WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.419
 Luke 18, 31, 23.

00:00:03.220 --> 00:00:04.240
 Who's your hero?

00:00:05.240 --> 00:00:06.200
 Who's your hero?

00:00:08.339 --> 00:00:10.080
 Mine is supposed to be Ryan Giggs, really.

00:00:10.439 --> 00:00:11.240
! He is my older brother.

00:00:12.460 --> 00:00:14.099
 But I wonder who do you want to be like, isn't it?

00:00:14.099 --> 00:00:16.219
 As long as Ryan Giggs is playing professional sport,

00:00:16.300 --> 00:00:17.300
 I think there's hope for me.

00:00:17.820 --> 00:00:20.440
 There's hope for me. I hope he doesn't retire this summer.

00:00:20.839 --> 00:00:22.460
 But I wonder who you model yourself on.

00:00:23.019 --> 00:00:24.440
 You can often tell with a preacher.

00:00:24.859 --> 00:00:26.539
 Very often. Who do they model

00:00:26.539 --> 00:00:28.339
 themselves on?

00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:29.519
 Who do you want to be like?

00:00:30.280 --> 00:00:32.240
 So you school children, you're at an age, aren't you,

00:00:32.299 --> 00:00:34.119
 where lots of you go to parties.

00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:36.320
 So you have a princess party.

00:00:36.619 --> 00:00:38.620
 Or maybe you have a superheroes party.

00:00:39.560 --> 00:00:40.399
 And some will come as

00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:42.120
 Spider-Man, some will come as

00:00:42.120 --> 00:00:44.280
 Superman, or

00:00:44.280 --> 00:00:46.000
 Spider-Man, or Banana-Man.

00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:47.719
 Because they want to be heroes.

00:00:48.379 --> 00:00:50.299
 In the church that I worked in, as an assistant,

00:00:50.460 --> 00:00:52.519
 there was a child who had a Bible Heroes

00:00:52.519 --> 00:00:53.359
 birthday party.

00:00:54.280 --> 00:00:56.159
 And so children came as their Bible Heroes.

00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:58.200
 It was a wonderful sight. There was little

00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:00.540
 John the Baptist, in his camel hairs outfit.

00:01:01.179 --> 00:01:02.940
 There was Gideon with his jawbone.

00:01:03.500 --> 00:01:05.480
 There was Elijah calling fire down from heaven.

00:01:05.620 --> 00:01:06.700
 David with his sling.

00:01:07.939 --> 00:01:09.799
 And one boy came as Daniel with his collection of

00:01:09.799 --> 00:01:10.799
 thoughts off fairy lines.

00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:12.320
 I wanted Claire and I to go to Samson.

00:01:12.960 --> 00:01:14.960
 I would go to Samson and she would come to

00:01:14.960 --> 00:01:15.439
 the ice about it.

00:01:15.520 --> 00:01:17.060
 But that probably wouldn't be appropriate.

00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:19.439
 But nobody,

00:01:19.820 --> 00:01:20.620
 nobody,

00:01:20.620 --> 00:01:22.920
 nobody came as the blind bagger.

00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:24.719
 Nobody came

00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:26.579
 as the blind bagger.

00:01:28.359 --> 00:01:29.280
 It would be interesting, wouldn't it,

00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:30.120
 if I asked you this morning,

00:01:30.200 --> 00:01:31.040
 who was your Bible hero?

00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:32.920
 I doubt would you say it was the blind bagger.

00:01:34.500 --> 00:01:35.359
 He's not the kind of man

00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:36.219
 we want to be, is he?

00:01:39.099 --> 00:01:40.140
 But in Luke 18,

00:01:41.020 --> 00:01:42.099
 as I studied it,

00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:43.540
 Luke 18 tells us very much

00:01:43.540 --> 00:01:45.159
 that all of us should want to be the blind bagger.

00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:47.700
 Now all the usual

00:01:47.700 --> 00:01:49.700
 suspects

00:01:49.700 --> 00:01:51.659
 are there in Luke 18,

00:01:51.759 --> 00:01:52.119
 isn't it?

00:01:52.939 --> 00:01:54.379
 All sorts of life

00:01:54.379 --> 00:01:55.439
 is there.

00:01:56.159 --> 00:01:57.219
 We've seen that, haven't we?

00:01:57.239 --> 00:01:58.439
 The rich and the poor,

00:01:59.479 --> 00:02:00.899
 the children

00:02:00.899 --> 00:02:02.079
 and the old,

00:02:03.060 --> 00:02:03.759
 the crooked

00:02:03.759 --> 00:02:06.379
 and the pillars of society.

00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:07.179
 They're all there.

00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:08.300
 And as we come

00:02:08.300 --> 00:02:10.079
 to the end of Luke chapter 18,

00:02:10.500 --> 00:02:11.319
 the end of the chapter,

00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:12.060
 which is 35

00:02:12.060 --> 00:02:13.960
 to 43,

00:02:13.960 --> 00:02:15.580
 is really the kind of example

00:02:15.580 --> 00:02:16.500
 par excellence

00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:17.580
 of what Jesus

00:02:17.580 --> 00:02:18.760
 has been teaching.

00:02:19.020 --> 00:02:19.540
 It is a

00:02:19.540 --> 00:02:21.320
 bog standard day

00:02:21.320 --> 00:02:22.500
 in the life of Jesus

00:02:22.500 --> 00:02:23.460
 in Luke 18.

00:02:24.460 --> 00:02:25.420
 And it's the kind of thing

00:02:25.420 --> 00:02:26.240
 we expect him to do,

00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:26.460
 isn't it?

00:02:26.480 --> 00:02:27.340
 We expect Jesus

00:02:27.340 --> 00:02:28.879
 to heal a blind man.

00:02:29.620 --> 00:02:30.420
 For those of us

00:02:30.420 --> 00:02:31.219
 who know our Bibles,

00:02:31.300 --> 00:02:32.140
 it's just the thing

00:02:32.140 --> 00:02:33.360
 that Jesus does.

00:02:34.060 --> 00:02:34.659
 But maybe,

00:02:34.819 --> 00:02:35.860
 as we've read this chapter

00:02:35.860 --> 00:02:36.640
 again and again,

00:02:36.740 --> 00:02:37.580
 as we've got to know

00:02:37.580 --> 00:02:39.439
 this story of blind Bartimaeus,

00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:40.539
 the beauty

00:02:40.539 --> 00:02:42.340
 and the incredible drama

00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:43.520
 of what happens

00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:44.079
 is lost.

00:02:44.419 --> 00:02:45.079
 So let's just look

00:02:45.079 --> 00:02:45.699
 at it again.

00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:46.960
 A blind man

00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:47.919
 is made to see.

00:02:49.419 --> 00:02:50.819
 A man speaks.

00:02:51.900 --> 00:02:53.020
 And by this man,

00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:54.400
 another man saw.

00:02:54.979 --> 00:02:56.000
 There's a blind beggar in healing.

00:02:56.060 --> 00:02:56.460
 He's not there

00:02:56.460 --> 00:02:57.060
 as much anymore.

00:02:57.960 --> 00:02:58.860
 But if I went up to him

00:02:58.860 --> 00:03:00.099
 and spoke to him

00:03:00.099 --> 00:03:02.800
 and he was made to see,

00:03:03.300 --> 00:03:04.240
 I guarantee you

00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:04.979
 that would make the healing

00:03:04.979 --> 00:03:05.319
 desert,

00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:05.759
 wouldn't it?

00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:08.599
 Even on the surface,

00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:11.299
 this blind man

00:03:11.299 --> 00:03:13.259
 was made to see

00:03:13.259 --> 00:03:14.259
 by another person

00:03:14.259 --> 00:03:14.859
 speaking.

00:03:15.399 --> 00:03:16.479
 It is mind-boggling.

00:03:17.239 --> 00:03:18.120
 It is incredible.

00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:20.519
 The blind being made to see.

00:03:21.620 --> 00:03:21.959
 And yet,

00:03:22.060 --> 00:03:23.239
 there's far, far more here.

00:03:23.799 --> 00:03:25.280
 There's far, far more here

00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:27.259
 than just this amazing miracle.

00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:30.359
 It is a passage

00:03:30.359 --> 00:03:31.659
 which is full of paradox.

00:03:32.500 --> 00:03:33.799
 It is full of two truths

00:03:33.799 --> 00:03:35.079
 which seem to contradict

00:03:35.079 --> 00:03:35.680
 each other.

00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:36.759
 And yet,

00:03:37.139 --> 00:03:37.639
 are true.

00:03:37.979 --> 00:03:38.899
 Two truths which are

00:03:38.899 --> 00:03:40.780
 opposed to common sense

00:03:40.780 --> 00:03:43.319
 but nevertheless are true.

00:03:44.019 --> 00:03:44.780
 So let's look at them.

00:03:45.079 --> 00:03:45.639
 First of all,

00:03:45.679 --> 00:03:46.959
 in verses 35 to 7,

00:03:47.299 --> 00:03:47.939
 we see

00:03:47.939 --> 00:03:49.419
 a blind man

00:03:49.419 --> 00:03:50.179
 who could see.

00:03:50.340 --> 00:03:51.479
 That's the first paradox.

00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:53.099
 A blind man

00:03:53.099 --> 00:03:54.199
 who could see.

00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:55.219
 As he drew near,

00:03:55.299 --> 00:03:56.299
 Jesus drew near to Jericho,

00:03:56.379 --> 00:03:57.219
 a blind man was sitting

00:03:57.219 --> 00:03:58.139
 by the roadside begging

00:03:58.139 --> 00:03:59.299
 and hearing a crowd

00:03:59.299 --> 00:03:59.759
 going by,

00:03:59.859 --> 00:04:00.859
 he inquired what this meant.

00:04:01.139 --> 00:04:01.680
 They told him,

00:04:01.739 --> 00:04:02.579
 Jesus of Nazareth

00:04:02.579 --> 00:04:03.299
 is passing by.

00:04:03.359 --> 00:04:04.399
 It's an ordinary day

00:04:04.399 --> 00:04:05.120
 at the gate.

00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:05.980
 There's nothing unusual

00:04:05.980 --> 00:04:06.800
 about it at all.

00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:08.879
 There's a blind man there.

00:04:08.900 --> 00:04:09.800
 There's probably actually

00:04:09.800 --> 00:04:11.099
 several blind men there.

00:04:11.719 --> 00:04:12.819
 That was the custom of the day.

00:04:13.099 --> 00:04:14.360
 People who were paralysed,

00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:15.759
 they had no other way

00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:16.620
 to make a living.

00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:18.340
 Blind people would sit

00:04:18.340 --> 00:04:18.780
 at the gate

00:04:18.779 --> 00:04:19.819
 and travellers who came

00:04:19.819 --> 00:04:20.639
 through Jerusalem

00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:21.679
 or other cities,

00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:22.559
 they would beg.

