stopped. 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:56.080 Everybody in the presence of greatness, you're like, oh, it's it's whoever the celebrity is that you've seen, and just like you're kind of like Bartimius, probably his heart stopped. 00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:59.519 He's acknowledging me. 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:08.240 Notice the patience and the compassion in the heart of Jesus in this text. 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:16.879 He's a true people person, he's not just the driving coach at the whistle, he's a true, he's a true people person with the heart of a grandfather. 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:22.720 He stopped and he acknowledged the presence of a simple little blind beggar. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:26.159 Let me just stop here and let this story sink in at this point. 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:31.360 I first got to this text to be honest, and I was like, oh my goodness, another healing story. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:32.559 Like, what am I gonna say about this? 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:34.559 Should I skip this one too and just go on to chapter 11? 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:41.600 And the more I studied it, the more I looked at it, the more I realized that, oh my goodness, this is what a sweet example of the gospel. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:51.840 Because aren't we all blind beggars on the side of the road, needing a miracle in our lives, salvation first and most, but every week seems like a new one we need. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:55.279 A calling out to Jesus, to oh, what do we long for in this life? 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:57.679 Jesus to stop and acknowledge us. 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:00.080 Isn't that true? 00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:03.279 I'm a blind beggar. 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:06.559 Not just for my salvation, every week I'm a blind beggar. 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:08.000 You are too. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.119 Don't pretend you have it all together. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.480 We're all blind beggars. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.279 Think of this. 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:19.119 As Jesus stops, this insignificant lowly man in society's eyes. 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:19.519 Guess what? 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.720 He also stopped. 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:25.599 Every time we call. 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.359 Does he care? 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:12.480 Does he love me? 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:21.920 Maybe you've been like the, I try and put myself sometimes in the, not the hero's shoes, because that's definitely not me, but in the in the secondary role person's shoes, which is Bartimius in this point. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.599 You ever think about this? 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:27.119 Sometimes we sit on the side of the road with Bartimius, and I wonder what he was thinking. 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:29.039 I'm pretty sure I'd be thinking stuff like this. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:30.799 Man, does life stink? 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:38.799 Man, it feels like I got the short end of the stick in this whole thing called life. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:42.000 Life's not fair. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:45.039 Does anyone care? 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:46.720 Does anyone notice me? 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:50.400 It sounds like a pity party, but let's be honest, we all have those one now and again. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:54.240 How did life turn out like this? 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:58.400 When I find myself sitting on the side of the road thinking those questions, here's what the enemy wants to do. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.880 He wants to put these thoughts into our minds and hearts. 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:08.400 And I'm speaking from my own heart, even in recent days, but he says this to us You don't matter. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:13.759 You're one in an eight billion people. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.880 Jesus has so much going on. 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:20.160 Well, even take time to bother with me. 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:22.480 I'm sure Bartimius wondered that, but he didn't care. 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:24.559 He started screaming out, anyways. 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:27.359 Do I really matter to Jesus? 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:30.240 The enemy will tell you no, but Jesus is telling us something different here. 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:33.839 Here's the other thing that the enemy tells me when I'm in those dark, lonely places. 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:35.839 Man, my problems are just too small for Jesus. 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:37.279 There's bigger people with bigger issues. 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:39.680 Surely he's not gonna stop, want to stop and listen to mine. 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:42.480 So I'm just gonna keep it to myself and I'm gonna fight through. 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:47.759 Well, the enemy tells me this, he's got more important things to do. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:50.720 Like the people are probably trying to tell Bartimius right in this text. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:53.119 Like Jesus going to Jerusalem, there's significant things. 00:19:53.279 --> 00:20:00.160 You, he's you know, we think he's got wars to cease, he's got racial tensions to solve, he's got famines to look after. 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:01.680 Really does he care about me? 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:11.039 But yet, this look at this, as Jesus responds to Bartimius, so he responds to us every time we find ourselves sitting at the side of the road feeling isolated and lonely. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:13.359 Felt a lot of that the last few months, haven't we? 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:19.680 Just the act of stopping. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:30.400 He hasn't said anything yet, Jesus, but just the act of stopping shows us this that we are valued immensely in the eyes of God. 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:32.799 Every human life valued immensely in the eyes of God. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:37.839 Jesus always has time for me. 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:40.000 I might not have time for him. 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:44.480 I might think he's too busy, but he always has time for me. 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:51.440 My issues are significant to him, no matter how insignificant everyone else makes us feel. 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:54.640 And he cares tremendously for my life. 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:56.160 Somebody need to hear that right now. 00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:00.000 Just stop and look at the screen and think about these things. 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:01.440 We're valued immensely. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:05.119 I don't feel you're valued immensely. 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:10.319 He always has time for me, even when he's ready to pack up and head and out. 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:11.039 That phone rings. 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:13.039 He's gonna stop and give you the time of day. 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:19.359 My issues are significant to him, and he cares tremendously about my life. 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:21.680 You know what this passage makes me think of? 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:23.200 It makes me think of Luke 15. 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:25.680 Luke 15 is the passage of everyone's lost, right? 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:28.559 The lost coin, the lost sheep, the lost son. 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:30.720 And what does that tell us about Jesus Christ? 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:35.119 The lost coin as the lady looked, turned her place upside down, looking for the lost coin. