Lesson # 30 | MARK 10:46-52 | GETTING TO GOD

I.   Greetings:

 

II.  Introduction: 

            Note:  So often we have to face things we do not enjoy.  New jobs, a new school, coming exams, coming operations, etc.  We often dread certain things we know are on the near horizon or in the future.  Jesus understands this aspect of our lives and gives us some tremendous help in dealing with our dread.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 10:46 and Mark 11:1.

            Q  Where is Jesus heading as He leaves Jericho?

               An = Jerusalem.  There is nothing between Jericho and Jerusalem but a desolate waste land. 

            Q  What will happen to Him when He arrives?

               An = His humiliation and crucifixion which Mark has shown five times in chapters 8-10 that Jesus is consciously aware of.  Jesus knows what He is heading into, and He must have experienced some dread.

            Q  Is there something you are dreading tonight?

               An = Write it down on a 3x5 card.  They are being passed out right now.  If you cannot think of anything right now, keep the card in case something comes to your during the lesson tonight.

 

III.  First Interaction Outside of Jericho:  Blind Man & Crowd.  Mark 10:47-48.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 10:47-48.

            Q  Why did the crowd silence the blind man?  Because he was a nuisance or because of his calling Jesus a messianic title?

               An = It could be both, but probably because he was a bother.

            Q  What do we learn of the blind man's character?

               An = He is determined, persistent and insistent.  These are excellent qualities for prayer.

            Q  Is determination necessary for getting to God?

            Note:  The phrase "have mercy on me" is a cry from the Psalter.  Have three different people turn to the following three different Psalm references:  Ps. 4:1;  Ps. 6:2;  Ps. 51:1. 

>>>> Have them read Psalm 4:1;  6:2; and 51:1.

            After these three verses are read out loud you could encourage them to read the whole Psalm on their own at a later date.  Psalms 4 is a call for mercy because of oppressive powerful people, Psalm 6 is a cry for mercy due to physical illness, Psalm 51 is tied to need that arises from our own guilt and sin.  All three are but the tip of the iceberg in the Psalms where Israel was taught to cry out to the true Lord of all creation because He was interested in their cries.

            Note:  Perhaps the title "Son of David" is messianic or at least that Jesus is an instrument of davidic hope.  Have everyone turn to Isaiah 35:4-6.

>>>> Have someone read Isaiah 35:4-6.

 

IV.  The Second Interchange Outside of Jericho: Jesus, Crowd, Blind Man.  Mark 10:49

>>>> Have someone read Mark 10:49.

            Q What is the difference in the crowd reaction from 10:48?

               An = The crowd is involved twice:  Mark 10:48 and 49.  Crowds can be fickle and change.  In 10:48 they are stopping the man from personally encountering Jesus, whereas in 10:49 they are encouraging the personal encounter.  Jesus will meet with such fickleness soon enough in Jerusalem.  The crowd changes dramatically from Palm Sunday in their cries of praise to their cry for Him to be crucified five days later.

 

V.  The Third Interchange Outside of Jericho:  Jesus & Blind Man.  Mark 10:50-52.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 10:50-52.

            Q  Is the crowd present when the healing takes place?

               An = No, personal interaction and the issues of faith can now arise.  This is Jesus' pattern:  Mark 2:5-11;  5:30-34;  7:27-29;  9:21-24.  Example of the silent helicopter.  If you had a silent helicopter and could hover over Jesus and gauge when people really got close to God, you would notice something about the ministry of Jesus.  As long as people stayed a part of the crowd they did not get any real spiritual business done.  You had to step away from your peer group and meet Jesus one-on-one. 

            Many of us today are not really close to God and we know it.  It is because we refuse to leave the crowd, leave our religious group, or scorning friends, we stay in the security of the pack.  We will stay away from real contact with Jesus and God if we stay in the crowd!

            Note:  Jesus did not heal the guy as he walked by, He desired personal interaction.  He wants us to interact with Him personally.

            Q  Why did Jesus ask the blind man the question of what he wanted?  Wasn't it obvious he wanted to be healed of his blindness?

               An = Sometimes God wants us to verbalize what we want.  Also, it could be the man has moved from a general cry for mercy (10:47-48) to a specific request for healing.

            Note: All three interactions show the Blind Man to be aggressive. 

            Q  Does such aggressiveness seemed to work?

               An = Yes, we should stop right now and tell God what we want, really want, today.  Notice the man did not ask for the salvation of Israel, or for some other worthy spiritual issue.  He asked for what really dominated his life and thinking.  Perhaps that is how we should begin our prayers.  Lets pray and tell Him.

            Q  Is Jesus also aggressive?

               An = The blind man was aggressive but Jesus was more so, He takes over (10:51) and makes the blind man respond.  God will do the same with us today.  No matter how aggressive we are, He will be more so. 

>>>> Re-read Mark 10:51.

            Q  What did the blind man want?

               An = He wanted to be able to see.  Notice two things.  He has stopped using fancy titles for Jesus.  He does not use messianic titles, but a much more simple title:  Rabbi.  God is not fooled by our con-games.  We need to simply and humbly ask.

            Note:  Remember, eyes are the metaphor for perception in the Bible.  Some of you need to be able to see today.  You need eyes to see things you can not see on your own.  I have discovered if we ask for our eyes to be opened, we will begin to see.  I have been amazed.

            Q  Did the blind man ask for something he could do for himself?

               An = No, he asked for a miracle.  He wanted to be able to see.  The man could not do that on his own.  He needed divine help.  If Jesus was just a good counselor and a kind person then Jesus was going to be of little help to this man.  The blind man needed something that was impossible for him to do on his own.  There had to be God.

            Some of you need God! 

            RQ  Are you willing to step out now and ask?  Are you willing to leave the safety of the crowd?

            You might already say you are a Christian.

            RQ  Will you humble yourself and say today, "I need God and I need more of Him". 

            If so step out...

 

VI.  Summary:

            Finally, back to where we started.  Jesus was on His way to His death and yet he has time, and gives total attention to one in need.  The next time we are under stress, lets look for the Bartimaeous's in our path.  This is Jesus' way:  see Mark 10:13.  It will be his way all through the Passion week.  On the cross He converts the thief, gives His mother a new son (in the Gospel of John), helps His disciples escape, etc.  Jesus consistently deals honestly and openly with His feelings but never forgets to look beyond His own nose to the needs of others around Him. 

            Q  What are you dreading this week? 

               An =             1) Write down any other thing you might be dealing with that has come to your memory during the lesson.

                                      2) Remember, learn to put aside your own problems like Jesus does and look beyond your own nose.  Look for the Bartimaeous' in your life.

                                    3) Write down, next to what you have listed that you dread, any Bartimaeous' you are aware of.  As the weeks goes on, keep adding new Bartimaeous' to the card.