THE JOURNEY OF FAITH

A short story yet sums up the journey of faith in all of us. 

Mark 10: 46-52 (Read) 

1. Jesus came to Jericho and was leaving Jericho with a large crowd. 

• The crowd saw Jesus as just a man. 

• They were close to Jesus.  

• They loved the excitement that He brought. 

• It was very exciting. 

• Jesus was never to come this way again.  He was heading to Jerusalem and there would die for our sins. 

• Can we reach out to Jesus everyday? 

2. Faith comes from hearing. 

V 47  And when He heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, He began to cry out and say “Jesus Son of David, have mercy on me!!”  

Scripture says “and when he heard it was Jesus”. 

Rom 10: 17 Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God. 

This hearing is not just a physical receiving of sound, it’s a systematic belief of the message. 

Rom 10: 14-16 explains a series of action that comes before we call on the name of the Lord. 

• In order for us to believe we must hear. 

• For us to hear, someone has to give the report. 

• And for us to hear the report they have to be sent. 

Then Paul follows with vs 17. 

Faith comes by hearing and that by the Word of God. 

Faith = Greek 

         = belief – trust or have confidence in. 

In what? 

In the Gospel = the gospel is a report of God saving people from their sins and freedom from the wrath of God on sinful man. 

Luke 4: 18-19 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor.  He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are oppressed, and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 

3. Faith sees before we see. 

V 47 “…he began to cry out and say ‘Jesus Son of David, have mercy on me.’  

Bartimaeus was actually calling out to Jesus and saying you are the Messiah. 

Matt 1: 1 Jesus is called the Son of David, Son of Abraham. 

2 Sam 7: 12-13 

David was promised that one would come from his lineage, after him and establish the throne and establish His kingdom forever. 

Bartimaeus could see Jesus as Messiah while the crowd and religious leaders were blind to who He was. 

Jesus calls them the blind leading the blind. 

Matt 15: 14 Jesus says “Let them alone.  They are blind leading the blind. And if the blind lead’s the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” 

Blind Bartimaeus was blind, but he could see the crowd could see but they were blind.  Bartimaeus had a spiritual awakening and could see who Jesus was. 

4. Faith is bold and courageous. 

(vs 48)  Then many warned him to be quiet, but he cried out all the more.  “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 

Bartimaeus could not be silenced. 

• People told him to be quiet. 

• Calling on the Messiah  

• would have angered some, worried others. 

• Is someone trying to shut up your faith? 

5. Faith stops Jesus. 

(vs 49) So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.  Then they called the blind man, saying to him “be of good cheer, rise, He is calling you.” 

• He would not miss this opportunity. 

• He left the old crowd. 

• He walked away from his old familiar surroundings. 

• He put off this old coat.  Eph 4: 22 

(vs 50) And throwing away his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 

6. Jesus asks – what is it I can do for you??  

(vs 51) Jesus answered and said “what do you want me to do for you?” 

• Jesus invites Bartimaeus into the healing journey. 

• Jesus wants to hear his request. 

• Jesus also never presumes it is his eye sight that he wants. 

• We are invited by faith, into a relationship with Jesus.