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The Way of Life · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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But we begin our worship this evening. We're going to sing to God's praise.
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We're singing in Psalm 146 in the Singed Psalms Version, page 191.
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Psalm 146 on page 191. We're going to sing from verse 5 down to the end of the psalm.
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The tune is Sussex, Psalm 146 at verse 5.
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Blessed is the one who truly looks for help to Jacob's God.
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Blessed is the one who places all his hope upon the Lord.
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He who made the earth and heaven and the seas with all their store.
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He who keeps his every promise, who is faithful evermore.
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We'll sing from verse 5 down to the end of the psalm.
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To God's praise we stand to sing.
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Blessed is the one who truly looks for help to Jacob's God.
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Blessed is the one who places all his hope upon the Lord.
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He who made the earth and heaven and the seas with all their store.
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He who keeps his every promise, who is faithful evermore.
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He delivers from oppression and relieves the hungry flight.
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He releases those in prison to the blight the Lord gives sight.
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Those who are by town he raises.
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God delights in righteousness.
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He protects and cares for strangers, widows and the fatherless.
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He frustrates the wicked's purpose.
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So the Lord through endless days reigns to every generation.
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Praise your God, O Zion, praise.
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Let's unite our hearts in prayer.
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Let us pray.
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O Lord, our gracious God, we are blessed to be called the children of God.
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We are blessed to be able to call upon you as our Father in heaven.
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We are blessed to be able to sing praise to you and to come and offer up our worship to you for all your goodness to us.
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For the blessings that are ours through your word, through your spirit, through your son, Christ Jesus.
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We thank you for this, your day.
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We thank you that is a day for the very purpose in which we have spent it in worshiping you, in coming and hearing your word, fellowshipping with one another, gathering round to lift up our voices to you in praise and prayer.
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We thank you for this, Lord, to receive from you, Lord.
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We thank you for this, Lord, to your heart, to your heart, for your heart, and to your heart.
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We thank you for this, Lord, that as we gather this evening too, that we come with that sense of thankfulness for the great sacrifice that was made for us.
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And we thank you that we can sing and echo these words of the psalm.
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Blessed is the one who truly looks for help to Jacob's God.
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Blessed is the one who places all his hope upon the Lord.
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And may we seek to do that once again this evening, and not just this evening or today, but in all the days ahead, that we would go on in the wake ahead, seeking to do all these things, to place our hope upon the Lord, to continue to look to you as the one who made the earth and the heaven and the seas and all their store.
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We thank you for the wonder of the world.
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Glorify and praise your name, O Lord, to glorify and praise your name all our days.
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But yet, O Lord, as we think of the remembrance that we have had today, we remember that Jesus came to die for us, for we are sinners.
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That in our relationship with you there is a breakdown in it because of sin.
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There is a great void that came between you and your people.
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But yet we thank you, Lord, that even though it was all of us running away from you, turning our back to you and seeking to worship other gods,
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that you have remembered us and that you continue to call us to yourself.
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That you continue to remind us that all our life is found in you.
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That it is only in you that we live, move, and have our being.
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And we pray, Lord, that we will evermore depend upon you.
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That we will look to you for all the grace that we need for day to day.
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That we will look to you for grace to serve you, to love you, to honour you, and to honour your people.
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That you will unite us together in our hearts.
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That you will bind us together in the cords of your love.
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To enable us, Lord, to be your witnesses.
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To enable us to be a people who will go out from here and into the week ahead,
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rejoicing in the goodness of God and showing forth our praise of you.
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Telling others of the wonder of the one who is able to give life and give it abundantly.
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We thank you that your gospel is good news.
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That is a great news for the world in which we live.
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A great news of hope.
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A great news that no matter what else comes our way in this world,
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that in Christ we have one who will stay close.
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Closer than any brother, as the word says.
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And so we pray, Lord, that you will help us to go on in the strength of the Lord.
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Not seeking any glory for ourselves, but seeking the glory be yours.
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For worthy is the Lamb who was slain.
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And so, Lord, we thank you for our praying people here.
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We thank you for the longing, the desire you put in our hearts to be united together today
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and in all the times of worship we have.
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And we pray that you will continue to increase that desire.
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Not just to be together on the Lord's Day or the midweek, but to fellowship with one another.
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To enjoy the company of one another.
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Encouraging one another.
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Helping one another.
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Praying for one another.
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May you make us a community of your people for whom it is such a natural thing
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to be united together in one spirit, one mind, one heart, under one Christ.
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We pray, Lord, that that would be something that would spread throughout our community,
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throughout our islands, throughout our land, and throughout the world.
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That your people will be built up and strengthened to all ends of the earth.
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And we thank you, Lord, that you are indeed a God who is building his church.
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That you are the one who is at work near and far.
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That you are the one who is calling a people to himself.
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That you are the one who will frustrate the wicked's purpose in this world.
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When we see so much wickedness around us, Lord, we thank you that you are the one who is able
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to frustrate these purposes for which wicked men turn their hands to.
