[0:00] But we begin our worship this evening. We're going to sing to God's praise. We're singing in Psalm 146 in the Singed Psalms Version, page 191.
[0:14] Psalm 146 on page 191. We're going to sing from verse 5 down to the end of the psalm. The tune is Sussex, Psalm 146 at verse 5.
[0:28] Blessed is the one who truly looks for help to Jacob's God. Blessed is the one who places all his hope upon the Lord. He who made the earth and heaven and the seas with all their store.
[0:41] He who keeps his every promise, who is faithful evermore. We'll sing from verse 5 down to the end of the psalm. To God's praise we stand to sing.
[0:51] Blessed is the one who truly looks for help to Jacob's God.
[1:09] Blessed is the one who places all his hope upon the Lord.
[1:23] He who made the earth and heaven and the seas with all their store.
[1:36] He who keeps his every promise, who is faithful evermore.
[1:48] He delivers from oppression and relieves the hungry flight.
[2:02] He releases those in prison to the blight the Lord gives sight.
[2:15] Those who are by town he raises. God delights in righteousness.
[2:28] He protects and cares for strangers, widows and the fatherless.
[2:42] He frustrates the wicked's purpose. So the Lord through endless days reigns to every generation.
[3:01] Praise your God, O Zion, praise. Let's unite our hearts in prayer.
[3:18] Let us pray. O Lord, our gracious God, we are blessed to be called the children of God.
[3:28] We are blessed to be able to call upon you as our Father in heaven. We are blessed to be able to sing praise to you and to come and offer up our worship to you for all your goodness to us.
[3:42] For the blessings that are ours through your word, through your spirit, through your son, Christ Jesus. We thank you for this, your day. We thank you that is a day for the very purpose in which we have spent it in worshiping you, in coming and hearing your word, fellowshipping with one another, gathering round to lift up our voices to you in praise and prayer.
[4:09] We thank you for this, Lord, to receive from you, Lord.
[4:39] We thank you for this, Lord, to your heart, to your heart, for your heart, and to your heart. We thank you for this, Lord, that as we gather this evening too, that we come with that sense of thankfulness for the great sacrifice that was made for us.
[4:53] And we thank you that we can sing and echo these words of the psalm. Blessed is the one who truly looks for help to Jacob's God. Blessed is the one who places all his hope upon the Lord.
[5:07] And may we seek to do that once again this evening, and not just this evening or today, but in all the days ahead, that we would go on in the wake ahead, seeking to do all these things, to place our hope upon the Lord, to continue to look to you as the one who made the earth and the heaven and the seas and all their store.
[5:27] We thank you for the wonder of the world.
[5:57] Glorify and praise your name, O Lord, to glorify and praise your name all our days. But yet, O Lord, as we think of the remembrance that we have had today, we remember that Jesus came to die for us, for we are sinners.
[6:12] That in our relationship with you there is a breakdown in it because of sin. There is a great void that came between you and your people.
[6:23] But yet we thank you, Lord, that even though it was all of us running away from you, turning our back to you and seeking to worship other gods, that you have remembered us and that you continue to call us to yourself.
[6:38] That you continue to remind us that all our life is found in you. That it is only in you that we live, move, and have our being. And we pray, Lord, that we will evermore depend upon you.
[6:51] That we will look to you for all the grace that we need for day to day. That we will look to you for grace to serve you, to love you, to honour you, and to honour your people.
[7:02] That you will unite us together in our hearts. That you will bind us together in the cords of your love. To enable us, Lord, to be your witnesses. To enable us to be a people who will go out from here and into the week ahead, rejoicing in the goodness of God and showing forth our praise of you.
[7:23] Telling others of the wonder of the one who is able to give life and give it abundantly. We thank you that your gospel is good news. That is a great news for the world in which we live.
[7:37] A great news of hope. A great news that no matter what else comes our way in this world, that in Christ we have one who will stay close. Closer than any brother, as the word says.
[7:50] And so we pray, Lord, that you will help us to go on in the strength of the Lord. Not seeking any glory for ourselves, but seeking the glory be yours.
[8:00] For worthy is the Lamb who was slain. And so, Lord, we thank you for our praying people here. We thank you for the longing, the desire you put in our hearts to be united together today and in all the times of worship we have.