00:04:23.559 --> 00:04:24.259
 Maybe the traveller

00:04:24.259 --> 00:04:25.239
 would throw them a coin.

00:04:25.859 --> 00:04:27.099
 It's an ordinary day

00:04:27.099 --> 00:04:27.819
 at the gate.

00:04:28.059 --> 00:04:28.919
 But the blind man,

00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:30.019
 he hears a commotion

00:04:30.019 --> 00:04:31.559
 and he hears what he knows

00:04:31.559 --> 00:04:32.379
 must be a crowd

00:04:32.379 --> 00:04:34.239
 and he asks the normal question.

00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:34.979
 He asks,

00:04:35.059 --> 00:04:35.799
 what's going on?

00:04:36.559 --> 00:04:37.039
 He asks,

00:04:37.119 --> 00:04:38.019
 what's happening here?

00:04:38.619 --> 00:04:39.619
 And they say to him,

00:04:39.619 --> 00:04:39.959
 don't they?

00:04:40.159 --> 00:04:40.899
 They say to him,

00:04:40.939 --> 00:04:41.899
 verse 37,

00:04:41.899 --> 00:04:43.879
 Jesus of Nazareth

00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:45.579
 is passing by.

00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:47.079
 The teacher

00:04:47.079 --> 00:04:48.319
 from Nazareth,

00:04:48.419 --> 00:04:49.060
 the rabbi

00:04:49.060 --> 00:04:49.779
 from Nazareth

00:04:49.779 --> 00:04:50.799
 is coming to town.

00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:51.919
 And immediately

00:04:51.919 --> 00:04:53.359
 the blind man cries out,

00:04:53.419 --> 00:04:54.179
 do you see it?

00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:55.219
 Verse 38,

00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:55.899
 Jesus,

00:04:56.120 --> 00:04:57.120
 son of David.

00:04:59.079 --> 00:04:59.719
 Jesus,

00:04:59.959 --> 00:05:00.879
 son of David,

00:05:00.979 --> 00:05:02.000
 he began to shout.

00:05:03.679 --> 00:05:04.279
 Jesus,

00:05:04.419 --> 00:05:05.019
 son of David,

00:05:05.239 --> 00:05:06.719
 have mercy on me.

00:05:06.900 --> 00:05:07.840
 But they didn't say that,

00:05:07.900 --> 00:05:08.180
 did they?

00:05:09.520 --> 00:05:10.400
 They didn't say,

00:05:10.520 --> 00:05:10.820
 Jesus,

00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:11.740
 son of David,

00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:12.700
 is coming to town.

00:05:12.980 --> 00:05:13.600
 They said,

00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:15.380
 Jesus of Nazareth

00:05:15.380 --> 00:05:16.300
 is coming to town.

00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:18.180
 Do you notice the difference?

00:05:18.460 --> 00:05:19.480
 The crowd identified

00:05:19.480 --> 00:05:20.780
 Jesus geographically.

00:05:21.620 --> 00:05:22.700
 But the blind man

00:05:22.700 --> 00:05:23.640
 identifies Jesus

00:05:23.640 --> 00:05:24.400
 theologically.

00:05:24.580 --> 00:05:25.560
 He calls him Jesus,

00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:26.780
 the son of David.

00:05:27.140 --> 00:05:27.880
 And in fact,

00:05:28.760 --> 00:05:30.160
 it's a statement of faith.

00:05:32.140 --> 00:05:32.620
 In fact,

00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:33.480
 this blind man

00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:34.800
 is the first person,

00:05:34.940 --> 00:05:35.820
 apart from the angel,

00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:37.339
 to use this title of Jesus.

00:05:37.819 --> 00:05:39.560
 He recognizes who Jesus is.

00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:40.699
 All of Israel

00:05:40.699 --> 00:05:42.000
 was looking for the Messiah.

00:05:42.420 --> 00:05:43.240
 All of Israel

00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:43.920
 was looking for

00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:44.719
 the son of David.

00:05:45.180 --> 00:05:45.920
 The Old Testament

00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:47.540
 was full of prophecies

00:05:47.540 --> 00:05:48.659
 and teaching

00:05:48.659 --> 00:05:49.719
 about the coming king,

00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:50.939
 the coming Messiah.

00:05:51.259 --> 00:05:51.680
 They said,

00:05:51.819 --> 00:05:53.079
 over and over again,

00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:54.680
 he will be of the lineage

00:05:54.680 --> 00:05:56.800
 of Israel's greatest king.

00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:58.420
 He would be of the lineage

00:05:58.420 --> 00:05:59.439
 of David.

00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:00.219
 So look,

00:06:00.360 --> 00:06:01.740
 the most famous one of that,

00:06:01.819 --> 00:06:03.180
 it's Isaiah chapter 11,

00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:04.339
 and verse 11.

00:06:04.339 --> 00:06:06.000
 Let me read it to you.

00:06:06.060 --> 00:06:06.819
 You can go there if you want.

00:06:07.359 --> 00:06:08.459
 Isaiah chapter 11,

00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:09.139
 and verse 11.

00:06:09.719 --> 00:06:11.000
 You'll know this verse.

00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:12.879
 11 verse 1.

00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:13.479
 It says,

00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:14.500
 There shall come forth

00:06:14.500 --> 00:06:16.439
 a shoot from the stump

00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:17.359
 of Jesse,

00:06:18.359 --> 00:06:19.000
 David's father.

00:06:19.799 --> 00:06:21.679
 And a branch from his roots

00:06:21.679 --> 00:06:23.319
 will bear fruit.

00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:24.719
 Jesse was David's father.

00:06:25.719 --> 00:06:26.859
 And here was the stump,

00:06:26.979 --> 00:06:28.839
 the lineage of King David's life.

00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:30.819
 That was cut off.

00:06:31.859 --> 00:06:32.799
 That was cut off.

00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:35.540
 The tree of Jesse

00:06:35.540 --> 00:06:36.840
 is cut down,

00:06:37.139 --> 00:06:38.379
 and they think it's all over.

00:06:39.639 --> 00:06:40.439
 But it's not.

00:06:43.259 --> 00:06:44.180
 No more kings

00:06:44.180 --> 00:06:45.680
 when Babylon would conquer.

00:06:46.780 --> 00:06:47.900
 And there'll only be a stump

00:06:47.900 --> 00:06:48.819
 in the fields

00:06:48.819 --> 00:06:50.580
 of what it used to be.

00:06:51.819 --> 00:06:52.560
 But a shoot

00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:53.660
 is going to come out

00:06:53.660 --> 00:06:54.199
 of that stump.

00:06:54.259 --> 00:06:55.199
 It's a beautiful little picture.

00:06:55.720 --> 00:06:56.939
 And from that shoot,

00:06:57.580 --> 00:06:58.199
 well, it will grow

00:06:58.199 --> 00:06:58.939
 into the greatest tree

00:06:58.939 --> 00:06:59.540
 of all, won't it?

00:06:59.540 --> 00:07:02.640
 A branch that will bear fruit.

00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:03.680
 So you have a tree

00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:04.160
 in a field

00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:05.060
 that is cut down,

00:07:05.280 --> 00:07:05.840
 and a stump.

00:07:05.960 --> 00:07:06.819
 It looks like the tree

00:07:06.819 --> 00:07:07.819
 is dead and buried.

00:07:09.620 --> 00:07:11.480
 But from this old stump,

00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:13.600
 this new root

00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:14.600
 will come out.

00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:18.860
 You know Isaiah chapter 9.

00:07:20.200 --> 00:07:21.140
 Isaiah chapter 9.

00:07:21.200 --> 00:07:21.680
 We read it

00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:22.860
 every Christmas time,

00:07:22.920 --> 00:07:23.240
 don't we?

00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:25.180
 Isaiah chapter 9.

00:07:26.180 --> 00:07:26.680
 For unto us

00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:27.500
 a child is born,

00:07:28.519 --> 00:07:29.019
 and to us

00:07:29.019 --> 00:07:29.660
 a son is given,

00:07:29.740 --> 00:07:30.199
 and the government

00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:31.319
 will be upon his shoulders.

00:07:32.540 --> 00:07:33.220
 And he will be called

00:07:33.220 --> 00:07:34.280
 Wonderful Counselor,

00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:35.199
 Mighty God,

00:07:35.280 --> 00:07:36.300
 the Everlasting Father,

00:07:36.420 --> 00:07:37.139
 Prince of Peace,

00:07:37.420 --> 00:07:38.180
 and of the increase

00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:38.780
 of his government

00:07:38.780 --> 00:07:39.900
 there shall be no end.

00:07:40.280 --> 00:07:40.680
 Where?

00:07:41.400 --> 00:07:42.460
 On David's throne.

00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:44.819
 The crowds

00:07:44.819 --> 00:07:45.600
 did not say

00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:46.480
 Son of David,

00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:47.280
 they said

00:07:47.280 --> 00:07:48.460
 Jesus of Nazareth.

00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:49.420
 But this man

00:07:49.420 --> 00:07:50.620
 shouts in faith,

00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:51.180
 Jesus,

00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:52.280
 Son of David,

00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:53.279
 have mercy.

00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:55.859
 How did he know

00:07:55.859 --> 00:07:56.719
 he was the son of David?

00:07:57.979 --> 00:07:59.039
 How did he know that?

00:08:00.719 --> 00:08:01.719
 Well because Jesus

00:08:01.719 --> 00:08:03.299
 was doing exactly

00:08:03.299 --> 00:08:05.079
 what the prophet

00:08:05.079 --> 00:08:05.819
 had told him to do.

00:08:05.859 --> 00:08:06.359
 Let me read to you

00:08:06.359 --> 00:08:07.159
 from Isaiah again,

00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:08.159
 Isaiah 35,

00:08:09.339 --> 00:08:10.459
 and verses 4 and 5

00:08:10.459 --> 00:08:11.579
 as he spoke of the Messiah.

00:08:12.299 --> 00:08:13.099
 Say to those

00:08:13.099 --> 00:08:14.000
 who have an anxious heart,

00:08:14.379 --> 00:08:14.859
 Be strong,

00:08:14.979 --> 00:08:15.419
 fear not,

00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:16.099
 Isaiah says.

00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:16.799
 Behold,

00:08:16.859 --> 00:08:17.579
 your God will come

00:08:17.579 --> 00:08:18.159
 with vengeance.

00:08:18.479 --> 00:08:19.419
 With the recompense

00:08:19.419 --> 00:08:19.899
 of God,

00:08:20.119 --> 00:08:21.259
 he will come and save you.

00:08:21.299 --> 00:08:21.939
 And then here it is,

00:08:21.939 --> 00:08:22.579
 verse 5,

00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:24.259
 Then the eyes

00:08:24.259 --> 00:08:24.959
 of the blind

00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:25.839
 shall be opened,

00:08:26.719 --> 00:08:27.500
 and the ears

00:08:27.500 --> 00:08:28.219
 of the deaf

00:08:28.219 --> 00:08:29.019
 and stopped.

