When You Cant See a Thing

When You Can’t See a Thing

Pastor Tom Mitchell LK 18:35-43

“I don’t see how that’s going to work out!” “I don’t see why God allows so much suffering!” “I don’t see who this helps!” “I don’t see any change!” “I don’t see it that way!” “I don’t see the urgency!” “I guess I don’t see the big picture!” “I don’t see anything wrong with that!” “I don’t see the point!” We have all said it a number of times. “I don’t see….” (Sat it with me) “I don’t see…” This morning I ask you to open your Bibles to Luke 18:35-43, as we look at the story of a man who, literally, couldn’t see at all because he was blind. He shows how we can exercise our faith - even when we can’t see. The story opens: “As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was.” (Luke 18:35-36)

Every day was the same in Bartimaeus’ darkened world. He

would get up, take his cane and tap-tap his way from his home out to his normal spot. When he heard people passing by, he would cry out, “Alms for the blind! Alms for the blind!” Day after day he begged for money and somehow made enough to survive. But today was different. Today would be a day he would never forget. Remember, even though he cannot see he hears very well. Luke 18:36 says: “Now hearing the crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.” This verse points out the first truth about “Exercising Faith When You Can’t See”.

1. When you can’t see – LISTEN!

When Bartimaeus heard the sound of many people passing by he asked what was going on. Someone told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. Jesus! We don’t know how much he knew about Jesus, but he knew enough to listen. So, how do we listen? I think we listen in a number of ways.

We listen by reading about Jesus in the Bible. Reading the Bible allows us to hear Jesus! Another way we listen is by hearing people talk about Jesus and what He is doing in their lives. We did that late week as we heard what Jesus was doing in Jim and Vickie’s lives.

When you can’t see, listen to Jesus and remind yourself what He has said. In Matthew 28:20 Jesus said …”And surely I am with you always, (each and every day we live) to the very end of the age. (the end of history as we know it)” Jesus is saying that he will be with us from the time he first gave these words to the disciples 2000 years ago until He comes again. This is a truth I remind myself, I tell my mind to remember, I instruct my mind to believe and then chose to live life based upon this knowledge, especially when I can’t see.

Getting back to the story, the story tells us the second truth about exercising faith when you can’t see:

2. When you feel helpless – CALL OUT!

“They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Luke 18:37-38)

Bartimaeus didn’t stand before Jesus and say, “I’ve lived a pretty good life. I’ve always gone to synagogue. I’ve never intentionally hurt anyone. I’ve tried to do the best I can. I’ve been circumcised. Based on all that I’ve done, would You heal my eyes?” No, that’s NOT what Bartimaeus did. He knew that he was a blind beggar with no claim for healing. He had nothing in himself to boast about to Jesus.

This is one of the major stumbling blocks that keep people from trusting Christ: they believe their goodness is good enough. How much good do I need to be good enough? Jesus said, we are not good enough, so He had to die on the cross for us. We are spiritually blind and the only way we can see and have a relationship with Jesus is to ask for his mercy and receive his grace.

Imagine that a crowd is gathering and the Jesus is coming. You’re a beggar on the edge of the road calling out to Jesus. Other’s are getting upset and they are telling you to, “Be quiet! Don’t bother Jesus!” What do you do? What do you do when others or maybe even your own thoughts discourage you from calling out to Jesus? Well, let’s see what Bartameus does:

3. When doubt shouts back – CALL AGAIN!

“Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Lk 18:39)

What does blind Bartimaeus do when he was calling out to Jesus for help and others were telling him to shut up? He did not back away. He calls out for Jesus again, even louder this time.

Similarly, sometimes we get ourselves into situations where we become blinded. We know Jesus is with us because he said that he would never leave us or forsake us. We are to call out to Him even when our calls are met by voices of doubt, ours or those of others. Like Bartameus, call out again and again and see what happens. v40 “And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’

Jesus hears! (say that – Jesus hears) In spite of what some people around us might be saying, if we call out to Him, He will hear and do the right thing. The Bible says “Jesus stopped.” The message here is: Jesus has time for us. Jesus takes time to listen to us. The fourth truth about exercising seeing when you can’t see:

4. When you reach out for help – BE SPECIFIC!

Jesus says bring him to me and asks Bartimaeus : “What do you want Me to do for you?” That’s an interesting question to ask a blind man! But Jesus never asks a dumb question. His question was designed to get Bartimaeus to be specific in stating his need in front of the crowd.

What are you asking Jesus to do in your life or the life of someone else? Bartimaeussays: “Lord, I want to see.” Bartimaeus believed that Jesus had the power and he hoped the will to give him sight, and so he asked Jesus to see!

Jesus doesn’t always give us what we ask for, even when we ask specifically. But we are to ask and be specific. Tell Jesus what you want. Bartimaeus told Jesus that he wanted to see and Jesus immediately granted his’ request. Jesus said, “…your faith (faith demonstrated by his persistent asking) has healed you.”

"Christmas Miracle": Blind Woman Sees, was the headline on CBS News in NY, Dec. 19, 2009. The Brooklyn Mom, blind for 2 Years, has one eye surgically repaired and sees her youngest daughter for 1st Time. A disease, uveitis, blinded Rivera two years before. Now, surgery had repaired one eye, enabling the Brooklyn mom to get her first look at her toddler.

Rivera's ordeal first started in 2005, when she began experiencing blurriness in her right eye and spread to her left eye. She lost her all sight as she was delivering her second daughter, Aniahya. "It was the worst thing. I couldn't see my child grow up ... I could smell her and hear her, but I did not have the pleasure of seeing my daughter."

When the bandages came off, Rivera was so scared that she kept her eyes shut for 10 minutes. Then she screamed with joy.
"It was beautiful," she recalled. "I saw the Doctor's tie. I saw a computer. And then I realized, 'I'm going to get to see my kids today!" After Christmas, she'll have surgery on her other eye.

Imagine how wonderful it must have been for blind Bartameus’.

No surgery! No bandages! No adjustment! Boom – sight! He saw human beings and he saw the face of Jesus. Which lead us to the fifth and final truth:

5. When you receive help – GIVE THANKS.

As soon as Bartimaeus gained his sight he said, “I feel much better now. I’m off to enjoy life and have all the fun that I’ve been missing.” Not exactly! v43 “At once the man was able to see, and he followed Jesus, thanking God. All the people who saw this praised God.” (NCV) The first thing he did was follow Jesus and thank God. And the people who saw what had happened they also gave praise to God. How long has it been since you thanked God for all the blessings he had given you and your family?

The story of blind Bartameus (and his healing) is full of lessons in faith – when you can’t see a thing. Bartameus was a blind man who sat by the road begging when Jesus walks by. When he encounters Jesus’ he exercised his faith in five key ways:

Ø When you can’t see – LISTEN! Jesus is always there.

Ø When you feel helpless – CALL OUT! Jesus is listening.

Ø When doubt shouts back – CALL AGAIN!

Ø When human help ends – REACH OUT! Sometimes we need to step out alone, beyond where anyone else.

Ø When you receive help – GIVE THANKS!

Your future is not determined by your circumstances or defined by your past. Your future is based on your present and continuing relationship with Jesus. Jesus is willing to work for you, as you are willing to continue to work on your relationship with Him.