Verse 35. And James and John, the sons
of Zebedee, come unto him saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest
do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them,
what would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him,
grant unto us that we may sit one on thy right hand and the
other on thy left hand in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them,
you know not what you ask. Can you drink of the cup that
I drink of and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized
with? They said unto him, we can. Jesus
said unto them, you shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink
of, and with the baptism that I am baptized with all shall
you be baptized. But the sit on my right hand
and on my left hand is not mine to give, but it shall be given
to them for whom it is prepared. And when the ten heard it, they
began to be much displeased with James and John. But Jesus called
them to him and saith unto them, you know that they which are
accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them and
their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not
be among you but whosoever will be great among you shall be your
minister. And whosoever of you will be
chiefest shall be servant of all. For even the son of man
came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his
life a ransom for many. And they came to Jericho, and
as he went out of Jericho, with his disciples and a great number
of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the
highway side begging. And when he heard that it was
Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, Jesus, thou
son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he
should hold his peace but he cried the more a great deal.
Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still
and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man
saying unto him, be of good comfort, rise, he calleth thee. And he casting away his garment,
rose and came to Jesus. Jesus answered and said unto
him, what wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said
unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, go thy
way, thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received
his sight and followed Jesus in the way. That's reading to
the end of the chapter, Mark chapter 10, 35 through 52. Our thought tonight is a question,
three little words. Who is blind? Who is blind? In these 18 verses we've read,
we read two somewhat familiar stories. In the earlier verses,
beginning in verse 35, the request of James and John to sit, one
on either side of the Lord, one on his right hand, one on his
left hand, in his glory. It's a selfish request, wishing
honor for themselves. The second story concerns a blind
man named Bartimaeus. who sat by the side of the road,
begging just outside Jericho. It appears on the surface, there's
no connection between these two stories, but I believe there
is. And if you'll stay with me a
few minutes, we'll try to see that. A closer look reveals a
divine arrangement of these two stories together.
This blind man sitting there on that particular day, along
with this request of James and John, it's not incidental or
accidental. First notice the blind man's
name, Bartimaeus. The prefix bar means son of,
the son of. You remember Simon was called
Simon bar Jonah, son of Jonah. So the prefix bar means son of. Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus. Now there's really no need for
the following words in the text, the son of Timaeus. That's what
Bartimaeus means, son of Timaeus. So it's like it's saying, son
of Timaeus, son of Timaeus. It's just a repeating. And yet
by divine inspiration, the Holy Spirit repeats it. Bartimaeus,
son of Timaeus, the son of Timaeus. Emphasis is placed upon the name
Timaeus. And that name means honor. Timaeus
means honor. James and John had requested
for themselves honor. And now here's the son of honor,
a blind beggar. It was believed in those times
that blindness was a curse. You remember in John chapter
nine, the man born blind, Christ's own disciples asked, who did
sin? This man or his parents that
he was born blind. So they believed blindness was
a curse with no honor possibly attached to it. But here's a
son named son of honor, Bartimaeus, and he's a blind beggar. And
here is the honor. He was only blind physically.
That's the honor. He's really not as bad off as
James and John were in many respects. And that's what I wanna look
at for a little bit. So in verse 35, James and John came to the
Lord And they said, we want you to do for us whatever we ask
you to do. How selfish is that? Look closely
at that verse, verse 35. We would that thou shouldest
do for us whatsoever we shall desire. We want you to promise
us the answer is yes before we even tell you what we want. And the Lord said, what is it
you want? And they told him, and he tells them, you don't
know what you're asking. He could have said, we both know why you're
asking, but he said, you don't know what you're asking. But
he asked them then, in order to occupy these positions, are
you ready to walk the road I walk and to face what I'm facing? Verse 38, are you able to drink
the cup that I drink of and be baptized with the baptism that
I'm to be baptized with? And they said, oh yes, we can.
And Christ said, you shall indeed, but to sit on either side of
me in my glory is not mine to give, that belongs to my father. And verse 41 says, when the other
10 heard it, they just really came unglued. I can imagine,
they said, of all the selfish, slow-down tricks to ask for their
own honor, verse 41 says, they were much
displeased. It actually says they began to
be much displeased. And the Lord saw where this was
headed, and he has a word for them. Verse 42, Jesus called
them to him and saith unto them, you know that they which are
counted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them,
and their great ones exercise authority upon them. That's the way secular authority
government and works. They've got to have their day
of glory. That's how it is in most everything
in this world that we live in. Jesus said, it shall not be so
among you. Whosoever will be great among
you shall be your minister. Very unpopular way of thinking. When
a company dedicates a new office facility, a fine building, they
don't have the janitor to cut the ribbon or the groundskeeper. No, they have the mayor of the
town and the president of the company ranking officials Christ
said, that's the way the world operates. That's how they measure
honor. But in spiritual things, in the
kingdom of God, that's not how it is. Whosoever will be great among
you shall be your minister. Minister meaning servant. And whosoever of you will be
chiefest of all shall be servant of all. He's really talking about
himself. For even the Son of Man came
not to be ministered unto. I didn't come into this world
to be honored by the world, but to minister, to be a servant,
actually to give my life a ransom for many. I've come to die, not
in the world's honor, but in shame to pay the sin debt of
my people, to give my life a ransom, a payment for many. It is immediately
following these words, verse 46, and they came to Jericho. And as he went out of Jericho,
Mark's account does not include anything that happened in Jericho.
