WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.919 In the last few chapters, Mark has been carrying us along, so to speak, on Jesus's journey from Galilee, really north of Galilee, as we trace this back to chapter 8. 00:00:11.380 --> 00:00:16.660 He's in the region of Caesarea Philippi. That's where his transfiguration takes place. 00:00:16.780 --> 00:00:23.519 And then Mark's kind of carrying us along on this journey as Jesus moves from there, eventually to Jerusalem, 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:30.559 where here in just a couple of chapters, we're going to see the story of his crucifixion and his resurrection. 00:00:31.560 --> 00:00:38.980 And along the way, we've had several stops with Mark, each one with a significant event or lesson for us to study. 00:00:39.480 --> 00:00:43.420 Well, this is the final stop, at least before we get to Jerusalem. 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:50.679 This is the final stop, and the event recorded here unfolds in the city of Jericho. 00:00:50.679 --> 00:00:59.980 Now, what probably immediately comes to mind for most of us is the destruction of Jericho from Joshua chapter 6. 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:04.019 That's one of the first stories we learn in Sunday school growing up, isn't it? 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:09.159 And we have the songs, Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho. 00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:13.859 And we learn about how the children of Israel marched around the city, and God destroyed the city. 00:01:13.900 --> 00:01:17.420 And we learn about Rahab and God's salvation of her and her family in the midst of all that. 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:20.620 Perhaps when you hear Jericho, that's immediately where your thoughts go. 00:01:20.680 --> 00:01:27.760 But Jericho was the area around it, the region around it, has been rebuilt many, many times through history. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:34.660 And I think, if I'm not mistaken, maybe seven different times the city has been destroyed and rebuilt. 00:01:35.260 --> 00:01:39.780 And by the time Jesus is traveling through in this particular time frame, 00:01:39.780 --> 00:01:52.820 it was rebuilt by Herod, and it was a crucial, vital rest station for travelers that were on their way to Jerusalem. 00:01:53.379 --> 00:02:01.120 It was situated about 15 or 20 miles northeast of Jerusalem, but it was 3,500 feet below Jerusalem. 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:03.439 So this was an important stop. 00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:08.580 It was at the edge of the desert, and so travelers would come through on their pilgrimage path. 00:02:08.700 --> 00:02:14.460 They would find their place in Jericho for one last rest and maybe to collect the things that they would need 00:02:14.460 --> 00:02:20.240 before they set out toward Jerusalem, which would have been a grueling trek from that particular place. 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:24.200 It was called the city of Palms a couple of times in the scriptures, actually. 00:02:24.780 --> 00:02:27.680 And the reason is because it was an oasis city. 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:31.100 It was literally in the desert, in the Judean desert. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:32.560 It was literally an oasis. 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:35.820 And Herod had taken a particular interest in it. 00:02:36.300 --> 00:02:38.360 He had built his winter palaces there. 00:02:38.360 --> 00:02:46.260 And by the time of Jesus and his disciples, it was really used by the wealthy as somewhat of a vacation destination. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:49.080 And so it's been rebuilt many times. 00:02:49.600 --> 00:02:58.960 And it's actually, most historians believe that it's the oldest inhabited civilized place on the planet. 00:02:59.300 --> 00:03:00.440 It's an interesting location. 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:02.040 That's where Jesus is. 00:03:02.940 --> 00:03:05.660 Jericho had a significance to the Jews as well, though. 00:03:05.659 --> 00:03:14.780 It was a designated city for the Levitical priests who were rostered to serve on duty at the temple. 00:03:15.060 --> 00:03:16.120 They would live there. 00:03:16.740 --> 00:03:23.840 They had access from there to Jerusalem to do what it was that they were required to do as the priest. 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:32.659 And like I said, it was also situated on the pilgrimage path for Jews that would travel to Jerusalem for the various festivals and feasts. 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:38.439 Passover being the reason they would be traveling there at this particular time. 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:44.500 So when Jesus and the disciples arrived to Jericho, it's a busy city at the moment. 00:03:45.539 --> 00:03:47.259 It's energized at the moment. 00:03:47.359 --> 00:03:48.639 There's lots of people there. 00:03:48.840 --> 00:03:50.960 They've traveled because they wouldn't go through Samaria. 00:03:51.219 --> 00:03:54.960 They've traveled from Galilee on the pilgrimage path through the desert. 00:03:55.139 --> 00:03:57.019 They've come to their final resting station. 00:03:57.020 --> 00:03:58.939 So there's the people traveling through. 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:08.040 Then there's the priests who are preparing to make their way that week to Jerusalem because they had to partake in the process and the duties of Passover. 00:04:08.460 --> 00:04:12.640 Now imagine all of these people for Passover are coming to Jerusalem. 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:15.920 Many of them are not bringing their own lambs. 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:18.340 Many of them are not bringing their own sacrifices. 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:21.240 They would get to Jerusalem and they would purchase them there. 00:04:21.240 --> 00:04:29.819 And then they would have to take them to all of these priests who pretty much all day on Passover day are doing nothing but sacrificing lamb after lamb after lamb. 00:04:30.040 --> 00:04:30.840 Took a lot of people. 00:04:31.300 --> 00:04:33.860 So there's a lot of preparation happening in Jericho. 00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:37.699 Lots of people are about to make this final push to Jerusalem. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:38.819 The city's busy. 00:04:38.980 --> 00:04:39.759 It's energetic. 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:42.000 There's lots of things taking place. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:57.540 And this is what explains this great crowd that Mark says was now walking with Jesus and pressing forward, maybe even potentially groping forward to get a glimpse of him, perhaps hear him speak. 00:04:57.540 --> 00:05:09.400 And then as they're leaving the city, they pass by the traditional place in Jericho or outside of Jericho for beggars to sit seeking alms. 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:13.660 And this is where we're introduced to a man named Bartimaeus. 00:05:14.900 --> 00:05:23.759 Now of all the people Jesus healed during his life, this is the only one whose name is given to us by Mark. 00:05:24.660 --> 00:05:26.780 It's a bit of a redundancy in the passage. 