[8:16] And we pray that you will continue to increase that desire. Not just to be together on the Lord's Day or the midweek, but to fellowship with one another. To enjoy the company of one another.
[8:29] Encouraging one another. Helping one another. Praying for one another. May you make us a community of your people for whom it is such a natural thing to be united together in one spirit, one mind, one heart, under one Christ.
[8:47] We pray, Lord, that that would be something that would spread throughout our community, throughout our islands, throughout our land, and throughout the world. That your people will be built up and strengthened to all ends of the earth.
[9:01] And we thank you, Lord, that you are indeed a God who is building his church. That you are the one who is at work near and far. That you are the one who is calling a people to himself.
[9:13] That you are the one who will frustrate the wicked's purpose in this world. When we see so much wickedness around us, Lord, we thank you that you are the one who is able to frustrate these purposes for which wicked men turn their hands to.
[9:31] We think of all that is wrong in our world. And we think of the wickedness that we see near and far. We pray, Lord, that you will have mercy. That you will come in your power.
[9:41] That you will direct men and women, boys and girls, to turn from their evil ways. And to turn to you. We thank you that your reign is to every generation.
[9:54] And that for that we are able to praise your name. And to lift up our prayers in a sense of hope. We come in faith, O Lord, and help us that our faith will increase.
[10:07] That when we feel weak, Lord, you will give us strength. That when we feel that sense of unable to go on, Lord, that you will uphold us and strengthen us.
[10:18] That you will guide our every step. That you will sustain us on this journey. And we thank you, Lord, that we come with that sense of prayer for one another.
[10:29] And we think of all that's going on in our communities, in our homes, in our families just now, Lord. We continue to remember those with particular needs. Those who are unwell.
[10:41] Those who are grieving. Those who are going through various times of distress and trials in their lives. Lord, we thank you that you know each and every one.
[10:53] That you are able to bind up the brokenhearted. That you are able to lift up those who are bowed down. That you are the one who protects and cares for the strangers, the widows, the fatherless.
[11:07] That you are the one who releases those in prison. That you are the one who gives the blind their sight. That you are the one who has all power and authority over all things.
[11:17] That you will draw near to all your people. To all who call upon you. To all who call upon you in truth. And Lord, we ask that you will continue with us this evening as we worship your name.
[11:33] As we open your word together. A word again that reminds us of why you came. That we might have life and have a life abundantly. and we pray Lord that you will continue to teach us through your word to guide her every step by it and to live according to your truth so bless us in all that we do Lord the reading of your word the singing of your praise help us to lift our voices up to you with joy with delight as offering up our praise to the only one who is worthy bless our fellowship this evening too as we thank you to be able to share in these times together we pray that you will encourage us through it that you will bless Martin as he comes to speak to us at it Lord help us to pray for him and be encouraged by him and that he would be encouraged through coming to speak to us and Lord go before us in the week ahead be with us in all we seek to do in the meetings of our church as a congregation in so many different ways whether it's in person in prayer meetings and serving you in different ways whether it's online as a focal gather on Tuesday to have a time of prayer with Muriel Lord we remember her and pray for her that you will surround her and bless her and keep her make your face to shine upon her may she be encouraged as she serves you and as she encourages us Lord to look faithfully to you and to trust in you so Lord hear all our prayers go before us in all our needs and pardon us for all our sin as we confess them anew this evening hour Lord we fall short of your glory so often but we thank you for the forgiveness that you give so Lord hear us and go before us now and all we ask we ask in Jesus precious name and for his sake amen well again we'll sing to God's praise this time in Psalm 23 and we'll sing Psalms page 28 of the Psalm book
[13:40] Psalm 23 on page 28 again we'll sing the whole of this Psalm the tune is Tarawathi the Lord is my shepherd no one shall I know he makes me lie down where the green pastures grow he leads me to rest where the calm waters flow again this Psalm is our Psalm we sing often maybe not to sing Psalms version as often but the words constantly remind us that our life our hope is found in the Lord who is our shepherd so we'll sing the whole of this Psalm to God's praise the Lord is my shepherd no one shall I know he makes me lie down where the green pastures grow he leads me to rest where the calm waters flow my wandering steps he brings back to his way in straight paths of righteousness making me stay and this he has done his great name to display though I walk in this valley where darkness is near because you are with me no evil I'll fear your road and your staff bring me comfort and cheer in the sight of my enemies at able you spread the isle of rejoicing you pour on my head my cup overflows and I'm graciously fed so surely your covenant mercy and grace will follow me closely in all of my ways
