Mark 10:46-52 And they came to Jericho. And as He was going out from Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take Courage, Arise! HE IS CALL...
Mark 10:46-52 And they came to Jericho. And as He was going out from Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take Courage, Arise! HE IS CALLING FOR YOU.” And casting aside his cloak, ..he jumped up, and came to Jesus. And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabbi, I want to regain my sight!” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.
Note the difference between Religion and Jesus: Bartimaeus’ cries irritated the people, but not Jesus.
And Jesus Passed through Jericho — He walked in and walked out without anyone stopping Him, not one reported miraculous encounter until Bartimaeus cried out...
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Could Jesus walk through your house like He walked through Jericho? Your community? Your Church?
The fact is many people live in Jericho homes and attend Jericho Churches.
Jesus regularly passes through Jericho Churches unstopped. His Presence passes through the service with no encounters, because no one’s crying out! They’re satisfied with coming to church without coming to Jesus. Our churches must become more than an institution that helps us live in this world (Like a garnish or side salad to life). Church must get back to being the place where you Cry Out to Jesus, and He stops the service and Calls For YOU to come to Him!
To stop Jesus from walking in, and walking out of Jericho Churches, w/o a Bartimaeus encounter, pastors need to stand up and announce: “We’ve prepared a service for you today But if you want Jesus you’ll have to CRY OUT for Him.”
Jesus LOVES the Broken people by the roadside because Jericho’s not enough for them. O How He yearns for US to cry out to Him. He’s passing by the all the Satisfied People. But if you’re Bartimaeus, Crying Out to Jesus then Jesus has stopped and He’s Calling For You!
GOD has always loved the broken for whom the sinful world is no home.
Jesus said, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…to preach the gospel to the poor…to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4:18)
Jesus is attracted to the Brokenhearted, the Captives and the Bruised who Cry Out to Him. Those for whom life has no more time, no answers, and no help.
If you’ve set yourself on fire, used up your last Get Out Of Jail Free card, and the world has no more sympathy for you, Cry Out to Jesus, and Take Courage, Arise! HE IS CALLING FOR YOU.
If you’re a believer who’s fallen out of church, and think you’ve used up your Do-Overs, Cry Out to Jesus, and Take Courage, Arise! HE IS CALLING FOR YOU.
Churches use winners, achievers, strong and beautiful people, who don’t need much work to attract people to Jesus. And it seldom works. But someone who's clinging to the grace of Jesus will always attract the lost because they see GOD's hope in them. GOD’s Love for the Lost is what our world needs today!
“Take Courage, Arise! HE IS CALLING FOR YOU.”
