WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.620 Let's read together from God's word. Mark chapter 10, verses 32 to 52. 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:08.540 This is the word of the Lord. 00:00:09.320 --> 00:00:13.660 And they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. 00:00:14.120 --> 00:00:16.620 And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. 00:00:17.539 --> 00:00:21.740 And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:27.859 See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priest and the scribes, 00:00:27.859 --> 00:00:31.439 and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 00:00:31.739 --> 00:00:35.619 And they will mock him and spit on him and flog him and kill him. 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:38.079 And after three days, he will rise. 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:41.859 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, 00:00:41.899 --> 00:00:44.899 Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you. 00:00:45.480 --> 00:00:48.760 And he said to them, What do you want me to do for you? 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:54.840 And they said to him, Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory. 00:00:54.840 --> 00:00:58.460 Jesus said to them, You do not know what you are asking. 00:00:58.980 --> 00:01:04.260 Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? 00:01:04.820 --> 00:01:06.439 And they said to him, We are able. 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:10.280 And Jesus said to them, The cup that I drink you will drink, 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:13.920 and with the baptism with which I am baptized you will be baptized. 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:17.980 But to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, 00:01:18.659 --> 00:01:21.420 but it is for those for whom it has been prepared. 00:01:21.420 --> 00:01:25.659 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 00:01:26.180 --> 00:01:28.700 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, 00:01:29.320 --> 00:01:33.200 You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, 00:01:33.379 --> 00:01:35.840 and their great ones exercise authority over them. 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:37.640 But it shall not be so among you. 00:01:38.260 --> 00:01:40.859 But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 00:01:41.340 --> 00:01:44.420 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 00:01:44.900 --> 00:01:47.219 For even the Son of Man came not to be served, 00:01:47.500 --> 00:01:50.020 but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:01:50.019 --> 00:01:52.119 And they came to Jericho, 00:01:52.839 --> 00:01:55.159 and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples, 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:59.159 and a great crowd, pardon me, let me back up. 00:01:59.259 --> 00:02:02.479 And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, 00:02:03.119 --> 00:02:05.099 Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:06.659 was sitting by the roadside. 00:02:07.099 --> 00:02:09.060 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:10.219 he began to cry out and say, 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:12.740 Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. 00:02:13.379 --> 00:02:15.960 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. 00:02:16.340 --> 00:02:17.340 But he cried out all the more, 00:02:17.460 --> 00:02:19.120 Son of David, have mercy on me. 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:22.319 And Jesus stopped and said, call him. 00:02:22.939 --> 00:02:25.319 And they called the blind man, saying to him, 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:27.460 Take heart, get up. 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:29.280 He is calling you. 00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:33.120 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 00:02:33.640 --> 00:02:34.759 And Jesus said to him, 00:02:35.020 --> 00:02:36.659 What do you want me to do for you? 00:02:37.819 --> 00:02:39.099 And the blind man said to him, 00:02:39.159 --> 00:02:41.420 Rabbi, let me recover my sight. 00:02:41.540 --> 00:02:42.480 And Jesus said to him, 00:02:42.819 --> 00:02:43.659 Go your way. 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:45.939 Your faith has made you well. 00:02:45.939 --> 00:02:50.759 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:52.800 This is God's holy word. 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:57.020 Well, we begin this evening, 00:02:57.260 --> 00:03:00.840 a new series over these summer months, 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:05.140 looking at some of the questions that Jesus asked. 00:03:05.219 --> 00:03:10.580 And perhaps we're more likely to think of Jesus as the man with all the answers. 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:13.620 And while I don't think we're wrong to do that, 00:03:14.060 --> 00:03:18.160 it is striking to note that more than any other person in the Bible, 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:21.159 Jesus asks questions. 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:28.539 There are, I think, more than 300 questions asked by Jesus in the four Gospels. 00:03:28.620 --> 00:03:30.819 So this could be quite a long series. 00:03:31.979 --> 00:03:34.419 Jesus asks questions of his disciples, 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:38.939 religious leaders, critics, rich and poor, 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:43.079 men and women, powerful as well as the powerless. 00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:47.440 Why so many questions? 00:03:48.840 --> 00:03:54.260 Well, frequently Jesus asks questions as a teaching tool, 00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:57.960 to help people discover the truth about themselves, 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:00.380 the truth about God, 00:04:01.040 --> 00:04:02.540 the truth about God's kingdom. 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:10.620 Sometimes he asks questions to enable others to see things from a very different perspective. 00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:19.899 And the questions Jesus asks are often the first step in drawing people into a relationship with himself. 00:04:20.759 --> 00:04:28.980 His questions are an invitation to us to come to him and to get to know him. 00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:35.439 And in this new series, we'll be taking one of Jesus' questions each week. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:42.959 And we'll try and understand the story, the context in which those questions occur. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:46.860 We'll look at what that question tells us about Jesus 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:51.819 and what it means for us to be in a relationship with him. 00:04:52.620 --> 00:04:55.040 And tonight we begin with the question, 00:04:55.819 --> 00:05:00.079 what do you want me to do for you? 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:06.279 And you'll notice in our reading that that question is asked not once, 00:05:06.599 --> 00:05:11.659 but twice in this short section of Mark's gospel, 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:14.939 both in verse 36 and 51. 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:19.360 It's asked of two of Jesus' very closest followers. 00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:25.779 And then the very same question is asked of a blind beggar at the roadside. 00:05:25.779 --> 00:05:30.379 What do you want me to do for you? 00:05:31.239 --> 00:05:34.219 And that's the question before us this evening. 00:05:34.739 --> 00:05:40.139 Because the same Jesus who asked it then asks us tonight. 00:05:40.719 --> 00:05:43.879 He stands before us in the preaching of the word. 00:05:43.979 --> 00:05:48.539 He says, what do you want me to do for you? 00:05:48.540 --> 00:06:00.319 It's a soul-searching question that challenges us to stop and think about the desires that are driving and shaping our lives. 00:06:01.460 --> 00:06:05.080 Some of those may indeed be honoring to God, 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:08.500 but others, of course, may not be. 00:06:08.500 --> 00:06:15.680 And sometimes the desires of our hearts are tainted by depravity and pride. 00:06:16.139 --> 00:06:21.019 And so they need to be challenged and indeed changed. 00:06:21.860 --> 00:06:28.680 And you'll notice here that the backdrop against which we must understand this particular question 00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:32.500 is the backdrop of the cross. 00:06:32.779 --> 00:06:38.000 The context here is Jesus making his way towards Jerusalem. 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:44.379 At this point in the gospel, the dark shadow of the cross looms ever larger. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:50.120 And Jesus is marching, as it were, into the very jaws of death. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:53.379 They were on the road going up to Jerusalem. 00:06:53.819 --> 00:06:55.439 Jesus walking ahead of them. 00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:56.699 They were amazed. 00:06:56.800 --> 00:06:58.540 Those who followed were afraid. 00:06:58.920 --> 00:07:03.939 Taking the twelve, he began to tell them what was to happen to him. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:06.819 See, we are going up to Jerusalem. 00:07:06.819 --> 00:07:13.180 The Son of Man will be delivered over to chief priests, scribes, and they will condemn him to death, 00:07:13.500 --> 00:07:19.920 deliver him over to the Gentiles, mock him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him. 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:23.319 And after three days, he will rise. 00:07:25.019 --> 00:07:32.819 Here in Mark's gospel, this is the Jesus' third prediction of his death in just these three chapters. 00:07:32.819 --> 00:07:36.120 It's the most graphic of the three, the most violent. 00:07:37.180 --> 00:07:39.540 He's going to be delivered up and condemned to death. 00:07:39.599 --> 00:07:40.620 He's going to be mocked. 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:42.219 He'll be spat on. 00:07:42.699 --> 00:07:46.920 He'll be flogged and killed before rising on the third day. 00:07:47.959 --> 00:07:55.279 Jesus is not a comfortable teacher offering us up self-help advice. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:08:02.059 He is the suffering servant, pouring out his very soul to death for the sins of many. 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:08.459 And here in this gospel, on the two previous occasions that Jesus has spoken about his death, 00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:13.519 his words are met with disbelief and misunderstanding. 00:08:14.660 --> 00:08:19.920 After the first, Peter sought to take Jesus aside and to rebuke him. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:27.660 And after the second, we discovered the disciples squabbling over which of them was to be the greatest. 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:37.779 And now here, once again, we discover the way of the cross reveals the all too shallow and selfish attitudes of his followers. 00:08:38.700 --> 00:08:45.500 So what I want to do tonight, just from this passage, is kind of look at it by way of contrast. 00:08:45.500 --> 00:08:52.320 These two questions, the same question asked twice of two very different people. 00:08:53.179 --> 00:08:56.600 And in the first section, we have James and John. 00:08:57.039 --> 00:09:02.279 And we discover that they are looking for glory, for glory. 00:09:03.659 --> 00:09:06.759 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said, 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:11.740 Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you, verse 35. 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:19.620 These two disciples, they had been witnesses of the transfiguration of Jesus earlier in the gospel. 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:24.360 They'd already been privileged to see something of Jesus' glory. 00:09:24.740 --> 00:09:30.860 And they no doubt saw themselves as amongst Jesus' closest, most favored disciples. 00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:35.259 And they come to Jesus with this quite astonishing request. 00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:40.039 Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask. 00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:42.179 It's an amazing prayer. 00:09:43.179 --> 00:09:46.360 Jesus, we want you to give us what we want. 00:09:46.939 --> 00:09:49.579 They don't even reveal their demands up front. 