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:40.799 So Jesus will seek out the isolated and lonely and lost of this world. 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:41.759 The lost sheep. 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:44.160 He leaves the 99 behind to find the one. 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:48.160 And then the prodigal son who comes back, he drops everything to welcome the son home. 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:48.799 Guess what? 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:59.519 We are the one that Jesus ultimately left heaven to come to earth to die for, and he continually, continually holds us with immense value. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:03.920 And he gives us his time, and we're significant to him, and he cares tremendously about us. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.039 Isn't that amazing? 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:08.480 Pandemic going on. 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:16.319 Riots happening, Jesus still cares about you and I. 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.960 Awesome. 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:24.559 Here's what also teaches us: Jesus responds to everybody's cries for mercy. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:30.960 Shows that even nobody's or somebody's in Jesus' eyes, but Jesus responds to everybody's cries for mercy. 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:32.880 I'm sure you've been in this place too, like I have. 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:34.880 I'm praying and I'm praying and I'm praying. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:37.680 And it doesn't seem like Jesus is answering and I'm praying some more. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:39.039 It doesn't seem like Jesus is answering. 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:45.680 And yet we understand from this text that Jesus hears and he understands every plea for mercy. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:49.839 Ever been in that season before where you just don't sense the presence of the Lord? 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:53.759 You can't hear his voice, and you think, man, this is just my lot in life. 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:56.960 I'm gonna stop praying because he's not gonna bother with me anyway. 00:22:57.920 --> 00:23:00.799 I'm sure the temptation of Artimius was that. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:07.039 And then he rebuking you, you stink, you lose, you're always just gonna be a blind beggar. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:16.000 I love how this text reminds us when we get to those spots, there's one name and one name only that changes everything for us. 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:17.839 It's the name of Jesus. 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:33.680 It's the name of Jesus that sparked on Bartimius to have this, I believe, this hope and this this promise and this this life that he knew he could have, but only one person could give him. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:34.880 It was Jesus Christ. 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:37.200 And I love the urgency of his prayer. 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:41.599 When you need mercy, let me ask you this: who do you call to and how do you call to him? 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:44.799 Because look at the urgency of the prayer for mercy. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:47.039 I believe Jesus loves these prayers. 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:49.440 We're so passive in our Christian circles today. 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.319 We're so passive. 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:56.799 We we pray the supper prayers, and I keep telling my youngest, especially, Nick, don't say the same thing every supper. 00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:58.880 Please. 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:02.000 Think about it, change it up. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:07.519 Communicate with God, have some urgency to it. 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:11.119 As I thought about rebuking my son even last night for that. 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:17.359 I think about how many times I come to Jesus and my prayers don't show any level of urgency as Bartimius. 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:19.279 Maybe I don't think I need him as much as I really do. 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:22.079 Maybe I don't think he's gonna hear, but but here's the here's the point. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:29.440 Jesus loves it when we urgently call to him, and he hears in response to us when we have that heart of truly pursuing Jesus. 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:40.880 Read this tweet this week from someone totally insignificant, so it wouldn't make a difference if I told you who it was, but it says this. 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:45.119 When prayer is all that you can do, it's not the least that you can do, it's the most. 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:51.359 When prayer is all that you can do, it's not the least that you can do, it's the most. 00:24:51.839 --> 00:25:01.759 I think of the persistent widow in uh in Luke, the persistent widow who who goes and goes and goes and goes and goes, and finally the unrighteous judge relents. 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:08.799 How much more will the righteous, loving God of the universe hear our prayers when we his children go and go and go and go? 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:10.400 You know what our persistent prayers show him? 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:14.960 That we really know we need him desperately, and we have no other hope apart from him. 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:23.759 The scriptures tell us over and over again, you need mercy, you'll find it in Jesus Christ. 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.839 We all need mercy. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:33.599 Here's what it says in Psalm 28, verse 6 and 7 Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard the heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:38.000 The Lord is my strength and my shield in whom my heart trusts, and I am helped. 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:41.279 My heart exalts, and with my song I give thanks to him. 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:43.920 Here's another one, Psalm 116, verses 1 and 2. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:52.160 In fact, I had just finished typing this out in my sermon notes, and somebody, a friend of mine, texted me this very text about something else. 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.920 And I was like, unbelievable. 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:55.519 How is that not God? 00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.319 It's not coincidence. 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:58.640 God, this is what it says in Psalm 116, verses 1 and 2. 00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:02.400 I needed this for my heart this week, and I'm sure you might even need this for your heart today. 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.680 It says, I love the Lord. 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.079 Why? 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:08.000 Because he heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. 00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:15.599 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call upon his name as long as I live. 00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:19.599 Let me ask you this, brothers and sisters, do you need the mercy of the Lord today? 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:21.359 What do you need the not do you need you? 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:24.319 What do you need the mercy of the Lord in today? 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:30.240 That maybe you refuse to call out to him, or maybe you're unsure if he's gonna answer. 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:34.319 Thinking he won't stop and respond. 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.839 Is it just simply strength for today? 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:37.039 Is it a change of heart? 00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:38.720 Is it change in perspective? 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:43.440 Or you find yourself lonely along the road of life, unable to see what's ahead? 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:50.559 Are you facing battles today that you simply cannot possibly face on your own? 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:52.880 Does life have you stuck? 00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:57.759 As I'm sure Bartimius felt, life have you stuck, feeling there's nothing more? 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:03.680