Don't Let Jesus Pass You By!

10/05/2015 12:31

(We apologize for not having audio for this service. The battery in our recorder was low.)

Date: 06 May, 2015

Text: Mark 10:46-52

Title: Don't Let Jesus PASS you by!

Theme: The healing of blind Bartimaeus.

Proposition: Don't let Jesus pass you by!

Rhetorical: Are you going to miss a once in an eternity opportunity to have Jesus meet your need?

Introduction: Some years ago an energetic young man began as a clerk in a hardware store. Like many old- time hardware stores, the inventory included thousands of dollars' worth of items that were obsolete or seldom called for by customers. The young man was smart enough to know that no thriving business could carry such an inventory and still show a healthy profit. He proposed a sale to get rid of the stuff. The owner was reluctant but finally agreed to let him set up a table in the middle of the store and try to sell off a few of the oldest items. Every product was priced at ten cents. The sale was a success and the young fellow got permission to run a second sale. It, too, went over just as well as the first. This gave the young clerk an idea. Why not open a store that would sell only nickel and dime items? He could run the store and his boss could supply the capital.

The young man's boss was not enthusiastic. "The plan will never work," he said, "because you can't find enough items to sell at a nickel and a dime." The young man was disappointed but eventually went ahead on his own and made a fortune out of the idea. His name was F.W. Woolworth.

Years later his old boss lamented, "As near as I can figure it, every word I used in turning Woolworth down has cost me about a million dollars!"

What an opportunity this man missed as he let it pass him by!

Our story this morning, is of a taken opportunity. Jesus passed by a poor blind beggar and that beggar wouldn't let him just go by!

I want to preach a message this morning entitled, "Don't Let Jesus Pass You By!" Are you going to miss a once in an eternity opportunity to have Jesus meet your need?

What can we learn from our story about Jesus this morning as He passes by this blind beggar?

I. Jesus is never too busy to hear your cry.

46 ¶ And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people,...

exp. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. He is going to take the wrath of God for the billions of sinners who need to experience the mercy of God or face an eternity in Hell. You could say that he has a lot on his mind, a lot of people around him and is in the middle of a journey. He's busy....but never too busy for someone in need.

ill. When I had surgery in MI and had complications, my parents drove hundreds of miles and came to help Katie and Kay Lee while I was in the hospital.

When Logan had major surgery, my parents drove hundreds of miles and stayed in the motel with us to help meet our needs that week. My family is like that. I know that if I had a major need even here, my parents would be on there way.

note: My parents could only be there for us, they couldn't solve the problem.

app. What is your need this morning? Physical, financial, relational, spiritual.....Jesus is there for you and he can solve your problem.

1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

app. Don't think this morning that the Lord is too busy. He wants to meet your need.

II. Jesus is caring enough to make himself available to you.

...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.

ill. If you were going to find me at Gala days, how would you do it? You'd look around. Bartimaeus could not do that. Because of that limitation it would be harder for him to find Jesus but Jesus made himself available to Him by passing him by.

ill. The queen is not available to the average person. But, her staff can get in contact with her at any time because of their relationship with her. But, at times she does make herself available to the general public and at times even unexpectedly.

exp. Our King, Jesus, is ....

· always available to his servants who have a relationship with Him by faith. Those who are saved. Mark 3: 33-35 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

· often revealing himself to the general public unexpectedly. PAUL Acts 9:1-5 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

app. What is going on in your heart this morning? Is God speaking to you? Let Him have his way. He is caring enough to make Himself available to you. Why not take advantage of His mercy!

III. Jesus wants to hear your cry even if others say otherwise.

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.

exp. Others thought that Jesus wouldn't be bothered with a blind beggar. He was not clean. He was not rich. He was not a leader within the community. They thought Jesus didn't care....and they were wrong.

ill. Sitting down beside a beggar in Kirkcaldy.Did you know that if you aren't a fake, it is very humbling to ask people for money. A man from a soup kitchen approached this young couple and gave them tickets to a meal. They had to humble themselves to take it. I believe they were legitimate. Bartimaeus was completely dependent upon charity.

note: Did you know that Jesus showed most concern for people with needs. The Pharisees made fun of him for it.