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We think of all that is wrong in our world.
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And we think of the wickedness that we see near and far.
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We pray, Lord, that you will have mercy.
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That you will come in your power.
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That you will direct men and women, boys and girls, to turn from their evil ways.
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And to turn to you.
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We thank you that your reign is to every generation.
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And that for that we are able to praise your name.
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And to lift up our prayers in a sense of hope.
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We come in faith, O Lord, and help us that our faith will increase.
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That when we feel weak, Lord, you will give us strength.
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That when we feel that sense of unable to go on, Lord, that you will uphold us and strengthen us.
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That you will guide our every step.
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That you will sustain us on this journey.
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And we thank you, Lord, that we come with that sense of prayer for one another.
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And we think of all that's going on in our communities, in our homes, in our families just now, Lord.
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We continue to remember those with particular needs.
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Those who are unwell.
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Those who are grieving.
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Those who are going through various times of distress and trials in their lives.
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Lord, we thank you that you know each and every one.
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That you are able to bind up the brokenhearted.
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That you are able to lift up those who are bowed down.
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That you are the one who protects and cares for the strangers, the widows, the fatherless.
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That you are the one who releases those in prison.
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That you are the one who gives the blind their sight.
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That you are the one who has all power and authority over all things.
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That you will draw near to all your people.
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To all who call upon you.
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To all who call upon you in truth.
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And Lord, we ask that you will continue with us this evening as we worship your name.
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As we open your word together.
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A word again that reminds us of why you came.
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That we might have life and have a life abundantly.
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and we pray Lord that you will continue to teach us through your word to guide her every step by it
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and to live according to your truth so bless us in all that we do Lord the reading of your word
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the singing of your praise help us to lift our voices up to you with joy with delight as offering
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up our praise to the only one who is worthy bless our fellowship this evening too as we thank you
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to be able to share in these times together we pray that you will encourage us through it that
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you will bless Martin as he comes to speak to us at it Lord help us to pray for him and be encouraged
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by him and that he would be encouraged through coming to speak to us and Lord go before us in
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the week ahead be with us in all we seek to do in the meetings of our church as a congregation in so
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many different ways whether it's in person in prayer meetings and serving you in different ways
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whether it's online as a focal gather on Tuesday to have a time of prayer with Muriel Lord we remember
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her and pray for her that you will surround her and bless her and keep her make your face to shine
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upon her may she be encouraged as she serves you and as she encourages us Lord to look faithfully to
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you and to trust in you so Lord hear all our prayers go before us in all our needs and pardon us for all
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our sin as we confess them anew this evening hour Lord we fall short of your glory so often but we thank
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you for the forgiveness that you give so Lord hear us and go before us now and all we ask we ask in Jesus
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precious name and for his sake amen
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well again we'll sing to God's praise this time in Psalm 23 and we'll sing Psalms page 28 of the Psalm book
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Psalm 23 on page 28 again we'll sing the whole of this Psalm the tune is Tarawathi
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the Lord is my shepherd no one shall I know he makes me lie down where the green pastures grow he
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leads me to rest where the calm waters flow again this Psalm is our Psalm we sing often maybe not to
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sing Psalms version as often but the words constantly remind us that our life our hope is found in the Lord
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who is our shepherd so we'll sing the whole of this Psalm to God's praise
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the Lord is my shepherd no one shall I know he makes me lie down where the green pastures grow
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he leads me to rest where the calm waters flow my wandering steps he brings back to his way in straight paths of righteousness making me stay
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and this he has done his great name to display
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though I walk in this valley where darkness is near
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because you are with me no evil I'll fear your road and your staff bring me comfort and cheer
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in the sight of my enemies at able you spread the isle of rejoicing you pour on my head my cup overflows and I'm graciously fed
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so surely your covenant mercy and grace will follow me closely in all of my ways
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I will dwell in the house of the Lord almighty
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we'll turn together to read in the gospel of Mark
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we're reading in chapter 10
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we take up our reading at verse 32
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Mark's gospel chapter 10
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I'm taking up our reading at verse 32
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and we read down to the end of this chapter
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Jesus and the disciples and the crowd are here traveling on their way up to Jerusalem on their way to Jerusalem just before the crucifixion
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and as we see they come to the town of Jericho
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and as they're leaving Jericho
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they come to this encounter with Bartimaeus which is going to be our focus this evening
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but we take up our reading at verse 32
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and they were on the road going up to Jerusalem and Jesus was walking ahead of them
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and they were amazed and those who followed were afraid
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taking the twelve again he began to tell them what was to happen to him saying
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see we are going up to Jerusalem and the son of man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes
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and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles
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and they will mock him and spit on him and flog him and kill him
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and after three days he will rise
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and James and John the sons of Sebedee came up to him and said to him
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teacher we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you
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and he said to them what do you want me to do for you
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and they said to him grant us to sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your glory
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Jesus said to them you do not know what you are asking
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are you able to drink the cup that I drink
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or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized
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and they said to him we are able
