Luke 18:35-43 - Blind Bartimeus

Luke 18:35-43
What do you want me to do for you?
4 permanent truths from this passage.
1. v37 – A truth about Spiritual opportunity
v31 – Jesus is on a journey to Jerusalem from which he would not return. He’s approaching Jericho.
This blind man had an opportunity through a visit of Jesus to Jericho which he would never have again. Which he obviously didn’t know at the time.
But the blind man grasped his opportunity.
You will remember Luke has put these 5 stories together, if you’ve been here for the 5 weeks you’ll be fed up of me telling you this.
Anyway Luke has been demonstrating that God is willing to receive anybody – the widow, the tax collector, the children – babies so weak they couldn’t come on their own two legs they had to be carried and by contrast we have the rich young ruler – Good education, cracking prospects, gorgeous girlfriend and he expects to be receive commendation from Jesus but he’s not accepted.
The last in the chapter the blind beggar has no importance.
Now it’s a familiar bible truth that God is merciful – he welcomes all.
That is what people expect of God but that great truth can be misused and misconstrued.
So you might have heard it said that God is always waiting for us and will turn to us whenever.
That is not necessarily true.
Do not presume to come to God like he is in our pockets and we can turn to him whenever and he will be merciful.
God is not a heavenly taxi driver – you know how it is on tv programmes people in London shout out taxi or whistle and the taxi driver pulls over.
In 8 years of London that has never happened to me.
And God is not like that he is not just waiting there till you flag him down.
That idea of God is grotesquely untrue.
Hebrews 12:17,18 tells the story of Esau – who was a man of impulse who wanted everything right now – read the verse Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17For you know that(AC) afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
– he desired a blessing but he found no chance to repent even though he south it with tears.
He asked for a blessing but could not get it.
There are people in the world who have lost their spiritual opportunities – Jesus of Nazareth has been passing them by.
He has given you opportunities you may never have the opportunity again.
Please don’t say you haven’t been warned, your blood won’t be on my hands
This man took his opportunity will you take yours
2. v39 a great truth about spiritual determination
You’ve got to admire that.
They said shut up – who’s going to listen to you?
Who asked you to speak?
We are all far more hurt by this sort of thing than we care to admit.
People are far too concerned about what people think –
Deep in our hearts we like to be well thought of.
If that is no balanced by a great desire for spiritual things.
You will never become a Christian.
Because you’ve got to want God and Jesus Christ more than you’ve got to want the crowd.
Luke 13:22-24 read it – Then Lord never answered that question.
He says strive to enter by the narrow door.
It implies that people will try to enter but they won’t be able to.
They will try.
If you are going to enter the kingdom of heaven you’ve got to be determined about it. The gates of heaven are not big pearly gates but a turnstile.
Shout Lord have mercy on me – shut up – Lord have mercy – you’ve got to be determined. Have mercy on me.
Christianity is not a hobby, to enter the kingdom of heaven you’ve got to be determined.
3. A truth about spiritual crisis
V40 – He is led to Jesus
Then in v41 with this extraordinary question - What do you want me to do for you?
This blind man has been saying for years give me something he was a beggar
What do you want me to do for you? A few pence or something more, enough for a coffee.
Now this is important - How are we to understand the miracle?
He wants us to spiritualise this miracle.
He has been telling his disciples in 32-34 about what is going to happen to him.
Explain what will happen but in v34 they didn’t understand. They are blind.
Immediately after that the miracle of blind beggar.
The capacity for Jesus to open eyes.
Somebody who has come to know God who is born again is a man or woman who have had their eyes opened.
I suppose the way to test whether your eyes have been opened is can you explain it to other people – what the death of Jesus Christ means to you.
If you can’t I doubt whether you’ve been saved.
If you can see you can guide someone else.
Can you see well enough to explain?
Giving directions – if you know where somewhere is you can explain it, if you don’t know where someone is you can’t explain it.
Can you give directions to Jesus, if you can’t why not say Lord let me receive my sight.
It is a day of opportunity – If Jesus was stopped by your seat today then you could say let me receive my new sight.
Jesus is asking you this lunchtime what do you want me to do for you?
4. v43 A truth about spiritual consequences
Read v42 and 43 Immediately notice that.
When God acts in our lives we become followers of Jesus Christ and the people see it.
There is a certain publicity about following Jesus Christ that we can’t avoid.
Christ doesn’t ask us to be Pharisees showing off our faith to everyone else.
But you cannot keep your Christian life to yourself.
Join a church, join with people who’ve had their eyes opened.
The world will know, your colleagues will know because we’ll be different.
We’ll confess with our lips.
The church has got to shine in the world.
We can’t hide, we’ve got to get up and say Jesus means everything to us and he matters, to stand up for him.
This man followed Christ.
It’s very simple but very profound.
Jesus is telling us about Spiritual opportunities.
A Spiritual determination that won’t be crushed and the consequences that will follow. Finding a fellowship and telling others and a changed life.