[16:32] I will dwell in the house of the Lord almighty we'll turn together to read in the gospel of Mark we're reading in chapter 10 we take up our reading at verse 32 Mark's gospel chapter 10 I'm taking up our reading at verse 32 and we read down to the end of this chapter Jesus and the disciples and the crowd are here traveling on their way up to Jerusalem on their way to Jerusalem just before the crucifixion and as we see they come to the town of Jericho and as they're leaving Jericho they come to this encounter with Bartimaeus which is going to be our focus this evening but we take up our reading at verse 32 and they were on the road going up to Jerusalem and Jesus was walking ahead of them and they were amazed and those who followed were afraid taking the twelve again he began to tell them what was to happen to him saying see we are going up to Jerusalem and the son of man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles and they will mock him and spit on him and flog him and kill him and after three days he will rise and James and John the sons of Sebedee came up to him and said to him teacher we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you and he said to them what do you want me to do for you and they said to him grant us to sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your glory
[18:39] Jesus said to them you do not know what you are asking are you able to drink the cup that I drink or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized and they said to him we are able and Jesus said to them the cup that I drink you will drink and with the baptism with which I am baptized you will be baptized but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant but is for those for whom it has been prepared and when the ten heard it they began to be indignant at James and John and Jesus called them to him and said to them you know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their great ones exercise authority over them but it shall not be so among you but whoever would be great among you must be your servant and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all for even the son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many and they came to Jericho and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd
[20:01] Bartimaeus a blind beggar the son of Timaeus was sitting by the roadside and when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth he began to cry out and say Jesus son of David have mercy on me and many rebuked him telling him to be silent but he cried out all the more son of David have mercy on me and Jesus stopped and said call him and they called the blind man saying to him take heart get up he is calling you and throwing off his cloak he sprang up and came to Jesus and Jesus said to him what do you want me to do for you and the blind man said to him Rabbi let me recover my sight and Jesus said to him go your way your faith has made you well and immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way
[21:03] Amen and may God bless that reading from his word so before we come to look at this passage we'll sing together again in Psalm 34 in the Sing Psalms version page 40 of the psalm book Psalm 34 and we'll sing from verse 8 down to verse 14 Psalm 34 at verse 8 come taste and see the Lord is good who trusts in him is blessed oh fear the Lord you saints with need you will not be oppressed and then down at verse 12 we have these words does anyone delight in life and long to see good days then keep your tongue from evil speech your lips from lying ways depart and turn from evil paths and practice what is right desire to know the way of peace pursue it with your might we'll sing from verse 8 down to verse 14 the tune is Kilmarnock come taste and see the Lord is good who trust in him is blessed oh fear the Lord you saints with need you will not be oppressed young lions may grow weak and faint and hunger for their food but those who wait upon the Lord will not lack any good come here my children gather round and listen to my word and I will help you understand how you may fear the Lord does anyone delight in life and long to see good days then keep your tongue from evil speech your lips from lying ways depart and turn from evil paths and practice what is right desire to know the way of peace pursue it with your might well we can turn back to our reading in the Gospel of Mark chapter 10
[25:05] our focus this evening in particular is on verse 46 down to the end of the chapter where Jesus meets with this man Bartimaeus and in verse 51 we read these words after blind Bartimaeus had got up on his feet and came running to Jesus Jesus said to him what do you want me to do for you and the blind man said to him Rabbi let me recover my sight and Jesus said to him go your way your faith has made you well and immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way as we come to the close of our communion weekend I want to once more just consider this passage where we read of Bartimaeus but consider it in light of the verse that we've been thinking about in each of the services over the weekend considering the reason for Jesus coming into the world and that verse has been John 10 verse 10 where it says the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy
