See what the blind man saw
9/22/2009 12:10:49 PM
Please read Luke 18.31-43  Key verse:  Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" Luke 18.41 Good Morning. Luke 18 has been a vivid illustration of the power of faith: there was the faith of the persistent pray-er (the widow), the faith of the tax collector praying that God would be merciful to him, and forgive him, the lifting up of child-like faith, and the struggle of the rich young ruler to abandon his earthly treasure for that which he would take into eternity with him--faith in Jesus.


Please read Luke 18.31-43 Key verse: Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" Luke 18.41


Good Morning.


Luke 18 has been a vivid illustration of the power of faith: there was the faith of the persistent pray-er (the widow), the faith of the tax collector praying that God would be merciful to him, and forgive him, the lifting up of child-like faith, and the struggle of the rich young ruler to abandon his earthly treasure for that which he would take into eternity with him--faith in Jesus. Today, we will see the faith of a blind man. But first, Jesus takes his band of twelve aside and tells them again what they should expect when they 'went up' to Jerusalem. (Jerusalem is situated in the mountains) This is the third time He tells them what is going to happen, though this time He tells them that "everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles (the Jewish leaders would hand Jesus over to the Roman authorities; Luke had already told us it would be the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law who would hand Jesus over-9.22) They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him (flogging was the preliminary punishment of criminals--it consisted of whipping the vicim 39 times, with some nine ropes which had bones, glass, and nails tied to them for the infliction of great pain) and kill him. On the third day he will rise again." In three different ways, Luke tells us the disciples didn't get it, so on they went. There really was no place in their theology for a suffering and dying Messiah. You have to wonder--if they had 'gotten' it, wouldn't they have tried to make Jesus turn around, and not continue his travel into Jerusalem? No, they didn't understand what was about to happen--it would have been too much for them.


Nearing the town of Jericho, about 15 miles northeast of Jerusalem, the travelers saw a blind man, Bartimaeus, begging near the city gate. Hearing the commotion of the crowd, he inquires what is happening, and learns Jesus is among the people. He cries out to Jesus, "Son of David"--(showing his belief that Jesus was the Messiah by calling him this) for mercy. People try to shush him, and he cries out to Jesus for mercy all the louder, and Jesus hears him. "What do you want me to do for you?" In faith, he says, "I want to see." Simple faith. Jesus asks all of us the same question today--"What do you want me to do for you?" But He didn't ask the man that until the man drew near. . . he had faith enough to know that Jesus held the answer, faith to approach Him. Jesus told him that his faith healed him, and gave him his eyesight. Immediately, the man began to follow Jesus. Simple faith in action.


Sometimes those who see things most clearly are not the most visible in our society. Contrast the blind man with the rich young ruler; consider how Jesus esteemed the faith of children. And look how the blind man's faith in Jesus radically changed his life! He went from being a social outcast reduced to begging, to having his sight, "seeing" Jesus, and traveling on as one of the crowd, following Jesus. He reached out to Jesus in faith, and when he received grace, in his thankfulness, followed Jesus. Simple trust, followed by action.


Even now, I am so aware of many people around me who are in seemingly hopeless situations--crumbling marriages, serious illnesses, financial ruin--and the stress is tremendous, crippling even. May I suggest that the blind man saw what you need to see--Jesus is the answer--draw near to Him, and know He is asking you, "What do you want me to do for you?" He is waiting to extend mercy. Answer His question--"What do you want me to do for you?" Receive His grace, grow in it, and walk in the footsteps of the beautiful Son of God.


May God richly bless you as you draw near to Him, answer "What do you want me to do for you?", receive mercy and grace, and follow Him. Amen. So be it.


Christine