00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:57.000 It's almost as if they want to manipulate Jesus into serving and obeying them. 00:09:57.099 --> 00:10:00.339 They're desperate to feed their own egos. 00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:04.939 Jesus has been speaking about his suffering and death, 00:10:04.939 --> 00:10:09.699 and yet they're more interested in what they can get for themselves. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:15.139 Oh, yes, Jesus, we hear what you're saying about what is going to happen to you, 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:19.019 and suffering, and death, and flogging, and all of that. 00:10:19.079 --> 00:10:21.259 But actually, what's in it for us? 00:10:22.599 --> 00:10:23.759 What's in it for me? 00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:30.059 Unfortunately, there is much that passes for Christianity today 00:10:30.059 --> 00:10:33.500 that exudes a kind of similar attitude. 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:35.320 It's not about Jesus. 00:10:35.320 --> 00:10:38.559 It's about me, my wealth, my health, my success. 00:10:39.799 --> 00:10:46.879 And yet, perhaps even more remarkable than the question of these disciples is Jesus' response. 00:10:47.220 --> 00:10:48.740 He said to them, verse 36, 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:52.120 What do you want me to do for you? 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:53.740 It's fascinating. 00:10:54.700 --> 00:10:56.820 Jesus doesn't rebuke them. 00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:58.539 He doesn't put them in their place. 00:10:58.539 --> 00:11:00.059 He doesn't get on his high horse. 00:11:00.699 --> 00:11:04.179 He simply asks them what it is they want. 00:11:04.839 --> 00:11:06.959 He draws out their request. 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:10.379 He gets them to say it out aloud. 00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:17.099 He gets them to reveal what is really going on in their hearts and minds. 00:11:17.100 --> 00:11:20.279 And they said to him, verse 37, 00:11:20.920 --> 00:11:26.000 Grant us to sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left, in your glory. 00:11:26.920 --> 00:11:29.600 They're looking for glory. 00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:41.820 If I can paraphrase that well-known pop group, the Spice Girls. 00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:46.660 This is what they want, what they really, really want. 00:11:48.160 --> 00:11:53.080 And when Jesus comes into the fullness of his kingdom, when he comes to be glorified, 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:56.820 they want the places of power and honor at his side. 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:02.440 When Jesus takes the throne, they want to be one on his left, one on his right. 00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:10.780 They're unashamedly, brazenly asking Jesus for positions of power and status and glory. 00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:19.279 To be right and left of the king was to be in the place of his most honored advisors or counselors. 00:12:20.439 --> 00:12:24.899 And they were anticipating that possibility of sitting on thrones. 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:30.039 They rather fancied having a throne each, one either side of Jesus. 00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:34.000 And perhaps from those seats of authority, 00:12:34.339 --> 00:12:39.899 they were intending to exercise power and authority. 00:12:39.899 --> 00:12:47.240 And although Jesus has been telling them that God's kingdom will come about by him going to die in Jerusalem, 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:52.360 these disciples, it seems, have only their own agenda in mind. 00:12:53.419 --> 00:12:57.720 And the irony here is, of course, as Mark will later reveal to us, 00:12:58.980 --> 00:13:04.319 that the one place where Jesus will come into his glory is the cross. 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:11.100 At the moment of Jesus' greatest glory, there will be somebody on his right and left, 00:13:11.560 --> 00:13:13.680 but they will be crucified criminals. 00:13:15.300 --> 00:13:21.700 And so Jesus tells the brothers that they have no idea what he is talking about, 00:13:21.780 --> 00:13:22.920 what they're talking about. 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:25.879 Jesus says to them, you don't know what you're asking. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:27.940 Are you able to drink the cup I drink, 00:13:28.020 --> 00:13:31.000 be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:31.779 Verse 38. 00:13:32.419 --> 00:13:37.740 The Old Testament, that cup, common metaphor for God's judgment or wrath. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:40.960 The baptism language, I think, has a similar meaning, 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:44.620 conveying the idea of being overwhelmed by water, 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:46.860 like Noah's Ark and the flood, 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:50.399 or the Egyptian army being drowned in the Red Sea. 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:51.600 In each of those cases, 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:56.179 the water represented the overwhelming power of God's judgment, 00:13:56.820 --> 00:13:58.480 from which only a few were saved. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:02.139 This is what Jesus was going to the cross to achieve. 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:06.759 He was going to take upon himself the judgment and wrath of a holy God, 00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:10.620 that we might be saved from sin. 00:14:12.100 --> 00:14:14.879 And yet James and John, they just don't get it. 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:17.019 We are able, they say. 00:14:17.560 --> 00:14:18.560 And Jesus said to them, 00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:20.460 the cup I drink, you will drink, 00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:22.920 with the baptism with which I am baptized, 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:24.259 you will be baptized. 00:14:24.259 --> 00:14:27.460 But to sit at my right or my left is not mine to grant. 00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:30.460 It's for those for whom it has been prepared. 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:32.620 When the ten heard it, 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:35.399 they began to be indignant at James and John. 00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:38.679 James and John, 00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:42.779 their hearts are desperate for prestige and glory. 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:47.580 They think nothing of exploiting their relationship with Jesus 00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:49.519 for their own ends. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:54.819 And Jesus tells them that they will indeed come to know something of his cup 00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:56.000 and his baptism. 00:14:56.220 --> 00:14:58.559 James, we know, would be martyred, 00:14:58.960 --> 00:14:59.720 John exiled. 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:03.899 But those places of honor that they've set their hearts upon 00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:06.860 have already been allocated. 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:10.000 And unsurprisingly, 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:12.659 the other disciples are left angry and indignant 00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:15.879 by the brother's request. 00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:20.600 The world loves power and glory. 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:24.580 And if we have an eye for what's going on around us, 00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:27.299 I think we can see this lust 00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:30.600 for power and status and glory almost everywhere. 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:32.519 In some circles, 00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:34.120 everything appears to be reduced 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:37.919 to a power play of one kind or another. 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:40.480 We certainly see it in politics 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:42.539 and in public life. 00:15:42.539 --> 00:15:46.620 But we also see it in big business and industry, 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:48.539 science and the media. 00:15:50.219 --> 00:15:51.399 All too often, 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:54.480 people are not there to serve others 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:55.719 with their skill, 00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:58.519 but are there for power and status. 00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:00.319 It's interesting, 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:02.699 this whole idea of public service 00:16:02.699 --> 00:16:04.279 is fast disappearing 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:06.659 in our post-Christian society. 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:08.879 Because more often than not, 00:16:08.939 --> 00:16:10.559 people seem to be out for themselves 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:12.219 to pursue their own agenda. 00:16:12.539 --> 00:16:14.839 And sadly, 00:16:14.959 --> 00:16:16.379 sometimes we see it in the church. 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:18.639 We can see it in the pulpit. 00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:22.480 The pulpit can be a dangerous place to occupy. 00:16:23.599 --> 00:16:24.299 And at times, 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:26.699 it can be easy to turn it into a throne 00:16:26.699 --> 00:16:28.319 of authority and power 00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:29.899 where you lay down the law, 00:16:30.339 --> 00:16:30.719 dominate, 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:32.759 exercise control over others. 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:34.279 Yes, 00:16:34.319 --> 00:16:35.779 it may be done with good intentions, 00:16:36.299 --> 00:16:38.179 but it's a dangerous road 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:40.000 for any minister to travel. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:43.600 And one where many become intoxicated 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:45.259 with their power and influence. 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:47.600 And you'll notice here 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:49.679 how Jesus uses this exchange 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:51.320 with James and John 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:52.840 as a kind of teaching opportunity. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:54.860 He calls the disciples around him, 00:16:55.059 --> 00:16:56.320 starts to instruct them. 00:16:56.539 --> 00:16:59.500 He desperately wants them to understand 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:02.100 what it means to belong in his kingdom. 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:04.059 It's not about power and glory. 00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:05.519 It's about being a servant, 00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:06.259 he says. 00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.279 He called them to him. 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:08.660 He said, 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:10.720 you know that those who are considered rulers 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.960 of the Gentiles 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:13.279 lord it over them, 00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:14.579 and their great ones 00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:16.519 exercise authority 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.460 over them. 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:18.180 Verse 42. 00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:21.980 The disciples of Jesus 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:24.519 are not to be characterized 00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:26.519 by selfish pride, 00:17:27.080 --> 00:17:28.580 but by selfish, 00:17:28.900 --> 00:17:30.820 selfless humility. 00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:32.640 They're not to be rulers, 00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:33.640 but servants. 