00:05:26.779 --> 00:05:31.519 Actually, Mark's name is Bartimaeus is what Mark says. 00:05:31.599 --> 00:05:33.179 And then he says he's the son of Timaeus. 00:05:33.419 --> 00:05:36.259 Well, Bartimaeus literally means son of Timaeus. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:37.819 So there's a bit of a redundancy here. 00:05:38.059 --> 00:05:45.739 But at least as far as the people in Rome and the other people who are reading this letter are concerned, they are aware at least of this man named Bartimaeus. 00:05:46.039 --> 00:05:54.059 Some people have suggested that he became a prominent figure in the early church, which is why his name is given and not the others. 00:05:54.759 --> 00:05:55.799 And we don't know that for sure. 00:05:55.800 --> 00:05:56.900 We can't know that for sure. 00:05:57.540 --> 00:06:05.300 But what we do know is that the record of Bartimaeus' healing is very important to Mark's gospel. 00:06:06.040 --> 00:06:07.060 And let me explain why. 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:20.000 Blindness and sight is this motif of spiritual understanding, this metaphor for spiritual understanding that's interwoven all throughout Mark's gospel. 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:30.139 And this section that we've been dealing with the last really several months at this point of Jesus focusing in on training his disciples, the intensified training of the 12. 00:06:30.139 --> 00:06:38.579 This section is bookended by Mark with two different stories of blind men being healed by Jesus. 00:06:39.379 --> 00:06:41.639 Maybe you'll remember all the way back in chapter 8. 00:06:41.639 --> 00:06:45.599 Jesus and the disciples were on the sea of Galilee. 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:46.500 They're on the boat. 00:06:46.979 --> 00:06:52.479 Jesus is teaching about not being aware of the leaven of the Pharisees. 00:06:53.099 --> 00:06:57.539 And remember, they thought that Jesus is just worried because they forgot to bring any bread with them. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:06:58.439 Remember that? 00:06:58.740 --> 00:07:00.060 And remember how Jesus responded? 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:04.139 He said, having eyes, do you not see? 00:07:04.139 --> 00:07:10.800 And immediately after that, he is confronted by a blind man who Jesus heals in two stages. 00:07:11.180 --> 00:07:14.680 Remember, he touches his eyes first, and he can see, but he can't see clearly. 00:07:14.939 --> 00:07:19.539 And then Jesus touches his eyes again, and then he can see everything perfectly. 00:07:20.219 --> 00:07:25.379 Well, that was a sign of what the disciples' spiritual understanding was like at the time. 00:07:26.219 --> 00:07:30.019 Their spiritual eyes had been opened to at least see who Jesus was. 00:07:30.019 --> 00:07:37.159 But as far as his messianic purpose was concerned, things for the disciples were still pretty fuzzy. 00:07:37.979 --> 00:07:45.259 And then he goes through several passages and texts where Mark is sharing with us how Jesus explained to the disciples 00:07:45.259 --> 00:07:49.620 explicitly about his crucifixion and his resurrection. 00:07:50.180 --> 00:07:56.240 He's teaching them lessons about what it means to truly follow him in light of his messianic purpose. 00:07:56.240 --> 00:08:02.759 And then he brings this section to a conclusion by telling us about Bartimaeus. 00:08:03.400 --> 00:08:06.819 And the uniqueness of this event is in its irony. 00:08:08.259 --> 00:08:11.579 Of all the people, of all the people here that we're studying, 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:18.620 the one with the clearest spiritual sight was a man who couldn't actually see at all. 00:08:19.660 --> 00:08:22.900 And that's what's so significant about this passage. 00:08:22.899 --> 00:08:27.839 Don't think that this is just another miracle story. 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:34.879 The meaning of this, it's about what it looks like to truly believe and follow Jesus. 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:41.000 And my prayer for you today is that you will have the eyes to see that. 00:08:42.439 --> 00:08:47.019 Verses 47 and 48, if you're keeping notes, notice his desperate cry. 00:08:47.939 --> 00:08:48.980 His desperate cry. 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:55.700 Verse 47, and when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out. 00:08:56.620 --> 00:09:01.379 You can imagine Bartimaeus finding his place on the roadside as he did every other morning. 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:08.340 For him, there was nothing different about this day except for the fact that there's the potential of more money 00:09:08.340 --> 00:09:09.940 because the city was so busy. 00:09:10.139 --> 00:09:11.500 There's so many people coming through. 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:19.820 Perhaps it wasn't very long into the morning before he hears the rumblings of a large crowd 00:09:19.820 --> 00:09:22.320 that are making their way through the town. 00:09:23.580 --> 00:09:27.139 Maybe asking the other beggars around him what was going on. 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:34.559 Bartimaeus discovers that the great healer, Jesus the Nazarene, was passing by. 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:41.039 And all of a sudden, Bartimaeus isn't concerned about money or food. 00:09:42.179 --> 00:09:48.079 This is the only chance he would ever get to experience the healing touch of Jesus. 00:09:48.299 --> 00:09:51.219 And he immediately begins to cry out. 00:09:51.599 --> 00:09:53.599 He began to cry out above the crowd. 00:09:54.079 --> 00:09:57.079 Now put yourself in Bartimaeus' sandals for just a moment. 00:09:57.080 --> 00:10:01.320 There might have been hundreds of people in this crowd. 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:02.660 I mean, we have no idea. 00:10:02.800 --> 00:10:04.300 We're just told it's a great crowd. 00:10:04.379 --> 00:10:05.340 It's a lot of people. 00:10:05.900 --> 00:10:09.180 Because of the timing of it, it could have been thousands perhaps. 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:13.540 But there's probably a few hundred people that have gathered around Jesus moving along this. 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:15.180 There's a lot of noise happening here. 00:10:16.220 --> 00:10:19.540 There's just the movement of everybody as they travel up the road. 00:10:19.540 --> 00:10:24.740 Let alone the conversation that was taking place or the people trying to get to Jesus. 00:10:24.740 --> 00:10:27.340 Now imagine Bartimaeus, you're on the side of the road. 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:29.100 You hear the rumblings coming through. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:30.399 And you say, what's going on? 00:10:30.419 --> 00:10:34.759 And somebody next to you says, this is Jesus the Nazarene. 00:10:36.340 --> 00:10:38.039 And he begins to cry out. 00:10:38.899 --> 00:10:44.200 And his cry was not one that would have been easily ignored. 00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:57.100 It was the desperate, unabashed cry of a man whose only hope in life had passed by and was quickly moving in the opposite direction. 00:10:57.560 --> 00:11:00.280 There was urgency to his cry. 00:11:00.920 --> 00:11:02.820 There was volume to his cry. 00:11:02.920 --> 00:11:04.540 But there wasn't just about the urgency. 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:10.480 His cry was, and I guess the pun is intended here, the cry was insightful. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:11.780 It was insightful. 00:11:12.420 --> 00:11:13.600 Look again at verse 47. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:17.899 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:23.440 Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:26.740 Have mercy on me. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:31.820 He may have been blind, but he had the eyes of faith. 00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:41.639 And though he couldn't see Jesus' face, he understood in his heart who Jesus truly was. 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:43.840 And here's why we know that. 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:48.120 He does something no one else in all of Mark's gospel does. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:51.960 He calls Jesus son of David. 00:11:53.059 --> 00:11:56.980 One other person does it in Mark's gospel, and it's Jesus himself. 00:11:56.980 --> 00:12:02.840 And as he passes by, he doesn't say Jesus of Nazareth. 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:06.860 He says, Jesus, son of David. 00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:14.899 And it's important because this was a messianic title that was based on God's covenant with King David. 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:18.039 Now, the Jews knew that a deliverer was coming. 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:23.060 They didn't know who it was, but they knew that he would belong to the lineage of King David. 00:12:23.059 --> 00:12:27.799 And this covenant is first recorded for us in 2 Samuel chapter 7. 00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:28.799 Let me read it to you. 00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:34.739 Moreover, the Lord declares to you, this is to David, that the Lord will make you a house. 00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:41.759 And when your days are fulfilled, and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring. 00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:44.179 Offspring is singular in this case. 00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:50.000 After you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:56.799 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:58.879 Now, that's not a reference to Solomon. 00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:01.879 There were other parts of this covenant that did relate to Solomon. 00:13:02.100 --> 00:13:04.240 But Solomon's kingdom didn't last forever. 00:13:04.820 --> 00:13:10.080 There's only one person in David's lineage who has an eternal kingdom, and that's Jesus of Nazareth. 00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:12.899 The prophets picked up on this imagery. 00:13:13.419 --> 00:13:18.879 And we see all throughout the prophecies, we see this reference to the son of David and the lineage of David. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:21.439 Let me point out Jeremiah 23, 5. 00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:28.460 Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous branch, 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:37.080 and he shall reign as king, and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:41.980 Now, the crowds with Jesus were intrigued by what he could do. 00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:48.200 But very few people ever had faith in who he revealed himself to be. 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:56.000 And by God's grace, Bartimaeus had the insight to understand who Jesus was. 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:58.600 And his faith was expressed in his cry. 00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:00.980 It's significant here. 00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:04.120 Son of David, this is Bartimaeus saying, 00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:06.399 I know you're not just a healer. 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:08.379 You're the one. 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:11.679 Son of David, have mercy. 00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:18.559 And so we see that his spiritual sight is also revealed in what he asked for Jesus to do. 00:14:20.699 --> 00:14:27.120 Don't you find it odd that his cry was for Jesus to show him mercy? 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.519 Isn't that weird? 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:33.000 We might expect him to say, 00:14:33.199 --> 00:14:36.659 Jesus, son of David, please help me. 00:14:38.079 --> 00:14:41.740 Jesus, son of David, please heal me. 00:14:41.819 --> 00:14:43.199 But that's not what he says. 00:14:43.539 --> 00:14:48.059 He says, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. 00:14:48.579 --> 00:14:49.559 Well, what is mercy? 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:54.600 Mercy is something given that is not deserved. 00:14:56.220 --> 00:14:59.100 Now, what is it that Bartimaeus is getting at here? 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:02.899 He had the faith to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:09.679 And it seems he also had the insight to acknowledge his own unworthiness before the Lord. 00:15:09.980 --> 00:15:16.639 That any blessing he might receive from Jesus in that moment was not a blessing he deserved or that he was worthy of. 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:24.120 But it would be solely on the basis of his mercy that Jesus would even care to acknowledge his existence in that moment. 00:15:25.819 --> 00:15:26.840 That's insightful. 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:31.600 He was concerned for his physical sight. 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:35.460 But there was something more at work in Bartimaeus' heart. 00:15:35.920 --> 00:15:38.899 And he might not have fully understood the significance of this. 00:15:39.180 --> 00:15:41.660 But he was certain that his need was great. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:45.620 And only Jesus could do something about it. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:47.899 Says Sinclair Ferguson. 00:15:49.180 --> 00:15:51.600 Bartimaeus brought nothing but his need. 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:57.659 But in doing so, he fulfilled a fundamental law in God's kingdom. 00:15:58.440 --> 00:16:06.940 There is no other way to come to Jesus but on the basis of our need and his adequacy to meet it fully. 00:16:06.940 --> 00:16:14.580 And when he cries out for mercy, I think it's a reflection of God's work in Bartimaeus' heart. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:18.500 Where he understands, I don't know everything there is to know about Jesus. 00:16:18.800 --> 00:16:22.020 And I certainly don't know everything about what he can do for me. 00:16:22.160 --> 00:16:25.120 But I know if he does anything, it will be because he's merciful. 00:16:25.920 --> 00:16:28.300 He's a merciful Lord. 00:16:28.299 --> 00:16:38.740 The desperate sense of God's mercy is necessary for anyone who comes to Jesus for salvation. 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:40.259 Now think about it for a moment. 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:47.519 Why would anyone come to Jesus and cry for him to save them 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:53.559 if they didn't believe that they needed saving and that he could do it? 00:16:53.559 --> 00:17:00.819 This was the point of Jesus' first two beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5. 