00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:30.579
 Then shall the lame

00:08:30.579 --> 00:08:31.860
 man leap like a deer,

00:08:32.460 --> 00:08:33.139
 and the tongue

00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:33.720
 of the mute

00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:35.279
 sing for joy.

00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:37.100
 He will make

00:08:37.100 --> 00:08:37.919
 the blind see,

00:08:38.539 --> 00:08:39.139
 he will make

00:08:39.139 --> 00:08:40.039
 the deaf to hear,

00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:41.200
 he will make

00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:42.220
 the lame to run.

00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:44.039
 That's the work

00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:45.019
 of the Messiah.

00:08:45.980 --> 00:08:46.179
 Do you remember

00:08:46.179 --> 00:08:46.759
 John the Baptist

00:08:46.759 --> 00:08:47.240
 earlier on

00:08:47.240 --> 00:08:47.879
 in Luke's Gospel?

00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:49.259
 And he begins

00:08:49.259 --> 00:08:50.200
 to have second thoughts,

00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:50.559
 doesn't he,

00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:51.240
 about whether

00:08:51.240 --> 00:08:52.059
 Jesus is the one.

00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:52.919
 So he sends

00:08:52.919 --> 00:08:53.519
 his messengers

00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:54.139
 from prison,

00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:54.960
 and he says,

00:08:55.059 --> 00:08:55.899
 Are you the one,

00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:57.279
 or should we look

00:08:57.279 --> 00:08:57.759
 for another?

00:08:59.100 --> 00:09:00.179
 And Jesus sends

00:09:00.179 --> 00:09:01.059
 back a message,

00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:01.460
 doesn't he?

00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:01.980
 He says,

00:09:02.059 --> 00:09:02.759
 You go and tell

00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:03.439
 John what you've

00:09:03.439 --> 00:09:04.179
 seen and heard.

00:09:04.580 --> 00:09:05.480
 The blind receive

00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:06.080
 their sight,

00:09:06.419 --> 00:09:07.360
 the lame walk,

00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:08.740
 the lepers are cleansed,

00:09:08.980 --> 00:09:09.820
 the deaf hear,

00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:11.019
 the dead are raised,

00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:11.820
 and the poor of good

00:09:11.820 --> 00:09:12.700
 who is preached to them.

00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:15.800
 The dead are raised.

00:09:17.340 --> 00:09:17.900
 John the Baptist

00:09:17.900 --> 00:09:18.980
 would know Isaiah's

00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:19.400
 prophecy.

00:09:21.160 --> 00:09:22.240
 And John would smile.

00:09:23.800 --> 00:09:24.680
 And John would say,

00:09:24.920 --> 00:09:25.759
 The kingdom has come.

00:09:26.780 --> 00:09:27.540
 The son of David

00:09:27.540 --> 00:09:28.140
 has arrived.

00:09:29.640 --> 00:09:30.340
 So let's go back

00:09:30.340 --> 00:09:31.360
 to that gate

00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:33.280
 outside Jericho.

00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:33.900
 Let's imagine

00:09:33.900 --> 00:09:34.800
 you're that blind man.

00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:36.879
 You've been in darkness

00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:37.900
 probably a whole life.

00:09:39.259 --> 00:09:40.140
 And you've been hearing

00:09:40.140 --> 00:09:40.920
 for two years

00:09:40.920 --> 00:09:41.680
 about a man

00:09:41.680 --> 00:09:42.580
 from Nazareth

00:09:42.580 --> 00:09:43.560
 a rabbi.

00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:44.220
 You've heard about

00:09:44.220 --> 00:09:44.860
 his teaching.

00:09:45.020 --> 00:09:45.540
 No one ever

00:09:45.540 --> 00:09:46.660
 talked like this man.

00:09:47.940 --> 00:09:48.560
 You've heard that

00:09:48.560 --> 00:09:49.400
 his name is Jesus,

00:09:49.540 --> 00:09:50.139
 which is a pretty

00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:51.139
 common name.

00:09:52.100 --> 00:09:52.740
 But you know that

00:09:52.740 --> 00:09:53.480
 his behaviour is

00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:54.460
 anything but common.

00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:56.040
 You've heard that

00:09:56.040 --> 00:09:56.440
 this man,

00:09:56.520 --> 00:09:57.360
 Jesus of Nazareth,

00:09:57.680 --> 00:09:58.759
 he's made the blind

00:09:58.759 --> 00:09:59.220
 to see,

00:09:59.340 --> 00:10:00.200
 he's made the lame

00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:00.840
 to walk,

00:10:01.180 --> 00:10:02.379
 he's raised the dead.

00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:03.440
 So what are you thinking?

00:10:04.660 --> 00:10:05.540
 What are you thinking?

00:10:07.040 --> 00:10:07.700
 You hear he's

00:10:07.700 --> 00:10:08.340
 coming to town,

00:10:08.660 --> 00:10:09.280
 you hear he's

00:10:09.280 --> 00:10:09.640
 nearby,

00:10:10.259 --> 00:10:10.840
 you think this is

00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:11.420
 my chance.

00:10:12.580 --> 00:10:13.080
 And you're thinking

00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:14.300
 this is the son of David.

00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:15.920
 Is he the Messiah?

00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:16.960
 Is this him?

00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:18.700
 And you see,

00:10:18.860 --> 00:10:19.840
 he was blind,

00:10:19.980 --> 00:10:20.320
 wasn't he,

00:10:20.340 --> 00:10:21.220
 this blind man?

00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:22.660
 But he could see

00:10:22.660 --> 00:10:23.460
 far more than the

00:10:23.460 --> 00:10:24.259
 folks in the crowd.

00:10:25.300 --> 00:10:26.040
 He could see

00:10:26.040 --> 00:10:27.160
 better than the Pharisees,

00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:27.860
 he could see

00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:28.900
 better than the Sadducees,

00:10:28.900 --> 00:10:29.820
 he could see that

00:10:29.820 --> 00:10:31.220
 Jesus was Messiah.

00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:34.060
 And maybe,

00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:34.980
 just maybe,

00:10:35.540 --> 00:10:36.759
 he wouldn't have seen

00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:37.800
 as much

00:10:37.800 --> 00:10:39.800
 unless he was blind.

00:10:41.500 --> 00:10:43.440
 Maybe it is his blindness

00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:45.180
 that has given him

00:10:45.180 --> 00:10:45.759
 his sight.

00:10:47.040 --> 00:10:47.360
 Keller,

00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:49.259
 Helen Keller,

00:10:49.460 --> 00:10:49.779
 that is,

00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:51.180
 said,

00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:52.440
 better to be blind

00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:54.120
 and see

00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:56.279
 than to be able to see

00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:57.860
 and be blind.

00:10:59.319 --> 00:11:00.399
 Better to be blind

00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:01.220
 and see

00:11:01.220 --> 00:11:03.259
 than to be able to see

00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:04.740
 and be blind.

00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:06.620
 And the Pharisees

00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:07.000
 could see,

00:11:07.079 --> 00:11:07.379
 couldn't they?

00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:08.919
 They have seen Jesus,

00:11:09.779 --> 00:11:10.779
 they have seen Jesus

00:11:10.779 --> 00:11:11.740
 make the blind see

00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:12.419
 and the deaf hear.

00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:13.759
 They had seen him

00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:14.819
 raise to the dead,

00:11:14.919 --> 00:11:15.980
 but they didn't see him

00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:16.819
 as Messiah.

00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:19.779
 But the blind man did.

00:11:19.779 --> 00:11:23.419
 He was the Jesus,

00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:24.299
 son of David.

00:11:24.299 --> 00:11:26.959
 you're the one.

00:11:28.259 --> 00:11:29.039
 Lots of jumping around.

00:11:29.099 --> 00:11:30.219
 Come with me to John chapter 9.

00:11:30.419 --> 00:11:31.719
 It's the next book

00:11:31.719 --> 00:11:32.359
 in the Bible along.

00:11:32.439 --> 00:11:33.159
 John chapter 9,

00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:33.959
 verse 39.

00:11:37.099 --> 00:11:38.459
 It's on page 896

00:11:38.459 --> 00:11:39.379
 in the Church Bibles.

00:11:40.819 --> 00:11:41.899
 And he says this.

00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:44.399
 Jesus says,

00:11:44.459 --> 00:11:45.240
 For judgment I came

00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:45.959
 into this world

00:11:45.959 --> 00:11:48.939
 that those who do not see

00:11:48.939 --> 00:11:50.120
 may see

00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:53.419
 and those who see

00:11:53.419 --> 00:11:55.279
 may become blind.

00:11:57.339 --> 00:11:58.479
 Some of the Pharisees

00:11:58.479 --> 00:12:00.099
 heard him say these things

00:12:00.099 --> 00:12:00.299
 and said,

00:12:00.419 --> 00:12:01.559
 Well, are we also blind?

00:12:01.659 --> 00:12:02.279
 Jesus said to them,

00:12:02.479 --> 00:12:03.219
 If you were blind

00:12:03.219 --> 00:12:04.019
 you would have no guilt.

00:12:05.559 --> 00:12:06.879
 But now that you've saved

00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:07.519
 we see,

00:12:07.719 --> 00:12:08.579
 their guilt remains.

00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:11.059
 Jesus was saying,

00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:11.439
 wasn't he,

00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:11.879
 to them,

00:12:12.219 --> 00:12:13.159
 You Pharisees

00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:14.240
 do not see yourselves

00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:14.719
 as sinners.

00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:15.779
 You do not see yourself

00:12:15.779 --> 00:12:16.500
 as being blind.

00:12:16.579 --> 00:12:17.519
 You think you can see.

00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:19.360
 You don't see yourself

00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:20.179
 as being helpless.

00:12:20.179 --> 00:12:21.659
 And Jesus was saying,

00:12:21.899 --> 00:12:23.439
 If you understood yourself

00:12:23.439 --> 00:12:24.500
 as helpless,

00:12:24.839 --> 00:12:25.559
 as a sinner,

00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:26.399
 I could save you.

00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:27.899
 If you understood yourself

00:12:27.899 --> 00:12:29.099
 as being blind,

00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:30.479
 I could make you see.

00:12:30.719 --> 00:12:31.659
 But we don't like that,

00:12:31.739 --> 00:12:31.979
 do we?

00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:34.539
 We don't want to be

00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:35.159
 the blind man.

00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:37.279
 And Luke,

00:12:37.459 --> 00:12:38.239
 in his account,

00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:38.739
 in Luke 18,

00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:40.059
 is drawing a great contrast.

00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:41.399
 He is drawing a contrast

00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:42.599
 between the disciples

00:12:42.599 --> 00:12:44.539
 and the blind man.

00:12:45.719 --> 00:12:46.539
 So Scott Reddard,

00:12:46.579 --> 00:12:47.319
 did you pick that up?

