Sermon Text: Mark 10:46-52
Outline
Our only hope is to cry out to Jesus (46-48)
Jesus responds to those who call upon him (49-52)
Sermon Notes
Our only hope is to cry out to Jesus (46-48)
Verse 46 provides the setting of the story. Jesus ministered in Jericho for an unspecified period of time. Jesus and his disciples are now about 18 miles from Jerusalem. As they left town, they encountered a blind beggar named Bartimaeus.
Bartimaeus woke up that morning just as he did every day. Perhaps he ate a bite of leftover food from the night before and then left his place of shelter to beg beside the road outside the city gate.
We are told four things about Bartimaeus in v. 46:
- His name – Bartimaeus. This is the only instance in Matthew, Mark, or Luke that the authors provide the name of a person being healed. Since Mark gives his name, it’s likely that he had become a committed disciple of Jesus (v. 52) and actively involved in the early church.
- He was a blind beggar.
- He was the son of Timaeus.
- He was sitting by the road.
In contrast to the disciples who were jockeying for position (Mark 10:35), Bartimaeus was a blind beggar on a dirt road. He was dirty, unkempt, and hungry. In a word, he was desperate.
By taking the time to serve this lowly man, Jesus was practicing what he had preached in vv. 42-45.
We see in v. 47 that Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by and he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
The crowd responds by rebuking him (v. 48). In their minds, Jesus was too important to have time for a lowly beggar. The text tells us how Bartimaeus responded to the rebukes – “he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’”
So, the first thing we see in this text is that our only hope is to cry out to Jesus (vv. 46-48).
Bartimaeus was desperate and he knew there was nothing he himself could do to change his life. There was nothing he could do for himself to cure his blindness. I think we can learn some things from Bartimaeus about crying out to Jesus:
First, Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus in faith. He didn’t just see Jesus as Jesus of Nazareth, but as Jesus, Son of David. Bartimaeus believed that Jesus was the Messiah. The OT pointed to the fact that the Messiah would be a descendant of David.
2 Sam 7:12-16
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”
Solomon was immediate and partial fulfillment of this prophecy. Jesus would be the final fulfillment.
Notice that Jesus is no longer trying to hide his identity but is willing to be known as the Messiah as he gets ready to head to Jerusalem.
Second, Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus with humility. He didn’t make demands like James and John. Instead, Bartimaeus humbly asked Jesus to have mercy on him. This is how we should approach Jesus – humbly rather than making demands.
In your prayers, do you ever spend time praising God for who he is and thanking him for what he has done? Sometimes we treat God like our butler who is exists to meet our demands. That is, we only spend time with him when we need something from him.
Third, Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus despite opposition. Bartimaeus was not afraid of what others thought of Him. He was desperate because he knew Jesus was his only hope.
Too many people are afraid to live out their faith in front of others. The disciples and the crowd misunderstand Jesus’ love. They rebuked Bartimaeus and told him to be silent. Apparently, the disciples weren’t listening much when Jesus taught them that they should be servants (Mark 10:43-45). The crowd assumed that Jesus was too important or too busy to take the time to care for this blind beggar on the side of the road.
Have you ever thought that God was too busy for you? That He didn’t want to hear you? Jesus was on his way to an excruciating death, and he made time for blind Bartimaeus. Brothers and sisters, Jesus has time for you when you cry out to him.
Fourth, Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus with persistence. Bartimaeus was not dissuaded by the crowd. When the crowd rebuked him, the text says that he cried out all the more. In the midst of the hustle and bustle that can become our lives, we must learn to persistently cry out to Jesus (John 15:1-8).
Maybe you’re not physically blind, but you’re concerned or perhaps even desperate about something as you read this blog:
- A lost family member
- The state of our country
- Your church
- Your health
- Someone you love going through a hard time
- Your job situation
Let’s learn from Bartimaeus and cry out to Jesus in faith, with humility, despite opposition, and with persistence.
Jesus responds to those who call upon Him (49-52)
In v. 49, Jesus hears Bartimaeus and tells the disciples to “Call him.” They go and tell him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”
Bartimaeus had cried out to Jesus in faith. Bartimaeus had cried out to Jesus with humility. Bartimaeus had cried out to Jesus despite opposition. Bartimaeus had cried out to Jesus with persistence.
And Jesus heard his cry. Unlike the crowd, Jesus was not concerned with Bartimaeus’ social status but the spiritual status of his heart.
Jesus is not concerned with our social status but the spiritual status of our heart.
The good news in these verses is that Jesus responds to those who call upon him.
Bartimaeus called. Jesus responded. Let’s look at v. 50. Notice Bartimaeus’ response to Jesus’ call. He was very eager to speak with Jesus, evidenced by his throwing off off his cloak. He sprang up and came to Jesus. It’s probable that his cloak was his only possession, in contrast with rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-22).
This is what we should do when Jesus calls us. We should lay aside whatever is keeping us from Jesus and run to him.
Jesus cares for Bartimaeus. He asks in v. 51, “What do you want me to do for you?” Again, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem where he will be betrayed and killed. On his way, he takes time to talk with Bartimaeus, a blind beggar whom the crowd had rebuked for trying to get Jesus’ attention.
In response to Jesus’ question, Bartimaeus says, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” Bartimaeus asked Jesus to heal his blindness. John and James had asked for extraordinary positions (Mark 10:35). Bartimaeus simply asked for ordinary health.
Finally, Jesus healed Bartimaeus (v. 52). Jesus told Bartimaeus that his faith had made him well. The faith of Bartimaeus was not an abstract faith, but faith specifically in Jesus Christ. Bartimaeus believed that Jesus was the Son of David. He believed that Jesus was the Messiah and that he had the power to heal him.
Many people want Jesus to take care of their needs but few want to follow him with their lives. Most blind people, having their sight restored, would have wanted to live it up, so to speak. Instead, Bartimaeus, as soon as he received his sight, he saw Jesus, and followed him to Jerusalem.
Many people want Jesus to take care of their needs but few want to follow him with their lives.
Bartimaeus is the model disciple:
- He believed Jesus was the Messiah.
- He appealed to Jesus for mercy.
- He placed his faith in him.
- He followed him.
This is what a Christian looks like.
Many people say, “you just have to have faith. It’ll all work out.” Our faith is not in the forces of nature, karma, or good vibes. Our faith must be in God almighty – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We have a heavenly Father that knows what we need before we ask, a Savior that died on the cross for our sins, and the Holy Spirit that lives within us if we are believers.
Conclusion
This morning’s sermon was simple, but a good reminder.
Our only hope is to cry out to Jesus (46-48)
- In faith
- With humility
- Despite opposition
- With persistence
Jesus responds to those who call upon Him (49-52)
Jesus was passing through Jericho, never to come that way again. If Bartimaeus had not cried out to Jesus, he would never have had another chance. Figuratively, Jesus may be passing by you today. If you died today, where would you spend eternity?
Do you need to cry out to Jesus for salvation?
Without Jesus, Bartimaeus was physically blind. Without Jesus, we are spiritually blind and dead in our sins. We need the grace of God.
Maybe you are a Christian, but you are burdened by something. Cry out to Jesus, and he will respond!