BARTIMAEUS: a blind man with 20/20 vision Mark 10:46-52

His Pitiful Condition vs. 46 He was blind since birth He was a beggar A good portrait of those outside of Christ A lost person is spiritually blind II Cor 4:3-4; Eph 4:17-18 A lost person is also a spiritual beggar Acts 4:12; Eph 4:8-9

His Persistent Cry vs. 47-49 He recognized who Jesus was & what He could do for him One must recognize who Christ is, knowing what He did for others and can do for you Heb 11:6 He knew this was a great opportunity that could pass him by and never return If one allows salvation to pass them by this morning, one may never have the opportunity to be saved again. Gen 6:3; Isa 55:6

His Persistent Cry vs. 47-49 He saw hat Christ’s way was far better than his own After salvation, there will be a change of direction in your life II Cor 5:17 He repeated the cry One should allow nothing to keep them away from the Lord Nothing is worth going to Hell over

His Persistent Cry vs. 47-49 He received a response in which his faith was honored and he received an audience with the Lord Jesus. Jesus Christ is not too busy to hear your cry

His Personal Cost vs.50 He cast away his garment which must have been of great value to him considering he was a poor beggar One must understand that coming to Jesus is not without personal cost Mk. 8:36-37

His Powerful Cure vs. 51-52 His response to Christ was one of pure faith When one’s faith is exercised, the power of God moves in that person's life If one trusts anything other than Jesus for their salvation, they are in for a rude awakening Acts 4:12; Jn. 14:6

His Preferred Course vs 52 He wanted to be near the One who had healed and saved him, even though he was told to go on his way When salvation comes into a life, there will be a desire for the things of God Eph. 2:1-10; Mt 7:13-14

but Jesus Christ can put a new man in that suit." CONCLUSION One day a Christian and a Communist were sitting on a park bench watching the world go by. As they watched, a poor, drunken beggar walked by dressed in rags. The Communist pointed to the beggar and said, "Communism would put a new suit on that man!" To which the Christian responded, "Maybe so, but Jesus Christ can put a new man in that suit."