00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:49.020
 That immediately before,

00:12:49.300 --> 00:12:50.820
 he's spoken of the son of man

00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:51.780
 who must suffer,

00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:53.020
 who must be killed,

00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:54.960
 who they will spit on,

00:12:55.040 --> 00:12:55.980
 who they will murder.

00:12:56.300 --> 00:12:57.440
 But on the third day,

00:12:57.520 --> 00:12:58.540
 he'll rise again.

00:13:00.180 --> 00:13:01.480
 But look at Luke 18,

00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:02.379
 verse 34.

00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:06.660
 They understood

00:13:06.660 --> 00:13:07.540
 none of these things.

00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:10.340
 This same was hidden

00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:11.460
 from them.

00:13:12.560 --> 00:13:13.960
 And they did not grasp

00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:15.000
 what was being understood.

00:13:15.300 --> 00:13:16.320
 They don't understand it,

00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:17.520
 they don't get it,

00:13:17.760 --> 00:13:18.780
 they are blind

00:13:18.780 --> 00:13:19.820
 to who he is.

00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:22.300
 And the very next story,

00:13:23.140 --> 00:13:24.280
 the blind man sees.

00:13:25.900 --> 00:13:26.680
 And the irony

00:13:26.680 --> 00:13:27.580
 of the Christian gospel

00:13:27.580 --> 00:13:28.020
 is this,

00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:29.080
 we must become blind

00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:29.960
 before we can see.

00:13:31.660 --> 00:13:33.080
 We must understand

00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:34.640
 that we are spiritually blind

00:13:34.640 --> 00:13:35.360
 before we can see.

00:13:35.460 --> 00:13:36.879
 It is the great paradox.

00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:40.260
 You want to see Jesus?

00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:41.780
 He is all around

00:13:41.780 --> 00:13:43.240
 for eyes to see.

00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:44.419
 But we must pray,

00:13:44.560 --> 00:13:45.139
 O Father,

00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:45.860
 O God,

00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:47.440
 open my eyes.

00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:49.620
 The testimony

00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.740
 of every Christian

00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:51.220
 was,

00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:51.820
 is,

00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:53.659
 I once was blind,

00:13:54.560 --> 00:13:55.759
 but now I see.

00:13:57.980 --> 00:13:58.480
 Secondly,

00:13:58.580 --> 00:13:59.639
 let's see a second paradox.

00:14:00.560 --> 00:14:02.039
 A man without opportunity

00:14:02.039 --> 00:14:04.340
 who seized opportunity.

00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:07.039
 A man without opportunity

00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:08.139
 who seized opportunity.

00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:09.159
 Look at verse 39.

00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:11.839
 And those who were

00:14:11.839 --> 00:14:12.839
 in front of him

00:14:12.839 --> 00:14:13.579
 rebuked him,

00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:14.980
 telling him to be silent.

00:14:16.019 --> 00:14:17.019
 But he cried out

00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:17.740
 all the more,

00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:19.399
 Son of David,

00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:21.519
 have mercy on me.

00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:22.620
 Now the life of a blind man

00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:23.299
 in the first century

00:14:23.299 --> 00:14:24.399
 was the life of a beggar.

00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.399
 Unless a family had money,

00:14:27.959 --> 00:14:29.299
 the blindness meant begging.

00:14:29.439 --> 00:14:29.980
 So this man,

00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:30.639
 from childhood,

00:14:30.719 --> 00:14:31.639
 had gone to the gate

00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:32.879
 because it was the only way

00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:33.639
 for him to eat.

00:14:34.079 --> 00:14:35.220
 It was the only way

00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:36.159
 for him to get anything,

00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:37.279
 was to get to the gate,

00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:38.480
 was to get to beg.

00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:39.740
 There were no benefits.

00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:41.720
 I have never really begged

00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:42.800
 for anything, really.

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:46.100
 I don't know about you.

00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:47.800
 I suppose I beg a little bit

00:14:47.800 --> 00:14:48.539
 for the building project,

00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:49.620
 but I'm not very successful.

00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:52.259
 But I've never really had to beg.

00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:54.259
 I don't want charity.

00:14:56.100 --> 00:14:57.460
 This was a hard life, wasn't it?

00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:58.500
 It was a shameful life

00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:59.039
 for the beggar.

00:14:59.300 --> 00:15:00.420
 A humiliating life.

00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:01.720
 Begging at the gate

00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:02.940
 as people entered the city.

00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:04.659
 He would be there

00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:05.820
 for the rest of his life.

00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:07.860
 This man had no future,

00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:09.539
 no life beyond begging.

00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:11.460
 But suddenly there's an opportunity

00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:13.100
 and what an opportunity it is.

00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:16.039
 There were a lot of Presbyterians

00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:16.919
 in the crowd that day,

00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:17.279
 weren't there?

00:15:17.300 --> 00:15:17.980
 Verse 39.

00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:18.639
 Can you see them?

00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:22.399
 He begins to shout,

00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:23.399
 Jesus, son of David,

00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:24.620
 have mercy on me.

00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:26.659
 Son of David,

00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:28.060
 have mercy on me.

00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:29.419
 That's how loud he shouts.

00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:30.620
 And the Presbyterians

00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:30.740
 said,

00:15:30.800 --> 00:15:31.580
 well, be quiet.

00:15:31.800 --> 00:15:32.680
 Shh, shh, shh, shh.

00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:34.320
 They said,

00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:35.440
 you're making such a commotion,

00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:35.980
 aren't you?

00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:39.440
 But they weren't blind.

00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:42.279
 And they weren't beggars.

00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:45.180
 I'm blind,

00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.659
 and I want to see.

00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:48.259
 So I'll choke as loud as I can.

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.659
 See, the blind man understands

00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:52.920
 Isaiah 55, doesn't he?

00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:54.659
 Seek the Lord while he may be found

00:15:54.659 --> 00:15:56.000
 and call on him while he is near.

00:15:57.820 --> 00:15:59.000
 Call on him while he is near.

00:15:59.060 --> 00:15:59.940
 Don't you love this man?

00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:01.000
 I love his determination.

00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:04.759
 Blind beggars do not think,

00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:07.039
 I'm upsetting the decorum here.

00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:10.340
 Maybe he'll pass by again tomorrow

00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:11.960
 when there'll be less of a crowd

00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:13.320
 and maybe I can talk to him then.

00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:14.980
 No, the blind beggar says,

00:16:15.059 --> 00:16:15.779
 he is here,

00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:16.820
 he is here,

00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:17.860
 I can't believe it,

00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:18.860
 I want to see.

00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:23.399
 So what if he'd not called out?

00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:26.840
 In verse 31,

00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:29.620
 taking the 12,

00:16:29.699 --> 00:16:30.059
 he says to them,

00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:31.120
 see we are going to Jerusalem.

00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:35.159
 He's not going to come to Jericho again.

00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:38.419
 He's approaching Jericho.

00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:39.840
 The blind man had an opportunity

00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:41.579
 through the visit of Jesus to Jericho

00:16:41.579 --> 00:16:43.000
 which he would never have again.

00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:46.539
 What is interesting is,

00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:48.179
 the blind man didn't know that at the time.

00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:52.339
 So, context is king, isn't it?

00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:54.339
 Luke 18, the context makes the point.

00:16:55.739 --> 00:16:57.059
 So remember we said all of life is here,

00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:57.859
 the rich and the poor,

00:16:58.219 --> 00:16:58.939
 the young and the old,

00:16:59.079 --> 00:17:00.559
 the sophisticated and the down and out,

00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:01.639
 the religious and the criminal.

00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:06.579
 Luke 18 has two cries in it, doesn't it?

00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.440
 Do you see that?

00:17:07.659 --> 00:17:09.480
 It has the cry of the widow

00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.720
 at the start of the chapter

00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:14.059
 and it has the cry of blind Bartimaeus

00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:15.159
 at the end of the chapter.

00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:18.560
 And they function as two bookmarks.

00:17:19.320 --> 00:17:20.720
 And the subject of the chapter

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:24.880
 is found in the question,

00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:27.640
 verse 26.

00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.880
 It's the subject of the chapter.

00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.120
 Who then can be saved?

00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:33.720
 Who then can be saved?

00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:36.960
 And what Luke demonstrates in Luke 18

00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:38.779
 is that God is willing to receive

00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:40.180
 absolutely anybody.

00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:43.800
 That God is no respecter of persons.

00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:45.559
 He will save anybody.

00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:46.960
 He will save the widow

00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:48.480
 who couldn't get anyone to listen to her.

00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:50.299
 He will save the tax collector

00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:52.799
 who was sure no one would listen to him.

00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:54.680
 He will save the children

00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:55.940
 who were kept away

00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:57.539
 so weak that they can't even

00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:58.579
 come on their own two legs

00:17:58.579 --> 00:17:59.500
 that they've got to be carried.

00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.779
 And he will save a blind beggar

00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:03.139
 who no one wants to listen to.

00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.740
 And then by contrast,

00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:06.720
 you've got the rich young ruler.

00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:08.619
 Good education,

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.559
 cracking prospects

00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:10.919
 and a gorgeous girlfriend.

00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:13.140
 And he expects to be commended.

00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.420
 But he's not accepted.

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:20.080
 And there's also the tax collectors there.

00:18:21.080 --> 00:18:22.100
 He's a good man.

00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:25.580
 I'm not sure I'm as religious as he is.

00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:26.200
 He gives.

00:18:27.060 --> 00:18:27.800
 He's faithful.

00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:28.440
 He's religious.

00:18:28.580 --> 00:18:29.140
 He's reliable.

00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:30.500
 He's self-disciplined.

00:18:30.840 --> 00:18:31.920
 And yet he's not helpless.

00:18:33.800 --> 00:18:34.720
 And so both him

00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.580
 and the rich young ruler,

00:18:35.660 --> 00:18:37.019
 they stick out like sore thumbs

00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:38.220
 because they're not accepted

00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:38.839
 in Luke 18.

00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:41.420
 And the end of the chapter

00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:42.740
 is if to sum it all up,

00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:45.019
 if you didn't get it before,

00:18:45.379 --> 00:18:46.579
 let me make it as obvious

00:18:46.579 --> 00:18:47.759
 as I possibly can

00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:49.680
 that he is a blind beggar.

00:18:51.379 --> 00:18:52.200
 He's a blind beggar

00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:53.240
 who's got no importance.

00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:54.440
 He is a nobody.

00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:56.460
 He is the very definition

00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.539
 of helplessness.

00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:59.379
 And God has mercy on him.

00:19:02.879 --> 00:19:04.059
 Now that's a familiar truth,

00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:04.440
 isn't it?

00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:07.220
 God is merciful.

00:19:07.340 --> 00:19:07.860
 He welcomes all.

00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:09.019
 Don't we love that message?

00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:11.980
 That is what people expect of God.

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:13.299
 That's his business, isn't it?

00:19:13.600 --> 00:19:15.320
 But even that great truth

00:19:15.320 --> 00:19:16.720
 can be misconstrued.

