Sermon #45 Series: Mark

Title: “JESUS STOOD STILL”

Text: Mark 10:46-52

Readings: Office: Ron Wood Auditorium: Merle Hart

Subject: The Healing of Bartimaeus

Date: Sunday Evening - March 22, 1998

Tape # U-58b

Introduction:

I read in the tenth chapter of Joshua how that he by whom the walls of Jericho fell, commanded the sun to stand still in the midst of heaven. At the command of a man “the sun stood still!” We are told, “There was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man” (Josh. 10:14).

But in our text this evening, we have a thing even more remarkable than that. Turn with me to Mark 10:46-52. I want to preach to you tonight about a day when “JESUS STOOD STILL”. It is one thing to cause the sun to stand still; but we have before us a man who caused the God who made the sun to stand still!

Mark 10:46-52 "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. (47) 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. (48) 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. (49) And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. (50) And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. (51) And 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. (52) 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."

As he was coming up out of Jericho on his way to Jerusalem to redeem his people, our Lord Jesus heard a poor, blind beggar crying for mercy. At the sound of his cry, we are told, “Jesus stood still!” What a wonderful, amazing picture we have before us! Here is the omnipotent God stopped in his tracks, held fast by the cry of a needy soul for his mercy.

He was on his way to Jerusalem to accomplish the redemption of his people, to fulfill the will of God. Nothing could stop him. Nothing could cause him to pause. Nothing could detour him from his work…

· Not Herod!

· Not Satan!

· Not the Pharisees!

· Not His Disciples!

· Not even His own Mother - “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

But one, solitary, helpless soul, one blind beggar crying for mercy, looking to him for help, believing him, crying to him, stopped the Son of God in his tracks - “Jesus stood still!”

Surely, the place whereon we stand tonight is holy ground. Let us put off our shoes of idle curiosity and theological speculation, and turn aside for a little while from the trifles of this world to see this great sight. Surely, there are lessons to be learned here that are of more value than gold.

Proposition: The Son of God will never ignore the cry or refuse the faith of a sinner seeking mercy.

I. First, FAITH IS FREQUENTLY FOUND WHERE IT IS LEAST EXPECTED.

There were great multitudes who followed the Lord Jesus as he walked along and taught the people. Some for loaves and some for love - Some out of curiosity and some out of conviction - Some for greed and some for grace. But there were few, very few who believed on Christ. Many, many who saw his miracles yet believed him not. But here is a blind man. A man who never saw any of our Lord’s miracles. He knew the Master only by hear-say, by the testimony of others. Yet, he believed him.

What a picture Bartimaeus was of us!

· His father, Timaeus (an honor or honorable) was an honorable man, as was our father, Adam.

· Bartimaeus was the blind son of an honorable man.

· He was now reduced to abject poverty, begging for bread.

A. Bartimaeus simply heard other men and women talking about the Savior - “When he heard.” Blessed gossip!

1. Perhaps he had heard how the Master had healed a blind man on his way into Jericho (Lk. 18:35-43).

2. Without question, he had heard who he is.

· “Jesus”

· “Lord”

· “Son of David”

3. He heard about the Lord’s mighty miracles of mercy.

4. He heard that “Jesus passed by.” He might never pass his way again!

B. Bartimaeus believed the Son of God.

His faith puts us to shame! We have books of evidence, libraries of theology, volumes of biographies, yet, how little there is of this childlike confidence and faith in Christ. Even among true believers, simple, confident, unhesitating faith is found where we least expect it.

1. The humble soul believes God and walks in peace.

2. The learned, well-read theologian is harassed with doubts and questions.

II. Secondly, IF WE HOPE FOR MERCY, WE MUST AVAIL OURSELVES OF EVERY MEANS OF GOOD TO OUR SOULS.

I know that God is sovereign. I know that salvation is of the Lord. I know that every chosen, redeemed sinner shall be saved. I am fully aware of these facts. You are too. Yet, I know that every man is responsible for his own soul. I know that we are responsible to use the means of grace God gives us. When this blind man heard that “Jesus passed by,” he was found “sitting by the highway side” crying for mercy.

What wisdom he displayed! He took up a hopeful position “by the highway side”. There he would be likely to hear any good news that may be spread. There he was most likely to meet with and be seen by the compassionate. Though he was blind, he were not deaf. And he used what he had for good.

A. Do not forsake the house of God (Heb. 10:25).

B. Do not forsake the reading of Holy Scripture (2 Tim. 3:15).

C. Do not forsake private prayer.

These are God’s ordained means of grace. To despise them is to despise his grace. To neglect them is to neglect his grace. To use them is to be in the path of mercy (Matt. 18:20).

III. Thirdly, we learn once more, by the example of this blind man, that - AS “THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN SUFFERETH VIOLENCE,” SO “THE VIOLENT TAKE IT BY FORCE” (v. 48).

Mark 10:48 "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."

Those very people who should have encouraged his faith greatly discouraged him. I can almost hear them.

· “You’re too poor.”

· “You’re being too loud.”

· “Don’t be so zealous.”

· “You’re too early.”

· “You’re too late.”

· “You’ve gone too far.”

· “You’re too blind.”

· “You’re too poor.”

· “You’re too dirty.”

I see four things here that exemplify what true prayer is. I do not claim to know much about prayer. But I am certain that these four things will always be found wherever true prayer is found:

A. Faith - “Lord, thou Son of David.”

B. Humility - “Have mercy on me.”

C. Importunity

· Luke 11

· Genesis 32:26 - “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me!”

D. Perseverance - Bartimaeus needed mercy. He knew that Christ could give him the mercy he needed. He knew that he might never get this opportunity again. Consequently, the opposition he met with was hardly noticed by him.

IV. Fourthly, HOW THE SON OF GOD LOVES NEEDY SINNERS!

Our Savior’s love for this poor, needy soul is to be seen in everything he did for him.

Mark 10:49 "And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee."

A. The Lord Jesus graciously blinded his eyes for a season.

B. The Son of God sent someone to tell this man about his greatness and grace.

C. The Lord Jesus Christ passed his way in mercy, love and grace.

D. “Jesus stood still!” He heard the man’s prayer!

E. He commanded him to be called.

F. Then he called him! What a call! What a cause for comfort! “Be of good comfort…He calleth thee!”

G. He spoke a word of grace to him. What a word of grace! Grace poured from his lips!

· What do you want?

· It is done.

· Your faith has made you whole!

G. He went to Jerusalem to redeem him!

V. Lastly, FAITH ALWAYS GETS WHAT IT SEEKS - MERCY!

A. Look what this man did when the Savior called him.

1. He rose.

2. He cast off his garment.

3. He came to Jesus.

B. Look what happened to him when he came to Christ. “Immediately he received his sight.”

C. Look what Bartimaeus did when the Master told him to go his way. “He followed Jesus in the way.”

1. Christ, who is THE WAY, became his way.

2. He followed Christ in the way…

· Of His Doctrine.

· Of His Worship.

· Of His Ordinances.

· Of His Example.

· Of His Faith.

Application:

May God be pleased now, for Christ’s sake to give sight to you who are yet blind, to give faith to you who yet believe not, and give grace to us all, that we may like Bartimaeus follow Jesus in the way, for the honor of his name.

AMEN.