Mark 9:10-13 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

ill. Church in the States where my dad was an assistant. Drunkards from the mission came in and people sat away from them. The deacons in the church got up and went and sat by them.

app. Church, we better embrace everyone that comes in those doors because JESUS WOULD! The more like the world, the better, because we want them to know that JESUS CAN CHANGE THEIR LIFE. If you feel like Jesus does not want you because of your condition, realize that you got it backwards. He wants you more because you understand your need!

IV. Jesus wants you to come to Him.

49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called.

exp. Jesus could have gone to the blind man, but he stopped nearby and allowed the blind man to come to Him. He commanded him to come, but it was up to the blind man to respond.

hymn: "Jesus I come" written by William Sleeper

Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of my sickness, into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of earth’s sorrows, into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

ill. I was standing near the blind man and I heard Jesus calling for him, I would do everything I could to help that man to respond to Jesus.

app. To any who are hearing the voice of Jesus inviting them to come to Himself, we would encourage you to come as they encouraged him.

V. Jesus call is an opportunity for comfort.

And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

exp. He had been passionately crying out to Jesus. This was his one opportunity to be heard and he felt like Jesus had passed him by. Now he is comforted because Jesus has heard.

question: Have you ever earnestly sought Jesus?

ill. The friends of the man who had a palsy. Mark 2: 3-5 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 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. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

exp. They could not be blamed for not trying. They gave every effort to get to Christ and their faith was answered by Jesus.

app. Don't despair in your seeking after Christ? He can let you know that He has heard.

ill. Luke 18:10-14 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

app. If you are trusting in your self righteous rags, you should have no comfort. But, if you are trusting in the mercy of God alone by faith in Jesus power to cleanse your sins with his blood, be comforted, Jesus will hear you as He heard Blind Bartemaeus cry out for mercy.

Tit 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;

VI. Jesus wants you to throw away your old garments.

50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

exp. Bartemaeus had a beggars garment that would have been filthy. He knew he would need those no longer and he set them aside before going to Jesus.

arg. You and I are not physical beggars, but we are spiritual beggars. Before we get saved, we are clothed in the filthy rags of sin. Jesus would have us set them aside as we come to Him and he would clothe us with clean garments of righteousness.

Ephesians 5:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

app. If you are an addict, repent of your addiction and come to Jesus. If you are immoral, turn from your immorality and come to Jesus. If you are materialistic, turn from your materialism. If you are bitter, turn from your bitterness. Cast aside the garment of sin and take the garment of righteousness.

VII. Jesus wants you to tell Him what you need.

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.

exp. Shouldn't it have been obvious to the Lord what he needed? And yet, Jesus wanted him to tell him his need.

ill. Imagine a man sitting at a lovely restaraunt and he has been told that he can have whatever he wants. He has a menu in front of him. He is a foolish man if he just sits there being hungry. All he needs to do is call for the waiter and put in his order. He can have all he wants if he will only ask.

app. Jesus is waiting to meet your need just like He met this beggars need. He wants you to tell him from your heart the need that you have.

- It could be salvation.

- It could be forgiveness.

- It could be healing (as in the case of Bartemaeus)

app. But, you must ask specifically for God to meet your need.

Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

VIII. Jesus will work miracles in response to your faith.

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.

question: Pastor, do you really believe that God has the power to heal?

answer: Should we really study a story of healing in the Bible and walk away doubting God's ability or desire to heal? We are not going to have healing services, but we ought to pray for healing and expect God to answer.

Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

ill. Pastor Don Vanderhoof - missioinary to Germany who got mad cow disease.

app. We serve a miracle working God. If you think your case is hopeless all the better. Why? Because God specializes in miracles in response to men's faith.

Conclusion: Woolworth had a very enterprising idea. It could have made his boss rich. But, the owner couldn't see it and he let million's of dollars pass him by.

JESUS IS PRICELESS. Are you going to get your need met as He passes by?

Jesus is passing by every time we get together to open God's Word. Every time you open your Bible. Every time someone speaks to you about the Lord? DO YOU CARE? He is the answer to your need, are you just going to let him go without crying out for His mercy?