00:17:34.560 --> 00:17:36.820 And he draws a kind of contrast. 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.860 The Gentile world of his day 00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:39.779 in the Roman Empire, 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:40.960 power and influence 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:42.880 were everything in that society 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:44.100 to be a great person 00:17:44.100 --> 00:17:45.799 was to be someone with authority 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:46.740 and power and control, 00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:48.480 and that is the way of the world still. 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:50.740 And yes, of course, 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:52.160 authority in and of itself 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:52.980 is not wrong. 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:54.200 Jesus himself 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:55.519 was a man of authority. 00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:56.660 Matthew 28, 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.519 even tells us 00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:58.759 that all authority 00:17:58.759 --> 00:17:59.539 in heaven and earth 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:01.039 has been given to me. 00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:02.359 You see, 00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.319 the issue is rather 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.440 how that authority 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:06.000 is exercised. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.960 And the great danger 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:08.980 is that it's used 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:10.120 selflessly, 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:11.279 selfishly 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:12.400 rather than selflessly. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:15.160 That's why often people covet 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:16.880 power and authority 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:19.180 means they get their own way. 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:21.680 And to do that, 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.400 they have to climb 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:23.519 to the top of the ladder 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.960 to be number one. 00:18:26.580 --> 00:18:26.840 Money, 00:18:27.040 --> 00:18:27.580 connections, 00:18:27.820 --> 00:18:28.279 influence, 00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:28.920 position 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:30.820 become the sought-after 00:18:30.820 --> 00:18:32.500 idols of their lives. 00:18:33.320 --> 00:18:34.279 Rapacious egos 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.740 must be constantly 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.980 fed and fueled. 00:18:39.080 --> 00:18:39.580 Delighting 00:18:39.580 --> 00:18:40.640 to lord it over 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:41.519 others. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:43.139 And as I say, 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:44.059 you only need 00:18:44.059 --> 00:18:45.220 to look at politics, 00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:47.519 business, 00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:49.579 any large institution 00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:51.759 to see this kind 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.420 of pattern 00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:53.819 at work 00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:54.259 in the lives 00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:54.980 of many people. 00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:57.079 Some people spend 00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:57.940 their whole lives 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.839 seeking after 00:18:58.839 --> 00:18:59.980 these things, 00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:01.279 believing it will 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:02.660 give their lives 00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:03.940 meaning and purpose 00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:04.740 and direction. 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:04.859 salvation. 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:07.640 But Jesus says 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:09.500 in verse 43, 00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:11.180 but it shall not 00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:11.980 be so 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:13.500 among you. 00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.259 Whoever would be 00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:15.980 great among you 00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:16.980 must be your servant. 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.039 Whoever would be 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:18.880 first among you 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:20.420 must be slave of all. 00:19:22.579 --> 00:19:23.180 Not 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:24.120 so 00:19:24.120 --> 00:19:25.420 with 00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:26.359 you. 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:28.880 Because in 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:29.740 Christ's kingdom, 00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:31.480 to be great 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.620 is to be a servant 00:19:32.619 --> 00:19:34.459 and to be number 00:19:34.459 --> 00:19:34.899 one, 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:36.219 you must be the 00:19:36.219 --> 00:19:36.919 slave of all. 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:38.859 They're quite 00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:39.859 astonishing words. 00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:41.459 The very 00:19:41.459 --> 00:19:42.439 antithesis, 00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:43.519 the very 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.179 opposite 00:19:44.179 --> 00:19:46.399 of what our 00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:47.279 world believes. 00:19:48.439 --> 00:19:49.000 Intensely 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:49.859 counter-cultural. 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:51.299 They were then, 00:19:51.399 --> 00:19:52.000 they are now. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.219 Jesus is not 00:19:54.219 --> 00:19:55.459 looking for 00:19:55.459 --> 00:19:55.839 rulers 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:57.199 and lords. 00:19:57.959 --> 00:19:58.759 He's looking 00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:59.599 for servants 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:01.039 and slaves. 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:03.680 because for 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:04.480 disciples of 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:04.819 Jesus, 00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:05.700 the way of 00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:06.440 influence in 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:06.960 this world 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:07.659 is not by 00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:08.680 taking power 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.599 and control. 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.779 He calls 00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:12.460 us in a 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:13.339 different 00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:14.079 direction. 00:20:14.879 --> 00:20:15.740 He calls 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:16.559 us to serve 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:16.879 others, 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:17.559 not to use 00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:17.779 them. 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.279 He calls 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:19.940 us to love 00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.259 others, 00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:20.899 not abuse 00:20:20.899 --> 00:20:21.159 them. 00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:22.339 Our 00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:22.980 influence 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.420 in the 00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:23.980 world is 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.420 to come 00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:24.920 from the 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:25.779 winsomeness 00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:26.740 and beauty 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.500 of our 00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.159 service. 00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.000 Not 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:29.259 from 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:29.740 attempts 00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:30.039 to 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:30.720 coerce, 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:31.740 manipulate, 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:32.900 or control. 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:35.099 This is 00:20:35.099 --> 00:20:35.519 the way 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:35.839 of the 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:36.319 kingdom, 00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:37.940 friends, 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:38.660 because this 00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:39.019 is the 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.339 way 00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:40.279 of the 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:40.579 king. 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.579 Jesus 00:20:42.579 --> 00:20:43.259 is our 00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:43.680 model 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.519 and pattern. 