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and Jesus said to them the cup that I drink you will drink
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and with the baptism with which I am baptized you will be baptized
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but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant
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but is for those for whom it has been prepared
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and when the ten heard it they began to be indignant at James and John
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and Jesus called them to him and said to them
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you know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles
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lord it over them
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and their great ones exercise authority over them
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but it shall not be so among you
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but whoever would be great among you must be your servant
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and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all
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for even the son of man came not to be served
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but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many
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and they came to Jericho
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and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples
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and a great crowd
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Bartimaeus a blind beggar
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the son of Timaeus was sitting by the roadside
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and when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth
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he began to cry out and say
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Jesus son of David have mercy on me
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and many rebuked him telling him to be silent
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but he cried out all the more
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son of David have mercy on me
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and Jesus stopped and said call him
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and they called the blind man saying to him
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take heart get up
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he is calling you
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and throwing off his cloak
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he sprang up and came to Jesus
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and Jesus said to him
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what do you want me to do for you
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and the blind man said to him
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Rabbi let me recover my sight
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and Jesus said to him
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go your way
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your faith has made you well
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and immediately he recovered his sight
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and followed him on the way
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Amen
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and may God bless that reading from his word
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so before we come to look at this passage
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we'll sing together again in Psalm 34
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in the Sing Psalms version
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page 40 of the psalm book
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Psalm 34
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and we'll sing from verse 8 down to verse 14
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Psalm 34 at verse 8
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come taste and see the Lord is good
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who trusts in him is blessed
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oh fear the Lord you saints with need
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you will not be oppressed
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and then down at verse 12
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we have these words
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does anyone delight in life
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and long to see good days
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then keep your tongue from evil speech
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your lips from lying ways
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depart and turn from evil paths
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and practice what is right
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desire to know the way of peace
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pursue it with your might
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we'll sing from verse 8 down to verse 14
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the tune is Kilmarnock
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come taste and see the Lord is good
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who trust in him is blessed
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oh fear the Lord you saints with need
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you will not be oppressed
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young lions may grow weak and faint
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and hunger for their food
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but those who wait upon the Lord
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will not lack any good
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come here my children gather round
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and listen to my word
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and I will help you understand
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how you may fear the Lord
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does anyone delight in life
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and long to see good days
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then keep your tongue from evil speech
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your lips from lying ways
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depart and turn from evil paths
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and practice what is right
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desire to know the way of peace
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pursue it with your might
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well we can turn back to our reading in the Gospel of Mark chapter 10
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our focus this evening in particular is on
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verse 46 down to the end of the chapter
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where Jesus meets with this man Bartimaeus
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and in verse 51 we read these words
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after blind Bartimaeus had got up on his feet
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and came running to Jesus
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Jesus said to him
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what do you want me to do for you
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and the blind man said to him
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Rabbi let me recover my sight
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and Jesus said to him
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go your way
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your faith has made you well
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and immediately he recovered his sight
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and followed him on the way
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as we come to the close of our communion weekend
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I want to once more just consider this passage
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where we read of Bartimaeus
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but consider it in light of the verse that we've been thinking about
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in each of the services over the weekend
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considering the reason for Jesus coming into the world
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and that verse has been John 10 verse 10
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where it says
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the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy
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I came that they may have life
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and have it abundantly
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Jesus came that we might have life
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and have it abundantly
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and we began last evening by looking at Deuteronomy
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chapter 30
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where we considered the choice that was put before the people
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there
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there
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the choice between life
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and death
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Jesus came
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that we might have life abundantly
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but there is another who seeks to
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steal and kill
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and destroy
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and so we often have that choice
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before us