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:07.419 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:13.119 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:14.819 Well, what's the poor in spirit? 00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:17.159 Who are the people who mourn? 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:21.480 The people recognizing the true nature of their sinful condition. 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:25.599 Who come to Jesus alone, asking for mercy. 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:28.519 They are the ones who receive the kingdom. 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:32.339 They are the ones who receive God's comfort. 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:41.400 The problem is we all struggle so much to really understand how desperate we truly are. 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:50.780 I mean, even those of us who are faithful believers and we understand the nature of our sin, 00:17:51.320 --> 00:17:58.380 we'd be dishonest if we weren't saying that it's difficult for me to really grasp this, 00:17:58.440 --> 00:18:03.240 at least in an emotional way, to really grasp the fact that I'm really a dirty sinner. 00:18:03.320 --> 00:18:06.259 Like, I know that, but I don't always feel like I am. 00:18:06.360 --> 00:18:07.160 You know what I mean? 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:09.980 We struggle with this. 00:18:10.060 --> 00:18:15.759 We struggle to see the depths of our own depravity and our own need for God's mercy. 00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:23.580 And I think the reason is because so much of our beliefs are based on feeling. 00:18:24.540 --> 00:18:30.519 And since we're so rarely overwhelmed by guilt and shame toward God, 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:34.960 we see no reason to very often seek His mercy. 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:41.440 But just because you're not emotionally connected to the truth of your condition 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:44.259 doesn't mean you can't acknowledge its reality. 00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:51.059 God's Word tells us plainly that we're desperately lost in sin. 00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:55.460 In fact, it says we're dead in sin. 00:18:56.799 --> 00:19:02.599 And that's enough whether we sense it and feel it emotionally in our spirit or not. 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:05.279 It's enough that God has said it. 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:08.819 Do you remember the song you learned in Sunday school? 00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:10.819 Jesus loves me. 00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:12.259 Remember the song? 00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:13.899 Jesus loves me. 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:14.899 How do we know? 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.599 This I know for? 00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:20.379 Remember the Bible tells me so. 00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.000 Right? 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:26.439 You know, I think we could take that song and we could apply it to all kinds of places in our life, can't we? 00:19:26.959 --> 00:19:29.439 What if we change and we added a few of our own verses? 00:19:30.919 --> 00:19:32.219 I am sinful. 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:35.059 This I know. 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:38.959 Because the Bible tells me so. 00:19:41.659 --> 00:19:43.179 Hell awaits me. 00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:45.279 This I know. 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:45.299 This I know. 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.940 Not because I feel it. 00:19:47.320 --> 00:19:48.900 But because God says it. 00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:50.160 The Bible tells me so. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:51.940 I need mercy. 00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:53.360 This I know. 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:55.700 For the Bible tells me so. 00:19:58.060 --> 00:19:59.440 Jesus loves me. 00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:01.980 This I know. 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:04.880 For the Bible tells me so. 00:20:05.860 --> 00:20:07.500 He will save me. 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:09.759 This I know. 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:13.259 For the Bible tells me so. 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:15.980 I must follow. 00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:17.980 This I know. 00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:21.740 For the Bible tells me so. 00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:24.759 God says we've all sinned. 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:28.480 God says we all fall short of his glory. 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:32.559 God says the payment for our sin is death and hell. 00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:35.980 And we may not always emotionally grasp that and sense it. 00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:42.339 And sometimes we let a lack of emotional feeling prevent us from actually acknowledging the truth of what God has said. 00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:48.240 Ultimately we don't exercise faith because of how we feel. 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:50.860 But because God has spoken. 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:58.719 And somewhere along Bartimaeus' life he had learned about those prophecies about the son of David. 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:03.979 Somewhere along his life he understood the depths of his own sin. 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:06.039 And though he didn't know everything there was to know. 00:21:06.139 --> 00:21:09.059 He at least knew in that moment when he was crying out to Jesus. 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:12.259 The thing he was primarily crying out for was mercy. 00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:14.519 He needed mercy from the Lord. 00:21:14.859 --> 00:21:16.419 And look that has to be our cry. 00:21:16.879 --> 00:21:18.159 That has to be our cry. 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:20.660 Lord before anything else whatever you do. 00:21:20.800 --> 00:21:23.040 I know I need your mercy. 00:21:23.040 --> 00:21:24.660 Because I am unworthy. 00:21:24.820 --> 00:21:25.900 I've fallen short. 00:21:26.560 --> 00:21:27.660 And I know that. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.120 Not because. 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:33.259 Not because of the way that I compare myself to the people around me. 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:34.680 Or because I feel it in my spirit. 00:21:34.820 --> 00:21:36.100 But because I trust your word. 00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:37.440 And your word says it's so. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:44.320 And maybe some of us what we really need to do day by day even as believers. 