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.079 He's the 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:46.480 one who 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:46.839 took the 00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:47.480 very nature 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:48.059 of a 00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:48.440 servant, 00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:49.440 the Lord 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.079 of glory, 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.099 who stooped 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:51.700 down into 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:52.519 the squalor 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.380 and filth 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:54.039 of a 00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:54.819 Bethlehem 00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.779 cattle shed, 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.440 the great 00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:57.180 I am who 00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:57.839 took the 00:20:57.839 --> 00:20:58.419 servant's 00:20:58.419 --> 00:20:59.179 apron and 00:20:59.179 --> 00:20:59.619 a basin 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:00.259 of water 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:00.919 and knelt 00:21:00.919 --> 00:21:01.399 down on 00:21:01.399 --> 00:21:01.899 the ground 00:21:01.899 --> 00:21:02.799 and washed 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:03.919 his disciples' 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:04.579 feet. 00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:05.959 The king 00:21:05.959 --> 00:21:06.439 of love, 00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:06.799 who in 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:07.399 Calvary's 00:21:07.399 --> 00:21:08.359 cross gave 00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:09.039 his life 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:09.939 blood for 00:21:09.939 --> 00:21:10.879 sinners like 00:21:10.879 --> 00:21:11.220 you and 00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:11.480 me. 00:21:12.959 --> 00:21:13.699 From heaven 00:21:13.699 --> 00:21:14.500 you came, 00:21:14.679 --> 00:21:15.480 helpless babe, 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:16.519 entered our 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:17.379 world your 00:21:17.379 --> 00:21:18.240 glory veiled, 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.559 not to be 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.099 served, 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.599 but to serve 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.759 and give 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.379 your life 00:21:23.379 --> 00:21:23.939 that we 00:21:23.939 --> 00:21:24.639 might live. 00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:26.099 For even 00:21:26.099 --> 00:21:26.599 the son 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:27.299 of man 00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:28.599 came not 00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:29.000 to be 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.500 served, 00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:30.319 but to 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.699 serve and 00:21:31.699 --> 00:21:32.059 to give 00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:32.659 his life 00:21:32.659 --> 00:21:33.659 as a 00:21:33.659 --> 00:21:34.579 ransom for 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:34.919 many. 00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:36.980 What do 00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:37.419 you want 00:21:37.419 --> 00:21:37.879 me to 00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:38.480 do for 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:38.819 you, 00:21:38.959 --> 00:21:39.159 says 00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:39.519 Jesus? 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.679 What does 00:21:41.679 --> 00:21:42.099 your heart 00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.839 say tonight? 00:21:44.179 --> 00:21:44.819 Do you 00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.319 want him 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:46.240 to make 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.539 you a 00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:48.619 ruler or 00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.059 a servant? 00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.639 What do 00:21:50.639 --> 00:21:51.019 you really 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:51.759 want from 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:52.299 Jesus? 00:21:53.439 --> 00:21:54.039 Comfort 00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:55.240 without 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:55.899 cost, 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.099 honor 00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:57.599 without 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.200 humility, 00:21:58.899 --> 00:21:59.240 blessing 00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.680 without 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.440 brokenness? 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:02.399 Are you 00:22:02.399 --> 00:22:02.799 willing to 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.259 drink his 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.740 cup and 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.180 share his 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:05.659 baptism? 00:22:06.879 --> 00:22:07.579 Here's the 00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:08.000 question. 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:09.420 Do you 00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:09.879 want to 00:22:09.879 --> 00:22:11.539 be like 00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:11.940 him? 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.200 Do you 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:13.619 want to 00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:14.680 be like 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.319 Jesus? 00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:18.799 So here 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:19.200 are James 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:19.740 and John 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:21.920 and they're 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.159 looking for 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:23.560 glory. 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:25.660 And then 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:25.900 we have 00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:26.300 this other 00:22:26.300 --> 00:22:26.840 encounter 00:22:26.840 --> 00:22:27.680 in which 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:28.160 we discover 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:29.100 Jesus asking 00:22:29.100 --> 00:22:29.580 the self 00:22:29.580 --> 00:22:29.779 same 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.240 question. 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:32.160 And here's 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:32.620 blind 00:22:32.620 --> 00:22:33.500 Bartimaeus 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:33.900 in verses 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:35.200 46 to 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:35.740 52. 00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:37.600 And he's 00:22:37.600 --> 00:22:38.240 looking for 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:38.640 what? 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.160 He's looking 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:40.820 for mercy. 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:44.160 This healing 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:45.180 of blind 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:45.880 Bartimaeus 00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:46.300 closes, 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.140 I think, 00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:47.620 a section 00:22:47.620 --> 00:22:47.920 of the 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:48.320 gospel. 00:22:48.840 --> 00:22:49.700 It runs 00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.380 way back 00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:50.980 from chapter 00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.460 eight. 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.400 And one 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:52.660 of the 00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:53.180 key themes 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:53.660 that runs 00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:54.160 through this 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:55.579 section is 00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:56.299 the blindness 00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:56.840 really of 00:22:56.840 --> 00:22:57.460 the disciples. 00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:58.799 Chapter 00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.319 eight, the 00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:00.019 disciples have 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.299 had their 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:00.940 eyes opened 00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:02.079 to Jesus' 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:02.860 identity, 00:23:03.340 --> 00:23:03.740 and yet no 00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:04.440 matter how 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.319 clearly Jesus 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:05.980 speaks about 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.600 the cross, 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:07.160 they are 00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:08.100 blind really 00:23:08.100 --> 00:23:08.640 to the 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:09.140 purpose of 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:09.600 his mission. 00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:10.980 And this 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:11.340 incident 00:23:11.340 --> 00:23:12.900 provides a 00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:14.120 very clear 00:23:14.120 --> 00:23:15.600 contrast to 00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:16.019 what has 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:17.120 gone on 00:23:17.120 --> 00:23:17.660 beforehand. 00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:19.180 James and 00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:19.700 John bring 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:20.460 the requests 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:20.940 for the 00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.559 best places 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:21.900 in the 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.200 kingdom. 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:23.539 But here 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:23.960 is another 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:25.039 person bringing 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:26.319 his request 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.039 to Jesus. 00:23:28.580 --> 00:23:29.299 Bartimaeus is 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.120 the only person 00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:31.500 healed in the 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.640 synoptic gospels 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.779 who is named. 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.180 And this is the 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:35.799 last healing 00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:37.039 miracle of 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:37.779 Mark's gospel. 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.220 Here is a 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:39.700 man who, 00:23:39.860 --> 00:23:40.200 for all his 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:40.660 lack of 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:41.180 eyesight, 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:42.759 proves to 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:43.319 have great 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:44.120 insight. 00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:45.840 Here is a 00:23:45.840 --> 00:23:46.200 man who 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.440 sees with 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:47.980 the eye of 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.440 faith. 00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:49.700 Here is a 00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.059 man who 00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:50.680 is beside 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.259 the way, 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.140 and yet 00:23:52.140 --> 00:23:52.519 through the 00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:52.839 gracious 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.640 ministry of 00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:54.019 Jesus, 00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:55.120 soon finds 00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:56.059 himself following 00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:56.960 Jesus on 00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.360 the way. 00:23:58.559 --> 00:23:59.579 Here is a 00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:00.779 poor man in 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.660 great need 00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:03.640 looking for 00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:04.660 not glory, 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.299 he's looking 00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:07.259 for mercy. 