Blind Bartimaeus

Temple Baptist Church - 11-02-2008

Luke 18:35-43

Introduction:

A. I have been preaching on conversions in the Bible for a few weeks and here we find another wonderful story of such a conversion. There have been several songs written about this particular New Testament event.

1. “Jesus Stood Still.”
2. “Jesus Passed By”
3. “Master, I See.” Etc.

B. The Bible does not specifically say that Bartimaeus was blind from his birth but I believe that we can certainly make that application. Though not specifically said, it is implied in the title of this man found in Mark 10:46b, “blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.” I think of a man that I knew (I will not give his name though some of you will know from the description who he is) who was known as “Dummy So-in-so.” He was not called this in a derogatory way but because he was unable to speak. “Blind Bartimaeus” gives the impression that he was noted for being blind all of his life. A very clear type of mankind, spiritually dead and blind from birth through an adamic nature.

C. I want to look at these few verses that so graphically paint us a picture of the new birth of a sinner.

1. The Condition Of The Lost World – vs. 35 “blind”

Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Romans 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (They are blinded to their sin, salvation, and the Saviour.)

2. The Mercy Of The Lord – vs. 35 “Jesus…passed by”

Lamentations 3:22 [It is of] the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

Psalms 145:8 The LORD [is] gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Grace is unmerited favor. We get what we do not deserve. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve.)

3. The Opportunity Of Salvation – vs. 37 “passed by”

In each of my messages on salvation these past few weeks, we have seen that the Lord came to each of them. The Samaritian woman, the Ethiopian Eunuch, Saul of Tarsus, and not Bartimaeus.

Hebrews 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (No man knows the time of his death of the coming of the Lord. No man has the promise of either tomorrow or of another opportunity to be saved.)

4. The Misery Of The Unsaved – vs. 38 “he cried…have mercy on me”

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (If you are not laboring or heavy laden, you will not come for rest! When the sinner gets tired of sin, he will seek the Savior!)

5. The Opposition Of The World – vs. 39 “rebuked him, that he should hold his peace”

Mark 5:35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s [house certain] which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

Matthew 19:13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put [his] hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. (It seems as if every time we witness, there is interruption. Every time a sinner promises to come to church, there is something that interferes.)

6. The Persistence Of The Sinful – vs. 39 “cried so much the more”

Mark 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken [it] up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

Mark 5:27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

Luke 19:3-4 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that [way]. (Nothing can stop the individual who wants to come to Christ!)

7. The Importance Of The Sinner – vs. 40 “Jesus stood” “Jesus stood still”

Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

Luke 15:8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find [it]?

Luke 15:32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. (One sheep, one coin, and one son. The importance of “one.”)

8. The Obligation Of The Saved – vs. 40 “command…brought unto him”

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (It is the responsibility of ALL!)

9. The Omniscience of The Saviour – vs. 41 “What wilt thou…I shall do”

Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (The Lord knows what we need and where we are!)

10. The Enactment Of Faith – vs. 41 “that I may receive my sight”

Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Romans 10:13, 17 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved…So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (God honors faith and hears the cry of the sinful.)

11. The Effect Of The New Birth – vs. 43

a. He immediately saw
b. He immediately followed
c. He immediately confessed
d. He immediately worshipped