The story of Zacchaeus and the Lord going home with Zacchaeus
for the day. No, Mark omits all that and goes
straight to the scene as they leave town. Not an unusual scene,
really, a blind man begging, but with an unusual double-stated
statement here. Honor's son, the son of honor. Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus. Now for the question, who is
blind? Let's look first at the perception
of Bartimaeus. He has a spiritual vision in
that he knows The coming Messiah is to be the son of David, of
the house and lineage of David, of the tribe of Judah. This man
is physically blind, but when he hears people say who it is
coming down the road, and we read here that they say, and
it's Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus of Nazareth, But Bartimaeus don't
cry to Jesus of Nazareth. He cries, Jesus, thou son of
David. He's talking to a different one
than who they think this Jesus is. He's the son of David. He knows more about who Jesus
is than those who saw him with their physical eyes. He's not sublime after all. Secondly, the plea of Bartimaeus. What does he cry? He cried, have
mercy on me. James and John, rather than being
humble, by the honor they were already given to be among the
12, selfishly ask for greater honor. But this man, Bartimaeus,
knowing his unworthiness of any honor, does not ask for honor. He asked for mercy. So who's blind? Who is blind? The third thing Bartimaeus' persistence. Verse 48 says, and many charged
him that he should hold his peace. I mean, that says it nicely,
that what they're ready to do is tell him to shut up. We're
trying to listen to this man's teaching, and we can't hear with
you screaming, just be quiet. There's nothing to you. This
man don't have time for you. He's got better things to attend
to. And we read here that it wasn't just
two or three of them doing this, but it says many, many charged
him, rebuked him, and said, shut up, be quiet. But spiritual vision cannot sit
silently in the presence of God's son. The crowd can't turn this man
off. So very persistently, he cried
the more a great deal. And he kept on crying, thou son
of David, have mercy on me. In those brief words, This man
is saying so much. He's saying, I know who you are.
I know my need of mercy. I know you can show me mercy.
And I'm asking, will you have mercy on me? Verse 49, and Jesus stood still. Try to imagine this scene. There
is a certain momentum with a moving audience. People crowding around,
trying to keep up, trying to hear what he's saying. Some moving
on ahead in front of the Lord. Others trying to follow and stay
close. But when he stops, just a few moments, the whole
procession stops. Jesus says, call that man over
here. Commanded him to be called. And
they called the blind man saying unto him, be of good comfort. Rise, he calleth thee. They must know by now our Lord's
intention. They're not being mean to him
now, but tell him to be of good comfort. They don't say to the man, you've
had it now, you've interrupted one time too many. I'm sure he's
gonna rebuke you like we've been doing. No. They said, be of good
comfort. We believe he's heard you cry.
We believe you're gonna receive the mercy you've asked for. And he, casting away his garment,
rose and came to Jesus. I thought a lot about that statement,
casting away his garment. whether it were a blanket or
a sheet or a robe or whatever it was, he throws it off of him. And I've often thought what all
this involves, casting away his garment. I know it was literal,
but it's casting away all hope in
myself. It's casting away any worthwhile
merit I may think I have to come into his presence. Casting away. It's to empty myself,
stripped, helpless, hopeless. And it's to trust Christ alone. Casting away the garment. how easy it is to come before
the Lord, even to pray. And want to remind him of two
or three things we've done right. Like we're on a point system.
That's not it. Casting away the garment is to
cast away all hope in self. Now verse 51, Jesus asked Bartimaeus,
what is it you want? Well, James and John are standing
there and I can imagine it registers with them. Just a little while ago, he asked
us those very words. What is it you want? And Bartimaeus, unlike James
and John, never asked selfishly, I'd like to be something great.
I'd like to have a little higher position than these other 10.