00:21:44.320 --> 00:21:49.840 Is pray that God would give us the same profound clarity that he had given Bartimaeus. 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:52.019 To constantly remind us. 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:54.340 Isn't this why we come to the table so often? 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:57.820 It's a constant reminder of our need for God's mercy. 00:21:58.039 --> 00:22:00.140 And Jesus's power to give it. 00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:03.340 And so his cry was insightful. 00:22:03.560 --> 00:22:05.259 Then we see it's persistent. 00:22:05.780 --> 00:22:07.180 That was the longest part of the sermon. 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:07.620 I promise. 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.560 We're going to fly now. 00:22:08.840 --> 00:22:08.960 All right. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.560 Then it's persistent. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.360 Verse 48. 00:22:13.800 --> 00:22:17.140 Notice what the crowd does as Bartimaeus cries out. 00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:19.020 The crowd rebuked him. 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.680 Many rebuked him. 00:22:20.780 --> 00:22:22.140 Telling him to be silent. 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:24.900 But he cried out all the more. 00:22:25.040 --> 00:22:25.800 Son of David. 00:22:26.840 --> 00:22:28.320 Have mercy on me. 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:32.960 The crowd saw Bartimaeus as an irritating disruption. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:36.819 Many of them tried to silence him in frustration. 00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:39.299 But what was Bartimaeus' response? 00:22:39.919 --> 00:22:40.539 You know what? 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:42.259 I'm going to cry out even harder. 00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:43.700 That's what he does. 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.740 Even more. 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.159 Son of David. 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:48.779 Son of David. 00:22:48.859 --> 00:22:49.659 Have mercy. 00:22:50.179 --> 00:22:51.439 There's persistence here. 00:22:51.439 --> 00:22:56.439 Is this not what Jesus meant when he said that the kingdom is something people take by force? 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:59.059 There's a persistence to him. 00:22:59.120 --> 00:23:00.420 He didn't care about the crowd. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.720 He didn't care what they thought. 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:03.840 He didn't care about their rebukes or their jeers. 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:06.720 All he cared about because his faith was so strong. 00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:09.240 What he cared about is Jesus was passing by. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:11.000 Jesus could meet his need. 00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:14.400 And he was going to do anything that he could to get Jesus' attention in that moment. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:17.620 Why do you suppose he's so persistent? 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:18.660 I'll tell you. 00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:20.860 He was convinced of who Jesus was. 00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:22.599 He was convinced. 00:23:23.479 --> 00:23:27.779 It was his faith that produced his persistence. 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:38.919 And you know, it's incredible how determined we will be to know and obey the Lord when our faith is strong in who he is and what he can do in our lives. 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:55.440 And if you're sensing a particular apathy in your life right now as far as spiritual things are concerned, maybe you just need to go back to the basics and be renewed and refreshed on the truth of who Jesus is and what he can do and how unworthy you are of all of it. 00:23:55.440 --> 00:24:04.360 And perhaps by God's grace and the work of his Holy Spirit, he will flood your heart and cause you to cry out once again and anew, Lord, have mercy. 00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:06.160 Have mercy on me. 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:09.820 It's quite the sight Bartimaeus had. 00:24:10.860 --> 00:24:11.840 Can you see? 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:14.380 Can you see like him? 00:24:15.540 --> 00:24:16.680 We see his desperate cry. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:19.259 Secondly, look at his compassionate Savior. 00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:23.960 Verse 49, and Jesus stopped and said, call him. 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:29.320 And they called the blind man saying to him, take heart, get up. 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.840 He's calling you. 00:24:32.120 --> 00:24:35.820 Throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:40.820 So it's here that we see the heart of Jesus once again, don't we? 00:24:42.320 --> 00:24:52.340 I remember last week in verse 32, we learned that Jesus was resolutely determined to fulfill his mission in Jerusalem. 00:24:52.339 --> 00:25:00.139 And I thought for a moment, you know, sometimes maybe us dads are worse about that than the moms. 00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:05.179 But we get on a long road trip and we try to make sure everybody uses the bathroom before you leave the house. 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:05.759 You know what I mean? 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:08.480 And you get on the road because once you start, you don't want to stop. 00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:12.699 And they're just going to have to hold it until you can get to a place that you're comfortable with stopping. 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:14.440 Because you're ready to get there, right? 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.380 You're determined. 00:25:15.580 --> 00:25:16.559 You're resolute. 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.740 You're pushing forward. 00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:20.680 That's the sense that we get of Jesus, that he's pushing forward. 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:25.360 Everything about what Mark is saying in the verses leading up to that is he's determined. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:33.080 The disciples are amazed by how he is pressing forward and focused on this atoning work that he would make. 00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:40.919 He goes out of his way to show the pressure and demand that Jesus had faced in his travels. 00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:50.639 But amid all of this effort and determination, what was it that Jesus stopped for? 00:25:52.839 --> 00:26:01.259 What was so important that he brought the entire parade of people in Jericho to a grinding halt? 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:04.240 Why would he stop? 00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:13.059 It was insignificant, destitute, blind Bartimaeus. 