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who are we listening to
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which way are we going
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does anyone delight in life
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as the psalmist said
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and we are to pursue it
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with all our might
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to pursue the Lord
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with all our might
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so we had that choice
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put before us
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then this morning
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as we gathered for the Lord's
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supper
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we were considering the one who is the source of life
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Jesus who gave his body
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and his blood
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that we might have life
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through him
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and tonight I want us to conclude
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this theme of the way of life
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looking at the way of life
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the life that Jesus is able to give in abundance
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and what does abundant life look like
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and how do we live it
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if you were to meet Bartimaeus
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and be part of the crowd that was leaving Jericho
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and see Bartimaeus
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your first impression wouldn't be
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there's one who has an abundant life
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there's not someone who has life
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and life to the full
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he's a beggar
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he's blind
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and yet as we're going to see
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he saw more
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than those who were walking with Jesus
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even at that time
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he cried out in his great need
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Jesus son of David
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have mercy on me
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his plea was for life
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and as we look at the life of Bartimaeus
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we see the compassion of Jesus
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we thought about it recently in the Gospel of Mark
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how Jesus saw the crowd and had compassion on them
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well here is another instance of Jesus showing that compassion
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compassion towards this blind beggar
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and we see how he gives life
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and life abundant to Bartimaeus
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and what Bartimaeus does is follow him on the way
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and that way wouldn't be easy
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that way wouldn't be all perfect in every way
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it would have its ups and its down
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like everyone who comes to follow Jesus
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and find the life that Jesus offers abundantly
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is not a life separate to challenges and trials
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but it's a life with that great hope
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and assurance
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of not just life for now
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but life abundant
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and life eternal
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through him
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a missionary society once wrote to David Livingston
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after he was out in Africa for some time
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and they asked him
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have you found a good road to where you are
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if so we want to know how to send other men to join you
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well David Livingston's reply was to write back and say
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if you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road
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I don't want them
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I want men who will come if there is no road at all
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and that is the call that Jesus puts on our lives
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not that the way will be easy and perfect and straightforward
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he says whoever will come after me will take up his cross and follow me
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there will be burdens for us in this life
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but it is not without hope
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it is not without the security that he is with us
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that he has come to give us life
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and life in abundance
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because the thief comes to steal and kill and destroy
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but he has come that we might have life
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and so as we look at this passage in Mark
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up to this point
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Mark is a fast moving gospel
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things move from one place to another very quickly
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and here as we come into chapter 10
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we are seeing Jesus, the disciples
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and a crowd making their way up to Jerusalem
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and they have come to Jericho
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a large town about 18 miles from Jerusalem
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and they have gone through this town
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and as they are leaving this town
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we have this wonderful encounter between Jesus and Bartimaeus
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in all the accounts of Jesus meeting with people
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encountering people
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this one often stands out for me
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we may all have our different preferences
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of Jesus' encounters with different people
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you might think of the woman at the well
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or other people that Jesus met
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so often there is very personal encounters
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that Jesus has with people
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but this is one of my favourites
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and it is my favourite for a number of different reasons
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because you see a few things here
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as he meets with Bartimaeus
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there is the timing of it
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and there is the attitudes of those involved in it
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when you think of the timing
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Jesus has just told them in verse 32 to 34
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of what he is going to do
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as he comes to Jerusalem
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they were on the road going up to Jerusalem
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Jesus was walking ahead of them
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and he started to explain to them
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why they were going to Jerusalem
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the son of man must be delivered over
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to the chief priests and the scribes
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they will condemn him to death
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and deliver him over to the Gentiles
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he is explaining to them
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why they are going
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and the timing in this is
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he is just before his crucifixion
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and yet even in the midst of this timing
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there is still this purpose in what he is doing