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.460 They came to 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.559 Jericho, and 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:10.960 as he was 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:11.579 leaving with 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.240 his disciples 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:12.759 and a great 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.140 crowd, 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.220 Bartimaeus, 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:14.920 a blind 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:15.360 becker, 00:24:15.860 --> 00:24:16.240 son of 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:16.779 Timaeus, 00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:17.400 was sitting 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.040 by the 00:24:18.040 --> 00:24:18.620 roadside. 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.120 Here is a 00:24:20.120 --> 00:24:20.820 man who 00:24:20.820 --> 00:24:21.360 lived his 00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:22.280 life in 00:24:22.280 --> 00:24:22.800 darkness. 00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:24.640 His condition 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.300 meant he 00:24:25.300 --> 00:24:25.920 was utterly 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:26.820 dependent on 00:24:26.820 --> 00:24:27.440 other people. 00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:28.840 He was not 00:24:28.840 --> 00:24:29.800 an independent, 00:24:30.300 --> 00:24:31.400 self-sufficient 00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:32.480 man. 00:24:33.060 --> 00:24:33.480 He was on 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.060 the margins 00:24:34.060 --> 00:24:35.019 of society, 00:24:35.320 --> 00:24:36.120 he was reduced 00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:36.720 to begging 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.180 by the 00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:37.780 roadside, 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:38.400 he was 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:38.820 someone that 00:24:38.820 --> 00:24:39.519 other people 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:40.140 looked down 00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:40.560 on with 00:24:40.560 --> 00:24:41.040 pity. 00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:41.960 In the 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.380 eyes of 00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:42.640 many, 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:43.160 he was a 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:43.580 nobody. 00:24:45.580 --> 00:24:45.960 And yet, 00:24:46.040 --> 00:24:46.360 though he 00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:46.840 could not 00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:47.740 see with 00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.459 his eyes, 00:24:49.199 --> 00:24:49.959 his hearing 00:24:49.959 --> 00:24:51.019 was excellent. 00:24:51.899 --> 00:24:52.379 When he 00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:54.099 heard that 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:54.379 it was 00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:55.000 Jesus of 00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.699 Nazareth, 00:24:55.859 --> 00:24:56.599 verse 47, 00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:57.959 he began to 00:24:57.959 --> 00:24:58.740 cry out and 00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.019 say, 00:24:59.279 --> 00:24:59.579 Jesus, 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.079 son of 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:00.339 David, 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.079 have mercy 00:25:01.079 --> 00:25:01.539 on me. 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:02.139 Many 00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:02.839 rebuked him, 00:25:02.939 --> 00:25:03.339 telling him 00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:04.059 to be silent, 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:04.899 but he cried 00:25:04.899 --> 00:25:05.419 out all the 00:25:05.419 --> 00:25:05.619 more, 00:25:05.859 --> 00:25:06.220 son of 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:06.519 David, 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.379 have mercy 00:25:07.379 --> 00:25:07.919 on me. 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:11.139 As the 00:25:11.139 --> 00:25:11.439 crowd of 00:25:11.439 --> 00:25:12.059 pilgrims 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:13.059 made its 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:13.419 way from 00:25:13.419 --> 00:25:13.939 Jericho, 00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:14.580 it passed 00:25:14.580 --> 00:25:16.019 Bartimaeus 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:16.480 and his 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:17.180 begging 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:17.640 bowl. 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:19.660 And here 00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:20.759 he hears 00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:22.100 of Jesus. 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:23.680 And perhaps 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.180 he'd heard 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:25.880 about Jesus 00:25:25.880 --> 00:25:26.519 before, 00:25:26.860 --> 00:25:27.500 his teaching, 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.220 his miraculous 00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:28.759 works, 00:25:28.820 --> 00:25:29.500 and so on, 00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:30.380 and yet, 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.000 almost in a 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:31.440 kind of act 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:32.420 of desperation, 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.000 he decides 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.380 to shout 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:35.900 out and 00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:36.620 call upon 00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.580 Jesus and 00:25:37.580 --> 00:25:38.000 seek his 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.440 help. 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:39.200 Jesus, 00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:39.740 son of 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.019 David, 00:25:40.340 --> 00:25:41.080 have mercy 00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:42.259 upon me. 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:43.659 And it's 00:25:43.659 --> 00:25:44.079 interesting, 00:25:44.199 --> 00:25:44.720 that title 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.119 he gives 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:45.699 to Jesus, 00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.859 son of 00:25:46.859 --> 00:25:47.220 David. 00:25:47.939 --> 00:25:48.259 There were 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:48.699 lots of 00:25:48.699 --> 00:25:49.559 different ideas 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.519 about the 00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.599 Messiah in 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:52.319 first century 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:52.799 Israel, 00:25:52.919 --> 00:25:53.859 but one that 00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:54.339 was common 00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:54.919 to all of 00:25:54.919 --> 00:25:55.379 them was the 00:25:55.379 --> 00:25:56.019 understanding 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.519 that the 00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.460 Messiah would 00:25:57.460 --> 00:25:57.960 come from 00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.299 the house 00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:58.759 of David. 00:25:58.939 --> 00:25:59.460 The promise 00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.759 of Samuel 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:02.720 7 was that 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.179 God would 00:26:03.179 --> 00:26:03.899 raise up the 00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:04.539 offspring of 00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:04.819 David, 00:26:05.159 --> 00:26:06.199 establish the 00:26:06.199 --> 00:26:06.779 throne of 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.199 his kingdom 00:26:07.199 --> 00:26:07.659 forever. 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:08.599 And so, 00:26:08.679 --> 00:26:09.359 this title 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:11.319 that Bartimaeus 00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:12.139 ascribes to 00:26:12.139 --> 00:26:12.859 Jesus was 00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:14.019 an explicitly 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.279 messianic 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:15.619 one. 00:26:16.439 --> 00:26:17.159 Bartimaeus 00:26:17.159 --> 00:26:18.019 is here 00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:18.939 calling upon 00:26:18.939 --> 00:26:19.959 Jesus as 00:26:19.959 --> 00:26:20.639 the promised 00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.299 Messiah, 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:22.139 as God's 00:26:22.139 --> 00:26:22.719 true king, 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.219 great David's 00:26:24.219 --> 00:26:24.899 greater son. 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.479 He sees 00:26:26.479 --> 00:26:27.419 Jesus for 00:26:27.419 --> 00:26:28.419 who he really 00:26:28.419 --> 00:26:29.240 is, and he 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:29.939 calls out to 00:26:29.939 --> 00:26:30.659 him in faith, 00:26:30.919 --> 00:26:31.699 Jesus, son of 00:26:31.699 --> 00:26:32.259 David, have 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:32.799 mercy. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.679 It must have 00:26:34.679 --> 00:26:34.979 been an 00:26:34.979 --> 00:26:35.500 embarrassing 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.419 sight for 00:26:36.419 --> 00:26:36.759 many. 00:26:37.339 --> 00:26:38.199 Poor blind 00:26:38.199 --> 00:26:39.219 beggar shouting, 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:40.199 crying out, 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:40.879 calling on 00:26:40.879 --> 00:26:41.240 Jesus. 00:26:41.919 --> 00:26:42.399 And such 00:26:42.399 --> 00:26:42.719 is the 00:26:42.719 --> 00:26:43.399 commotion that 00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:44.039 the folks 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.799 around, you 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.019 know, they 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:45.459 tell him to 00:26:45.459 --> 00:26:46.379 zip it, keep 00:26:46.379 --> 00:26:47.479 quiet, stop, 00:26:47.659 --> 00:26:48.219 shouting out, 00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:48.919 shut up. 00:26:51.199 --> 00:26:52.579 But Bartimaeus, 00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:55.079 rather like 00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:55.579 James and 00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:56.579 John, is 00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.039 utterly 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.479 shameless. 00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.199 He is not 00:26:59.199 --> 00:26:59.839 the least bit 00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:00.259 embarrassed. 00:27:01.199 --> 00:27:01.679 He's not 00:27:01.679 --> 00:27:02.539 bothered about 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.219 what others 00:27:03.219 --> 00:27:03.899 think or 00:27:03.899 --> 00:27:04.259 say. 