A Generous Heart; Luke 19:1-10

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Sight and Insight; Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43

 This message was prefaced with some pictures of and facts about Jericho.  I have included some picture in this message.

If you read all three accounts of the healing of the blind man from Matthew, Luke, and Mark, you would see a few differences.  Luke has Jesus coming into Jericho and Matthew and Mark have Jesus coming out of Jericho  --In Jesus's day there were Jerichos, old and new, will we see both.

            Luke records that this is where Zaccheaus lived, so that story takes place here, which we will hear about next week.  Jesus is passing through as He continues on His way to Jerusalem, but a blind man recognizes who Jesus is.  Like Zaccheaus, the blind man wants to see Jesus, and also faces resistance from the crowds.  In Mark we find he is known as Bartimaeus—the son of Timaeus.  Matthew has 2 blind men, but Matthew has 2 in a lot of places the other gospels don’t—Jesus rides 2 donkeys, 2 demoniacs, etc. because he wants the support of two witnesses.  This man has insight first and then receives sight as he responds to Jesus.

            Before Bartimaeus ever receives his sight, he has insight.  In all three accounts, he names Jesus as the Son of David.  Son of David is an Old Testament title for the Messiah.  Bartimaeus recognizes what many of the multitude following Jesus do not, including His disciples.  He knows Jesus the Messiah. In contrast to the disciples whom we heard last week didn’t understand what Jesus was saying to the about His impending death and resurrection, even though they heard it multiple times, Bartimaeus has great spiritual insight before he ever gains physical sight.  In Matthew and Luke, he addresses Jesus as Lord or Master.  He knows Jesus has authority over him. In Mark, he calls Jesus Rabboni—my great one, My master.  Similar to Lord, but it is more personal. 

        Note crowd tells Bartimaeus to shut up in all three accounts.  They are emphatic, but this does not stop, and in fact only encourages Bartimaeus to appeal to Jesus’s mercy more loudly.  The way the crowd acts is not unlike how the disciples tried to keep parents from bringing their babies to Jesus.  Have you ever experienced others trying to keep you from Jesus?  Thankfully, Bartimaeus is not deterred.  He keeps calling out all the more.  In fact, Luke uses two different words for shout, in which the second is far more visceral than the first.  He is persistent above the crowd trying to get him to calm down.  How persistent are you in your prayers to God?  

    When Jesus actually stops to wait for Bartimaeus and asks him what he needs, the crowd changes their tune according to Luke’s gospel and encourages Bartimaeus to go to Jesus.  Sometimes we get so caught up in what we think it means to follow Jesus, that we forget Jesus is interested in other people and in gaining more followers.  We ought to always be encouraging of those who are seeking Jesus.  We don’t want to be like the crowd, discouraging people from Jesus, making them think that Jesus doesn’t have time for them.  Jesus makes time for anyone who calls out to Him.  No request is too great or too small.  Jesus will have mercy.  He may not answer the request in the way that it is asked, but He gives what is needed.  He gives wholeness.  May we live and speak in such a way as to help people move toward Jesus, not block their way to Him.  We may even be those who carry people to Jesus.  We never want to hinder someone who is seeking Jesus.

Bartimaeus is blessed with sight by Jesus even as he continues to reveal his insight into who Jesus is.  When Jesus waits for him, he runs to Jesus.  Mark gives us the detail of him leaving his cloak behind.  His cloak would have been used to hold the alms that were given to him.  Like Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who all left their fishing nets to follow Jesus, Bartimaeus leaving his cloak behind is leaving his source of income.  He will no longer be depending on it.  He believes that Jesus will heal him, so he leaves it there.  No more blindness means no more begging.  Like many whom Jesus heals, he believes and Jesus says that it is that faith which saves him. Bartimaeus’s insight becomes physical sight when Jesus heals Him.  In Matthew, Jesus does not comment on the healing and heals by touching, but in Mark and Luke, Jesus comments on Bartimaeus’s faith.  Jesus heals by speaking, and he may have touched and spoken at the same time.  Regardless, he receives sight and salvation.

When Jesus heals the man, He says, “Your faith has saved you.”  This is something we have seen Jesus say before.  We recall the Samaritan leper, the only one of a group of 10 lepers who returned to give thanks and praise to God.  In the Luke account, we also see Bartimaeus glorifying God for his sight.  This leads others in the crowd to praise God.  Sharing our insight helps to give sight to others.  When Jesus answers our prayers, we need to give thanks and let other people know, especially when they have been privy to our requests.  Our praise serves as a witness to others.  How have you seen Jesus?  What insight do you have that you can share with others?

            In all three accounts, Bartimaeus follows Jesus.  In Mark, Jesus tells him to go his way, but he chooses the Way of Jesus.  I think he realizes his way is not the right way, but that Jesus is the way.  Jesus becomes his Way.  He will witness Jesus’s encounter with another man, whom we will see next week.  He would have been part of the Triumphal entry!  Bartimaeus doesn’t know all this, but without hesitation, he leaves his old life behind to follow Jesus.  Jesus was worth the risk for him.  How readily do you follow Jesus?  Is there a cloak you need to leave behind—something on which you have been depending but Jesus is calling you to something different?  Is your security in anything other than Jesus?

It's Getting Real; Luke 18:31-34

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A time of silent prayer followed this message for folks to "get real" with Jesus.  You are encouraged to do the same.  If you want to be prayed for, you can reach out to me or a local pastor in your area.  

Following Jesus is Hard; Luke 18:18-30

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