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he is on his way to Jerusalem
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to fulfil this
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but you might excuse him
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to not want any distractions along the way
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and especially a blind beggar
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who is crying out at the side of the road
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but then you see his attitude
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it is one way he has time
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when he has time for Bartimaeus
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because he came
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as we read in verse 45
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the son of man came not to be served
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but to serve and to give his life
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as a ransom for many
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he came that we might have life
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and have it abundantly
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and he came that he might meet with
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the likes of Bartimaeus
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who he still had time for
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and his attitude was one of compassion
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towards him
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and it contrasts the attitude of those who were with him
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the disciples
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the crowd
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and the attitude you see from them
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is one of mocking Bartimaeus
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shouting at him to be quiet
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to get away
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don't bother the master
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and you see the attitude of James and John
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in the previous section
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verse 35 to 45
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their attitude of wanting glory
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glory for themselves
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to sit one at the right
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and one at the left
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in glory
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this is the kind of attitudes
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that were there
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James and John
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if you just want to notice
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they come to Jesus with demands
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in verse 35
34:34
teacher we want you to do for us
34:36
whatever we ask of you
34:38
they are demanding
34:40
and look at what Jesus says
34:42
he said to them
34:43
what do you want me
34:44
to do for you
34:46
and what do you see
34:49
with Bartimaeus
34:51
he didn't come
34:53
making demands
34:55
he came crying out to Jesus
34:57
Jesus son of David
34:58
have mercy on me
35:00
but look at what he says in verse 51
35:02
to Bartimaeus
35:04
Jesus said to him
35:06
what do you want me to do for you
35:08
the very same question
35:10
that he'd asked of James and John
35:12
but that attitude was one of seeking glory
35:16
and you see the contrast here in Bartimaeus
35:19
when Jesus says
35:21
what do you want me to do for you
35:24
he says Rabbi
35:26
let me recover my sight
35:30
so this is a wonderful encounter
35:33
it's a reminder to us of the personal nature
35:36
of Jesus's ministry
35:39
how he came
35:41
how he had time
35:42
how he had compassion
35:44
how he came to give life
35:46
and I want us to think for ourselves this evening
35:50
of three things from Bartimaeus' experience
35:54
three things that we can so easily apply to ourselves
35:57
as we think of what is it to have abundant life
36:03
and how do we live this life of abundance
36:08
well the first thing we're going to see is his condition
36:12
Bartimaeus' condition
36:14
the second thing we'll see is his cry
36:17
and then thirdly we'll see his cure
36:20
so first of all we see Bartimaeus
36:26
and his condition
36:28
the diagnosis for Bartimaeus is bleak
36:31
in terms of what kind of life he'd had
36:35
and what the future held for him
36:37
people would have seen him as hopeless
36:39
they were leaving Jericho
36:42
with his disciples in a great crowd
36:44
Bartimaeus a blind beggar
36:46
the son of Timaeus was sitting
36:47
by the roadside
36:50
as I said this isn't someone you would look at
36:53
and think here's someone who has great hope
36:56
in his life
36:58
and the crowd mocked him
37:00
and rebuked him
37:02
but what of Bartimaeus' condition
37:05
how would you think first of all
37:07
that this is a hopeless case
37:09
well firstly he's blind
37:11
and this isn't something that was uncommon
37:14
in Jesus' day
37:15
many eye conditions
37:18
that could easily be treated today
37:20
they were incurable in Jesus' day
37:23
and people who were blind
37:25
were often cast to the side
37:27
they were often seen as a burden
37:28
to even their own families
37:30
so they were put away
37:32
and they had nowhere to turn
37:34
to be blind was to be struck down in many ways
37:38
and your case was hopeless
37:41
and the only option was
37:42
was what we see secondly about him
37:43
his condition was
37:45
he was a beggar
37:47
he was needy
37:48
he was dependent on others
37:50
and their generosity
37:52
to help him survive
37:54
and that is how he would seem
37:56
in the eyes of those
37:58
or many of the eyes of those
37:59
who are passing by
38:01
even in our own eyes
38:03
today as you read this passage
38:05
Bartimaeus initially maybe seems like just a hopeless case
38:08
and yet as you read through
38:12
you see Bartimaeus
38:14
had a greater vision than many who were passing by
38:17
he may have been physically blind
38:20
but his eyes were seeing something else on Jesus
38:24
how so?
38:27
well first of all we see that he knew what to do
38:31
Jesus and the crowd
38:34
they were leaving Jericho
38:36
on the way up to Jerusalem
38:38
and as we were thinking of this morning
38:40
this was the time
38:42
when they were going to prepare the Passover
38:45
so many people would have been making their way up to Jerusalem
38:48
just like Jesus and his disciples
38:50
going to observe the Passover
38:53
and so Bartimaeus is here
38:56
he's in the hot spot if you like
38:57
for collecting from people
39:00
it's like we would see today
39:02
people sitting outside train stations
39:04
or busy high streets
39:06
there's the prime locations
39:08
where people will fight and jostle over
39:10
to get the prime spot
39:12
where they're likely to get something
39:14
well Bartimaeus is here outside Jericho
39:17
where many people are passing by
39:20
but more importantly
39:22
although he was able to provide for his needs
39:25
in this way physically
39:26
there was something else about Bartimaeus
39:30
that would make us see that he was not a hopeless case
39:34
he was blind physically
39:37
but he was not deaf
39:39
and as he'd been hearing people passing by
39:43
he'd have been hearing
39:45
maybe over a number of weeks or even months
39:48
he'd have been hearing people talking about Jesus
39:51
he'd have been hearing what was happening
39:55
in different places through the miracles of Jesus
39:58
through the works of Jesus
40:00
he was hearing of one who was able to help
40:05
so his condition may seem hopeless initially
40:10
but actually behind it all there is hope
40:14
he was listening
40:16
he was in the right place
40:18
we ask ourselves
40:21
what is our condition today
40:24
what is your condition in this sense tonight
40:28
are you here listening to what God is saying
40:33
are you here seeing you're in the right place
40:36
that you're hearing the word of God
40:39
are you deaf
40:41
are you shunning it
40:43
or are you listening to what is being said
40:44
are you realizing the importance of it
40:48
that here we have
40:50
Jesus as it were passing by
40:53
that he is speaking to us
40:56
Bartimaeus was blind
40:59
and yet he was able to see his greatest need
41:03
and for ourselves too
41:06
surely we need to see our greatest need is Christ
41:09
our greatest need is here before us this evening
41:13
our greatest need is perhaps something
41:17
we've been hearing about over many many years
41:20
but we've been deaf to it
41:23
we've not been listening
41:25
but we see our condition
41:28
we are indeed helpless and hopeless without Christ
41:33
but here we are under his word
41:36
it is a time of opportunity
41:39
it is another time to hear the gospel
41:43
of the riches of Christ
41:46
who is able to give us life
41:48
someone else who
41:51
recognized his own condition
41:54
was the man John Newton
41:58
in many ways he had his life
42:01
all planned out
42:03
he was in the slave trade
42:05
he was making money
42:06
living a riotous life
42:07
he thought he had his life
42:09
all planned out
42:10
but then he began to realize
42:12
his condition
42:14
and that's what brought him to write those words
42:17
amazing grace
42:19
and how sweet the sound
42:21
but look at how he describes himself in that hymn
42:24
a wretch
42:26
one who was lost
42:28
one who was blind
42:30
that is how he saw his condition
42:35
but what made the difference
42:38
in his life
42:40
grace
42:42
it was grace that taught
42:44
my heart to fear
42:46
and grace my fears relieved
42:48
how precious did that grace appear
42:50
the hour I first believed
42:53
he recognized his condition
42:56
a wretch who was lost
42:58
who was lost
42:59
and who was blind
43:01
but he was able to say
43:03
I am found
43:05
and now I see
43:07
and that is the wonder
43:09
of what Jesus has come to do
43:12
to open the eyes of the blind
43:15
to help us to see him
43:18
John Newton recognized his condition
43:21
Bartimaeus recognized his condition
43:24
and if we recognize our condition today
43:28
as lost and helpless sinners
43:31
what can we do about it
43:33
how then can we find
43:35
this abundant life
43:38
that Jesus offers
43:40
well we learn again our second lesson
43:42
from Bartimaeus
43:44
what did he do?