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:06.099 Many rebuked 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:06.599 him, telling 00:27:06.599 --> 00:27:07.079 him to be 00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:07.939 silent, verse 00:27:07.939 --> 00:27:09.099 48, but he 00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:09.879 cried out 00:27:09.879 --> 00:27:10.419 all the 00:27:10.419 --> 00:27:11.139 more, son 00:27:11.139 --> 00:27:11.579 of David, 00:27:11.679 --> 00:27:12.119 have mercy 00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:12.579 on me. 00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:13.419 And that 00:27:13.419 --> 00:27:14.000 little phrase, 00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:14.500 have mercy 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.599 on me, one 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.379 that we find 00:27:16.379 --> 00:27:17.099 repeatedly in 00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:17.480 the book of 00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:19.099 Psalms, Psalm 00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:19.579 4, Psalm 00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:21.379 6, 41, 51, 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:23.339 109, 123. 00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:25.659 Every instance, 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.059 the one 00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:26.799 addressed is 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.240 Yahweh 00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:27.879 himself. 00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.240 And Bartimaeus 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:31.179 takes that cry 00:27:31.179 --> 00:27:31.899 of a sinner for 00:27:31.899 --> 00:27:32.899 mercy, and he 00:27:32.899 --> 00:27:33.619 directs it 00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:34.819 directly to 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.639 Jesus Christ. 00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:37.259 Lord, have 00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.280 mercy on 00:27:38.280 --> 00:27:38.560 me. 00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.460 This is what 00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:40.980 he was looking 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.380 for. 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.400 He was looking 00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.140 for the mercy 00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:45.160 of God in 00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:45.780 his life. 00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:46.580 James and 00:27:46.580 --> 00:27:47.440 John looking 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:48.080 for glory. 00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:49.020 Bartimaeus, 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:49.860 mercy. 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.380 In some way, 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:52.840 it seems 00:27:52.840 --> 00:27:53.540 Bartimaeus 00:27:53.540 --> 00:27:54.520 understood himself 00:27:54.520 --> 00:27:55.220 to be a 00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:55.920 guilty man. 00:27:57.300 --> 00:27:58.040 His self-pity, 00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:58.660 his pride, 00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.140 his lust, 00:27:59.220 --> 00:27:59.560 his greed, 00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:00.000 his short 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.720 temper, his 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.200 contempt, 00:28:01.320 --> 00:28:01.900 his jealousy, 00:28:02.060 --> 00:28:02.980 all the sins 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:03.579 that he had 00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:04.420 that as a 00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:05.000 blind man he 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.480 was guilty 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:05.779 of. 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.240 And yet, 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:07.380 here was the 00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:07.940 one who could 00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:08.360 show him 00:28:08.360 --> 00:28:08.759 mercy. 00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:11.279 Mercy he 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:11.839 looked for. 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.519 Mercy he 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:13.920 sought. 00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:15.860 Mercy he 00:28:15.860 --> 00:28:16.559 cried for. 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:19.039 Have you 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:20.440 ever asked 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.000 the Lord 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:22.900 Jesus for 00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:23.380 mercy? 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:27.039 Because mercy 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.779 is the only 00:28:27.779 --> 00:28:29.460 basis in 00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:29.980 which we can 00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.440 enjoy a 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.220 relationship with 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:31.599 God. 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.420 Not the 00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:32.940 basis of 00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:33.259 our good 00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:33.720 works, 00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:34.840 our good 00:28:34.840 --> 00:28:35.220 name, 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.180 our good 00:28:36.180 --> 00:28:36.740 standing, 00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:37.640 our religious 00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:38.360 pedigree. 00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:40.240 Only by the 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:41.100 mercy of God 00:28:41.100 --> 00:28:41.960 can we come 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:42.560 to know him. 00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:45.700 We are not 00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:46.640 morally superior 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.460 to others. 00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:49.100 When all is 00:28:49.100 --> 00:28:49.740 said and done, 00:28:49.840 --> 00:28:50.400 we're all 00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:51.620 blind and 00:28:51.620 --> 00:28:52.200 bankrupt 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:52.640 sinners. 00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:57.120 I don't 00:28:57.120 --> 00:28:57.460 think I've 00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:57.779 told this 00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:58.340 story here. 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:58.940 I may have 00:28:58.940 --> 00:28:59.180 done. 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.180 I tell so 00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:00.800 many stories 00:29:00.800 --> 00:29:01.279 I begin to 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:01.800 lose track 00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:02.359 of when 00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:02.720 I've told 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:02.980 them and 00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.299 where I've 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:03.639 told them. 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:05.159 But many 00:29:05.159 --> 00:29:05.599 years ago 00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:05.960 there was 00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:07.099 a minister 00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:09.379 in Tarbert 00:29:09.379 --> 00:29:09.819 on the 00:29:09.819 --> 00:29:10.159 Isle of 00:29:10.159 --> 00:29:10.700 Harris. 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.119 He was in 00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:12.419 the Church 00:29:12.419 --> 00:29:12.859 of Scotland. 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.099 He was 00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:13.460 a man with 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:14.159 Reverend 00:29:14.159 --> 00:29:14.539 Donald 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:15.019 Angus 00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:15.579 McRae. 00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:18.419 He was 00:29:18.419 --> 00:29:18.899 an interesting 00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:19.440 character. 00:29:20.659 --> 00:29:21.200 When he 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.559 died there 00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:21.779 was an 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.299 obituary 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:23.339 written I 00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:23.619 think by 00:29:23.619 --> 00:29:23.839 John 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:24.319 MacLeod 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:25.000 in the 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.839 Herald 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:26.460 newspaper. 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.359 In that 00:29:28.359 --> 00:29:29.099 obituary it 00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:29.539 tells the 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:29.979 story of 00:29:29.979 --> 00:29:30.319 how just 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:30.599 a few 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.299 days before 00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:31.919 he died 00:29:31.919 --> 00:29:33.179 a friend 00:29:33.179 --> 00:29:33.439 from 00:29:33.439 --> 00:29:34.159 Stornoway 00:29:34.159 --> 00:29:35.599 called in 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:36.079 to see 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:36.379 Mr. 00:29:36.439 --> 00:29:36.879 McRae. 00:29:37.679 --> 00:29:38.000 And though 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.279 he was 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:38.939 very weak 00:29:38.939 --> 00:29:39.819 Donald 00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:40.539 Angus was 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:41.079 awake and 00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:42.639 alert and 00:29:42.639 --> 00:29:43.279 he eyed his 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:43.759 visitor 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.759 whimsically and 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.599 seized his 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.079 hand. 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:47.379 And what 00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:47.899 will you 00:29:47.899 --> 00:29:48.719 have to 00:29:48.719 --> 00:29:49.159 say to 00:29:49.159 --> 00:29:49.799 the Lord 00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.740 he whispered 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.139 on the 00:29:51.139 --> 00:29:51.479 day of 00:29:51.479 --> 00:29:51.899 judgment. 00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:54.279 Well the 00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:54.699 elder 00:29:54.699 --> 00:29:55.279 who'd 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:55.779 visiting him 00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:56.139 was quite 00:29:56.139 --> 00:29:56.859 disconcerted 00:29:56.859 --> 00:29:57.359 by this. 00:29:58.139 --> 00:29:59.539 Well he 00:29:59.539 --> 00:30:00.000 said you 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.259 know you 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:00.680 you're the 00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.899 minister and 00:30:01.899 --> 00:30:02.200 on the 00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:02.579 good way 00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:03.339 many years 00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:04.000 what will 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:04.339 you say 00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:04.980 yourself? 