Are You Blind?
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As we come to the end of chapter 10, I want to remind you we have covered some crucial topics in this chapter.
At first, Jesus is asked some questions. When tested about divorce, Jesus has taught us God’s original and only plan for marriage was a man and woman in a lifetime covenant relationship with God. In the discussion about eternal life, Jesus taught us salvation is only possible with God.
In today’s passage, Jesus asks a blind man an important question. “What do you want Me to do for you?” This is a question God still asks us. Do you have an answer for Him?
The encounter between Jesus and Bartimaeus takes place in Mark 10:46-52. Follow along as I read God’s Word.
Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.
When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.”
Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus.
And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!”
And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.
A common understanding of blindness is the inability to see or the inability to discern light from darkness. According to the American Foundation for the Blind there are approximately 25.5 million or about 10% in the US with vision that can’t be completely corrected or are blind. In TN there are approximately 200,047 or about 2.9% who have significant sight loss or blindness.
Based off the numbers of the population in the US and those who claim to be Christian. We have an even greater issue with spiritual blindness. The good news is that Jesus has the ability and authority to cure physical and spiritual blindness.
When Bartimaeus asked to be able to see again, Jesus said his faith made him well. The Greek word can be translated “healed” or “saved” also. Without touching Bartimaeus, Jesus both healed and saved him through faith. Faith is important in life.
Hebrew 11:6 reads:
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Using our passage, I want to look at three truths about faith and then look at spiritual blindness.
1. FAITH BELIEVES WITHOUT SIGHT
1. FAITH BELIEVES WITHOUT SIGHT
Bartimaeus couldn’t see Jesus but he knew about Jesus. Bartimaeus was a blind beggar who sat next to the road asking for help from those who traveled the road. As the Passover approached, a larger than normal crowd would be passing through on the way to Jerusalem. But there must have been something different with the crowd around Jesus because Bartimaeus heard Jesus was in the crowd.
When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Bartimaeus had heard of Jesus as well as His ability to perform healings. He cried out for Jesus calling Him the Son of David. In this moment that Bartimaeus heard Jesus was passing through, even without sight, Bartimaeus believed Jesus was more than a man, more than a faith healer. Bartimaeus believed Jesus had the power to change his life. He believed before he ever saw proof.
A lot of people want to have proof that Jesus is the Christ, that God exists. What is your reaction if I tell you I can prove God exists? I want everyone to turn so they can look out one of the windows. “God, I want to prove you exist. I ask you to darken then day, send a lighten bold and peal of thunder then brighten the day again.”
Did anyone see or hear anything? Imagine for a minute that God had done exactly what I asked. Once the word got out, we would be filled to standing room only for our services. The problem is, seeing isn’t believing and seeing isn’t faith.
for we walk by faith, not by sight—
I haven’t seen Jesus and no one here has with their physical eyes but I have heard of Him and believe in Him. Believing isn’t just knowing and accepting facts about Jesus. Faith isn’t just believing but it is trusting Jesus with your life. I don’t just believe Jesus was born of a virgin and died 33 years later on a cross. I don’t just believe in the fact of the resurrection. I believe Jesus is alive and present with us today.
2. FAITH RESISTS ANY BARRIERS TO CHRIST
2. FAITH RESISTS ANY BARRIERS TO CHRIST
Faith will resist any barrier placed in front of us to Christ, no matter what or who the barrier is.
Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
In the world, even in churches, some people will try to get you to be quiet, to hinder you from finding Jesus. When Bartimaeus began calling for Jesus, the text tells us the crowd sternly tried to quiet him or as in other translations, they rebuked him.
As Christians, we should never rebuke anyone who is trying to reach out to Jesus. I understand decorum during a worship service or Bible Study. I understand when we have prayer, whether individual or congregational prayer, there is good reason for quietness. When we take time to read our Bible we shouldn’t have other distractions going that can prevent us from listening.
But if we encounter someone crying out to God, we should encourage them, maybe even cry out with them but we should never shun them. I would rather have everyone in here praying out loud on their own during our times of prayer than one person thinking they must keep quiet and not cry to God during those times.
If we are the ones crying out and someone tries to hinder us, do what Bartimaeus did; cry out even more. Actually the word means to scream out.
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!”
