INTRO: Luke 18:35-37 Tells Us and It Came to Pass, That As He Was Come

“JESUS PASSED BY”

LUKE 18:35-43

INTRO: Luke 18:35-37 tells us—“And it came to pass, that as he was come

nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And

hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told

him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.” Ernie Haase and Signature

Sound sing a song that goes:

Like a blind man I wandered

So lost and undone

A beggar so helpless

Without God or His Son

Then my Savior in mercy

Heard and answered my cry

And oh what a diff'rence

Since Jesus passed by

All my yesterdays are buried

In the deepest of the sea

The old load of guilt I carried

Is all gone, praise God I'm free

Looking for that bright tomorrow

Where no tears will dim the eye

Well oh what a diff'rence

Since Jesus passed by

Oh what a diff'rence

Since Jesus passed by

Well I can't explain it

And I cannot tell you why

But oh what a diff'rence

Oh what a diff'rence

Since Jesus passed by

(

Friends, when Jesus passes by things are different! I remember the

day Jesus passed by my life. Since that day my life has never been the

same.

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. He choose to travel through

Jericho. The Jews looked down on that awful place named Jericho. It

was a cesspool of iniquity, populated by the rejects of society. But the

very place that others avoided, Jesus choose to go through on His way

to Jerusalem. Friends, as we follow the Lord, we will have some

Jericho's to pass through also. As we pass by we must show others the

compassion of Jesus. In this passage before us this morning we

see several important things. First, let us note that...

(1) THE MAN WAS MISERABLE

LUKE 18:35—“And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto

Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging.”

A. A SAD CONDITION. This man faced two things that made his life miserable.

First, he was blind. He was doomed to live in total darkness, never to see

anything but pitch black as long as he lived. The worst fact of all was that he

knew it. He had to live with the knowledge that he was doomed to a world of

darkness. It preyed and preyed upon his mind. He knew that he could never

be normal, never fit in, and never be fully accepted by normal people. (Preacher's

Rights Reserved). Second, He was a pauper. His life was spent begging. He had no

one to care for him. No doubt many nights he went to bed hungry with his

stomach growling due to the lack of food. He was in desperate need and he

knew it.

B. A SPIRITUAL COMPARISON. As we consider the plight of this poor, blind

beggar we see a spiritual comparison to those that are lost. The Bible tells us

that:

1. LOST PEOPLE ARE BLIND TO SPIRITUAL THINGS. 1 Corinthians 2:14

tells us—“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for

they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are

spiritually discerned.”

A BLIND PERSON CANNOT SEE SPIRITUAL THINGS. 2 Corinthians4:34 tells us—“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Just like the blind man physically Satan keeps lost people blind spiritually. Satan keeps lost sinners in the dark.
A BLIND PERSON CANNOT SEE HIMSELF. Ask a person how their relationship with God is and they will tell you they are alright. They will tell you they are good enough to go to Heaven. But the truth is that they are blind to their true condition. The Bible tells us—“The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Psalm 14:2-3).
A BLIND PERSON CANNOT SEE OTHERS. A lost father cannot see that he is leading his family to hell. A lost mother cannot see that see she is leading her daughter down the path that leads to destruction. Lost grandparents cannot see that their influence are leading their grandchildren astray.
A BLIND PERSON CANNOT SEE WHERE HE IS GOING. He makes a joke out of hell, the church, and Christians. To many hell is not a reality.
A BLIND PERSON CANNOT SEE JESUS. A lost person cannot grasp the fact that Jesus died for them.

2. LOST PEOPLE ARE SPIRITUAL PAUPERS. We have nothing to offer God,

as far as goodness, is concerned. All we have are filthy rags, wasted lives,

and broken promises. Isaiah 64:6 tell us—“But we are all as an unclean

thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a

leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Filthy rags refers

to dirty, contaminated cloth that has been wrapped on a cancerous or

contagious sore on a person’s body. It could also refer to a cloth used during

a woman’s menstrual period, which meant that she was ceremonially unclean

under the law (Le.15:19-24; Eze.36:17). When measured against God’s holy

righteousness, a person’s righteous acts are no better than filthy rags in God’s

sight. All human beings are infected with sin; therefore, they are all unclean,

impure, corrupted in the sight of God.(Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible – Commentary:

THE MAN WAS MISERABLE but...

(2) THE MESSAGE WAS MEANINGFUL.

LUKE 18:36-37—“And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it

meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.”

A. HOPE AROSE. When he heard that “Jesus of Nazareth passeth by” a

glimmer of hope arose in his soul. The answer to the beggar's question

caused his heart to leap for joy. He had no doubt heard of Jesus. This man

Jesus could heal anyone of anything and he was right here in the crowd.

Hope arose in his heart, and even though he could not see, opportunity stared

him in the face. Jesus brings HOPE to the hopeless heart!

B. HOPE ASSURES. Friends, the song says:

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

There's just something about that name

Master, Savior, Jesus

Like the fragrance after the rain

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Let all Heaven and Earth proclaim

Kings and kingdoms

Will all pass away

But there's something about that Name.

(repeat twice)

(ending)

Kings and kingdoms

Will all pass away

But there's something about that Name.

(

There is “something about that name” that holds out hope to a hopeless soul.

1. When the doctors have given up and says there is no more that can be done,

there is still a hope in Jesus.

2. When we have exhausted every means at our disposal to save our child from

drugs, the wrong crowd, and a life without God, there is still hope in Jesus.

3. When a marriage seems doomed to end in divorce, there is Jesus who can put

it all back together.

4. When death comes and robs us of all our earthly ties, there is hope in Jesus

and there is life over on the other side.

