Rev. David Holwick ZG Running Into Jesus series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
October 2, 2016
Luke 18:35-43
LORD, HAVE MERCY
I. Blindness.
A. Fear can help.
Passengers on a small commuter plane are seated on their plane
waiting for it to take off.
They're getting a little impatient, but the airport staff
assures them that the pilots will be there soon, and then
they'll be able to leave.
The door of the plane opens, and two men dressed in pilots'
uniforms walk up the aisle.
Both are wearing dark glasses, one is using a seeing-eye dog,
and the other is tapping his way with a cane.
Nervous laughter spreads through the cabin but the men enter
the cockpit, the door closes, and the engines start up.
The passengers begin glancing around nervously, searching for
some sign that this is just a sick practical joke.
The plane moves faster and faster down the runway, and the
people at the windows realize that they're headed straight
for the water at the edge of the landing strip.
They are certain the plane is going to crash into the water.
Hysterical screams fill the plane, but at that moment, the
plane lifts smoothly into the air.
The passengers laugh a little sheepishly, and soon they all
retreat into their magazines and movies, secure in the
knowledge that their plane is in good hands.
In the cockpit, the co-pilot turns to the pilot and says,
"You know, Bob, one of these days, they're gonna scream
too late, and we're all gonna die."
#19709
1) "Blind" jokes are a staple of comedians.
2) Blind people probably don't appreciate them as much.
On Friday I checked out Dawn Brady's website.
She is in San Francisco getting her fifth guide dog.
I was wondering if this meant her stem cell operation
was unsuccessful.
She wrote in August that there is some improvement
but it is inconsistent.
Sometimes she can see things, like a toilet seat that is
up, but at other times she can't.
So she still has to rely on her guide dog.
B. I don't think any normal person would choose to be blind.
1) We want to be able to see.
2) But how well do you really see?
3) When it comes to spiritual matters, many of us are blind
as bats.
II. A guy named Bartimaeus.
A. He is mentioned in three gospels.
1) Luke doesn't give his name, but Mark does: Bartimaeus.
2) He is from the ancient city of Jericho.
B. He is blind.
1) Blindness was very common in the ancient world.
2) One writer claims that the city of Jaffa had 5,000 residents
and 500 of them were blind.
3) Many were reduced to begging to survive.
I have had a touch of blindness this week.
As I wait for my glasses to arrive, I put in old contacts.
But they don't work for reading.
So I bought some cheap reading glasses from Walmart.
It is very frustrating to have to choose whether I want
to see what is distant, or what is close.
Genuine blindness is more than inconvenient, it is a
life-changer.
C. He knows something about Jesus.
1) The big crowd following Jesus got the beggar excited
because it could be good business for him.
2) He calls Jesus the "Son of David."
a) The crowd referred to Jesus as the guy from Nazareth.
b) Bartimaeus somehow knew Jesus claimed to be the Messiah.
1> The Son of David is the title of the future king
who would rule Israel, and the whole world.
2> Perhaps he had heard about the teaching of Jesus,
or his miracles.
3> It seems Bartimaeus had a lot of confidence in him.
III. Pleading for mercy.
A. Bartimaeus desperately wanted Jesus.
1) He wasn't too proud to beg for mercy.
2) Mercy is the grace of God extended toward those who are
helpless, those who can't change their circumstances.
3) If you have never cried out for mercy, you are not living
realistically.
Some years ago, California pastor Ron Ritchie was involved
in a memorial service for a beautiful young woman of 19
who had died in an accident.
Scores of her young friends came to the service.
The family had had a religious background but had put it
aside for a variety of personal reasons.
As Pastor Ritchie talked to them, however, he discovered
that many of them were deeply searching for the spiritual.
It was as if they were blind beggars crying out for the
mercy of God.
The parents did not want a religious service, but they
asked a young friend to sing "Amazing Grace."
They asked the pastor to read Psalm 23, and to ask God to
bring comfort to the hearts of the family and friends
with a prayer.
After the large memorial service, most of the people
accompanied the funeral procession up to cemetery.