00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:21.779
 So you might have heard it said,

00:19:21.860 --> 00:19:22.059
 haven't you,

00:19:22.080 --> 00:19:23.640
 that God is always waiting for us

00:19:23.640 --> 00:19:24.559
 to turn to us.

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.779
 To turn for us

00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:28.000
 when we will turn to him.

00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.420
 He is always waiting for us.

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.420
 He will turn to us whenever.

00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:34.740
 And there is an element of truth

00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.539
 to that.

00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:38.100
 But do not presume

00:19:38.100 --> 00:19:39.279
 to come to God like that.

00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:41.880
 Don't think that God

00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:42.600
 is in your pocket.

00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:45.320
 And that you can turn to him

00:19:45.320 --> 00:19:46.900
 whenever it seeks you

00:19:46.900 --> 00:19:48.560
 and he will be merciful to you.

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.800
 When I was growing up

00:19:50.800 --> 00:19:51.259
 as a child,

00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:53.320
 he's watching Minder.

00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:55.380
 Minder with Arthur Daly

00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:56.580
 and George Cullen.

00:19:56.800 --> 00:19:57.100
 It's good.

00:19:57.340 --> 00:19:58.060
 Dennis Waterman.

00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:59.339
 And my thought of London

00:19:59.339 --> 00:20:00.179
 is whenever you stepped

00:20:00.179 --> 00:20:00.819
 on the road

00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:01.539
 and you shouted,

00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.139
 taxi,

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:04.119
 a black cab would pull up.

00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:06.579
 But then you move to London

00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:08.579
 and immediately you want a taxi.

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.399
 You can never find one,

00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:09.779
 isn't it?

00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.440
 But God is not like

00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:12.960
 the taxi driver in Minder.

00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.919
 That whenever you stand up

00:20:14.919 --> 00:20:15.639
 on the road

00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:16.159
 and you shout,

00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:16.440
 God,

00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:17.319
 well actually he'll just

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:18.440
 roll up to you whenever.

00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:20.079
 He is not waiting

00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:21.859
 just for you to flag him down.

00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:23.859
 That idea is grotesque.

00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:27.519
 Hebrews 12,

00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:28.479
 17 to 18

00:20:28.479 --> 00:20:29.259
 tells the story

00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:30.719
 of the covenant child Esau.

00:20:32.479 --> 00:20:33.899
 And Esau was a man of impulse

00:20:33.899 --> 00:20:35.219
 who wanted everything right now

00:20:35.219 --> 00:20:36.519
 and he sold his birthright

00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.119
 for a meal.

00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:38.859
 And then it says this,

00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:40.159
 for you know that afterward

00:20:40.159 --> 00:20:40.879
 when he desired

00:20:40.879 --> 00:20:41.799
 to inherit the blessing

00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:42.659
 he was rejected.

00:20:44.439 --> 00:20:45.799
 He found no chance

00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:46.379
 to repent

00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:47.779
 even though he sought it

00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.279
 with tears.

00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.819
 He desired a blessing

00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:51.539
 but he found no chance

00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:52.019
 to repent

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:53.059
 even though he sought it

00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:54.019
 with tears.

00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:57.720
 Bartimaeus,

00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:58.579
 at the end of this chapter

00:20:58.579 --> 00:20:59.700
 is a great warning

00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:00.259
 to you

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:01.119
 and to me.

00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.980
 There's great truth here,

00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:05.259
 isn't there?

00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:06.240
 Glorious truth

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.700
 that God accepts

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:09.379
 anybody who is helpless

00:21:09.379 --> 00:21:11.940
 but don't miss

00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.659
 your opportunity.

00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:15.839
 Seek the Lord

00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:17.119
 while he may be found.

00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:20.720
 And so this blind man,

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.179
 Jesus may not have

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:23.120
 passed by again.

00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:25.299
 Blind folks

00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.960
 do not ignore

00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:28.460
 opportunities for sea.

00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:30.240
 Beggars do not ignore

00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:31.519
 opportunities for riches.

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:33.220
 So when he comes near,

00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:35.320
 call on him.

00:21:37.060 --> 00:21:37.940
 So let's think about

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.299
 for a moment,

00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.039
 when does Jesus

00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:40.000
 come near to you?

00:21:42.340 --> 00:21:43.220
 When does Jesus

00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.240
 come near to you?

00:21:46.340 --> 00:21:47.400
 Well the Bible's answer

00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:47.700
 is this,

00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.660
 that he comes near to you

00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.080
 in the preaching

00:21:49.080 --> 00:21:49.820
 of his word.

00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:53.759
 In Ephesians 4,

00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:55.120
 21,

00:21:56.120 --> 00:21:57.440
 if I could remove

00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:59.180
 a word from the New Testament,

00:21:59.300 --> 00:22:00.400
 it would be in this verse.

00:22:01.820 --> 00:22:02.340
 Because I think

00:22:02.340 --> 00:22:03.320
 the translators

00:22:03.320 --> 00:22:04.960
 really don't help us.

00:22:05.380 --> 00:22:06.460
 In Ephesians 4,

00:22:06.540 --> 00:22:07.460
 verse 21,

00:22:08.800 --> 00:22:09.560
 and I want to remove

00:22:09.560 --> 00:22:10.300
 the word about,

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.440
 let me read it to you.

00:22:13.360 --> 00:22:13.759
 Assuming,

00:22:14.560 --> 00:22:15.300
 he's talking about

00:22:15.300 --> 00:22:15.900
 the preaching

00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:16.780
 that the Ephesians

00:22:16.780 --> 00:22:17.240
 heard.

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.460
 And he's saying

00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.180
 he heard the gospel

00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:21.100
 and this is what it says,

00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:21.740
 verse 21,

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:23.259
 assuming that you have

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:25.600
 heard about him.

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.180
 But the word about

00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:29.460
 is not literally there.

00:22:29.840 --> 00:22:30.480
 It's not there.

00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:32.980
 It says this,

00:22:33.060 --> 00:22:33.340
 literally,

00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:34.580
 assuming that you

00:22:34.580 --> 00:22:35.900
 heard him

00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:38.300
 and were taught

00:22:38.300 --> 00:22:39.060
 him.

00:22:41.340 --> 00:22:42.120
 That is what it

00:22:42.120 --> 00:22:42.960
 literally is.

00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:45.620
 But Jesus never

00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:46.240
 went to Ephesus.

00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:48.600
 Jesus never

00:22:48.600 --> 00:22:49.319
 preached in Ephesus.

00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:51.620
 So how did

00:22:51.620 --> 00:22:52.920
 the church in Ephesus

00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:53.940
 hear him?

00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:56.960
 Paul says this,

00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.980
 because you heard

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.640
 the preaching

00:22:58.640 --> 00:22:59.640
 of the word,

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:00.960
 you actually

00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.019
 heard Jesus.

00:23:04.100 --> 00:23:05.360
 It's phenomenally

00:23:05.360 --> 00:23:05.860
 bold,

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.200
 isn't it?

00:23:06.360 --> 00:23:07.319
 And that is what

00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:08.140
 preaching is.

00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:08.960
 It is not the

00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:10.059
 word of man,

00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:11.079
 it is the

00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:12.460
 word of God.

00:23:13.860 --> 00:23:14.620
 So let me read

00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:14.819
 to you,

00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:15.660
 the Shorter

00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:16.539
 Catechism really

00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.460
 understands that.

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.140
 It says this,

00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.819
 the Spirit of God

00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:21.460
 makes the reading,

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.700
 but especially

00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.500
 the preaching

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.360
 of the word,

00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:25.559
 an effectual,

00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:26.779
 effective means

00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:27.759
 of convincing

00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.579
 and converting

00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.039
 sinners,

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.120
 and of building

00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:30.600
 them up in

00:23:30.600 --> 00:23:31.220
 holiness and

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:31.779
 comfort through

00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.220
 faith and

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:32.620
 salvation.

00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:34.860
 What it's

00:23:34.860 --> 00:23:35.299
 saying to you

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:35.559
 is this,

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.420
 you hear the

00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:36.960
 preaching of

00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:37.220
 Jesus,

00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:38.220
 you hear Jesus.

00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:42.200
 And so you

00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:42.860
 meet Jesus in

00:23:42.860 --> 00:23:43.180
 the preaching

00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:43.539
 of the word

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.059
 this morning.

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.500
 Over and

00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.180
 over again,

00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:49.180
 God said to

00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:49.440
 Israel,

00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:50.059
 this is the

00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:50.519
 day of your

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.160
 visitation.

00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:55.559
 When will

00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:56.600
 be the day

00:23:56.600 --> 00:23:58.279
 that Jesus

00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:58.980
 will visit you

00:23:58.980 --> 00:23:59.440
 for the last

00:23:59.440 --> 00:23:59.720
 time?

00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:02.400
 When will

00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:03.120
 God say,

00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:03.839
 the day of

00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:04.559
 my visitation

00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:05.160
 is over?

00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:07.400
 We have a

00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:07.940
 modern Jesus,

00:24:08.040 --> 00:24:08.160
 don't we?

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:08.700
 Which he never

00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:09.200
 says that sort

00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:09.440
 of thing.

00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:10.900
 But the real

00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:11.519
 Jesus does.

00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:14.940
 You cannot

00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:16.000
 become a

00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:17.759
 Christian when

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.360
 you like.

00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:22.220
 The opportunity

00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:24.820
 is not always

00:24:24.820 --> 00:24:25.140
 open.

00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:27.640
 John Chapman,

00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.120
 the Australian

00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:28.759
 evangelist,

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:29.620
 tells this great

00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:30.740
 story of talking

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.259
 with a man,

00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:32.200
 and it's a young

00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:32.640
 guy who's in

00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.000
 church.

00:24:33.800 --> 00:24:34.259
 And the young

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:34.779
 guy says,

00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:36.180
 I don't want

00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:36.519
 to become a

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:36.779
 Christian,

00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.859
 but I'll

00:24:38.859 --> 00:24:39.180
 become a

00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:39.519
 Christian when

00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:39.899
 I'm older.

00:24:40.619 --> 00:24:41.220
 I'll become a

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:41.440
 Christian,

00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.299
 I want to live

00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:42.859
 my life up,

00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.200
 and then I'll

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:44.500
 become a

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:44.799
 Christian at

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.059
 the end of

00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:45.480
 my life.

00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.779
 And Chapman

00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:47.940
 says,

00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:48.299
 so you think

00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:48.660
 you can become

00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:49.000
 a Christian

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:49.359
 then?

00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:50.359
 The man

00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:50.460
 says,

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:50.599
 yeah.

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.279
 So why

00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:51.460
 don't you

00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:51.779
 become a

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:51.839
 Christian?

00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:52.899
 The man

00:24:52.899 --> 00:24:53.039
 says,

00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:53.319
 I'll become

00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:53.619
 a Christian

00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:53.940
 when I

00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:54.299
 want.

00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:55.460
 And John

00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:55.680
 says,

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:55.899
 well,

00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:56.839
 why don't

00:24:56.839 --> 00:24:57.059
 you become

00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:57.319
 a Christian

00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:57.519
 now?

