MPC
15th April 2018.April 15 - Mark 10:46-52 - "Seeing Jesus with Fresh Eyes"
MPC
15th April 2018.
Dan Wilton
Have you had your eyes checked recently? Have you ever had to do this test?
How's your eyesight?
Recently my wife's been wanting me to get my eyes tested.
So I made an appointment to an optometrist.
After a number of tests. It turns out I have 20/20 vision.
But it's one thing to have good eyesight. And another thing entirely to see things clearly.
I might have 20/20 vision. But I have a terrible case of MALE BLIND-ITIS
You know the condition where you can't find simple things - like keys. Or your phone. Or cleaning products.
It's probably one of the reasons Nicky wanted me to go to the optometrist in the first place.
There's a difference between having good eyesight, and being able to see clearly.
This morning we meet a blind man - who has terrible eyesight - but recognises Jesus for who he truly is. And as a result his life is changed forever.
And so as we come to this passage this morning, I want us to look closely at how this man responds to Jesus.
And think about what it means for us to see Jesus clearly.
We're jumping into the middle of the gospel of Mark - a biography of Jesus' life.
Jesus has been travelling around Israel - doing some spectacular things. He's been healing the sick, feeding the hungry and teaching about God to anyone who'll listen.
And he's a popular guy! He's got a massive following. Crowds are camping out to meet Jesus.
Up this point he's been travelling around Israel.
But now he's on a one way ticket to Jerusalem. On the road.
Which is where we jump into at verse 46.
Jesus. His closest friends - his disciples. And all the groupies. Are passing through Jericho. The last major stop-over before you get to Jerusalem.
Like the Maccas on the Highway at Wild Horse Mountain, before you get to the Sunshine Coast. That's Jericho. Last bathroom stop before Jerusalem.
And as Jesus and the crowds pass through, we meet our blind man - Bartimeaus. Sitting on the side of the road.
Pick it up with me from verse 46:
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were LEAVING the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means "son of Timaeus"), was sitting by the roadside begging.
Can you picture this man?
He's blind. He's destitute. Desperately begging for food. Completely dependent on the mercy of others.
And he's sitting outside, on the outskirts of the city - literally pushed to the fringes of society.
Suddenly he hears a commotion. The noise of the crowd. And wants to know what's going on.
And as he asks people around him, he's told Jesus of Nazareth is coming through.
Now for the crowd, Jesus is simply that guy from Nazareth. The carpenter's son - the famous village celebrity.
But for Bartimaeus, Jesus is far more than a small town celebrity - he recognises him as someone else.
Have a look at verse 47:
When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, SON OF DAVID, have mercy on me!"
Bartimaeus recognises Jesus as the Son of David!
Time and time again throughout Mark people keep asking the question - who is Jesus? - it's a question still asked today!
People don't know what to make of this guy - even some of Jesus' closest disciples can't work out who he really is.
But here in chapter 10 we finally find a man who recognises who Jesus is.
A blind man who sees Jesus clearly.
Bartimaeus recognises Jesus as the Son of David - the king Israel had been waiting for.
The Old Testament was full of promises of a King - a descendent of King David - who would rule forever.
Promises the Israelites were still waiting for.
But as soon as Bartimeaus hears Jesus is coming he joins the dots.
He recognises Jesus as the promised King.
Bartimaeus might be blind, but his perception of Jesus is 20/20.
He recognises the truth about Jesus - the truth that so many had overlooked.
Have you recognised Jesus? Have you seen him clearly?
Or do you - like the crowd - see Jesus as just another man?
Maybe you see him as a good teacher - someone who had some good things to say, but that's about it.
Or maybe you see Jesus as the kind and generous guy, who helped the marginalized and needy.
Or have you seen him for who he truly is?
God's chosen King who rules over the entire universe. God's own Son who came into this world not only to care for the marginalised, but to go to Jerusalem. To be insulted, beaten and left to die on a cross - to die the death that we all deserved. And rose from the dead three days later to bring life.