At the graveside the pastor told the story of the raising
of Lazarus.
Afterwards he was amazed at how many of them came to talk
to him with the humble attitude of a sheep looking for
a shepherd.
Sermon #5912
Even if you are not that religious, there are events in
life that may bring you to your knees.
Cry out to God even if you don't know what words to use.
He is a merciful God, and desires to give you more than you
deserve.
B. The crowd put him down, but he kept at it.
1) He just increased the volume.
2) His bold persistence is something to emulate.
3) Don't give up on God until you get what you need from him.
C. How much do you need Jesus?
1) We have become blase about salvation.
a) Spiritual decisions don't get the emphasis they used to.
b) We see it as nice, but optional.
2) There is no real need, no pressure.
a) Perhaps it is due to our desire to be accepting and
non-judgmental, and seeing God that way, too.
b) Since everybody gets in somehow, why sweat it?
IV. Genuine salvation makes a difference.
A. Believing there is a God is not enough.
1) The Bible says even Satan believes this.
2) James 2:19 says, "You believe that there is one God. Good!
Even the demons believe that - and shudder."
3) Christianity is about having a relationship with the
living God through his Son, Jesus.
B. Being moral is not enough.
1) It is easy to think you are good if you compare yourself
to others.
2) But the Bible is firm that your goodness is not good enough
to make you acceptable to God.
a) Isaiah 64:6 says, "all our righteous acts are like
filthy rags."
b) If your goodness was enough, Jesus didn't need to be
crucified.
C. True salvation comes from knowing you have no hope without God.
1) You realize you are a sinner. Romans 3:23
2) You realize Jesus is your only way to God. John 14:6
a) Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."
b) You have to grab onto Jesus like Bartimaeus did.
#28710
V. What do you want Jesus to do for you?
A. Jesus asked Bartimaeus this direct question.
1) On the face of it, the answer is obvious.
a) Jesus wanted the man to verbalize it, and he does.
b) He wants to see.
2) Bartimaeus got exactly what he asked for.
a) This can be dangerous.
b) A Spaniard's experience.
In 1957 Antonio Sanchez-Migallon lost his eyesight
because of a chemical accident.
He got on with his life and got married and had kids.
But 43 years later a doctor found a way to restore
his sight.
He was able to see 4 of his kids and 22 grandchildren.
He was able to see his wife's face.
He liked everything he saw except for the image in the
mirror.
He said, "I thought I would look better. I look really
ugly and old!"
#65324
c) Bartimaeus was more satisfied. He jumped for joy!
1> When Jesus gives you spiritual sight, you don't see
yourself for what you are, but for what you will
one day be, with God's help.
2> He not only listened to Jesus, he followed him.
3> He also remembered to give praise to God.
B. What would you have said to Jesus?
1) We all have needs and desires.
2) It is important for us to verbalize our needs to him.
3) It is important to call out for his mercy.
4) And it is important to share with others the mercy he has
extended to you.
a) Is there someone you need to forgive?
b) Is there someone you could give more than they deserve?
=========================================================================
SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
Kerux sermon #5912, “The Faith To Begin A New Life,” by Rev. Ron Ritchie,
3 February 1992, Peninsula Bible Church of Palo Alto, Calif.;
<link>. Paul Apple Collection.
#19709 “The Blind Flying the Impatient,” email submitted by Carol Kagdis,
a member of Ledgewood Baptist Church, 10 September 2001.
#28710 “The Gate To Eternity,” Ginger Plowman, Baptist Press,
30 November 2004; <http://www.baptistpress.org>.
#65324 “Everything Looked Good Except Him,” Rev. David Holwick, adapted
from Kerux sermon #65301 by Rev. Brian Bill, and the article
"Spaniard gets eyesight back after 43 blind years," Associated
Press; 18 March 2000; <link>.
These and 35,000 others are part of the Kerux database that can be
downloaded, absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
=========================================================================
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
Created with the Freeware Edition of HelpNDoc: Full featured Documentation generator