Monday, October 23, 2006

Seeking Vision

Seeking Vision

  • Date preached: 22-Oct-06, Sebewaing

  • RCL Proper 25 B

  • Text: Mark 10:46-52

  • Subject: What gives people the ability to see the truth about Jesus?

  • Complement: Faith gives people the vision to see and follow Jesus.

  • Exegetical Idea: The disciples didn't see what Jesus was about but blind Bartimaeus did. Even though Mark's community could not see Jesus with their eyes, they could with their faith.

  • Homiletic Idea: Putting our faith in Jesus means receiving vision to follow him down the road of discipleship.

  • Purpose: Hearers will be presented ministry vision and challenged to follow.

  • Type: Deductive, Expository


I. See Jesus For Who He Is
  1. Blind Bartimaeus saw Jesus for who he is
    • Son of David –

      • Messiah

      • King of kings and Lord of lords

    • Savior who could have mercy on him

      • Power in his hands

      • Divine power

2. Are we blind like the Disciples?

    • Hush—don’t upset what’s going on

      • Jesus is to busy with the members

      • Don’t stick out

      • Seem flaky

      • Seem annoying

      • Don’t disrupt our decorum with your neediness

    • Continually getting it wrong

      • He surely won’t die!

      • We will sit at his right and left hands

      • We will be rewarded but no longer suffer

II. Get Up! He Is Calling You.

1. Bartimaeus threw everything aside to come to Jesus
    • Throws aside his cloak and alms

      • All that was important to him, his lively hood, his whole life

      • Jesus was more important

      • Trusting that he would no longer need those tools to beg

    • Comes to Jesus seeking vision

      • My rabbi!

      • His deepest longing

        • I would see

        • Can you imagine how long he had wished for that?

      • Could no longer resist, I would see you!

  • Are we ready to jump up and beg Jesus for vision?

    • Vision means seeing what the road will bring

      • The suffering way - sacrifice

      • The disciplined way - Work

  • Vision means seeing thins as they truly are

    • Seeing ourselves in our need

    • Seeing others in their need

    • Seeing Jesus as he is!

III. Receive Your Sight And Follow Him On The Way

  • Your faith has saved you

    • Recovered his sight

      • Physical need was met

      • healing

    • And followed him on the road – restored wholly

      • Spiritual healing - salvation

      • Decided to follow him

  • Are we whole and wholly following him?

    • Restored sight and transformed life

      • See glimpses of what is truly important, the supernatural?

      • Life completely turned around for a bigger vision?

    • Casting aside everything for a new vision

      • Throw away your beggars coat

        • Your fears

        • Your resisting

      • See through the eyes of Jesus

        • Dream his dreams

        • See people as he sees them

        • See yourself as he sees you

  • Follow him!