43:46
as Jesus was passing by
43:48
what did he do?
43:50
he cried out
43:51
out
43:52
in verse 47
43:54
and when he heard
43:55
that it was Jesus of Nazareth
43:58
he began to cry out
44:00
and say
44:02
Jesus son of David
44:03
have mercy on me
44:05
what a cry
44:07
he had
44:08
and even though it goes on to say
44:10
they began to rebuke him
44:12
telling him to be silent
44:13
what did he do?
44:15
he was stubborn
44:17
he cried out all the more
44:18
son of David
44:20
have mercy on me
44:23
he wasn't going to be turned away
44:27
he had heard who Jesus was
44:31
he was hearing that he was passing by
44:34
and he cried out
44:37
he knew that Jesus could help
44:41
he would have heard of the miracles of Jesus
44:44
healing lepers
44:45
healing the demon possessed
44:48
even bringing the dead
44:50
back to life
44:52
and here is the one
44:53
who is the source
44:55
of life
44:57
and the choice
44:58
is there before Bartimaeus
45:00
do I cry out
45:02
or not?
45:04
life or death
45:06
which is it going to be?
45:07
well he cries out
45:08
and he cries out all the more
45:10
Jesus son of David
45:12
have mercy on me
45:13
and we have to recognise
45:16
who Jesus is
45:22
for ourselves
45:24
look at the way he says it
45:26
Jesus son of David
45:29
so much understanding
45:31
behind his cry
45:33
it's not just Jesus
45:35
Jesus son of David
45:38
the fulfilment of the scriptures
45:40
the promise of God
45:42
the promise of God
45:43
that he would send his son
45:44
into this world
45:47
the one who was going to come
45:49
he is here before Bartimaeus
45:51
in the same way
45:53
as he appeared to the woman of Samaria at the well
45:58
and said we know that Christ is coming
46:02
and Jesus says I who you speak of
46:05
am he
46:07
he was there
46:09
he is here with Bartimaeus
46:11
and we can cry out
46:12
to the same Jesus
46:14
ourselves
46:16
Jesus son of David
46:18
have mercy on me
46:20
that is the cry
46:22
we need to have
46:23
if we want to have
46:24
that abandoned life
46:26
if we want to know
46:28
that assurance of eternal life
46:30
we need to cry out
46:31
and sometimes it's to cry out
46:32
all the more
46:34
Jesus son of David
46:36
have mercy on me
46:38
you see Bartimaeus
46:41
he realised
46:42
what Jesus could do
46:44
and is there anyone here
46:46
who doesn't know
46:48
what Jesus can do for you
46:50
the Bible makes it so clear
46:54
what Jesus can do for you
46:57
is to give you life
46:58
and life abundantly
47:02
because the alternative is
47:05
the thief who comes
47:07
to seek to kill and destroy
47:09
but Jesus has come
47:13
that we might have life
47:15
and Bartimaeus saw
47:17
his greatest opportunity
47:19
had come
47:21
for years he would have been sitting here
47:23
a blind beggar
47:25
helpless in so many ways
47:26
but as Jesus is passing by
47:31
he realises the opportunity
47:33
and he's not going to let
47:36
this opportunity pass him by
47:39
he recognises
47:41
just like Peter and the disciples
47:43
who said
47:45
you know to whom else can we go
47:47
for you have the words of eternal life
47:50
there's nowhere else
47:52
that this help is going to come from
47:53
and for Bartimaeus
47:54
there's no other help for him
47:57
apart from in Christ
47:59
so he cries out
48:02
and he recognises that this opportunity
48:06
could easily pass him by
48:08
you know if Bartimaeus had sat silently
48:12
Jesus wasn't going to pass that way
48:16
again
48:18
he was on his way to Jerusalem
48:19
on his way
48:22
to give his life as a ransom for many
48:25
and for so many
48:27
that opportunity
48:29
you let it pass by
48:31
the cry doesn't come
48:34
and Jesus is here tonight
48:38
for Bartimaeus
48:41
no cry would have been tomorrow
48:44
just another day like the one before
48:46
the one before and the one before that
48:49
no different
48:52
but as we cry out to God for help
48:55
he is able to give us
48:57
as it were a new tomorrow
48:59
a new tomorrow where we go
49:02
in the strength of the Lord
49:04
we rejoice in the hope that he gives
49:08
the life and life abundant that he is able
49:10
to give to us
49:13
in faith
49:15
we are to recognise that this
49:17
this opportunity could easily pass
49:20
us by
49:22
and you don't want to be in that situation
49:24
where you say
49:26
if only
49:27
I had another opportunity
49:31
today
49:33
if you hear his voice
49:35
as the psalmist says
49:36
do not harden
49:37
your heart
49:39
cry out
49:42
Jesus
49:44
son of David
49:46
have mercy
49:48
on me
49:50
the third and final thing we see here
49:53
is his cure
49:55
when Jesus heard
49:59
his cry
50:00
he said
50:01
call him
50:03
and they called him
50:04
and said
50:06
take heart
50:07
get up
50:08
he is calling you
50:10
Jesus
50:11
stopped
50:13