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:07.319 Oh said 00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:07.579 Mr. 00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:08.059 McRae 00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:09.980 mercy 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:11.579 mercy 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.859 mercy 00:30:12.859 --> 00:30:15.660 friends we 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:16.160 must never 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:16.980 forget that 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:17.480 the basis 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.539 of our 00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:19.200 relationship 00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:19.899 with God 00:30:19.899 --> 00:30:21.399 the basis 00:30:21.399 --> 00:30:21.799 of our 00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:22.680 belonging 00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:23.460 in the 00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:24.099 family of 00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:24.519 God 00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:25.019 God 00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.879 is nothing 00:30:25.879 --> 00:30:26.420 more nothing 00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:27.700 less than 00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:28.259 the mercy 00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:29.139 of God. 00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:31.039 Paul writes 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.799 he saved us 00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:32.859 not because of 00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:33.740 works done 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.900 by us in 00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:35.519 righteousness 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:37.099 but according 00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:38.460 to his own 00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:39.700 mercy. 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.379 Titus 3 00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:40.879 5. 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:42.759 I love the 00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.279 words of 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:44.019 John Stocker's 00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:44.279 hymn 00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:46.379 The door of 00:30:46.379 --> 00:30:47.099 thy mercy 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:48.200 stands open 00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:48.859 all day 00:30:48.859 --> 00:30:50.460 to the needy 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.299 and poor 00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:52.139 who knock 00:30:52.139 --> 00:30:52.920 by the way 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:54.220 no sinner 00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:54.820 shall ever 00:30:54.820 --> 00:30:55.519 be empty 00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:56.400 sent back 00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.960 who comes 00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:59.039 seeking mercy 00:30:59.039 --> 00:31:00.340 for Jesus 00:31:00.340 --> 00:31:01.500 dear sake. 00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.480 Jesus 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.200 stopped and 00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:04.759 said call 00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.039 him. 00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:06.140 They called 00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:06.519 the blind 00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:06.960 man 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:08.019 take heart 00:31:08.019 --> 00:31:08.420 get up 00:31:08.420 --> 00:31:08.880 he's calling 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:09.080 you 00:31:09.080 --> 00:31:09.580 throwing off 00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:10.019 his cloak 00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:10.620 he sprang 00:31:10.620 --> 00:31:11.080 up and 00:31:11.080 --> 00:31:11.500 came to 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:11.980 Jesus. 00:31:12.860 --> 00:31:13.180 I love 00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:13.519 that little 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.060 detail 00:31:14.060 --> 00:31:14.700 that Mark 00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.259 records 00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:16.160 throwing off 00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:16.740 his cloak 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.680 he sprang 00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:18.400 up and 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:18.840 came to 00:31:18.840 --> 00:31:19.240 Jesus 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:19.960 probably 00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:20.840 an outer 00:31:20.840 --> 00:31:21.340 garment 00:31:21.340 --> 00:31:21.860 maybe even 00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:22.500 his bedroll. 00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:23.920 It's 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:24.539 suggestive 00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:25.000 of this 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:25.720 man's 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.259 eagerness 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.259 to desire 00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:27.640 to come 00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:28.299 to Jesus. 00:31:29.579 --> 00:31:30.200 I wonder 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:30.559 if there's 00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:31.059 an eagerness 00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:31.740 and a desire 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.079 that we 00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:32.460 share. 00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.400 When Jesus 00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:35.420 calls us 00:31:35.420 --> 00:31:36.519 what is 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.299 our response 00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:37.640 I wonder 00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:37.980 if there's 00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:38.720 a spring 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:39.579 in our 00:31:39.579 --> 00:31:40.120 step. 00:31:44.620 --> 00:31:45.100 Perhaps 00:31:45.100 --> 00:31:45.559 we've become 00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:45.980 more like 00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:46.480 James and 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:46.840 John 00:31:46.840 --> 00:31:48.539 looking to 00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.120 see what's 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:49.539 in it for 00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:49.959 us 00:31:49.959 --> 00:31:51.339 rather 00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:51.799 than 00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.659 like 00:31:52.659 --> 00:31:53.579 Bartimaeus 00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:54.779 eager 00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.539 to run 00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.039 to 00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:57.159 and run 00:31:57.159 --> 00:31:57.479 after 00:31:57.479 --> 00:31:57.879 Jesus. 00:31:59.199 --> 00:31:59.500 And Jesus 00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:00.019 said to him 00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:00.299 what do you 00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:00.879 want me to 00:32:00.879 --> 00:32:01.459 do for you? 00:32:02.739 --> 00:32:03.319 And the 00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:03.759 blind man 00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.139 said 00:32:04.139 --> 00:32:05.119 Rabbi 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:06.359 let me 00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:06.799 recover 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.779 my sight. 00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:10.579 You see 00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:11.219 the difference 00:32:11.219 --> 00:32:11.899 to James 00:32:11.899 --> 00:32:12.519 and John 00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:13.699 yes they 00:32:13.699 --> 00:32:14.579 wanted glory 00:32:14.579 --> 00:32:15.179 and thrones 00:32:15.179 --> 00:32:15.779 and cabinet 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.359 seats in 00:32:16.359 --> 00:32:16.659 God's 00:32:16.659 --> 00:32:16.959 kingdom. 00:32:17.899 --> 00:32:18.459 This blind 00:32:18.459 --> 00:32:18.839 man 00:32:18.839 --> 00:32:19.839 asks 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:20.359 simply 00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:20.579 to 00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:20.859 see. 00:32:21.939 --> 00:32:22.359 And that's 00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:22.679 the great 00:32:22.679 --> 00:32:23.099 irony 00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:23.919 because it's 00:32:23.919 --> 00:32:24.879 the disciples 00:32:24.879 --> 00:32:25.619 really who 00:32:25.619 --> 00:32:25.839 are the 00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:26.579 blind ones. 00:32:28.159 --> 00:32:28.659 Bartimaeus' 00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:29.279 cry is not 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:29.819 for power 00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:30.339 and status 00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:30.799 it's for 00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:31.159 mercy. 00:32:32.099 --> 00:32:32.779 And even 00:32:32.779 --> 00:32:33.099 when the 00:32:33.099 --> 00:32:33.639 people tell 00:32:33.639 --> 00:32:34.199 him to 00:32:34.199 --> 00:32:34.679 be quiet 00:32:34.679 --> 00:32:35.119 he keeps 00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:35.599 on asking 00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:36.220 for mercy. 00:32:37.439 --> 00:32:38.179 He's seen 00:32:38.179 --> 00:32:38.679 who Jesus 00:32:38.679 --> 00:32:39.519 really is. 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:40.740 He's not 00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:41.179 for giving 00:32:41.179 --> 00:32:41.599 up. 00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:42.959 It's the 00:32:42.959 --> 00:32:43.500 disciples 00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.039 who are in 00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:44.639 the dark. 00:32:46.220 --> 00:32:46.639 Notice what 00:32:46.639 --> 00:32:47.259 Jesus says 00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:48.079 in verse 52 00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:48.539 to him 00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:49.099 go your 00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:49.359 way 00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:49.879 your faith 00:32:49.879 --> 00:32:50.240 has made 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:50.680 you well. 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:51.559 Immediately 00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:52.579 he recovered 00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:53.240 his sight 00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:54.279 and followed 00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:55.339 him on 00:32:55.339 --> 00:32:55.839 the way. 00:32:57.379 --> 00:32:57.759 Word there 00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:58.160 healed 00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:58.619 made you 00:32:58.619 --> 00:32:58.960 well. 00:32:59.319 --> 00:32:59.900 Same word 00:32:59.900 --> 00:33:00.440 in the New 00:33:00.440 --> 00:33:00.799 Testament 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:01.619 for salvation. 00:33:01.819 --> 00:33:02.079 Literally 00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:03.119 your faith 00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:03.579 has saved 00:33:03.579 --> 00:33:03.859 you. 00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:06.420 Praise the 00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:06.660 Lord 00:33:06.660 --> 00:33:07.319 his mercy 00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:07.900 is more 00:33:07.900 --> 00:33:09.779 stronger than 00:33:09.779 --> 00:33:10.319 darkness 00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:11.140 new every 00:33:11.140 --> 00:33:11.539 morn. 00:33:12.539 --> 00:33:13.319 Our sins 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:13.700 they are 00:33:13.700 --> 00:33:14.019 many 00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:15.000 his mercy 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:16.019 is more. 00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:18.180 What are 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:19.059 you looking 00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:19.720 for this 00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:20.019 evening? 