OPENING SCRIPTURE:

⁴⁶ Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. ⁴⁷ 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!”

⁴⁸ Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁹ So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.

Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”

⁵⁰ And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”

⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

• Jesus stopped not because He needed direction. He stopped because someone needed direction. After all, the word of God tells us that Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost (Luke 19:10)

⁴⁶ Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. (Mark 10:46 NKJ)

• Bartimaeus was not someone of great fame. We don’t even know his real name. All that we know is that he was called Bartimaeus which means “Son of Timaeus”. Timaeus was his father’s name and he was called by his father’s name.
• Being blind in those days was an identity that you carry – A death sentence.
• Being blind in those days was a punishment that you bear – A curse

⁴⁷ 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!”  ⁴⁸ Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON ME!” (Mark 10:47-48 NKJ)

• Bartimaeus addressed Jesus as “Son of David”- the promised Messiah.
• He saw this as an opportunity to receive mercy!
• Mercy: forgiveness of the sinner and withholding the punishment that is justly deserved.

⁴⁹ So JESUS STOOD STILL and commanded him to be called. (Mark 10:49 NKJ)

• There is a call that will get God to stop for you!

¹³ For “WHOEVER CALLS on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13 NKJ)

• Blind Bartimaeus got Jesus to stop for him just because He called on His name!

¹¹ For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES on Him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:11 NKJ)

• When Jesus stops for you, it is not to put you to shame!

²¹ For He (God the Father) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus). (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJ)

• He takes on your sins upon Himself: Redemption
• He puts you in right standing with God: Justification.
• Justification has no memory of the past.

“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17 NKJ)

⁴⁹ So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” ⁵⁰ AND THROWING ASIDE HIS GARMENT, HE ROSE AND CAME TO JESUS. (Mark 10: 49-50 NKJ)

• A beggar in that culture of the time would wear a special coat to identify him as an official beggar.
• He wanted a new coat of God’s righteousness!

⁵¹ So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “RABBONI, that I may receive my sight.” (Mark 10:51 NKJ)

• Rabboni means teacher or master.
• Rabboni means My Lord.

⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well. And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. (Mark 10:52 NKJ)

• When Jesus stops for you, He restores you!

CONCLUSION

• What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?