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:15.299 That's why he stopped. 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:21.720 The whole crowd either ignored him or rebuked him. 00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:24.500 Jesus called him. 00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:26.720 He stopped everything. 00:26:28.179 --> 00:26:30.259 What do we learn again about Jesus? 00:26:30.919 --> 00:26:32.240 This is his heart. 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:37.460 This is his heart, as we've said so often, for sinners and sufferers. 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:39.699 It's on full display here with Bartimaeus. 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:44.419 Everything stops so that he can address this man. 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:49.480 We've quoted Dane Orland a lot as we've looked at these miracle passages. 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.740 I'll do it again. 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:57.299 He says, time and again, it is the morally disgusting, the socially reviled, 00:26:57.299 --> 00:27:06.359 the inexcusable and undeserving, who do not simply receive Christ's mercy, but to whom Christ most naturally gravitates. 00:27:06.919 --> 00:27:12.440 He is by his enemy's testimony, the friend of sinners. 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:24.200 And if there's two massive things I want you to see in this passage, it's that your own need for Christ's mercy and his own willingness to give it to you. 00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:33.000 No matter who you are, no matter how destitute you are, insignificant you may be, or no matter what sins you've committed in your past, 00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:36.420 he is a compassionate, loving Savior. 00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:40.059 And we see in this passage, it's one thing for us to cry out to Jesus. 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:42.740 It's a whole other thing when he calls us, isn't it? 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:47.339 Can you imagine what Bartimaeus felt in this moment? 00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:53.740 One moment, there's this boisterous crowd coming by. 00:27:54.680 --> 00:28:00.339 Maybe enough people to be somewhat deafening as they're passing by blind Bartimaeus here. 00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:05.960 And he cries out, and now they're rebuking him, and there's more noise around him. 00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:08.620 But now all of a sudden, everything's still and silent. 00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:10.240 Everyone stops moving. 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:11.700 No one's talking. 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:15.539 But Bartimaeus can't see that. 00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:18.640 He can't see actually what's happening in front of him. 00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:19.940 All he can do is listen. 00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:25.279 And all of a sudden, maybe because of the stillness and the quiet, maybe his own cries have now softened up. 00:28:25.339 --> 00:28:28.859 Maybe he's quietened up himself, unsure of what's happening around him. 00:28:28.859 --> 00:28:34.640 And somebody says through the silence, Bartimaeus, don't just sit there. 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:37.079 He's calling for you. 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:41.880 And I can just picture in my mind this man sitting on the road. 00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:49.920 And after going through all of this, almost having to take a moment to let what that person said sink into his mind. 00:28:50.620 --> 00:28:51.180 What? 00:28:51.300 --> 00:28:51.940 What do you mean? 00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:56.980 Bartimaeus, he's calling for you. 00:28:56.980 --> 00:29:01.200 Bartimaeus, he wants you. 00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:03.799 He stopped this whole thing. 00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:05.160 Why are you just sitting there? 00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.579 He's calling. 00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:08.140 He wants you. 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:10.559 Come to him. 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:13.079 Can you imagine what he felt? 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:17.399 Isn't that what Jesus does? 00:29:18.859 --> 00:29:20.879 He passes by us. 00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:23.639 And he stops everything else. 00:29:24.099 --> 00:29:25.940 And he calls us. 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:28.779 We're groping in darkness. 00:29:29.639 --> 00:29:32.460 And Jesus says, come to me. 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.460 Come to me. 00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:37.980 And what is it that Bartimaeus does in that moment? 00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:40.059 This is unbelievable for a blind man. 00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.539 He springs up. 00:29:42.340 --> 00:29:43.340 He springs up. 00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:45.759 He throws off his cloak. 00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:53.960 Acknowledging the call of Christ, he leaves everything behind and immediately rushes to Jesus. 00:29:53.960 --> 00:30:01.960 This is such a wonderful picture of the gospel and someone responding to Christ, someone being saved. 00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:06.100 By God's grace, someone tells them that Jesus is calling. 00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:09.660 By faith, they leave everything behind. 00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:12.380 And they run to him. 00:30:13.600 --> 00:30:14.720 Do you remember when you did that? 00:30:16.120 --> 00:30:18.900 Do you remember when somebody said, Jesus is calling? 00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:23.160 And by faith in that moment, you left everything behind. 00:30:23.300 --> 00:30:23.880 Every sin. 00:30:24.560 --> 00:30:26.240 Every other way you were pursuing. 00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:28.759 Every other desire of your heart. 00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:31.580 You left it all behind and you ran to him. 00:30:33.040 --> 00:30:33.440 Why? 00:30:34.280 --> 00:30:35.300 Because he called you. 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:40.180 And I want you to listen real close to everybody. 00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:42.120 Kids, everybody, give me your eyes, okay? 00:30:42.320 --> 00:30:42.820 Give me your eyes. 00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:46.380 I know you've heard this a million times before. 00:30:46.380 --> 00:30:49.020 And I want you to hear it again. 00:30:49.560 --> 00:30:52.280 And I want you to let this sink into your heart right now. 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:57.080 Jesus loves you. 00:30:58.840 --> 00:31:00.540 He loves you. 00:31:01.520 --> 00:31:03.560 He wants you. 00:31:05.780 --> 00:31:09.540 He wants you despite you. 