00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.039
 Could you

00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.299
 do it

00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:58.539
 now?

00:24:59.180 --> 00:24:59.460
 And the

00:24:59.460 --> 00:24:59.740
 young man

00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.000
 says,

00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:01.139
 yeah,

00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:01.460
 I could

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:01.680
 do it

00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:01.920
 now,

00:25:02.280 --> 00:25:02.780
 if I

00:25:02.780 --> 00:25:03.180
 wanted to.

00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:04.280
 I could

00:25:04.280 --> 00:25:04.440
 do it

00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:04.500
 now.

00:25:04.560 --> 00:25:04.860
 So Chapman

00:25:04.860 --> 00:25:05.020
 says,

00:25:05.080 --> 00:25:05.160
 well,

00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:05.440
 go on,

00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:05.720
 give it a

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:05.840
 try,

00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:06.180
 why don't

00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:06.440
 do it

00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:06.820
 now?

00:25:07.340 --> 00:25:07.740
 Do it

00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.380
 now.

00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:09.580
 The man

00:25:09.580 --> 00:25:09.900
 gets a bit

00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:10.280
 iris and

00:25:10.280 --> 00:25:10.440
 he says,

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:10.720
 I don't

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.120
 want to.

00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:12.320
 I don't

00:25:12.320 --> 00:25:12.720
 want to.

00:25:13.380 --> 00:25:13.740
 Chapman

00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:13.920
 says,

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.460
 come on,

00:25:14.580 --> 00:25:15.000
 do it.

00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:15.600
 If you

00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:16.000
 can make

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.440
 yourself a

00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:16.700
 Christian

00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.020
 now,

00:25:17.120 --> 00:25:17.360
 do it

00:25:17.360 --> 00:25:17.640
 now.

00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:18.140
 And the

00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:18.320
 man

00:25:18.320 --> 00:25:18.640
 shouts,

00:25:18.780 --> 00:25:19.120
 I don't

00:25:19.120 --> 00:25:19.680
 want to.

00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.140
 And Chapman

00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:21.560
 says,

00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.160
 what makes

00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:22.540
 you think

00:25:22.540 --> 00:25:22.960
 you'll want

00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.840
 to at the

00:25:23.840 --> 00:25:24.020
 end of

00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:24.400
 your life?

00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:28.000
 The truth

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.359
 is,

00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:29.099
 you cannot

00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:29.579
 become a

00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:29.819
 Christian

00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.299
 whenever you

00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:30.639
 want to.

00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:33.059
 You can't.

00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:35.980
 The

00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.519
 opportunity is

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:36.879
 not always

00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:37.180
 open.

00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.119
 The truth

00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:40.339
 is,

00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:40.639
 isn't it,

00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:41.339
 Luke 18,

00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.259
 the blind man

00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:42.460
 could have

00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:42.660
 remained

00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.099
 sightless,

00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:43.379
 he could have

00:25:43.379 --> 00:25:43.879
 remained blind

00:25:43.879 --> 00:25:44.259
 for the rest

00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:44.660
 of his life.

00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:46.420
 But he

00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:46.559
 said,

00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:47.000
 that is the

00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.379
 Messiah.

00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:48.799
 Now is the

00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.079
 day of

00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:49.519
 opportunity,

00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:50.579
 today is the

00:25:50.579 --> 00:25:50.900
 day of

00:25:50.900 --> 00:25:51.400
 salvation.

00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:52.440
 Jesus,

00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:52.879
 son of

00:25:52.879 --> 00:25:53.180
 David,

00:25:53.379 --> 00:25:53.900
 have mercy.

00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.160
 mercy.

00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:58.759
 Thirdly,

00:25:59.119 --> 00:25:59.799
 a beggar

00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:01.099
 who is

00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:01.740
 undeserving.

00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:03.920
 A beggar

00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:04.180
 who is

00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:04.660
 undeserving.

00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.039
 Look at

00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.779
 verse 38.

00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:07.839
 Look at

00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:08.519
 verse 38.

00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.379
 They told

00:26:17.379 --> 00:26:17.500
 him,

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:17.779
 Jesus

00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.000
 and

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.319
 Nazareth

00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:18.559
 is

00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.119
 passing

00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:19.639
 by.

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.079
 And he

00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:21.599
 cried out,

00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:21.900
 Jesus,

00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:22.359
 son of

00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:22.599
 David,

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.379
 have mercy

00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:24.040
 on me.

00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:25.900
 See,

00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:26.240
 the people

00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:26.660
 who think

00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:26.940
 that they

00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.500
 can see

00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.700
 and are

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.140
 rich,

00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:30.500
 do not

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:30.860
 cry out

00:26:30.860 --> 00:26:31.320
 for mercy.

00:26:32.300 --> 00:26:32.860
 They think

00:26:32.860 --> 00:26:33.120
 they don't

00:26:33.120 --> 00:26:33.720
 need mercy.

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:36.680
 However,

00:26:37.100 --> 00:26:37.760
 we must

00:26:37.760 --> 00:26:38.460
 be careful

00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:39.120
 to realise

00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:39.500
 that being

00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.560
 spiritually blind

00:26:40.560 --> 00:26:42.880
 and spiritually

00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:43.440
 destitute

00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:43.900
 does not

00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:44.260
 make us

00:26:44.260 --> 00:26:44.840
 deserving.

00:26:46.760 --> 00:26:47.060
 Do you see

00:26:47.060 --> 00:26:47.580
 what the

00:26:47.580 --> 00:26:48.000
 blind man

00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:48.560
 cries out for?

00:26:48.600 --> 00:26:49.060
 He cries out

00:26:49.060 --> 00:26:49.580
 for mercy.

00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:53.019
 mercy.

00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.759
 He realises

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.179
 I'm not

00:26:54.179 --> 00:26:54.619
 entitled

00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:55.079
 to the

00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:55.220
 Lord

00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:55.500
 Jesus.

00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:56.919
 I'm not

00:26:56.919 --> 00:26:57.419
 entitled

00:26:57.419 --> 00:26:58.139
 to healing

00:26:58.139 --> 00:26:58.699
 just because

00:26:58.699 --> 00:26:59.359
 I'm blind.

00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.259
 He did

00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:00.720
 not cry

00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.059
 out to

00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:01.359
 Jesus,

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:02.059
 Jesus,

00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:02.679
 I am

00:27:02.679 --> 00:27:03.279
 blind.

00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:04.779
 Didn't cry

00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.179
 that out.

00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:06.480
 He didn't

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:06.720
 say,

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:07.699
 Jesus,

00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.500
 I am

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.319
 disabled.

00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:12.399
 I deserve

00:27:12.399 --> 00:27:12.859
 your attention.

00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:13.379
 He cried out,

00:27:13.419 --> 00:27:13.980
 have mercy

00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.539
 on me.

00:27:15.879 --> 00:27:16.659
 I am not

00:27:16.659 --> 00:27:17.019
 entitled

00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.879
 and neither

00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:18.279
 are you.

00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:20.599
 And we

00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.319
 don't gain

00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:22.059
 the cross.

00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.240
 We don't

00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:24.779
 gain the cross

00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:25.400
 simply by saying

00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:25.859
 we're sinners.

00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:26.660
 There are plenty

00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.139
 of people who

00:27:27.139 --> 00:27:27.660
 know they're

00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:27.920
 sinners,

00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:28.779
 don't they,

00:27:28.839 --> 00:27:29.379
 but they don't

00:27:29.379 --> 00:27:29.799
 cry out for

00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.059
 mercy.

00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:32.619
 And we

00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:33.700
 have developed

00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:35.000
 a society

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.299
 where

00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:35.960
 entitlement

00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:36.400
 is a big

00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:36.619
 thing,

00:27:36.660 --> 00:27:37.000
 isn't it?

00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:37.579
 I am

00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:37.859
 poor,

00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:39.180
 I am

00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:39.660
 needy,

00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.099
 society

00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:41.579
 owes me

00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:41.940
 something.

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.460
 And actually

00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:45.019
 we carry

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.420
 that over

00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.139
 to God

00:27:46.140 --> 00:27:48.500
 we think

00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:49.320
 God cares

00:27:49.320 --> 00:27:49.560
 for us

00:27:49.560 --> 00:27:50.040
 simply because

00:27:50.040 --> 00:27:50.420
 we're poor

00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:50.980
 and needy.

00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.560
 You know

00:27:53.560 --> 00:27:53.759
 what,

00:27:53.820 --> 00:27:54.420
 a wealthy

00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:54.880
 man does

00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:55.220
 not need

00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:55.759
 God any

00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.360
 less than

00:27:56.360 --> 00:27:56.660
 a poor

00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.200
 man does.

00:27:58.340 --> 00:27:58.700
 And a

00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.060
 poor man

00:27:59.060 --> 00:27:59.420
 does not

00:27:59.420 --> 00:27:59.860
 need God

00:27:59.860 --> 00:28:00.380
 any less

00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:00.620
 than a

00:28:00.620 --> 00:28:00.840
 wealthy

00:28:00.840 --> 00:28:01.280
 man does.

00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:01.900
 Everyone

00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:02.540
 must plead

00:28:02.540 --> 00:28:03.100
 for mercy.

00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:06.060
 A mother

00:28:06.060 --> 00:28:06.780
 once approached

00:28:06.780 --> 00:28:07.280
 Napoleon

00:28:07.280 --> 00:28:10.240
 and she

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:10.900
 was asking

00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:12.220
 for pardon

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.700
 for her

00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:12.980
 son.

00:28:13.060 --> 00:28:13.420
 Her son

00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:13.900
 was guilty

00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:14.540
 of treason.

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:16.119
 And

00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:16.440
 Napoleon

00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.139
 replied to

00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:17.500
 her and

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:17.899
 he said

00:28:17.899 --> 00:28:18.639
 your son

00:28:18.639 --> 00:28:19.039
 has committed

00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:19.960
 treason and

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.240
 he has

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:20.819
 committed to

00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:22.099
 twice and

00:28:22.099 --> 00:28:23.659
 justice demands

00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:24.259
 death.

00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:26.299
 She said

00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:26.839
 I do not

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.379
 ask for

00:28:27.379 --> 00:28:27.799
 justice,

00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.099
 I ask for

00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:29.480
 mercy.

00:28:29.899 --> 00:28:30.399
 And Napoleon

00:28:30.399 --> 00:28:31.279
 said your son

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.700
 does not

00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:32.659
 deserve mercy.

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:33.519
 And she

00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.000
 said,

00:28:34.379 --> 00:28:34.720
 sir,

00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:35.779
 it would not

00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.659
 be mercy if

00:28:36.659 --> 00:28:37.159
 he deserved

00:28:37.159 --> 00:28:37.440
 it.

00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:38.579
 And mercy

00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.079
 is all I

00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:39.460
 ask.

00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.579
 And Napoleon

00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:42.379
 showed mercy.