it's an amazing
50:15
image this
50:17
the crowd rebuking
50:19
Bartimaeus
50:21
mocking
50:23
telling him to be silent
50:25
but Jesus stopping and saying
50:27
call him
50:28
the climb
50:29
up to
50:30
up to Jerusalem
50:31
facing up to the fact
50:32
that he was going to his death
50:34
Jesus has this
50:36
compassion and concern
50:38
to look at the beggar
50:40
and to have time
50:42
for him
50:44
you know in many ways
50:45
you could have thought
50:46
James and John
50:48
they would have been so much more important
50:49
than this beggar
50:51
if they were to ask
50:52
you know whatever
50:53
what do you want
50:54
we want you to do for us
50:55
whatever we ask of you
50:56
you think Jesus
50:57
just tell me
50:58
and I'll do it
51:00
but he doesn't
51:01
because
51:02
their motive
51:03
was wrong
51:05
they wanted glory
51:07
and so Jesus rebuked them
51:12
but what would they have thought now
51:13
as they're seeing Jesus
51:14
saying
51:15
those very same words
51:17
to this blind beggar
51:18
what do you want me
51:20
to do for you
51:22
but look at the simplicity
51:24
of Bartimaeus' answer
51:28
Rabbi
51:30
let me recover
51:32
my sight
51:34
who is important
51:36
to Jesus in this passage
51:38
they all are
51:40
because Jesus
51:42
is showing his compassion
51:44
to James and John
51:45
even in rebuking them
51:47
he's teaching them
51:48
what it means to be a disciple
51:49
to follow him
51:50
to follow him
51:51
you need to let go
51:52
the hope of glory
51:55
you need to let go
51:57
the sense of status
51:58
and power
52:00
whoever would be first among you
52:02
must be slave of all
52:03
he said
52:05
for even the son of man
52:06
came not to serve
52:08
to be served
52:09
but to serve
52:10
and to give his life
52:11
as a ransom for many
52:12
there was teaching in that
52:14
but he had a concern
52:16
concern
52:17
for Bartimaeus too
52:19
he was important as well
52:21
and that's a reminder to us
52:24
maybe we don't feel
52:26
important to Jesus
52:28
he won't trouble himself
52:31
with me
52:33
he'll see nothing in me
52:35
well what he sees is
52:38
that you are made in his image
52:40
that you have a soul
52:42
that is precious to him
52:43
and that is why he came
52:47
because the thief
52:49
wants to steal and kill
52:51
and destroy that soul
52:53
but Jesus has come
52:55
that you might have life
52:57
and have it abundantly
53:01
so as he says
53:03
what do you want me
53:04
to do for you
53:05
he says Rabbi
53:07
let me recover my sight
53:09
let me see
53:11
isn't that a beautiful response
53:12
of all the things
53:13
he could have asked for
53:16
he just says
53:18
Rabbi, teacher
53:20
let me see
53:22
and isn't that the response
53:25
that we should all want
53:28
not glory
53:30
not status
53:32
not power
53:34
not any of these things
53:36
but just to come
53:37
Lord have mercy on me
53:39
let me see
53:40
see
53:41
because this is about
53:42
not just seeing
53:43
physically
53:45
but seeing
53:47
spiritually
53:48
this is coming
53:49
as you see
53:50
what Jesus' response
53:52
go your way
53:53
your faith
53:55
has made you well
53:57
the faith was there
53:59
and Jesus opened his eyes
54:02
and I'm sure for many here tonight
54:05
the faith is there
54:06
faith is there
54:07
but your eyes
54:08
but your eyes just need
54:09
to be opened
54:11
and that's our prayer
54:13
Rabbi
54:14
teacher
54:15
let me see
54:17
sometimes we just need
54:23
to be disturbed
54:25
in our life
54:27
and there's a prayer
54:29
often attributed to
54:30
Francis Drake
54:31
and it's a prayer
54:33
that we could all pray
54:36
where he says this
54:38
disturb us Lord
54:40
when we are too well pleased
54:42
with ourselves
54:44
when our dreams have come through
54:46
because we have dreamed too little
54:49
when we arrive safely
54:51
because we have sailed too close to the shore
54:53
the shore
54:55
disturb us Lord
54:56
when with the abundance of things we possess
55:00
we have lost our thirst
55:02
for the waters of life
55:04
having fallen in love with life
55:07
we have ceased to dream of eternity
55:10
and in our efforts to build a new earth
55:14
we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim
55:18
disturb us
55:21
disturb us
55:23
that's sometimes
55:25
what we need
55:27
disturb us
55:28
when we see the abundance of things we possess
55:32
and yet we have lost our thirst
55:35
for the waters of life
55:38
may God give us a thirst for him
55:43
a desire to see him
55:45
that as we come away
55:48
from the Lord's table today
55:50
as we come away from the Lord's day
55:52
and this season of communion
55:55
that we would come away with the response
55:58
of Bartimaeus
56:00
Rabbi let me see
56:02
and to know the blessing of the cure that Jesus gives
56:06
