Sermons

When was the last time you felt ignored?
You spoke – but no one listened.
You asked -but your question was ignored.
Most of us learn quickly: Don't interrupt. Don't make a scene.
Bartimaeus lived with that reality every day.
Blind. Begging. Sitting by the roadside while life moves past him.
Then one day he hears a crowd. Something is happening. Jesus of Nazareth is passing by
This is his moment -and Bartimaeus shouts, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
The crowd does exactly what crowds do: Be quiet. Don't bother Him.
But Bartimaeus refuses to be silenced. He cries out even louder. Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. And then – Jesus stops.
In a crowded scenario full of noise, the voice everyone wants quiet is the one Jesus hears.
So, the question this morning is simple: How do we have the shout that stops God
Let's read the story. Mark 10:46-52

Bartimaeus

He is the only healing that is named in Mark. Often people will name drop people you know in a story. In the end, we know Bartimaeus followed Jesus, so I'm guessing he carried on following Jesus.

Not only is he name, but it's kinda repeated.

Bartimaeus is an Aramaic name – it means Son of Timaeus. Bar  = Son. Text says Son of Timaeus, the son of Timaeus. It's a little odd!

Or is it? The Aramaic name Timaeus means of unclean. So Bartimaeus as an Aramaic name means Son of Unclean. But the Greak word Timaeus means Honour. So maybe Mark is highlighting the change that is about to Happen – Son of Unclean is about to become Son of Honour.

He's a blind beggar – sitting by the roadside, a desperate situation – poor, unclean because people thought blindness was a result of sin. He wasn't born blind because of how he asks Jesus for healing – recover my sight!

He can't see but he can hear – and faith comes by hearing. He hears Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. With a crowd.

He knows Jesus is a big deal – he has a revelation that Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed on that everyone is waiting for. He knows that because he does not cry out “Jesus of Nazareth”. He cries Jesus, Son of David – the Messianic term. Jesus is the fulfilment of 2 Sam 7:12-16 – the seed of David

The Son of Unclean, who will become Son of Honour is crying out to Son of David.

He is desperate – he shouts, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!

The crowd tries to hush him – be quiet Jesus has more important things to deal with than you.

What tries to hush you from crying out to God in your times of need

People, the devil, the pressure or life, the doubts, despair, unanswered prayer.

Don't let those stop you. Didn't stop Bartimaeus.

Don't let the noise of life, people, your problems stop you from crying out to God.

King David danced with all his might – and his wife mocked his indignity – David danced all the more – I will be more undignified than this.

Bartimaeus shouted with all his might – and thee crowds tried to hush him. – He shouted all the more.

Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! – come on shout it out.

It was the shout that stopped God.

His persistence, his revelation of who God is and making the ask on that cut through the noise.

Bartimaeus may not know it but those 8 words are up there with the best prayers of the Bible – recognising who God is and what he has said and making the big ask on that basis – Nehemiah did in Neh1, Peter does it Acts 4. Many other giants prayed like that.

Jesus, Son of David have mercy on me.

Jesus stops and the crowd changes its tune. From Shut up! To Take heart. Crowds are fickle that. Don't follow the crowd.

Throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus

Throwing off his cloak is significant. He's a poor beggar. The cloak possibly his most valuable even only possession. It keeps him warm at night, gives him shade in the day and spread out is where coins may be thrown. It's his identity and the throws it off.

He is coming to Jesus and he is throwing of his old life. He does not need it anymore.

In 2026, what do you need to throw off to come closer to Jesus?

Old mindset, bad relationship, old thinking, old situations, your reputation.

It's no good asking Jesus to make us new, while we hold onto the old.

Prov 3:5-6 tells us “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths“

What do you need to throw off today that is holding you back?

Heb 12:1  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…”

Bartimaeus spring up – when Jesus calls, when he speaks, spring up to respond. Don't hold back. When Jesus says jump, how high Lord!

He comes to Jesus. Up to this point he has asked for mercy. His life he has been at the mercy of others for a few coins, or some food. It would be perfectly normal to ask Jesus for food or money. But he has seen that Jesus is the Messiah, the Saviour who can give much more. He will go big!

Jesus asks “what do you want me to do for you?” Jesus loves to ask questions 307 in the gospel. And he only answers 3 of the 187 he is asked! Questions are powerful. They go deep. Does Bartimaeus want a few coins or a miracle.

Before praying for someone, ask What do you want the Lord to do for you?

Bartimaeus replies “Rabboni, let me recover my sight”

He uses the more intimate Rabboni – my teacher. He is honouring the Lord and personalising the relationship.

Let me recover my sight – he wants to see again. It's a go big or go home moment.

I followed the teaching of “Do what Jesus did” book the other day. I was asked to send a video prayer to a young person with a headache. And so I prayed “Jesus loves you and is going to show it by healing you” – go big or go home! And phew He did, heal not go home!!!

Jesus says = Go your way, your faith has healed you.

Jesus gives him the choice – he go the way home to family or he could come Jesus way.

Go your way! – You choose. Most people sing along with Frank “I did it my way”. But Bartimaeus chooses to follow Jesus on His way.

It's the last healing before the cross.

It's the last event before the triumphal entry

Bartimaeus – son of unclean, is now healed restored and a son of honour.

The Rich Young Ruler is the contrast; he also met Jesus on the way but chose his own way.

Are you willing to cry out in your need?

Are you willing to ignore the crowd?

Will you throw off your cloak – the old life things that are holding you back

Are you willing to follow Jesus on the way, the way of the cross?