The Bible tells us that if we hear the voice of God we are not to harden our hearts. It says today is the accepted time of salvation. Isaiah said the day would come when people would turn a deaf ear to the Lord and he in turn would not hear them when they prayed. Right now, however, God is listening.
I’ve preached about Bartimaeus several times. The Lord wants us to take a fresh look at it today so we can see the true picture of a life without the Lord Jesus Christ. He wants us to see how much life can change when a person meets Jesus. There can be all sorts of things between a person and Jesus, but God wants to speak to your heart today, to every heart. Don’t say you’re okay enough. That won’t get you by with God. You have to know Jesus as Savior.
Bartimaeus used the one thing he had very well. Though completely blind, he could hear. How can you believe? You must hear the Lord and respond to his word. You must cry out to him just like Bartimaeus did when he heard.
Mark 10:46And 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. 47And 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. 48And 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. 49And 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. 50And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51And 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. 52And 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.
“And when he had heard”—I hope this statement applies to each of us today regardless of the condition we’re in. Here is a picture of us—blind, dirty, a beggar. Bartimaeus was sitting on the roadside in the worst city in Judea. Jericho was looked down upon as much in Judea as Nazareth was in Galilee. Jesus’ very next stop would be Jerusalem and then Calvary in a little over a week. His last stop was Jericho. Don’t think that you’re without hope. Don’t think that the Lord won’t help you. He made Jericho his last stop, and he’s stopping by here today. He wants us to see what we are, what we can have if we seek it, and what we can become if we get it.
Jesus had been to Jericho before. This is the city that Zacchaeus lived in. No doubt everyone knew about this Jewish traitor turned tax collector who took Jesus home with him one day. I’m sure Zacchaeus spoke of it often. He may have even shared it with Bartimaeus. At any rate, Bartimaeus knew that Jesus was the Son of David for that’s how he addressed him. When he cried out, the people told him to be still. He couldn’t even see the enemy that was trying to keep him from Jesus. You sit here today with the ability to call on the name of the Lord. Zacchaeus couldn’t see for the crowd, and because he was short he climbed a tree to see Jesus. Bartimaeus couldn’t see, but that didn’t stop him. Don’t let what is in your way come between you and the Lord. You can get to Jesus if you want to do it. Cry out, and you’ll find it’s easy to talk to him. Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he wanted him to do for him. He’s asking you the same thing. It’s time to get the obstacles out of the way.
Bartimaeus got by the best he could. He lived with his hand outstretched on what others gave him. He could feel no hope. His life was darkness, and that’s our life without Jesus. He thought—dared to think—he could call on the Lord. Though he couldn’t see a lick, he made good use of his ears. The power in our ears is critical. That’s the way the gospel comes to a person. People want signs, big shows and entertainment. They want to be wowed. The Bible says faith comes by hearing the word of God. When we refuse to hear the words of Jesus, those same words will be our judge on the Day of Judgment. All Bartimaeus needed at that moment was to use his ears.
That’s why so many go out lost or with their burdens. We won’t listen to Jesus. We pick and choose what we want to believe and hear. We put our trust in this and that but won’t trust the Lord. It’s time to tune out everything but the Lord. The crowd tried to drown out Bartimaeus, but he listened. He knew that Jesus was close by just by listening to them. He could sense the excitement. He didn’t know how many people were between him and Jesus. He didn’t know what other types of obstacles were there. If it’s one or a hundred, it doesn’t matter. If you hear Jesus today, cry out to him.
I feel compelled to get this out. Who knows who might be among us that Jesus will pass by the last time? The crowd was loud, but Bartimaeus cried out “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.” The crowd pounced on him to be still. If you’re lost in sin, you know it. If you’re not living right, you know it. You know you need to call out. The devil will do everything to stop you, but do what Bartimaeus did. Cry louder. The disciples didn’t hear him, but Jesus did. Jesus commanded that Bartimaeus be brought to him. The crowd got quiet. This poor, blind man didn’t know what was going on, but all eyes were on him. Then he heard someone say “Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.” Jesus was calling for him! The gentle voice of God is there in the crowd of obstacles that will try to keep you from the Lord.
Bartimaeus rose and cast away his dirty garment. You too must be willing to turn and leave your sins behind you. You must be willing to go to Jesus. Though blind, Bartimaeus found his way because he listened to his voice. Jesus asked him “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” His simple response was “Lord, that I might receive my sight.” Verse 52 says “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.” In the original Greek, it is worded that his faith saved him inside and out. He was saved from what he was.
That’s exactly what will happen to you. Immediately Bartimaeus received his sight. He saw Jesus and followed him. He became a disciple. He came out of the cursed city of Jericho at his worst but was never a beggar again. Throughout history he has been known at blind Bartimaeus, the man whose eyes were opened by Jesus.
Don’t let anyone or anything hinder you from getting to Jesus. You can get there if you but hear him, and follow his voice.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 