Jesus is much more than simply a carpenter's son from Nazareth. And he's much more than just a nice. Decent guy. He's the Promised King. God's Son.
If you're here this morning and still unsure about who Jesus is, can I encourage to read right through the book of Mark - it's only short 16 chapters. And think about who Jesus claims to be.
Bartimaeus sees Jesus as the PROMISED KING.
And he immediately calls out for mercy.
Bartimaues recognises his need for MERCY.
He makes no attempt to rely on his past achievements or record. Instead he casts all his hopes on Jesus.
The only one who has the power to heal him - not only of his blindness - but of his hopeless state before God.
Recognising that he can do nothing to save himself, he calls out to mercy to the only person who can save him.
Bartimaeus not only saw Jesus clearly. He saw himself clearly.
We need to see ourselves clearly. See that we stand before a righteous and holy God, and we just can't measure up - we need to recognise our greatest need is mercy.
Mercy from God
It's possible for people to come to church for years, and not really have a clue about what Christianity is all about.
That was me, for a long time.
I grew up thinking that being a Christian was all about doing the right thing - coming to church; leading a good life; a moral life; helping others.
I thought that God would accept me if I did the right things.
But we can do nothing in and of ourselves to make us right before God. No matter how impressive your church attendance may be; no matter how many good things you might do on your own efforts. None of it can make us right before God.
We need to receive mercy!
And the good news is, that mercy is available to each one of us. Because of what Jesus has done for us. By dying on the cross. God can extend mercy to us because he has poured out his justice on Jesus.
We can't earn it. We can never do enough to deserve it. Our plea can only ever be - Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!
Have you fallen for the trap of thinking you can somehow appease God by what you do?
It's not what you do that counts. But what has been done for you in Jesus.
Bartimaeus recognises that - he calls out for mercy.
And then he does something that's truly remarkable. Something most of us struggle with.
He ignores the crowd.
Turn with me to verse 48:
He began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" But many rebuked him and told him to be quiet.
The crowd have no sympathy for this blind beggar. They try and shut him up!
To them he's just an irritation, a nobody who they didn't have time for and so they try and keep him quiet.
But he refuses to be silenced!
He shouts even more loudly, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'
Bartimaeus is not going to be kept silent.
He's insistent on his need for Jesus. He knows that Jesus is the only one who can give him what he needs.
And so he's willing to sacrifice everything to get Jesus' attention.
So he IGNORES THE CROWD. Keeps calling - no matter what others think of him.
It's bizarre, isn't it, how much we seek - and even crave - the approval of others.
I don't know how true it is for you, but I know for me, I'm so easily swayed by other people's opinions.
I make decisions based on what other people might think of me.
What clothes to wear. What things to say.
Are you like me? Do you find that you do, or don't do things, because you're afraid of what people might think of you?
And I reckon we feel it even more when it comes to talking about Jesus.
We feel uncomfortable about what other people might think of us if we talk about Jesus too much. To our work mates or family.
So we keep quiet - don't want to rock the boat too much. Don't want people to think we're idiots.
Who's approval do you seek?
Be like Bartimaeus, who didn't care about what other people thought, but kept calling out to Jesus.
This week when you find yourself avoiding conversations that might lead to Jesus, ask yourself why am I avoiding the conversation?
Why can't I push past those fears?
Are you seeking other people's approval above the approval of God?
This week ask God that he would give you the boldness to ignore the crowd and share Jesus with others.
Bartimaeus refuses to be silenced. Ignores the crowd and continues calling out.
Which finally gets Jesus's attention. Check it out in verse 49:
Jesus STOPPED and said, "Call him."
So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
Now remember where Jesus is heading - he's going to Jerusalem. He's on a mission that will change the course of history itself.
The road through Jericho leads to the cross - what we celebrated on Good Friday. Where Jesus will give up his life so we can have access to God.
It's the most important thing that Jesus will do. It's the very reason why Jesus came to earth. And yet as he sets out on his last leg of his journey - on his way to Jerusalem - he stops.