I'd like to be honored above other people. No, no, he didn't
ask for that. When he asked Bartimaeus, what
do you want? It's as if Bartimaeus says in
so many words, it's not just something that I selfishly want. This is not about my wants. There's
something I really need. And now in Bartimaeus' address,
note, he calls him Lord. This blind man begins to answer
Our Lord's question, and he calls him Lord. James and John had
addressed him Master, Teacher. Oh, he was that, but had they
forgotten he's the Lord? They were asking to be at the
head of the class, Teacher, Master. But Barthimaeus knows he doesn't
deserve anything. but he knows Jesus is the Lord
and he calls him Lord. How blind is this man? Only physically,
I promise. And he says, Lord, that I might
receive my sight. Do you see that statement? The end of verse 51, Lord, that
I might receive my sight. I can't help but insert right
here the importance of that word receive. Lord, that I might receive
my sight. Contrary to today's freewill
religious mindset, Jesus never said to him, I've got whatever
you need now, all you have to do is accept it. Just accept Jesus. The ball is
in your court. It's up to you. Did you know
the New Testament never says accept Jesus? It's your choice. But we read very often the word
received. received as many as received
him." You can't receive something that
wasn't sent. The word receive puts the emphasis
and the authority with the sender, not the recipient. So Bartimaeus
does not say that I might accept my sight. He's saying, I know it's not
my decision. I'm pleading for mercy and what
I need, I cannot presume upon. I must receive it from you. It's your decision to give it
before I can receive it. And that's the heresy. of most of the day's religious
thinking is that God's desperate. He's leaning over the balconies
of heaven, pleading with us to cooperate. No, no, no, no. He works in the hearts and he
brings his elect to cooperate. I'm glad it's that way. Now in
verse 52, Is free grace declared? Free grace declared. We use that
term a lot, free grace. I know y'all do. But really, we can leave off
the word free because that's the only kind of grace there
is. Huh? If it's not free, it's not grace.
Wasn't free to God, but it's free to us. free grace declared,
don't miss this. The Lord does not say to the
man, raise your right hand, place your left hand on the Bible and
repeat after me, I solemnly swear I take this oath that if you'll
do this for me, here's what I'll do for you. No, that's not it,
that's not it. The Lord Jesus says this to the
man, go thy way. He didn't say follow me, He don't have to, he knows the
man will. But he says, go thy way. Get
on with your life. You won't get a bill for this,
it's free. Go thy way. Thy faith hath made
thee whole. Christ calls it thy faith, not
in the sense that it originated with Bartimaeus, but in the sense
that it was God given. It was a gift of God to Bartimaeus. Spiritual vision. The eyes in
his heart were open long before the eyes in his head were open. Nowadays, people want healing
of every kind except heart healing. Pray for my aches and pains,
pray for my back and my arthritis and my feet. It's my feet right
now with me, I'll be honest with you. Pray for my kidneys and
my lungs and my heart and my cancer and all this stuff is
in order, it's right. Pray for all this for me. but
don't tell me how to live. I don't want any spiritual miracles,
just physical. This man received physical sight
only in the exercise of his spiritual vision. You say, don't you believe
in praying for people physically? Not at the expense of ignoring
their spiritual condition. 99% of prayer requests that I get
are for physical help. My friend is facing this or that
or the other. Doctor said they might not survive.
Please pray, they'll be all right. Hardly ever anybody comes to
me and says, my friend is in serious trouble. They don't think
he's gonna live and I'm afraid he's going to hell. They don't
ask for that. They asked to be raised up to
live like hell for a while longer. No, no. A spiritual touch is
the real need. We're so much like James and
John. Just raise them up, Lord, so we can go on living our selfish
lives and ignoring you and in this dog eat dog. religious competition
that we can be something greater than the others. No, uh-uh. In this passage, the giving of
the physical sight is not the real beauty of the story. Going to hell blind is no worse
than going to hell with 20-20 vision. People are going to hell is the
issue. And we don't really care. Go thy way, go on about your
business. But there's a secret here. Christ
knew that the work of grace, which said, go thy way, that
same grace had made Christ's way Bartimaeus' way. And Bartimaeus would say, I'm
not wanting to go my way, I'm wanting to go your way. And that's
what happened. And immediately he received his
sight and followed Jesus in the way. He received his sight, followed
Jesus in the way. Christ's way was Bartimaeus'
way. Is his way your way? Apart from spiritual vision,
it's not. He can heal all the physical
ailments that any of us would have. and let you enjoy life and perfect
health all the way to hell. What's it all worth without Christ? Really, we learn here, the person
crying for mercy is the person that's already
received mercy. And this heart for the Lord is
the mercy we need. So who's blind? Is it Bartimaeus? Or is it James and John? Is it
you? Is it I? Let's bow our Lord, open our
eyes to see that physical things in this
world are most blinding in their nature. And that my sinful heart and
mind is most blind to what's really precious. and what's really
needed. Lord, please open our eyes afresh
to the need of your mercy and open our lips to cry to you
for mercy and give us a heart for you,
which is mercy. Lord, as Barthimaeus was saying,
don't leave me here like I am. Oh God, our father, would you
put that in every heart here this evening? Don't leave me
here like I am. Do for us, oh Lord, what we cannot
do for ourselves. Deliver us from seeking our own
glory. Give us heart to follow you into
your glory. Thank you for the blessings of
this day, for thy word, for thy people. In the name of Christ
our Lord, we pray, amen.