00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:21.920 What are 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:22.400 you living 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:23.119 for? 00:33:24.200 --> 00:33:24.759 What do 00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:25.119 you want 00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:25.839 Jesus to 00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:26.920 do for 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:27.240 you? 00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:30.079 Some of 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:30.379 us are 00:33:30.379 --> 00:33:30.879 like James 00:33:30.879 --> 00:33:31.400 and John. 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:31.940 We come 00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.799 to Jesus 00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:33.440 with ambitious 00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:33.940 hearts. 00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:34.440 We want 00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:35.240 success in 00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:35.859 our church 00:33:35.859 --> 00:33:36.799 recognition 00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:37.259 amongst 00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:37.680 others. 00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.339 We want 00:33:39.339 --> 00:33:39.740 the crown 00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:40.259 without the 00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:40.720 cross. 00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:43.380 Jesus 00:33:43.380 --> 00:33:43.900 says you 00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:44.240 do not 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:44.640 know what 00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:45.319 you ask. 00:33:46.360 --> 00:33:46.620 The way 00:33:46.620 --> 00:33:47.039 to glory 00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:47.339 is the 00:33:47.339 --> 00:33:47.559 way of 00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:48.100 the servant. 00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:48.839 The path 00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:49.259 to honor 00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:49.640 is the 00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:50.000 path of 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:50.620 the cross. 00:33:51.100 --> 00:33:51.620 The crown 00:33:51.620 --> 00:33:52.100 is always 00:33:52.100 --> 00:33:52.700 preceded 00:33:52.700 --> 00:33:53.220 by the 00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:53.539 cup. 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:54.819 And the 00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:55.039 throne 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:55.440 is only 00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:55.819 reached 00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:56.220 by way 00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:56.360 of 00:33:56.360 --> 00:33:56.839 Calvary. 00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.019 Or are 00:33:59.019 --> 00:33:59.240 you more 00:33:59.240 --> 00:33:59.440 like 00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:00.279 Bartimaeus? 00:34:00.380 --> 00:34:00.680 You know 00:34:00.680 --> 00:34:01.220 your blindness. 00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:01.740 You know 00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:02.259 your need. 00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.339 You know 00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:04.620 that you 00:34:04.620 --> 00:34:05.100 need the 00:34:05.100 --> 00:34:05.579 mercy of 00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:06.000 God. 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:07.460 You want 00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:07.900 Christ 00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:08.460 himself 00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.519 to see 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:10.059 him more 00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:10.460 clearly, 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.059 to follow 00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:11.480 him more 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:11.780 nearly, 00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:12.400 to love 00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:12.740 him more 00:34:12.740 --> 00:34:13.280 dearly. 00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:14.940 Your 00:34:14.940 --> 00:34:15.400 cry is not 00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:16.079 for position 00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:16.519 but for 00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:16.940 pardon. 00:34:17.720 --> 00:34:18.380 Not for 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.159 prestige but 00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:19.840 for purity. 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.639 Not for 00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:22.280 power but 00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:22.619 for the 00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:23.559 presence of 00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:23.940 the Savior. 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:26.519 What are 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:26.820 you looking 00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:27.240 for this 00:34:27.240 --> 00:34:27.539 evening? 00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:28.460 What are 00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:28.980 you asking 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.340 for? 00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:29.679 What do 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:29.960 you want 00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:30.639 Jesus to 00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:31.340 do for 00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:31.699 you? 00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:33.760 Looking 00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:34.380 for yourself? 00:34:34.740 --> 00:34:35.079 Looking for 00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:35.599 number one? 00:34:35.699 --> 00:34:36.059 Looking for 00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:36.400 glory? 00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:37.639 Or are 00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:37.920 you looking 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:38.519 for mercy 00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:39.800 from Jesus 00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:40.240 the son 00:34:40.240 --> 00:34:40.620 of David, 00:34:40.700 --> 00:34:41.100 the servant 00:34:41.100 --> 00:34:41.480 king? 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:46.320 Which path 00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:46.880 will you 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:47.820 tread? 00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:50.100 Will you 00:34:50.100 --> 00:34:51.260 tread the 00:34:51.260 --> 00:34:51.519 way of 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:52.060 the cross? 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:53.660 Will you 00:34:53.660 --> 00:34:54.720 tread the 00:34:54.720 --> 00:34:55.000 way of 00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:55.400 the king? 00:34:56.760 --> 00:34:57.580 Will you 00:34:57.580 --> 00:34:58.140 tread the 00:34:58.140 --> 00:34:59.260 way of 00:34:59.260 --> 00:34:59.600 the great 00:34:59.600 --> 00:34:59.980 servant? 00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:02.039 What do 00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:02.320 you want 00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:03.019 Jesus to 00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:03.820 do for 00:35:03.820 --> 00:35:04.100 you? 00:35:05.700 --> 00:35:06.340 What do 00:35:06.340 --> 00:35:06.620 you want 00:35:06.619 --> 00:35:06.819 to be 00:35:06.819 --> 00:35:07.259 like? 00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:08.900 Do you 00:35:08.900 --> 00:35:09.019 want 00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:09.259 to be 00:35:09.259 --> 00:35:09.539 like 00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:09.799 this 00:35:09.799 --> 00:35:10.159 world? 00:35:11.159 --> 00:35:11.759 Or do 00:35:11.759 --> 00:35:12.099 you want 00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:12.500 to be 00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:13.359 like 00:35:13.359 --> 00:35:13.659 Jesus? 00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:14.920 Let's 00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:15.159 pray. 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:23.059 Lord, 00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:23.480 grant us 00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:23.960 the help 00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:24.699 of your 00:35:24.699 --> 00:35:25.420 Holy Spirit. 00:35:26.239 --> 00:35:26.859 Work in 00:35:26.859 --> 00:35:27.539 our hearts 00:35:27.539 --> 00:35:27.980 what is 00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:28.719 pleasing in 00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:29.359 your sight. 00:35:30.359 --> 00:35:31.239 Give us 00:35:31.239 --> 00:35:32.940 desire and 00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:33.539 motivation 00:35:33.539 --> 00:35:35.420 not to 00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:37.159 prioritize 00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:38.159 ourselves, 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:39.840 but to 00:35:39.840 --> 00:35:40.239 put you 00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:40.699 first, 00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:41.940 to love 00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:42.219 you, 00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.360 and to 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:43.679 love our 00:35:43.679 --> 00:35:44.000 neighbors 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:44.340 as 00:35:44.340 --> 00:35:44.960 ourselves. 00:35:45.880 --> 00:35:46.360 Lord, 00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:46.840 make us 00:35:46.840 --> 00:35:47.400 a people 00:35:47.400 --> 00:35:48.340 always 00:35:48.340 --> 00:35:48.820 thankful 00:35:48.820 --> 00:35:49.440 for your 00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:50.119 mercies 00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:50.519 that are 00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:51.079 new every 00:35:51.079 --> 00:35:51.440 morning. 00:35:52.360 --> 00:35:53.059 Make us 00:35:53.059 --> 00:35:53.559 a grateful 00:35:53.559 --> 00:35:54.039 people. 00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:55.219 Make us 00:35:55.219 --> 00:35:55.779 thankful 00:35:55.779 --> 00:35:58.119 as blind 00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:58.840 Bartimaeus 00:35:58.840 --> 00:35:59.219 was, 00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:01.079 and help 00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:01.420 us to 00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:01.800 live our 00:36:01.800 --> 00:36:03.059 lives out 00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:03.340 of the 00:36:03.340 --> 00:36:03.759 soil of 00:36:03.759 --> 00:36:03.920 your 00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:04.360 grace, 00:36:05.199 --> 00:36:05.539 and so 00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:06.019 to live 00:36:06.019 --> 00:36:06.719 always 00:36:06.719 --> 00:36:07.259 for your 00:36:07.259 --> 00:36:07.579 glory. 00:36:08.159 --> 00:36:08.360 In 00:36:08.360 --> 00:36:08.619 Jesus' 00:36:08.799 --> 00:36:09.000 name, 00:36:09.619 --> 00:36:09.980 Amen.