[26:18] I came that they may have life and have it abundantly Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly and we began last evening by looking at Deuteronomy chapter 30 where we considered the choice that was put before the people there there the choice between life and death Jesus came that we might have life abundantly but there is another who seeks to steal and kill and destroy and so we often have that choice before us who are we listening to which way are we going does anyone delight in life as the psalmist said and we are to pursue it with all our might to pursue the Lord with all our might so we had that choice put before us then this morning as we gathered for the Lord's supper we were considering the one who is the source of life Jesus who gave his body and his blood that we might have life through him and tonight I want us to conclude this theme of the way of life looking at the way of life the life that Jesus is able to give in abundance and what does abundant life look like and how do we live it if you were to meet Bartimaeus and be part of the crowd that was leaving Jericho and see Bartimaeus your first impression wouldn't be there's one who has an abundant life there's not someone who has life and life to the full he's a beggar he's blind and yet as we're going to see he saw more than those who were walking with Jesus even at that time he cried out in his great need
[28:13] Jesus son of David have mercy on me his plea was for life and as we look at the life of Bartimaeus we see the compassion of Jesus we thought about it recently in the Gospel of Mark how Jesus saw the crowd and had compassion on them well here is another instance of Jesus showing that compassion compassion towards this blind beggar and we see how he gives life and life abundant to Bartimaeus and what Bartimaeus does is follow him on the way and that way wouldn't be easy that way wouldn't be all perfect in every way it would have its ups and its down like everyone who comes to follow Jesus and find the life that Jesus offers abundantly is not a life separate to challenges and trials but it's a life with that great hope and assurance of not just life for now but life abundant and life eternal through him a missionary society once wrote to David Livingston after he was out in Africa for some time and they asked him have you found a good road to where you are if so we want to know how to send other men to join you well David Livingston's reply was to write back and say if you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road
[29:57] I don't want them I want men who will come if there is no road at all and that is the call that Jesus puts on our lives not that the way will be easy and perfect and straightforward he says whoever will come after me will take up his cross and follow me there will be burdens for us in this life but it is not without hope it is not without the security that he is with us that he has come to give us life and life in abundance because the thief comes to steal and kill and destroy but he has come that we might have life and so as we look at this passage in Mark up to this point Mark is a fast moving gospel things move from one place to another very quickly and here as we come into chapter 10 we are seeing Jesus, the disciples and a crowd making their way up to Jerusalem and they have come to Jericho a large town about 18 miles from Jerusalem and they have gone through this town and as they are leaving this town we have this wonderful encounter between Jesus and Bartimaeus in all the accounts of Jesus meeting with people encountering people this one often stands out for me we may all have our different preferences of Jesus' encounters with different people you might think of the woman at the well or other people that Jesus met so often there is very personal encounters that Jesus has with people but this is one of my favourites and it is my favourite for a number of different reasons because you see a few things here as he meets with Bartimaeus there is the timing of it and there is the attitudes of those involved in it when you think of the timing
[32:13] Jesus has just told them in verse 32 to 34 of what he is going to do as he comes to Jerusalem they were on the road going up to Jerusalem Jesus was walking ahead of them and he started to explain to them why they were going to Jerusalem the son of man must be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles he is explaining to them why they are going and the timing in this is he is just before his crucifixion and yet even in the midst of this timing there is still this purpose in what he is doing he is on his way to Jerusalem to fulfil this but you might excuse him to not want any distractions along the way and especially a blind beggar who is crying out at the side of the road but then you see his attitude it is one way he has time when he has time for Bartimaeus because he came as we read in verse 45 the son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many he came that we might have life and have it abundantly and he came that he might meet with the likes of Bartimaeus who he still had time for and his attitude was one of compassion towards him and it contrasts the attitude of those who were with him the disciples the crowd and the attitude you see from them is one of mocking Bartimaeus shouting at him to be quiet to get away don't bother the master and you see the attitude of James and John in the previous section verse 35 to 45 their attitude of wanting glory glory for themselves to sit one at the right and one at the left in glory this is the kind of attitudes that were there
