Sermon Summary
The disciples weren’t blind physically, but at this point they hadn’t been given eyes to see Jesus entirely for who he truly was. Perhaps you’re like the disciples at this point. You’ve heard about Jesus. You’ve seen Jesus work in other people’s lives, perhaps even your own life in some manner, yet though you have seen him, and perhaps at times even tasted his goodness, you don’t love him and you don’t believe him and you don’t trust him – and you’re left wondering about him. Doubting him. Disbelieving that he is who he says he is and that he actually has done what he said he was going to do. At this point in the gospel, this is true of the Pharisees, the Rich Ruler of a few weeks ago, and even in some ways, the disciples who have seen him close up. All have physical sight but spiritually unable to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus.
But the story that Luke tells us of, immediately after making us aware of the disciple’s blindness, is the story of an actual blind man who sees and understands more about Jesus than the disiples did at this point.
Do you see what the blind man saw before he was healed of his blindness?
The Sermon Text
“As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.” (Luke 18:35–43 ESV)
The Main Point of the Sermon
You must place your faith today in the person and work of Jesus the Messiah
if you are to be saved.
Sermon Points, Quotes, and Application
- You Must Know Jesus Truthfully
The point is, disciples of Jesus believe that He is the Son of David, the Messiah. He's not just a great moral teacher; He’s not just a good man. He’s not just someone who did nice things…even miraculous things. And he’s not the excuse to gain credibility for whatever social or political movement you espouse. He is Jesus, the Messiah. Undiluted by politics. He is the hope for the lost. The Son of God, the Savior of sinners, the One in whom rest and salvation is alone found. And all those who would follow him do so as those who have received him as the Messiah, the Son of God, sent into the world to have mercy on sinners, the outcast, the socially and culturally unimportant. True followers of Jesus receive him as the Son of David, the Messiah, the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, the King of glory, the one to whom all praise is due and the one in whom all hope is found both in forgiveness of sins and life eternal. This is the point that Jesus wants us to see in this passage.
Do you know Jesus truthfully? You must know this Jesus, the Son of David, the Messiah, the Savior if you are to be saved. - You Must Trust Jesus Absolutely
You know, the blind man could have been totally ticked off with God and cursing him to his face for giving him this blindness. But instead, he knew who Jesus was and he trusted him and cried out for mercy. Friends, that is the essence of faith. And that is the foundation of our salvation. Not just at the beginning of our journey, but each day of our lives. We’re tempted to doubt, but this story compels us to look to Jesus and trust him no matter the circumstances. We’re told, in Hebrews 11, that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” This story draws attention to, and calls us to have that very faith in Jesus that doesn’t only just ascent to some truth, but where our lives are laid out in absolute dependence. This is what Jesus is getting at when he says stuff like this:
“…“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23–24 ESV)
May our eyes be opened to see and hearts to understand. Do you see Jesus for who he is? Do you trust him? -
You Must Follow Jesus Immediately
Once again, we are brought to the immediate result of true faith…this once blind man who had been given sight doesn’t lollygag…he immediately follows him. We’ve seen this before haven’t we? When Jesus called His disciples, He called them to do what? Follow him. That is the language of discipleship. This man became a disciple of Jesus. The people in front of Jesus thought that he was so unimportant, so unlikely, that they rebuked him for crying out to Jesus, but Jesus called him to himself, healed him, and made him his disciple. This is what Jesus has done for the last almost two thousand years. He tracks his own down, gives them faith, calls them to himself and saves them to follow him, trusting him, and obeying him. And those who know Jesus truthfully, trust him absolutely, and follow him immediately, glorifying God – living for him, doing whatever they do for the glory of God as Paul would say in 1 Cor. 10:31.
Once again…do you see what the blind man saw before he was healed of his blindness? And is what you see and know about Jesus, what you have received from Jesus – namely forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit? Producing a life of increasing faith and trust in Jesus that results in an immediately and ongoing life that follows Jesus for the praise of his glory in your workplace, in your family, in your community group, in your quiet times, on your vacations?
Saving faith isn’t a past faith, nor a legalistic self-righteousness, but a present and future faith that works itself out through love (Galatians 5:6) both in the church and in this broken world we live in.
Do you truly know Jesus? Truly trust Jesus? Truly follow Jesus? You can’t answer yes to one and not the other two. It’s yes to all three or no to all.