BLIND BARTIMAEUS GOES FOR BROKE

Mark 10:46-52

As the story begins, Jesus and His followers were walking through Jericho. They were on their way to Jerusalem for what would be the last time before Jesus was crucified. Many were headed for the Feast of the Passover.

It was a loud atmosphere as many visitors were shouting to the people about what they had to sell.  Bartimaeus, a blind man, heard Jesus was coming by, and even though it was noisy, he cried out to Jesus saying, “Son of David, Have mercy on me!” Bartimaeus was told to be quiet because it was rude to yell out at a Rabbi, yet he cried out even louder.  Jesus heard him, stopped and healed him.

There are four things listed here to show that Bartimaeus “went for broke!”  We can apply these things to our lives today.

1.   Don’t let your friends keep you from coming to Christ –

Friends told him to be quiet. Bartimaeus did not listen to them and called out to Jesus by name.

Often, today our friends will tell us, “Be quiet…don’t bother Jesus with your problems…you are making a fool of yourself by the way you cry out to God all the time.”

Don’t you know that Bartimaeus was glad that he didn’t listen to his friends this time…

**Remember This:  In all of the noise and emotion, Jesus still heard, “have mercy on me”, and He always will.

2.   Don’t let anything come between you and God -

Notice what Bartimaeus did when Jesus called him.

Verse 50..and casting aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus.

That cloak, or outer garment, may have been the only thing of value that Bartimaeus had.  When he threw it aside to go to Jesus, he was saying, “I’m not letting anything in this world come between Jesus and me.”

Imagine throwing everything of value you own side to get closer to Jesus.

James 4:4 says, “Friendship with the world is hatred toward God.”

When it comes down to our relationship with Jesus….let’s go for broke!

3.   Tell God what you need –

When Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he wanted Him to do, he said that he wanted to see.  Don’t short change yourself in your prayers. Confess to Go that you cannot receive it without Him.

4.   Follow Jesus wherever He goes –

When Bartimaeus received his sight, he began to follow Jesus on the road.

• Don’t let friends, family or political correctness keep you from crying out to God.

• Don’t let anything come between you and your relationship with God.

• Tell God what you need from Him, and then follow Him, doing what he wants you to do.