[34:25] James and John if you just want to notice they come to Jesus with demands in verse 35 teacher we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you they are demanding and look at what Jesus says he said to them what do you want me to do for you and what do you see with Bartimaeus he didn't come making demands he came crying out to Jesus Jesus son of David have mercy on me but look at what he says in verse 51 to Bartimaeus Jesus said to him what do you want me to do for you the very same question that he'd asked of James and John but that attitude was one of seeking glory and you see the contrast here in Bartimaeus when Jesus says what do you want me to do for you he says Rabbi let me recover my sight so this is a wonderful encounter it's a reminder to us of the personal nature of Jesus's ministry how he came how he had time how he had compassion how he came to give life and I want us to think for ourselves this evening of three things from Bartimaeus' experience three things that we can so easily apply to ourselves as we think of what is it to have abundant life and how do we live this life of abundance well the first thing we're going to see is his condition
[36:12] Bartimaeus' condition the second thing we'll see is his cry and then thirdly we'll see his cure so first of all we see Bartimaeus and his condition the diagnosis for Bartimaeus is bleak in terms of what kind of life he'd had and what the future held for him people would have seen him as hopeless they were leaving Jericho with his disciples in a great crowd Bartimaeus a blind beggar the son of Timaeus was sitting by the roadside as I said this isn't someone you would look at and think here's someone who has great hope in his life and the crowd mocked him and rebuked him but what of Bartimaeus' condition how would you think first of all that this is a hopeless case well firstly he's blind and this isn't something that was uncommon in Jesus' day many eye conditions that could easily be treated today they were incurable in Jesus' day and people who were blind were often cast to the side they were often seen as a burden to even their own families so they were put away and they had nowhere to turn to be blind was to be struck down in many ways and your case was hopeless and the only option was was what we see secondly about him his condition was he was a beggar he was needy he was dependent on others and their generosity to help him survive and that is how he would seem in the eyes of those or many of the eyes of those who are passing by even in our own eyes today as you read this passage
[38:05] Bartimaeus initially maybe seems like just a hopeless case and yet as you read through you see Bartimaeus had a greater vision than many who were passing by he may have been physically blind but his eyes were seeing something else on Jesus how so?
[38:27] well first of all we see that he knew what to do Jesus and the crowd they were leaving Jericho on the way up to Jerusalem and as we were thinking of this morning this was the time when they were going to prepare the Passover so many people would have been making their way up to Jerusalem just like Jesus and his disciples going to observe the Passover and so Bartimaeus is here he's in the hot spot if you like for collecting from people it's like we would see today people sitting outside train stations or busy high streets there's the prime locations where people will fight and jostle over to get the prime spot where they're likely to get something well Bartimaeus is here outside Jericho where many people are passing by but more importantly although he was able to provide for his needs in this way physically there was something else about Bartimaeus that would make us see that he was not a hopeless case he was blind physically but he was not deaf and as he'd been hearing people passing by he'd have been hearing maybe over a number of weeks or even months he'd have been hearing people talking about Jesus he'd have been hearing what was happening in different places through the miracles of Jesus through the works of Jesus he was hearing of one who was able to help so his condition may seem hopeless initially but actually behind it all there is hope he was listening he was in the right place we ask ourselves what is our condition today what is your condition in this sense tonight are you here listening to what God is saying are you here seeing you're in the right place that you're hearing the word of God are you deaf are you shunning it or are you listening to what is being said are you realizing the importance of it that here we have
[40:50] Jesus as it were passing by that he is speaking to us Bartimaeus was blind and yet he was able to see his greatest need and for ourselves too surely we need to see our greatest need is Christ our greatest need is here before us this evening our greatest need is perhaps something we've been hearing about over many many years but we've been deaf to it we've not been listening but we see our condition we are indeed helpless and hopeless without Christ but here we are under his word it is a time of opportunity it is another time to hear the gospel of the riches of Christ who is able to give us life someone else who recognized his own condition was the man John Newton in many ways he had his life all planned out he was in the slave trade he was making money living a riotous life he thought he had his life all planned out but then he began to realize his condition and that's what brought him to write those words amazing grace and how sweet the sound but look at how he describes himself in that hymn a wretch one who was lost one who was blind that is how he saw his condition but what made the difference in his life grace it was grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed he recognized his condition a wretch who was lost who was lost and who was blind but he was able to say
[43:03] I am found and now I see and that is the wonder of what Jesus has come to do to open the eyes of the blind to help us to see him John Newton recognized his condition Bartimaeus recognized his condition and if we recognize our condition today as lost and helpless sinners what can we do about it how then can we find this abundant life that Jesus offers well we learn again our second lesson from Bartimaeus what did he do?