00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:46.580
 I'll ask

00:28:46.580 --> 00:28:46.820
 him.

00:28:47.780 --> 00:28:48.380
 This is a

00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:49.000
 magnificent

00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:49.460
 him.

00:28:50.580 --> 00:28:51.200
 Just look at

00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:51.700
 it in your

00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:51.980
 sheet.

00:28:53.280 --> 00:28:53.880
 It says

00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:54.240
 this.

00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:56.840
 Your mercy,

00:28:57.360 --> 00:28:57.980
 my God,

00:28:58.020 --> 00:28:58.520
 is the theme

00:28:58.520 --> 00:28:59.220
 of my song,

00:29:00.100 --> 00:29:01.020
 the joy of

00:29:01.020 --> 00:29:01.660
 my heart,

00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:02.140
 and the

00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:02.540
 boast of

00:29:02.540 --> 00:29:03.080
 my tongue.

00:29:04.100 --> 00:29:04.860
 Your free

00:29:04.860 --> 00:29:05.460
 grace alone

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:05.820
 from the

00:29:05.820 --> 00:29:06.220
 first to

00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:06.640
 the last

00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:07.040
 has won

00:29:07.040 --> 00:29:07.840
 my affections

00:29:07.840 --> 00:29:08.320
 and bound

00:29:08.320 --> 00:29:08.920
 my soul

00:29:08.920 --> 00:29:09.320
 to that.

00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:11.519
 your mercy

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.000
 in Jesus

00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.599
 has freed

00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:13.039
 me from

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.419
 hell.

00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:14.039
 Its

00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.679
 glories

00:29:14.679 --> 00:29:15.639
 I'll sing

00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:15.899
 and its

00:29:15.899 --> 00:29:16.240
 wonders

00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:16.839
 I'll tell.

00:29:16.939 --> 00:29:17.079
 This

00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:17.439
 Jesus,

00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:18.079
 my friend,

00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:18.359
 when he

00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:18.700
 hung on

00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.039
 the tree,

00:29:19.159 --> 00:29:19.619
 there opened

00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.139
 the channel

00:29:20.139 --> 00:29:20.720
 of mercy

00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:21.200
 for me.

00:29:22.439 --> 00:29:22.700
 Your

00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:23.259
 mercy is

00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:23.619
 more than

00:29:23.619 --> 00:29:23.919
 a match

00:29:23.919 --> 00:29:24.220
 for my

00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:24.539
 heart,

00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:24.740
 which

00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.059
 wonders

00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.539
 to feel

00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.399
 its own

00:29:26.399 --> 00:29:26.859
 hardness

00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:27.299
 depart.

00:29:27.579 --> 00:29:27.759
 In

00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:28.159
 awe at

00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:28.279
 your

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.599
 goodness

00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:28.799
 I

00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:29.399
 fall to

00:29:29.399 --> 00:29:29.519
 the

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:29.799
 ground

00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.019
 and

00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.299
 weep

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:30.439
 to

00:29:30.439 --> 00:29:30.579
 the

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:30.879
 praise

00:29:30.879 --> 00:29:31.019
 of

00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:31.139
 the

00:29:31.139 --> 00:29:31.399
 mercy

00:29:31.399 --> 00:29:31.599
 I

00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:31.939
 found.

00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:32.419
 The

00:29:32.419 --> 00:29:32.700
 door

00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:32.839
 of

00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:32.980
 your

00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:33.299
 mercy

00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:33.659
 stands

00:29:33.659 --> 00:29:33.919
 open

00:29:33.919 --> 00:29:34.119
 to

00:29:34.119 --> 00:29:34.419
 all,

00:29:34.679 --> 00:29:34.799
 the

00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:35.180
 poor

00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:35.740
 and

00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:35.940
 the

00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:36.460
 needy

00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:37.019
 whoever

00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.359
 shall

00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:37.819
 call.

00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:38.519
 No

00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:38.839
 sinner

00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:39.339
 comes

00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:39.740
 seeking

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.180
 mercy

00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:40.779
 today

00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.579
 is

00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:41.819
 ever

00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:42.059
 by

00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:42.539
 Jesus

00:29:42.539 --> 00:29:43.399
 sent

00:29:43.399 --> 00:29:43.680
 empty

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.039
 away.

00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:45.359
 Great

00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:45.659
 father

00:29:45.659 --> 00:29:45.859
 of

00:29:45.859 --> 00:29:46.139
 mercy

00:29:46.139 --> 00:29:46.279
 is

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:46.419
 your

00:29:46.419 --> 00:29:46.740
 goodness

00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:47.000
 I

00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:47.180
 own

00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:47.299
 and

00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:47.480
 the

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:47.799
 covenant

00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.139
 love

00:29:48.139 --> 00:29:48.279
 of

00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:48.399
 your

00:29:48.399 --> 00:29:48.899
 crucified

00:29:48.899 --> 00:29:49.279
 son.

00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:49.519
 All

00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:49.899
 praise

00:29:49.899 --> 00:29:50.079
 to

00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:50.240
 the

00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:50.659
 spirit

00:29:50.659 --> 00:29:51.299
 whose

00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:51.700
 whisper

00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.180
 divine

00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:52.500
 seals

00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.000
 mercy

00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:53.259
 and

00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.639
 pardon

00:29:53.639 --> 00:29:54.539
 and

00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:55.019
 righteousness

00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:55.619
 mine.

00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:57.519
 I'm not

00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.019
 finished so

00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:58.480
 don't think

00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:58.599
 we're

00:29:58.599 --> 00:29:58.859
 about to

00:29:58.859 --> 00:29:59.220
 sing it.

00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.240
 This

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:01.559
 man,

00:30:01.700 --> 00:30:02.279
 he may

00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:02.980
 have been

00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:03.480
 blind.

00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:04.900
 He may

00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:05.160
 have been

00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:05.680
 needy but

00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:05.960
 he did

00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:06.360
 not cry

00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:06.700
 out for

00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:07.259
 entitlement.

00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.099
 He would

00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:08.599
 sing that

00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:09.120
 last hymn

00:30:09.120 --> 00:30:09.620
 with gusto.

00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.039
 A blind

00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:12.440
 man who

00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:12.839
 could see,

00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:14.240
 a man

00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:14.440
 without

00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:14.940
 opportunity

00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:15.420
 who seized

00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:15.880
 opportunity,

00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:16.360
 a beggar

00:30:16.360 --> 00:30:16.579
 who was

00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:17.120
 undeserving

00:30:17.120 --> 00:30:17.640
 and lastly

00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:18.440
 a beggar

00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:18.960
 who received

00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:19.360
 more than

00:30:19.360 --> 00:30:19.880
 he asked.

00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:21.500
 Look at

00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.079
 verse 40.

00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:24.799
 Jesus

00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:25.440
 stopped

00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:27.019
 and commanded

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:27.839
 him to be

00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.579
 brought to him

00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:29.480
 and when he

00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:30.000
 came near

00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:31.299
 he asked

00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:31.599
 him

00:30:31.599 --> 00:30:34.299
 what

00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:34.419
 do you

00:30:34.419 --> 00:30:34.639
 want me

00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:34.899
 to do

00:30:34.899 --> 00:30:35.199
 for you?

00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:35.519
 He said

00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:35.899
 Lord let

00:30:35.899 --> 00:30:36.000
 me

00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.339
 recover

00:30:36.339 --> 00:30:36.799
 my sight

00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.119
 and Jesus

00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:37.339
 said

00:30:37.339 --> 00:30:37.639
 recover

00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:38.159
 your sight

00:30:38.159 --> 00:30:38.599
 your faith

00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:38.939
 has made

00:30:38.939 --> 00:30:39.299
 you well

00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:40.859
 and immediately

00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:41.299
 he recovered

00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:41.759
 sight and

00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.119
 followed him

00:30:42.119 --> 00:30:42.859
 glorifying God

00:30:42.859 --> 00:30:43.219
 and all

00:30:43.219 --> 00:30:43.559
 the people

00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:43.859
 when they

00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:44.159
 saw it

00:30:44.159 --> 00:30:44.639
 gave praise

00:30:44.639 --> 00:30:45.139
 to God.

00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:47.819
 I don't

00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:47.980
 know what

00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:48.259
 you're like

00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:48.679
 with beggars

00:30:48.679 --> 00:30:49.119
 but normally

00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:49.599
 beggars get

00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:50.039
 much less

00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.279
 than they

00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:50.679
 ask for

00:30:50.679 --> 00:30:50.980
 don't they?

