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On the road to Jerusalem (3 things)
Instead be like Bartimaeus – ask the Lord to open your eyes so you can see Jesus!
1st – What good thing must I do… vs. 18-30 (4 things)
1st – Jesus and the disciples were on the road to Jerusalem… vs. 18-19
A man came up to Jesus – ‘Good Teacher’ – he was sincerely looking for answers…
He wanted to know what ‘Good’ thing he should do to inherit eternal life…
He had the right question – and he went to the right person to get the right answer…
If you want to know what ‘Good’ you must do to go to heaven – here’s the answer…
Jesus first had to answer his question with a question… vs. 19
In order for Jesus to answer the question – He had to define what ‘Good’ meant…
‘Good’ is a comparative term – you have to know what you are comparing it to…
The definition Jesus gives for ‘Good’ – ‘No one is Good but One – that is God!’
Jesus definition of Good was God Himself – now that presents a problem…
Most people think they are ‘Good’ – few if any would say they are ‘Bad’ people…
Yet what or who is it that we compare ourselves to – ‘Good’ compared to…
If the definition of ‘Good’ was being better than – my neighbor / or a murderer – OK
Since the definition of ‘Good’ is God – that means I am not ‘Good’ – Matthew 5:48
Romans 3:10 – “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one…’”
2nd – Proving we are not ‘Good’ – by looking at the Law of God… vs. 20-23
Jesus gave the rich man 5 of the 10 Commandments – Exodus 20:12-17
Do not Murder / commit adultery / steal / lie / and honor your Father & Mother…
Given not to prove this man was good – but to show him he was a sinner…
The commandments of God were never meant to make us ‘Good’…
They were given so that we would know we were NOT ‘Good’
Galatians 3:24 – “Therefore the law was our teacher to bring us to Christ…”
Without the Law we would not know sin – we would not know God’s standard!
But like a mirror that shows you how you look – but cannot change your appearance
The Law shows us how ‘Bad’ we are – but cannot help make us ‘Good’….
Realizing that is the Key to Heaven – because now we know we need help!
The rich man was thrilled – he said – ‘I have kept these laws from my youth’…
Notice that Jesus does not argue that point with him…
It would almost seem that he was ‘Good’ enough to inherit heaven…
Jesus looking at him – loved him – Mark 10:21 – ‘One thing you lack…’
Sell all you have and give it to the poor (treasure in heaven) and Follow Me!
The 1st commandment – you shall have no other god’s before Me – Exodus 20:3
There is nothing wrong with having stuff – it’s when the stuff has us…
Only if we put our stuff before Jesus – do we need to reprioritize – put Jesus first!
Jesus command was not just to sell the stuff and give it to the poor – follow Jesus!
He went away sorry – because he had a lot of money (multi-millionaire)
The man wanted to go to heaven – but he had another god he wanted more…
The rich man only broke one law of God (at least recorded here)…
James 2:10 – “Whoever keeps the law, yet stumble in one point, is guilty of all.”
So how may sins does it take to keep us out of heaven – just one…
Just a little sin – a white lie – taking a little rice (our neighbor has extra…)
3rd – It is almost impossible for a rich man to be saved… vs. 24-27
The analogy of a Camel through the eye of a needle (2 views)…
1st view – The eye of the needle was a gate in the wall of the city of Jerusalem…
According to tradition the ‘Eye of the needle’ was a very small gate…
So small that the only way for a Camel to enter was to take off it’s ‘Stuff’…
The idea being the only way for a rich man to enter heaven…
Is for him to get rid of all his riches so he might fit through Heaven’s gate
Sounds nice – but it turns out there never was such a gate in Jerusalem…
2nd view – Put a Camel through the eye of a needle…
Keep in mind a camel is as big as a Caribou – you know how small a needle is…
The point being it is IMPOSSIBLE for those who trust in riches to get into heaven!
It’s not money that keeps you from heaven – but ‘trusting in money…’
They have a tendency to trust in their money – rather than trust in God
Money is not necessarily a blessing – it can easily become our god…
Depending on money to get us out of trouble / provide – rather than on Jesus
Turns out it can really be a blessing to have no money – to be poor…
When we have no money – it is easier to trust in Jesus (no other options)!
The disciples asked – ‘Who then can be saved’…
If this nice man – who was wealthy – could not be saved – who could be…
It would be like saying the nicest – kindest – sweetest – person you know…
Is still not going ‘Good’ enough to make it to heaven…
And since we are not as nice or ‘Good’ as they are – what chance do we have!
With men it is impossible – with God all things are possible!
It is not being a sinner (we all are – Roman 3:23) that keeps us from heaven…
It is rejecting the solution for sin that God provided in Jesus Christ…
We are saved by believing in the sacrifice Jesus made for our sin on the cross…
We do not earn our way to Heaven – it is a gift to those who believe in Jesus!
