What do you want me to do for you?
Bible Text: Luke 18:31-43 | Preacher: Dom White | Series: Visiting Preachers | Introduction
What do you want me to do for you?
Imagine if Jesus asked you this question!
This Jesus who claimed to be God
A staggering question
A question asked by Jesus to the man in the passage
For us – we might assume that one must hold some sort of power over the other
But here we have the King of Kings
It is typical of Jesus to give outrageous blessing to those who ask/do not deserve it
This is the same Jesus that is available today
If you do not know Him – come to Him now
Prayer
The theme is blindness – divided into two sections
v31-34 – the blind disciples
v35-43 – the blind beggar
Two truths:
Without Jesus we are all blind
How to See
Without Jesus we are all blind
Jesus takes aside His disciples and explains what is about to happen
Jesus has perfect vision – He knows what is going on and what lies ahead
Explanation
He knew more that the physical things – that we would take sin, stand in the place of sinners and bear the wrath of God
And yet He went there!
Because He is committed to and loves us
The disciples were blind
They couldn’t understand these things – that He would be crucified
Even though this was the 3rd time He told them – cf. Luke 9:22 & 9:44-45
Jesus gives more information/details
Explanation
They just don’t understand it – they are blind
We have to be careful in how we think or judge the disciples
It was hidden from the disciples
Jesus used a lot of figurative language
Examples
Jesus spoke often in parables
It is hard for us to understand how the disciples didn’t see
Why?
The answer – the meaning was hidden from them (v34)
This raises more questions than answers – but three things to consider:
God the Father hides things from the pride and arrogant – Luke 10:21
Satan – has blinded the mind of unbelievers – 2 Cor
The wrong expectations of the disciples themselves
All three
How to See
v35-43 – speaks of a man that is physically blind
Bartimaeus
Also had a friend who was blind
He relied on his friends and others
He hears a whole crowd approaching
He calls out until he knows what is happening
He is told that Jesus of Nazareth is coming and his heart islifted
He knows He is the Messiah and the Son of David
He seizes this once in a lifetime opportunity
Jesus hears
Although Jesus is on the way to save the world …
Although He is doing the greatest work in all of history …
… He pauses and spends time with this man
… He asks Bartimaeus what he wants
Bartimaeus asks for his sight
Jesus touched his eyes and spoke a word
Bartimaeus believed in faith
His eyes were open and suddenly he could see
The very first thing he sees is the Lord Jesus
The people join Bartimaeus in rejoicing
The fact that Jesus heals him teaches us three things:
Is a sign that Jesus is the promised Messiah – explanation
A foretaste of how Jesus will one day put everything right – explanation
If we are not trusting in Jesus we are all blind
People may take offence at being called blind – but Jesus was unstinting
Luke
Matt 23
God wants us to know the truth – without Jesus we are spiritually blind
Lets take a spiritual eye test – let us ask some questions
What is God like?
What is the meaning of your life
What happens to you when you die?
…
If you don’t know Jesus you likely won’t know or won’t be sure
Feelings and hopes are not sufficient
Are you happy lacking spiritual sight – with the world being blurry and things being fuzzy?
The passage shows us how to clearly see
This passage shows us how to be saved
It is so simple and free
To cry out to Jesus
We could learn many lessons from blind Bartimaeus
Seize every opportunity
Be persistent – don’t let anyone stop you calling out to Jesus
To plead mercy
We must call out Jesus
What did Bartimaeus do after he received his sight – such a life changing event
He followed God
There is nothing like a life changing event