The Healing of Blind Bart
14 January 2018 AM – Mark 10:46-52 – Mr17 – Scott Childs
Introduction: If you have been in Perth, I am sure you have seen the beggars along the street playing music to draw the attention of those walking by that they might donate a coin to help provide their living.
That same scene was common in Israel during Christ’s life. Our story today took place near Jericho. Blind Bartimaeus sat along the main road out of town begging for donations. He may have played a flute or sang a song to draw attention, but there he sat day after day in the dust along the roadside. What a miserable life. However, all that changed on the day he met Jesus. That day he received both physical sight and spiritual sight. His life was never the same again.
Song writer, P. P. Bliss describes our spiritual blindness that only Christ can heal. He wrote, “The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin – the Light of the world is Jesus; Like sunshine at noonday His glory shown in – the Light of the world is Jesus. Come to the Light, ‘tis shining for thee! Sweetly the Light has dawned upon me; Once I was blind, but now I can see – The Light of the world is Jesus.” (Great Hymns, 213)
Transition: Bartimaeus, Bart for short, received both physical and spiritual sight by doing three simple things. Anyone who will do these three simple things can also receive spiritual sight from the LORD.
The first thing blind Bart did was …
1. He RECOGNIZED His Need (v.46)
a. Bartimaeus knew he was blind
1) Physically blind people know they are blind
a) Bart may have been born blind, but more likely he lost his sight. The joy of seeing was gone. He lived in a world of darkness.
b) The causes of blindness were “the heat, sunlight, dust, and, most of all, unclean habits, all of which favor the spread of diseases, which often in a single day destroy the eye.” New Unger’s Bible Dictionary p. 305
2) Spiritually blind people often don’t know they are blind.
a) Spiritually blind people are groping in darkness and heading for hell. This not only describes those with no spiritual interest, but also those who think they are saved, but are really not. That’s why God urges us to examine our faith (2Co 13:5). Examine yourselves…
b) While speaking to the religious leaders of the day, five times Jesus said they were blind (Matthew 23:16-17) “Woe unto you, ye blind guides … [17] Ye fools and blind: …” (Matthew 23:19) “Ye fools and blind: …” (Matthew 23:24) “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.” (Matthew 23:26) “Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.” Their spirituality was fake!
c) Religion can’t give sight to a spiritually blind person; only salvation in Christ can open his spiritual eyes.
b. Bartimaeus knew he could not cure himself
1) Physical blindness has no human cure. Bart had no question in his mind that humanly speaking he would be blind for the rest of his life.
2) Spiritual blindness also has no human cure.
a) Without Christ, all people are spiritually blind sinners. (Romans 3:10, 12, 18) “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. [18] There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
b) No one can cure themselves. (Jeremiah 17:9) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Before salvation, our hearts are desperately wicked, that is malignant or incurable.
The second thing blind Bart did was …
2. He REACHED Out to Jesus for Help (v. 47-48)
a. Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was coming
1) Hearing that there is a cure is the first step to help.
a) Bart heard a large crowd coming. After inquiry, he heard that Jesus was in the crowd.
b) He had heard about Jesus’ healing ability. His heart must have skipped a beat for joy.
2) My friend, if you are still in spiritual darkness, listen to God’s call to you today.
a) (Isaiah 45:22) “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”
b) (Matthew 11:28) “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
b. Bart cried out for Jesus’ mercy
1) He believed that Christ offered him hope.
a) No matter how great a sinner you may be, there is hope and forgiveness in Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
b) The apostle Paul had killed Christians and God saved him. Paul wrote, (1 Timothy 1:15) “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
2) Bartimaeus was not ashamed to cry for mercy
a) He cried out with a loud voice “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.” (v.47).
b) He ignored those who opposed him. When others told him to be quiet, he got louder (v.48).
c) He saw Christ as his only hope and he would not let this opportunity slip by.
d) Like Bart, you should not be ashamed to call out to Christ. He wants to give you forgiveness and eternal life. Do not fear the opposition of family and friends, your eternal destiny is on the line. Christ offers you a clean heart, a clear conscious, a home in heaven, and escape from hell. That is what we all need!
The third thing blind Bart did was …
3. He RECEIVED His Request by Faith
a. He responded to Christ’s invitation to come
1) Note what he did in (v.50). He cast off his coat. He rose up. He came to Christ.
a) He did not delay. He knew he needed help and he believed that Christ could help him.
b) It is sad when spiritually blind people make excuses instead of responding to the Lord’s convicting invitation.
2) When Jesus asked him what he wanted, he asked to be able to see (v.51).
a) He did not hesitate to respond.
b) Spiritual sight is also promised to all who ask. Anyone who is willing to admit their guilt and believe that Christ paid the debt of their sin can ask and receive. (Romans 10:13) “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
3) He received sight through faith.
a) Bartimaeus’ faith in Jesus enabled him to be healed (v.52).
b) Faith in Christ will enable you to be healed spiritually too. (Ephesians 2:8) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
From that moment, he was a changed man physically and spiritually. He immediately followed Jesus.
Conclusion: If the Bible is a boring book that you don’t enjoy reading, if prayer is just a ritual, if God does not convict you when you sin, or if you don’t long to follow Jesus, you very well may be spiritually blind and still unsaved. If that is the case, like Bartimaeus, you too can receive spiritual sight by simply RECOGNIZING your need, REACHING out to Jesus for help, and RECEIVING His free gift of salvation. Do it today!
If Christ has saved your soul, be like Bartimaeus and follow the Lord obediently and tell others of Him.
Song: 213 The light of the world