4th – We have left all… vs. 28-30
Peter said to Jesus – ‘We have left all and followed you…’
Recognizing the qualification that Jesus gave to the rich man…
Peter reminds Jesus the disciples had left all (not that they had much to leave)…
Assuredly I say to you – there is no one who has left…
House / Parents / Brothers / Wife / Children – for the sake of the Kingdom…
Who will not receive many times more in this life – in the age to come eternal life!
The cost for following Jesus – is everything – putting Him before anything else…
So many people choose not to follow Jesus – because ‘the cost is too high’…
Yet what is it that we think we have – or might have – greater than Heaven…
Mark 8:36 – “What will it profit if a man gains the whole world, loses his own soul?”
People cling onto their ‘5 pesos in life’ – refusing to ‘give it all’ to the Lord…
Not realizing if they did – God would give them 5,000 – AND eternal life!
The cost for following Jesus is nothing – compared to the riches we receive!
2nd – The final trip to Jerusalem… vs. 31-34
Jesus knew this was going to be his last trip to Jerusalem…
He was going up to Jerusalem for the Passover – He was going to the cross…
Jesus had already tried to explain this twice – Luke 9:22 / Mark 9:31…
Again He gave His disciples a very detailed breakdown of the events about to occur…
The Jewish leaders would turn Jesus over to the Gentiles (Pontius Pilate)…
The Romans would mock Him (Crown of thorns – beat him – ripped out beard)…
Scourge Him – brutal Roman technique meant to elicit confessions…
Then Jesus would be crucified – the most brutal death possible…
AND on the 3rd day – Jesus would rise again – the Resurrection!
In spite of being EXTREMELY clear – the disciples did not understand – 2 reasons…
1st reason – the Disciples were expecting Jesus to set up His Kingdom here on earth…
And they wanted to selfishly to be first in His new Kingdom – rule with Jesus…
To sit on Jesus right and Left hand in His glory (Kingdom) – Mark 10:37
Because they were looking for position – they did not understand the crucifixion!
Often we miss God’s work in our lives – cause we are looking for something else…
Rather than coming to God with expectations – we need to come with an open heart
2nd reason – the disciples were ignorant because they were too prideful to stop and ask
When we do not understand what God is doing in our lives – we should stop and ask
When your children don’t understand something – you want them to come to you
God isn’t disappointed when we ask questions – He loves to give His kids answers
3rd – Blind Bartimaeus… vs. 35-43
As they went coming near Jericho…
New-Jericho next to the ruins of the city Joshua conquered when he captured Israel…
It is along the route that takes you from Galilee – along the Jordan – to Jerusalem….
A large multitude was with them – on their way to Jerusalem for the Passover…
A blind man sat by the road begging – Bar-timaeus – ‘son of the unclean’ – Mark 10:46
Matthew 20:30 – tells us two blind men were present – but only Bartimaues spoke…
These were men that everyone ignored – blind beggars who sat along side the road…
The outcasts – the un-important – men who no one noticed – who did not matter…
Jesus – Son of David – have mercy on me…
Bartimaeus had heard Jesus was passing by – this was his one chance to be healed…
He cried out for Jesus – and the multitudes told him to be quiet!
But that just made him cry out all the louder…
Maybe you are like Bartimaeus– not sure you are important – you do not matter…
Blind – you can’t see where life is taking you – you don’t know where you are going…
Cry out to Jesus – ask Him to do a work in your life – help you to see!
Other may tell you to be quiet – ‘who are you to talk to Jesus’…
They might say that Jesus is for important people – not for you…
Cry out all the more – Jesus hears you – and is more than ready to be there to help you…
Jesus heard him – commanded him to come over…
Bartimaeus threw aside his coat – sprang up – and came over to Jesus…
Jesus had asked the same question of James and John – Mark 10:35-57…
They asked to be allowed to sit on the right and left hand of Jesus in His Kingdom…
Cause they asked for their own selfish desires – they did not get what they wanted!
To often in life we do ask God for things – but for the wrong reasons…
James 4:3 – “When you ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”
We ask God to win the Lotto – because we want to be rich and have lots of stuff…
We justify ourselves motives – we would give a portion back to God…
What we do not realize is if we did win – the money would become our god
If the Lord says no when we ask Him for something – it is always for our good!
But when Bartimaues asked to receive his sight – he got exactly what he wanted!
When we ask Jesus the right questions – we find we get the answers we want!
When we ask for the Lord to open our eyes to see Him – to understand His Word…
That is a request we can be sure the Lord will answer – a selfless request!
Jesus said – ‘receive your sight – your faith has saved you’ (Perfect/Indicative)…
Just like with the Samaritan leper who returned to Jesus…
Not only was Bartimaeus sight restored – so He could see Jesus…
He had been forgiven of all of his sins – past / present / and future!
The rich man walked away – because he thought money was better than Jesus…
The disciples were confused – because they were looking for position / power…
But Bartimaeus could both see – and received the gift of eternal life…
Do not get caught up in the things of this world – do not look for position…
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