He stops for a blind beggar; a nobody - the person that most people wouldn't have looked twice at as they walked by.
But Jesus stops, and calls for Bartimaeus.
And those who probably only moments ago were trying to shut Batimaeus up, are now forced to go get him, and bring him to Jesus.
And you can almost imagine Bartimaeus' heart begin to beat faster, as he hears the crowd suddenly stop. They usher him before Jesus. And a solitary voice calls out from the darkness - 'What do you want me to do for you?'
And with complete confidence, Bartimaeus responds to Jesus - verse 51: "I want to see".
Bartimaeus knows that Jesus is his only hope! He cries out, he makes a fool of himself; he boldly declares Jesus as king.
He comes before Jesus with nothing! And he asks for healing.
And Jesus answers his request in verse 52:
"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." [Or literally - 'your faith has saved you']. And immediately he received his sight.
The healing here is a picture of deeper restoration than just his sight - he's been saved; he has life in Jesus.
It's Bartimaeus' complete dependence on Jesus that saves him.
And immediately he receives his sight.
Suddenly darkness is removed and he can see - the city walls; the sky and road that stretch out before him. It's a miraculous, instant healing.
This is incredible. Can you imagine all the things he could be doing right now. Seeing for the first time.
But what's the first thing Bartimaeus does? You see it there in verse 52:
Immediately he received his sight and FOLLOWED Jesus along the road.
He immediately follows Jesus.
A couple of years ago I broke my ankle playing sport. And was in a cast for 3 months.
I couldn't play sport. I couldn't walk without crutches. I couldn't even do simple things like put on long pants. Or shower without having a plastic bag.
But the worst thing was how itchy my leg would get. Constantly itchy. And I couldn't scratch it. Couldn't physically reach it. It was torture!
As soon as the cast came off. I went hard at scratching. Did all the things I couldn't do before.
Bartimaeus has been blind for years - much longer then 3 months. He'd been marginalised. Rejected by society.
There would have been countless things he could have done. Now that he could see. He had the freedom to go and see whoever he wanted, do whatever he wanted.
But instead he follows Jesus!
He recognises Jesus as God's King.
And if Jesus is the Messiah, there's nothing more satisfying; nothing more important than following him.
As we finish up this morning. Let me ask you - have you responded to Jesus?
Bartimaues shows us the appropriate way to respond to Jesus.
To not only recognise him as King. But to devote ourselves totally to him. To follow him and live your life for him.
Have you followed Jesus? Do you need to that?
Can I say - there's nothing more important; more satisfying; more exciting; more everlasting than devoting your life to Jesus and following him. The King who gave up his own life so that you could have life with God
And for those who are already following Jesus. Perhaps there's some of you this morning who've grown tired of the journey; of the hardships when following Jesus.
Is that you?
We need to remember who Jesus is - see him clearly.
The key to living a life devoted to Jesus, and persevering through the hardships is actually remembering who Jesus is and what he has done for us every day.
Wake up in the morning and remind yourself that Jesus is all-satisfying, and that there's nothing better than him.
Remember where you came from - from death and darkness and despair - but you've been brought to life, and nothing can take that away from you. Remember that Jesus, our King, has saved you!
So when you're weighing up whether to forgive someone; or stay mad at them.
To look at that website or not.
To tell your work colleagues you're Christian, or to keep it a secret.
Remind yourself that Jesus is your King and devote yourself to him, with as much eagerness and devotion as Bartimaeus did.
Because I can assure you, it will be the best and most satisfying thing you will ever do.
How's your vision? Can you see clearly?
Do you see yourself as you really are?
Or more importantly do you see yourself as God sees you?
Do you see your need for a saviour?
Do you see that Jesus is God's King and only Saviour?
Will you come to him, ignoring the crowd and ignoring the criticisms they might throw at you, and cry out for mercy, knowing that it is only through Jesus that you can receive salvation. And follow him.