[43:46] as Jesus was passing by what did he do? he cried out out in verse 47 and when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth he began to cry out and say Jesus son of David have mercy on me what a cry he had and even though it goes on to say they began to rebuke him telling him to be silent what did he do?
[44:15] he was stubborn he cried out all the more son of David have mercy on me he wasn't going to be turned away he had heard who Jesus was he was hearing that he was passing by and he cried out he knew that Jesus could help he would have heard of the miracles of Jesus healing lepers healing the demon possessed even bringing the dead back to life and here is the one who is the source of life and the choice is there before Bartimaeus do I cry out or not?
[45:04] life or death which is it going to be? well he cries out and he cries out all the more Jesus son of David have mercy on me and we have to recognise who Jesus is for ourselves look at the way he says it Jesus son of David so much understanding behind his cry it's not just Jesus Jesus son of David the fulfilment of the scriptures the promise of God the promise of God that he would send his son into this world the one who was going to come he is here before Bartimaeus in the same way as he appeared to the woman of Samaria at the well and said we know that Christ is coming and Jesus says I who you speak of am he he was there he is here with Bartimaeus and we can cry out to the same Jesus ourselves
[46:16] Jesus son of David have mercy on me that is the cry we need to have if we want to have that abandoned life if we want to know that assurance of eternal life we need to cry out and sometimes it's to cry out all the more Jesus son of David have mercy on me you see Bartimaeus he realised what Jesus could do and is there anyone here who doesn't know what Jesus can do for you the Bible makes it so clear what Jesus can do for you is to give you life and life abundantly because the alternative is the thief who comes to seek to kill and destroy but Jesus has come that we might have life and Bartimaeus saw his greatest opportunity had come for years he would have been sitting here a blind beggar helpless in so many ways but as Jesus is passing by he realises the opportunity and he's not going to let this opportunity pass him by he recognises just like Peter and the disciples who said you know to whom else can we go for you have the words of eternal life there's nowhere else that this help is going to come from and for Bartimaeus there's no other help for him apart from in Christ so he cries out and he recognises that this opportunity could easily pass him by you know if Bartimaeus had sat silently
[48:12] Jesus wasn't going to pass that way again he was on his way to Jerusalem on his way to give his life as a ransom for many and for so many that opportunity you let it pass by the cry doesn't come and Jesus is here tonight for Bartimaeus no cry would have been tomorrow just another day like the one before the one before and the one before that no different but as we cry out to God for help he is able to give us as it were a new tomorrow a new tomorrow where we go in the strength of the Lord we rejoice in the hope that he gives the life and life abundant that he is able to give to us in faith we are to recognise that this this opportunity could easily pass us by and you don't want to be in that situation where you say if only
[49:27] I had another opportunity today if you hear his voice as the psalmist says do not harden your heart cry out Jesus son of David have mercy on me the third and final thing we see here is his cure when Jesus heard his cry he said call him and they called him and said take heart get up he is calling you Jesus stopped it's an amazing image this the crowd rebuking Bartimaeus mocking telling him to be silent but Jesus stopping and saying call him the climb up to up to Jerusalem facing up to the fact that he was going to his death
[50:34] Jesus has this compassion and concern to look at the beggar and to have time for him you know in many ways you could have thought James and John they would have been so much more important than this beggar if they were to ask you know whatever what do you want we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you you think Jesus just tell me and I'll do it but he doesn't because their motive was wrong they wanted glory and so Jesus rebuked them but what would they have thought now as they're seeing Jesus saying those very same words to this blind beggar what do you want me to do for you but look at the simplicity of Bartimaeus' answer Rabbi let me recover my sight who is important to Jesus in this passage they all are because Jesus is showing his compassion to James and John even in rebuking them he's teaching them what it means to be a disciple to follow him to follow him you need to let go the hope of glory you need to let go the sense of status and power whoever would be first among you must be slave of all he said for even the son of man came not to serve to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many there was teaching in that but he had a concern concern for Bartimaeus too he was important as well and that's a reminder to us maybe we don't feel important to Jesus he won't trouble himself with me he'll see nothing in me well what he sees is that you are made in his image that you have a soul that is precious to him and that is why he came because the thief wants to steal and kill and destroy that soul but Jesus has come that you might have life and have it abundantly so as he says what do you want me to do for you he says Rabbi let me recover my sight let me see isn't that a beautiful response of all the things he could have asked for he just says