3. FAITH ADMITS A NEED TO BE CHANGED
3. FAITH ADMITS A NEED TO BE CHANGED
Here is a warning for you. When you hear Jesus ask you what you want Him to do, any answer you give Him is going to require something from you.
I want you to think about this verse. It is easy to pass over this simple question from Jesus.
And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!”
It seems a little silly to ask what a blind man wants. But think about it. Jesus isn’t asking Bartimaeus if he simply wants his sight back.
Bartimaeus has acknowledged that Jesus is the Son of David. Bartimaeus has publically acknowledged his belief and faith in Jesus as the promised King, the prophesied Messiah. Bartimaeus was aware he was standing face to face with the Son of God and God was asking him what he wanted. Jesus was really asking Bartimaeus, what he needed.
I want one of the new Ford F-250 Raptors. If I could go buy any truck right now, that would be the truck at the top of my list. I want a Raptor. I don’t need one. I don’t have a need in my life that requires me to have one.
But Jesus isn’t asking Bartimaeus for a list of his wants. Jesus wants to know if Bartimaeus recognizes his needs. Bartimaeus’ answer acknowledge both his need and his faith.
Notice that he calls Jesus Rabboni. Some translate this as Rabbi or teacher but it is much more an address than that. Bartimaeus is saying, my master, I need to be changed.
When Jesus asks what you want, He will require you to change. We can’t live in faith yet remain in our sin.
Being blind can cause life to be very difficult. Shortly after having lasik surgery, my vision was a little blurry, my eyes itched. Things just weren’t that clear. That time was a small hindrance so I can only imagine what it might be like to be blind.
However, as difficult as being blind can be, being spiritually blind is deadly.
4. SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS CAN BE MORE DAMAGING THAN PHYSICAL BLINDNESS
4. SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS CAN BE MORE DAMAGING THAN PHYSICAL BLINDNESS
You may have 20/20 or better vision but still be spiritually blind. Sadly, in some churches we have the blind leading the blind. In Matthew 15:14, Jesus said “If the blind leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Let me mention three types of spiritual blindness we find in our churches.
A. Blind to the truth
A. Blind to the truth
Satan wants to keep as many people blind as possible. Especially people who are in church. First, Satan wants those who are unbelievers to remain blind to the truth of who Jesus is.
2 Corinthians 4:4 says:
in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Second, others in church simply refuse to accept the truth of the Bible. The world has it’s own bible. The call it the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the DSM. The world, and many in churches, use this manual to define what is sin and what isn’t. Or rather, it is man’s attempt at redefining morals and standards without regard for what God says.
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
As a Christians we must show Jesus to others as well as show the truth of the Bible.
B. Blind to the God-given potential in others
B. Blind to the God-given potential in others
Do any of you watch the video clips of shows like “America Has Talent”? I like the clips that catch you by surprise. The ones where the person comes out looking like they have no talent or maybe too scared to do anything. Then they start to sing and what you hear doesn’t match what you expected.
Look at me. If the first time you ever saw me was at somewhere outside of church and you saw me on my harley, in my leathers, I wouldn’t have been your first choice of a preacher or pastor.
When we look at someone, do we look at their looks or their heart? Guess where God looks at us.
C. Blind to God’s purpose for your life
C. Blind to God’s purpose for your life
Before God created you in your mother’s womb, He had a plan for your life.
In Galatians, Paul said God set him apart for ministry even while he was in his mother’s womb. God told Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1 that even before God formed him in the womb, God knew him and knew His plans for Jeremiah.
The same for us. God created us and He created us with a purpose in life. Do you know why God created you?
We weren’t created to go to school, for work or even to make money. We were created to have fellowship with God. Did you know, every time God creates another human, He desires to have fellowship with them?
God calls each of us to a different life. He calls us to leave the life the world tells us to live and turn back to Him. He calls us back into His family, into His church. God’s purpose on our life is for us to know Him as well as make Him known.
Conclusion
When Jesus called Bartimaeus to Him, the Bible says Bartimaeus jump up and threw his cloak aside. He didn’t wait for someone to help him up. He didn’t stand, adjust his clothes then walk over to Jesus. This blind man jumped up, threw his cloak, one of the very few things he owned and came to Jesus.
For his faith, Jesus opened his eyes as well as his spiritual eyes. The Bible tells us Bartimaeus immediately regained his sight and began following Jesus.