go your way
56:09
your faith has made you well
56:11
and to respond
56:14
like Bartimaeus
56:16
who immediately recovered his sight
56:18
and followed him
56:21
on the way
56:23
let us look
56:25
to Jesus
56:27
and see the one
56:29
who is able to give us life
56:31
and life abundant
56:33
and follow him
56:35
on the way
56:37
let us pray
56:38
our Father in heaven
56:41
we give you thanks
56:42
oh Lord
56:43
for your
56:44
remembrance of us
56:46
for your compassion towards us
56:48
that is so great
56:50
that despite
56:51
our hopelessness
56:53
despite all
56:55
the scars of sin
56:57
in our lives and in our hearts
56:59
that you are the one who shows us
57:01
so much compassion
57:03
that you are the one who even comes
57:04
and you this evening
57:05
asking us
57:07
what you want me
57:09
to do for you
57:11
and we pray Lord
57:12
to have the faith of Bartimaeus
57:15
and the hope of Bartimaeus
57:17
to cry out to the Lord
57:19
Lord Jesus
57:21
son of David
57:23
have mercy on me
57:25
and as we come
57:27
help us to see
57:29
help us to see you
57:30
and follow you on the way
57:31
as we ask it all
57:32
in Jesus name
57:33
Amen
57:34
We'll conclude
57:39
this evening by singing
57:41
to God's praise
57:42
the words of
57:43
Psalm 16
57:45
in the singed Psalms
57:46
on page 17
57:48
from verse 8
57:50
down to the end
57:52
of the Psalm
57:54
a wonderful Psalm
57:55
that reminds us
57:56
as we come away
57:57
from the Lord's table
57:59
how we are to live
58:00
we are to go on
58:01
in the life
58:02
of the strength
58:03
of the Lord
58:04
is to set him
58:05
constantly
58:06
before us
58:07
before me
58:08
constantly
58:09
I set
58:10
the Lord alone
58:11
because he is
58:12
at my right hand
58:13
I'll not be
58:14
overthrown
58:15
therefore my heart
58:16
is glad
58:17
my tongue
58:18
with joy
58:19
will sing
58:20
my body too
58:21
will rest secure
58:22
in hope
58:23
unwavering
58:24
we'll sing
58:25
from verse 8
58:26
to the end of the Psalm
58:27
to God's praise
58:28
verse 9
58:29
forget
58:38
before me
58:39
constantly
58:41
Eve
58:42
set the heart
58:43
alone
58:44
because
58:45
He
58:47
ила
58:48
set
58:49
the heart
58:50
alone
58:51
because
58:52
He
58:54
At my right hand I'll not be overthrown.
59:08
Therefore my heart is glad, my tongue which I will sing,
59:27
My body too will rest secure in open way for me.
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For you will not allow my soul in death to stay,
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Nor will you leave your Holy One to see the tomb decay.
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You have made known to me the path of life divine.
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This shall I know at your right hand, Joy from your face will shine.
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Now as we're going next door, I'll give thanks for the food that's been prepared
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and then close with a benediction.
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And after the benediction, if you'll allow James to go to the main door,
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I'll go to the door to my left hand side here.
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Lord, our gracious God, we continue to look to you for all the good gifts
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that you provide for us day by day.
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We give you thanks, O Lord, for this day, for our fellowship,
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for the blessings you have bestowed upon us, Lord, with encouragement,
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with your word, with sacrament.
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And we pray, Lord, that your blessing would go with us,
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that we will continue in our fellowship next door to enjoy your presence
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and your peace with us,
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that you will bless our time and bless all the provision that has been made for us.
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Lord, we thank you for all who help in every way in serving you and your people here.
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And now may grace, mercy, and peace from God,
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Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all,
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now and forevermore.
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Amen.
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Amen.