[53:18] Rabbi, teacher let me see and isn't that the response that we should all want not glory not status not power not any of these things but just to come Lord have mercy on me let me see see because this is about not just seeing physically but seeing spiritually this is coming as you see what Jesus' response go your way your faith has made you well the faith was there and Jesus opened his eyes and I'm sure for many here tonight the faith is there faith is there but your eyes but your eyes just need to be opened and that's our prayer Rabbi teacher let me see sometimes we just need to be disturbed in our life and there's a prayer often attributed to
[54:30] Francis Drake and it's a prayer that we could all pray where he says this disturb us Lord when we are too well pleased with ourselves when our dreams have come through because we have dreamed too little when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore the shore disturb us Lord when with the abundance of things we possess we have lost our thirst for the waters of life having fallen in love with life we have ceased to dream of eternity and in our efforts to build a new earth we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim disturb us disturb us that's sometimes what we need disturb us when we see the abundance of things we possess and yet we have lost our thirst for the waters of life may God give us a thirst for him a desire to see him that as we come away from the Lord's table today as we come away from the Lord's day and this season of communion that we would come away with the response of Bartimaeus
[56:00] Rabbi let me see and to know the blessing of the cure that Jesus gives go your way your faith has made you well and to respond like Bartimaeus who immediately recovered his sight and followed him on the way let us look to Jesus and see the one who is able to give us life and life abundant and follow him on the way let us pray our Father in heaven we give you thanks oh Lord for your remembrance of us for your compassion towards us that is so great that despite our hopelessness despite all the scars of sin in our lives and in our hearts that you are the one who shows us so much compassion that you are the one who even comes and you this evening asking us what you want me to do for you and we pray Lord to have the faith of Bartimaeus and the hope of Bartimaeus to cry out to the Lord
[57:19] Lord Jesus son of David have mercy on me and as we come help us to see help us to see you and follow you on the way as we ask it all in Jesus name Amen We'll conclude this evening by singing to God's praise the words of Psalm 16 in the singed Psalms on page 17 from verse 8 down to the end of the Psalm a wonderful Psalm that reminds us as we come away from the Lord's table how we are to live we are to go on in the life of the strength of the Lord is to set him constantly before us before me constantly I set the Lord alone because he is at my right hand I'll not be overthrown therefore my heart is glad my tongue with joy will sing my body too will rest secure in hope unwavering we'll sing from verse 8 to the end of the Psalm to God's praise verse 9 forget before me constantly
[58:41] Eve set the heart alone because Heила set the heart alone because He At my right hand I'll not be overthrown.
[59:08] Therefore my heart is glad, my tongue which I will sing, My body too will rest secure in open way for me.
[59:46] For you will not allow my soul in death to stay, Nor will you leave your Holy One to see the tomb decay.
[60:22] You have made known to me the path of life divine.
[60:42] This shall I know at your right hand, Joy from your face will shine.
[61:03] Now as we're going next door, I'll give thanks for the food that's been prepared and then close with a benediction. And after the benediction, if you'll allow James to go to the main door, I'll go to the door to my left hand side here.
[61:18] Lord, our gracious God, we continue to look to you for all the good gifts that you provide for us day by day. We give you thanks, O Lord, for this day, for our fellowship, for the blessings you have bestowed upon us, Lord, with encouragement, with your word, with sacrament.
[61:36] And we pray, Lord, that your blessing would go with us, that we will continue in our fellowship next door to enjoy your presence and your peace with us, that you will bless our time and bless all the provision that has been made for us.
[61:48] Lord, we thank you for all who help in every way in serving you and your people here. And now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all, now and forevermore.
[62:05] Amen. Amen.