00:30:52.699 --> 00:30:53.059
 So they

00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:53.659
 ask don't

00:30:53.659 --> 00:30:53.879
 they

00:30:53.879 --> 00:30:55.219
 haven't got

00:30:55.219 --> 00:30:55.539
 money for

00:30:55.539 --> 00:30:55.799
 the bus

00:30:55.799 --> 00:30:56.279
 fare home

00:30:56.279 --> 00:30:57.939
 that's what

00:30:57.939 --> 00:30:58.179
 beggars

00:30:58.179 --> 00:30:58.539
 ask for

00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.980
 a pound

00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.279
 they get

00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:00.899
 50p

00:31:00.900 --> 00:31:03.000
 this man

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.560
 asked for

00:31:03.560 --> 00:31:03.920
 sight

00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:04.360
 and he

00:31:04.360 --> 00:31:04.519
 got

00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:04.880
 fired

00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:07.180
 he followed

00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:07.820
 Jesus

00:31:07.820 --> 00:31:10.560
 Mark

00:31:10.560 --> 00:31:10.840
 in his

00:31:10.840 --> 00:31:11.080
 account

00:31:11.080 --> 00:31:11.500
 tells us

00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:11.800
 a lot of

00:31:11.800 --> 00:31:12.140
 details

00:31:12.140 --> 00:31:12.519
 it tells

00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:12.680
 us

00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.000
 that this

00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:13.300
 man's

00:31:13.300 --> 00:31:13.500
 name

00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:13.640
 was

00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:14.340
 Bartimaeus

00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:16.240
 the son

00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:17.519
 of Timaeus

00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:22.120
 Mark

00:31:22.120 --> 00:31:22.519
 when you read

00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:22.920
 his account

00:31:22.920 --> 00:31:23.300
 says the

00:31:23.300 --> 00:31:23.800
 crowd said

00:31:23.800 --> 00:31:24.000
 to him

00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.519
 after telling

00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:24.860
 him to be

00:31:24.860 --> 00:31:25.220
 quiet

00:31:25.220 --> 00:31:25.960
 when Jesus

00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:26.340
 called him

00:31:26.340 --> 00:31:26.620
 they said

00:31:26.620 --> 00:31:27.640
 cheer up

00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:28.100
 old man

00:31:28.100 --> 00:31:28.420
 really

00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:29.640
 Jesus wants

00:31:29.640 --> 00:31:30.280
 to see you

00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:31.599
 he tells

00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:31.859
 us that

00:31:31.859 --> 00:31:32.119
 the man

00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:32.539
 threw his

00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:32.940
 cloak

00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:33.500
 aside

00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:35.039
 why does

00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.299
 Mark

00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:35.680
 tell us

00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:35.980
 all those

00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:36.420
 details

00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:38.920
 was he

00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:39.259
 there

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:39.779
 no

00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:41.899
 Mark

00:31:41.899 --> 00:31:42.119
 in his

00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:42.319
 account

00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:42.680
 he met

00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.440
 Bartimaeus

00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:43.839
 after the

00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.220
 fact

00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:46.059
 Bartimaeus

00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:46.799
 became a

00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:47.240
 follower of

00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:47.460
 the Lord

00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:47.700
 Jesus

00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:48.059
 Christ

00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:48.519
 and Mark

00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:49.079
 knew him

00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:50.019
 and you

00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:50.399
 can imagine

00:31:50.399 --> 00:31:50.920
 Bartimaeus

00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:51.359
 telling this

00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:52.139
 story over

00:31:52.139 --> 00:31:52.460
 and over

00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:52.819
 again

00:31:52.819 --> 00:31:53.200
 he sat

00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:53.440
 down

00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:53.899
 with Mark

00:31:53.899 --> 00:31:54.200
 I went

00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:54.399
 to the

00:31:54.399 --> 00:31:54.619
 gate

00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:55.039
 as usual

00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.539
 that day

00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:55.799
 and I

00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.139
 got more

00:31:56.139 --> 00:31:56.420
 than I

00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:56.839
 asked for

00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.460
 I got

00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:57.899
 sight

00:31:57.899 --> 00:31:58.200
 and I

00:31:58.200 --> 00:31:58.700
 got Jesus

00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.059
 true

00:31:59.059 --> 00:31:59.960
 I asked

00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.539
 for sight

00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:00.879
 and he

00:32:00.879 --> 00:32:01.319
 gave me

00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:01.819
 life

00:32:01.819 --> 00:32:03.419
 life

00:32:03.419 --> 00:32:03.559
 you

00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:03.740
 couldn't

00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.119
 imagine

00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:06.559
 so let's

00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:06.839
 go to

00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:07.079
 heaven

00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:07.379
 as we

00:32:07.379 --> 00:32:07.819
 close

00:32:07.819 --> 00:32:10.480
 and let's

00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:10.720
 find

00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:11.440
 Bartimaeus

00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:13.359
 and let's

00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:13.619
 ask

00:32:13.619 --> 00:32:14.179
 Bartimaeus

00:32:14.179 --> 00:32:14.679
 the question

00:32:14.679 --> 00:32:15.359
 what is

00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:15.759
 the most

00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.179
 important

00:32:16.179 --> 00:32:16.440
 thing

00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:16.619
 that

00:32:16.619 --> 00:32:16.899
 happened

00:32:16.899 --> 00:32:17.139
 that

00:32:17.139 --> 00:32:17.480
 day

00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:21.619
 and the

00:32:21.619 --> 00:32:22.119
 most important

00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:22.500
 thing that

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:22.740
 happened

00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:23.099
 that day

00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:23.419
 was not

00:32:23.419 --> 00:32:23.659
 that he

00:32:23.659 --> 00:32:24.079
 received

00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.599
 his sight

00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:26.480
 was that

00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:27.519
 he received

00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:27.980
 Jesus of

00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:28.459
 Nazareth

00:32:28.459 --> 00:32:31.839
 let me

00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:32.179
 point out

00:32:32.179 --> 00:32:32.319
 to you

00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:32.699
 two things

00:32:32.699 --> 00:32:32.899
 as I

00:32:32.899 --> 00:32:33.279
 close

00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:35.659
 the nobody

00:32:35.659 --> 00:32:37.759
 cries for

00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.119
 mercy

00:32:38.119 --> 00:32:39.019
 verse 41

00:32:39.019 --> 00:32:41.259
 and Jesus

00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:42.179
 stops

00:32:42.179 --> 00:32:44.099
 and calls

00:32:44.099 --> 00:32:44.539
 through the

00:32:44.539 --> 00:32:44.899
 crowd

00:32:44.899 --> 00:32:45.539
 doesn't he

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:47.480
 bring him

00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:47.740
 here

00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:48.500
 don't you

00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:49.000
 love that

00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:50.939
 don't you

00:32:50.939 --> 00:32:51.379
 love that

00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:53.840
 nobody

00:32:53.840 --> 00:32:54.720
 cries for

00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:55.120
 mercy

00:32:55.120 --> 00:32:56.760
 the second

00:32:56.760 --> 00:32:57.280
 person of

00:32:57.280 --> 00:32:57.800
 the trinity

00:32:57.800 --> 00:33:00.180
 the creator

00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:00.880
 of the heavens

00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:01.380
 and the earth

00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:01.960
 stops

00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:04.180
 and says

00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:04.460
 bring him

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:04.700
 here

00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:06.900
 and don't

00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:07.300
 doubt that

00:33:07.300 --> 00:33:07.780
 this morning

00:33:07.780 --> 00:33:10.120
 don't doubt

00:33:10.120 --> 00:33:10.500
 that this

00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:10.700
 morning

00:33:10.700 --> 00:33:11.100
 that if you

00:33:11.100 --> 00:33:11.460
 will cry

00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:11.920
 for mercy

00:33:11.920 --> 00:33:12.320
 Jesus

00:33:12.320 --> 00:33:13.940
 in heaven

00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:14.740
 will stop

00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:16.500
 say bring

00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:16.940
 her here

00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:17.260
 or bring

00:33:17.260 --> 00:33:17.780
 him here

00:33:17.780 --> 00:33:20.060
 verse 41

00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:21.460
 there's this

00:33:21.460 --> 00:33:22.099
 extraordinary

00:33:22.099 --> 00:33:22.720
 question

00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.659
 what do you

00:33:23.659 --> 00:33:24.119
 want me to

00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:24.720
 do for you

00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:27.819
 the blind

00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:28.259
 man has been

00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:28.639
 saying for

00:33:28.639 --> 00:33:28.960
 years

00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:29.819
 give me

00:33:29.819 --> 00:33:30.240
 something

00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:31.039
 give me

00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:31.359
 a few

00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:31.839
 pence

00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:32.179
 give me

00:33:32.179 --> 00:33:32.379
 enough

00:33:32.379 --> 00:33:32.559
 for a

00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:32.799
 cup of

00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:33.079
 coffee

00:33:33.079 --> 00:33:33.399
 give me

00:33:33.399 --> 00:33:33.599
 enough

00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:33.779
 for a

00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:34.700
 mcdonald's

00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:38.679
 Jesus

00:33:38.679 --> 00:33:39.460
 asks you

00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.059
 this morning

00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:40.899
 what do you

00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:41.519
 want me

00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.440
 to do

00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:42.940
 for you

00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:44.919
 now this

00:33:44.919 --> 00:33:45.319
 is important

00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:45.859
 how are we

00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:46.359
 to understand

00:33:46.359 --> 00:33:46.879
 the miracle

00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:48.780
 and Jesus

00:33:48.780 --> 00:33:49.460
 wants us to

00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:50.320
 spiritualise the

00:33:50.320 --> 00:33:50.520
 miracle

00:33:50.520 --> 00:33:50.980
 let me tell

00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:51.480
 you why

00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:52.240
 because in

00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:52.980
 verses 32

00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:53.640
 to 34

00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:54.180
 he's been

00:33:54.180 --> 00:33:54.580
 telling the

00:33:54.580 --> 00:33:55.280
 disciples what's

00:33:55.280 --> 00:33:55.480
 going to

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:56.100
 happen to him

00:33:56.100 --> 00:33:57.420
 but in

00:33:57.420 --> 00:33:58.000
 34 they

00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:58.180
 don't

00:33:58.180 --> 00:33:58.720
 understand

00:33:58.720 --> 00:34:00.660
 they are

00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:01.340
 blind

00:34:01.340 --> 00:34:04.280
 they are

00:34:04.280 --> 00:34:04.920
 blind

00:34:04.920 --> 00:34:06.800
 here is a

00:34:06.800 --> 00:34:07.180
 man that

00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:07.600
 sees

00:34:07.600 --> 00:34:10.460
 and gloriously

00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.480
 Jesus is able

00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:12.160
 to open

00:34:12.160 --> 00:34:13.019
 blind eyes

00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:13.539
 this morning

00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:15.940
 what do you

00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:16.400
 want him to

00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:16.960
 do for you

00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:20.579
 what do you

00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:20.960
 want him to

00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:21.539
 do for you

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:24.579
 maybe that

00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:24.900
 you're sitting

00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:25.480
 here tonight

00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:26.260
 this morning

00:34:26.260 --> 00:34:27.720
 and you're

00:34:27.720 --> 00:34:28.000
 saying I

00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:28.440
 want Jesus

00:34:28.440 --> 00:34:28.980
 to leave me

00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.320
 alone

00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:31.700
 and you know

00:34:31.700 --> 00:34:32.539
 what tragically

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:33.280
 he may do

00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:33.539
 that

00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:36.180
 he may do

00:34:36.180 --> 00:34:36.480
 that

00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:39.059
 and so I

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:39.320
 want to

00:34:39.320 --> 00:34:39.760
 plead with

00:34:39.760 --> 00:34:40.500
 you while

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:40.860
 it is a

00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:41.139
 day of

00:34:41.139 --> 00:34:41.680
 opportunity

00:34:41.680 --> 00:34:43.940
 that as

00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:44.599
 Jesus stops

00:34:44.599 --> 00:34:45.000
 by your

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:45.539
 seat this

00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:45.900
 morning

00:34:45.900 --> 00:34:47.700
 that you

00:34:47.700 --> 00:34:48.099
 say to

00:34:48.099 --> 00:34:48.260
 him

00:34:48.260 --> 00:34:49.019
 Lord let

00:34:49.019 --> 00:34:49.700
 me receive

00:34:49.700 --> 00:34:50.240
 my

00:34:50.240 --> 00:34:50.639
 sight

00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:53.079
 call on

00:34:53.079 --> 00:34:53.360
 the Lord

00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:53.760
 while he's

00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:54.019
 near

00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:56.559
 seek him

00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:58.019
 while he

00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:58.300
 may be

00:34:58.300 --> 00:34:58.660
 found

00:34:58.660 --> 00:35:00.380
 and call

00:35:00.380 --> 00:35:00.900
 for mercy

00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:02.539
 what

00:35:02.539 --> 00:35:03.820
 do you

00:35:03.820 --> 00:35:04.500
 want me

00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.920
 to do

00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:06.420
 for you

00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:07.680
 Jesus

00:35:07.680 --> 00:35:08.180
 asks

00:35:08.179 --> 00:35:09.960
 let's

00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:10.179
 sing

00:35:10.179 --> 00:35:09.960
 let's

00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:10.179
 sing

00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.619


00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:40.599
 Thank you.