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:12.060 He really does. 00:31:12.059 --> 00:31:17.599 And through his word, he's calling you. 00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.339 He's calling. 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:26.779 And what he's calling you to do is exactly what Bartimaeus did. 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:31.559 Keep your cloak on, but leave everything else behind. 00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:33.980 And come to Jesus. 00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:43.380 Now, I think it's time for you to finally come to him in faith. 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:47.259 No more sitting on the roadside begging. 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:51.279 Jesus is passing by. 00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:55.640 You may not get another chance to cry out. 00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:58.299 He's a compassionate Savior. 00:31:58.299 --> 00:32:01.259 Number three, we see a simple faith. 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:03.159 Verse 51. 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:06.579 Jesus said to him, what do you want me to do for you? 00:32:07.899 --> 00:32:12.480 The blind man said to him, Rabbi, let me recover my sight. 00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:16.200 We've already talked a lot about Bartimaeus' faith. 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:19.919 There's just a couple of notes about it that I want to make in relation to this verse. 00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:22.980 First, I want you to see that his faith was personal. 00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:24.299 It was personal. 00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:24.839 It was personal. 00:32:26.779 --> 00:32:29.599 Do you notice how Bartimaeus addressed Jesus? 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:36.579 I want to draw your attention to something that may not be so evident in the text that you have, 00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:37.879 the English text that you have. 00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:42.440 And I actually think that it may be important enough that you may want to make a note of it in the side of your Bible. 00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:43.659 I think this is really important here. 00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:49.519 If you don't have a New American Standard, your English Bible probably says simply, Rabbi. 00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:51.119 That's what my ESV says. 00:32:51.119 --> 00:32:54.019 If you have an NASB, it probably says something different. 00:32:54.299 --> 00:32:55.319 It probably says Rabbini. 00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:58.039 And that's an important distinction. 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:03.180 Bartimaeus used an intensified form of Rabbi. 00:33:03.359 --> 00:33:05.159 In the Greek, it's Rabuni. 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:05.879 Rabuni. 00:33:07.659 --> 00:33:09.919 Rabbini is how we would say it. 00:33:10.119 --> 00:33:14.299 It conveys an endearing sense of lordship and belonging. 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:17.240 My Lord is what it is. 00:33:17.419 --> 00:33:18.299 My teacher. 00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:19.460 My master. 00:33:20.339 --> 00:33:23.519 It's personalizing this address that he's making. 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:26.660 This word is only used two times in all of the Bible. 00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:28.539 Bartimaeus is one of them. 00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:31.500 The other one is in John chapter 20 and verse 16. 00:33:31.900 --> 00:33:32.859 Mary Magdalene. 00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:36.779 Do you remember after Jesus' resurrection, she's weeping in the garden? 00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:39.099 And she hears somebody behind her. 00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:40.240 She thinks it's the gardener. 00:33:40.359 --> 00:33:41.379 And he says, Mary. 00:33:41.380 --> 00:33:44.960 And she immediately recognizes the Lord's voice. 00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:46.560 And she turns around and seeing him. 00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:48.620 And what she says is, Rabbini. 00:33:49.020 --> 00:33:49.500 Rabbini. 00:33:49.820 --> 00:33:50.860 My Lord. 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:52.460 My teacher. 00:33:52.620 --> 00:33:53.500 My master. 00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.380 My God. 00:33:55.360 --> 00:34:01.700 In extant Jewish literature, it's never used as an address for another human being. 00:34:02.100 --> 00:34:03.680 Rabbi is, not Rabbini. 00:34:04.340 --> 00:34:09.480 Rabbini is only used in Jewish literature to refer to God in prayer. 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:09.559 Lord. 00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:16.139 This isn't a specific address that Bartimaeus is making here. 00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:17.679 My Lord. 00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:20.539 He wasn't saying that Jesus is a Lord. 00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:23.460 He wasn't saying that Jesus is even the Lord. 00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:26.639 He's saying Jesus is his Lord. 00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:35.879 And true conversion is seen when an individual moves from viewing Jesus abstractly as a Lord among many Lords. 00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:39.000 Or even just intellectually as the Lord. 00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:41.519 And even acknowledging that in an intellectual sense. 00:34:41.839 --> 00:34:45.799 True conversion happens when a person moves from that to where they're now saying, 00:34:46.179 --> 00:34:46.940 My Lord. 00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:48.319 My Savior. 00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:49.519 He's mine. 00:34:49.759 --> 00:34:51.679 And I am his. 00:34:52.779 --> 00:34:55.139 Bartimaeus' faith wasn't merely intellectual. 00:34:55.139 --> 00:34:56.239 It was real. 00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:57.400 It was personal. 00:34:57.699 --> 00:35:00.940 And so it is with everyone who truly knows Christ as Lord. 00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:02.119 He's not the Savior. 00:35:02.259 --> 00:35:03.359 He's my Savior. 00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:04.839 He's our Savior. 00:35:05.859 --> 00:35:07.599 But it was also humble. 00:35:08.319 --> 00:35:09.699 His faith was personal. 00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:10.839 And it was humble. 00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:17.579 Now especially observant readers will recognize this question that Jesus asked. 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:19.600 What do you want me to do for you? 00:35:20.620 --> 00:35:25.579 It's verbatim what Jesus asked James and John in verse 36. 00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:27.920 Look at it while you've got your Bible open there. 