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Sermon Notes

The Gospel of Mark
Mark 10:46-52 // Blind Bartimaeus

“And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ And Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.’ And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ And the blind man said to him, ‘Rabbi, let me recover my sight.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.” Mark 10:46-52

1. Bartimaeus’ Desperate Condition

“And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.” Mark 10:46

2. Bartimaeus’ Distinct Cries

“And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” Mark 10:47-48

“‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” Mark 10:47b

“And Jesus stopped and said…” Mark 10:49a

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18

“‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.’” Matthew 7:7

Where have you stopped crying out to God because of the discouragement of others or your own self-doubt?

3. Jesus’ Decisive Call

“And Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.’ And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.” Mark 10:49-50

4. Jesus’ Direct Question

“And Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ And the blind man said to him, ‘Rabbi, let me recover my sight.’” Mark 10:51

Brothers vs. Bartimaeus
• They want to be made much of // He wants mercy
• They want glory // He wants grace
• They want to be seen // He wants to see
• Jesus rebukes them gently // Jesus answers immediately

5. Jesus’ Definite Cure

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he recovered his sight…’” Mark 10:52a

6. Bartimaeus’ Different Course of Life

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well. And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.’” Mark 10:52

“And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.” Mark 10:50

“So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?’” John 4:28-29

“And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:19-20

Is there something you’re holding onto hinders you from following Jesus fully?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…” Hebrews 12:1-2a

You Had a Desperate Condition
“You were dead in your trespasses and sin…” Ephesians 2:1

You Made a Distinct Cry
“… call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” Psalm 50:15

Jesus’ Decisive Call
“…he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…” Ephesians 1:4-5

Jesus’ Definite Cure
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved...” Ephesians 2:4-5

You Have a Different Course of Life
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

“Blind Bartimaeus is a picture of what we are all by nature. We are spiritually blind, and therefore unable to see our lost condition, our Savior, or the way of salvation. But the Son of David still passes by, and those who cry out to Him, as Bartimaeus did, will receive their sight.” Charles Spurgeon