00:35:29.220 --> 00:35:32.300 Remember they said we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you. 00:35:32.360 --> 00:35:35.120 And he said to them, what do you want me to do for you? 00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:40.659 But the responses between the brothers and Bartimaeus are worlds apart here. 00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:45.679 The brothers' request was extravagant. 00:35:46.599 --> 00:35:47.880 Bartimaeus' was humble. 00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:52.139 James and John wanted glory and power in the kingdom. 00:35:53.880 --> 00:35:55.460 Bartimaeus just wanted to see. 00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:59.300 I'm not asking you for a throne. 00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:00.760 I just want to see, Lord. 00:36:01.460 --> 00:36:02.840 Will you help me see? 00:36:03.579 --> 00:36:07.039 It's amazing how our prayers and our requests to God will change 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:09.099 when we recognize our true condition 00:36:09.099 --> 00:36:11.519 and what he can do to meet them. 00:36:12.740 --> 00:36:14.059 I just want to see, Lord. 00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:15.880 It's a humble faith. 00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:20.860 Our kids are learning a song in their discipleship class right now called 00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:22.619 With Simple Faith. 00:36:22.619 --> 00:36:26.219 Oh, listen, hear the Savior call. 00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:29.679 He welcomes now the least of these. 00:36:30.639 --> 00:36:33.159 His mercies are a fountain full. 00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:36.599 Oh, precious sinner, come and drink. 00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:38.739 Only trust him. 00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:40.579 Only trust him. 00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:42.539 Turn to Jesus now. 00:36:43.239 --> 00:36:44.380 He will save you. 00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:46.000 He will save you. 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:47.940 With Simple Faith. 00:36:48.440 --> 00:36:50.559 With Love and Grace. 00:36:51.099 --> 00:36:54.340 With Simple Faith and Childlike Trust. 00:36:55.039 --> 00:36:56.219 Finally, we're done. 00:36:56.880 --> 00:36:58.659 Notice his miraculous healings. 00:36:59.539 --> 00:37:01.300 Notice healings is plural here. 00:37:02.219 --> 00:37:02.960 Verse 52. 00:37:04.440 --> 00:37:05.659 Jesus said to him, 00:37:05.739 --> 00:37:06.420 Go your way. 00:37:07.300 --> 00:37:09.059 Your faith has made you well. 00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:14.519 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. 00:37:16.820 --> 00:37:19.880 Bartimaeus received much more from Jesus than he anticipated. 00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:23.559 There were two healings in one moment. 00:37:24.779 --> 00:37:27.559 The first was he recovered his sight. 00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:29.159 Says it plainly. 00:37:30.199 --> 00:37:31.779 Immediately he recovered his sight. 00:37:31.940 --> 00:37:32.460 He could see. 00:37:33.179 --> 00:37:34.860 Perhaps for the first time in his life. 00:37:35.299 --> 00:37:35.880 He could see. 00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:39.519 But there was a spiritual healing here. 00:37:42.059 --> 00:37:43.480 Jesus uses this phrase. 00:37:43.579 --> 00:37:46.900 It's the same phrase he used for the woman with the hemorrhage in chapter 5. 00:37:47.480 --> 00:37:49.019 Your faith has made you well. 00:37:49.140 --> 00:37:50.680 Your faith has saved you. 00:37:51.360 --> 00:37:53.579 There's a double meaning to the word that's used here. 00:37:53.680 --> 00:37:55.380 And it's emphasized in the Gospels. 00:37:55.860 --> 00:37:58.140 He's not only referring to his physical sight. 00:37:58.340 --> 00:38:00.700 He's referring to his spiritual salvation here. 00:38:01.200 --> 00:38:04.260 And we know that that's true because of the way Bartimaeus responded. 00:38:04.260 --> 00:38:06.040 Now think about this. 00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:08.240 You've been blind your whole life perhaps. 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:10.180 Jesus comes by. 00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:12.160 And he heals your sight. 00:38:12.220 --> 00:38:13.560 You can see for the first time. 00:38:14.600 --> 00:38:15.620 What do you do then? 00:38:17.140 --> 00:38:18.180 Run around the city. 00:38:18.820 --> 00:38:21.820 See all the things that could only be described to you up to that point. 00:38:22.600 --> 00:38:23.880 It's not what Bartimaeus does. 00:38:24.740 --> 00:38:25.280 What does he do? 00:38:26.840 --> 00:38:29.700 He followed him on the way. 00:38:29.699 --> 00:38:33.879 A sign of a true disciple. 00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:36.619 There was a real change. 00:38:37.919 --> 00:38:39.219 This was salvation. 00:38:41.019 --> 00:38:43.279 And it's a picture that Mark wants us to see. 00:38:44.659 --> 00:38:48.659 When Jesus calls and we answer him in faith, 00:38:49.159 --> 00:38:51.599 we follow him on the way. 00:38:52.059 --> 00:38:53.799 That's what a true disciple does. 00:38:53.800 --> 00:38:56.539 James Edwards says this. 00:38:56.640 --> 00:38:57.680 I find it helpful. 00:38:58.620 --> 00:39:02.220 Jesus has transformed Bartimaeus from a beggar beside the road 00:39:02.220 --> 00:39:04.840 to a disciple on the road. 00:39:05.960 --> 00:39:09.600 Faith that does not lead to discipleship is not saving faith. 00:39:10.680 --> 00:39:14.080 Whoever asks of Jesus must be willing to follow Jesus, 00:39:14.320 --> 00:39:18.120 even on the uphill road to the cross. 00:39:18.119 --> 00:39:23.839 And I think the most appropriate way for us to conclude our study today 00:39:23.839 --> 00:39:25.759 is with a question. 00:39:26.659 --> 00:39:27.420 Here it is. 00:39:29.359 --> 00:39:30.639 Can you see? 00:39:32.759 --> 00:39:33.699 Can you see? 00:39:34.679 --> 00:39:36.019 I know you can see me. 00:39:36.940 --> 00:39:39.259 But do you have the eyes of faith? 00:39:40.099 --> 00:39:42.039 And I want you to consider something as we close. 00:39:43.779 --> 00:39:46.739 Jesus never passed through Jericho again after that day. 00:39:46.739 --> 00:39:49.299 He went to Jerusalem. 00:39:50.199 --> 00:39:51.099 He died. 00:39:51.500 --> 00:39:52.559 He rose from the dead. 00:39:52.959 --> 00:39:55.219 We see him in Galilee and in Jerusalem. 00:39:55.559 --> 00:39:56.039 That's it. 00:39:56.159 --> 00:39:57.519 He's not going back to Jericho. 00:40:00.799 --> 00:40:04.099 This was Bartimaeus' only opportunity 00:40:04.099 --> 00:40:06.859 to cry out to Jesus for mercy. 00:40:08.579 --> 00:40:10.919 And the truth is that we can't be sure 00:40:10.919 --> 00:40:15.000 ever to have the truth of Jesus and his gospel 00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:17.480 pass us by at another time. 00:40:19.340 --> 00:40:20.880 But through his word, 00:40:21.619 --> 00:40:23.059 he's calling you. 00:40:25.260 --> 00:40:26.960 What a shame it would be 00:40:26.960 --> 00:40:30.320 to remain begging on the side of the road 00:40:30.320 --> 00:40:33.860 while the Savior is calling for you to follow him 00:40:33.860 --> 00:40:35.900 and receive his grace. 00:40:37.039 --> 00:40:38.039 He loves you. 00:40:38.039 --> 00:40:40.659 He's calling you. 00:40:42.820 --> 00:40:43.920 Won't you come? 00:40:44.980 --> 00:40:45.860 Won't you come? 00:40:45.860 --> 00:40:45.900 Won't you come?