THE MAN WAS MISERABLE, THE MESSAGE WAS MEANINGFUL and...

(3) THE MASTER WAS MERCIFUL

LUKE 18:38, 40-41—“And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David,

have mercy on me...And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be

brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying,

What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may

receive my sight.”

A. THE MAN CRIED. The blind beggar cried for mercy—“...Jesus, thou son of

David, have mercy on me.” If he had approached Jesus with a proud, hateful,

demanding prayer, what do you suppose would have happened? I don't

believe he would have received anything of the Lord. Friends, we don't

deserve anything. All that we receive of God is an act of pure mercy on His

part. Lamentations 3:22 reminds us—“It is of the LORD's mercies that we

are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” Ephesians 2:4-5 tells

us—“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,(by

grace ye are saved.”

B. THE MASTER HAD COMPASSION. Jesus stopped. The Bible says—“And

Jesus stood...”. He did not reject the man as the crowd had done. He heard

the man's persistent cries, stopped, and ordered that the man be brought to

Rights Reserved). Praise the Lord He had time to stop for this poor, blind beggar

who was teetering on the edge of losing hope who no one else had time to

waste on. Jesus called. “And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be

brought unto him...”. Jesus knew that the man needed to be brought. He

also he exactly what the man needed. And seeing his pitiful condition, the

Lord had compassion. Out of compassion, the Lord blessed him and healed

him.

THE MAN WAS MISERABLE, THE MESSAGE WAS MEANINGFUL, THE MASTER WAS

MERCIFUL, and...

(4) THE MULTITUDE WAS MURMURING

LUKE 18:39—“And they which went before rebuked him, that he should

hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have

mercy on me.”

A. THEY THOUGHT HE WAS A WASTE. The word “waste” means “something

rejected as worthless or unneeded...Garbage; rubbish; trash.” (Funk & Wagnalls

Reserved.). They thought it was a waste of the Master's time. This fellow was of

no real value to them, or to society as a whole. He was a insignificant. But,

PRAISE GOD!, in God's eyes, no person is a waste or insignificant! Jesus died

for everyone. 1 John 2:1 tells us speaking of Christ—“And he is the

propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the

whole world.”

ILLUS: Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. Sometimes it is difficult to

forgive those who wrong us. Imagine how hard it would be to forgive all

people, no matter what they had done! This is what God has done in

Jesus. Not one of us, no matter what sin has been committed, is beyond

forgiveness. All a person has to do is turn from sin, receive Christ's

forgiveness, and commit his or her life to him. (Life Application Bible Commentary: 1

B. THEY THOUGHT HE WAS NOT WORTHY. The Bible says—“And they which

went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace...”. The people

around him tried to shush him—"You're making a scene." Some chided him

—"Shut up, beggar!" But no way was the blind man going to shut up! "Jesus,

Son of David, have mercy on me!" "Quiet, beggar." "Jesus, Son of David, have

mercy on me!" "Will someone make him be quiet?" "Jesus, Son of David, have

mercy on me!" He was beyond their control. (R. Kent Hughes. Preaching the Word. Bible

They considered him worthless and of no value to anyone. There are many

Christians today that feel the same way about people, they believe, have

become “trash”. They see them as not worthy of attention, not worthy of

affection, and not worth fooling with. But this poor, blind beggar was precious

to Jesus! Every person is precious to Jesus! Every soul is valuable!

ILLUS: "What is the value of a soul?" I asked the Lord one day. "What is its

worth upon the earth? How much does one soul weigh?" Then He

showed me a set of scales, in perfect balance, there. And, as I watched,

he filled one side, with wealth beyond compare.

There was silver, gold and jewels, so beautiful and rare. The different

treasures of the world, he quietly placed them there. My heart began to

tremble as I watched His nail scarred hands, For on the other side of

that great scale, I saw one single man.

"Who is that man?" I asked Him, "that he should have such worth?" He

surely must be famous and the greatest man on earth. "Step closer,

now, and take a look," Jesus said to me. As I drew near, I recognized a

man I'd often seen.

His clothes were old and ragged; in his hand he held a glass. He was our

city's poorest drunk, a man of lower class. "Lord, you don't know that

man," I said. "He's lived his life in vain. He'll bring disgrace into the

church and reproach upon your name."

"I'd like to know him," Jesus said, "but he does not know me. But if

you'll help me reach him, then what a change you'll see. I'll take that

wretched, sinful life and cleanse it with my blood. And when he gives his

heart to me, I'll fill it with my love."

"His soul cannot be purchased with the wealth you've seen today. But I

was sent to die for him; my blood has paid the way. He's my lost sheep,"

the Savior said, "And I love you both the same, But if you think he's

worthless, then I surely died in vain."

"So when you look upon someone whose life is wrecked by sin, If you'll

just have compassion, then you'll share your brother's pain. You must

not look upon his past or what he seems to be. But look beyond his

many faults and know, I'll set him free."

"Don't look at him as just a man and only see his shame, But see him as

a precious soul that I have died to save." "This earthly wealth," the

Savior said, "cannot draw men to me. But I paid a price upon the cross,

to set this whole world free. –Author Unknown

(

(5) THE MIRACLE WAS MIGHTY

LUKE 18:42-43a—“And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith

hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight...”

A. THE MIRACLE WAS SUPERNATURAL. The word “supernatural” means

“Existing or occurring through some agency beyond the known forces of

nature. Believed to be miraculous or caused by the immediate exercise of

Jesus simply spoke the word and it happened. Imagine how it was for the

blind beggar. Blind at the beginning of Christ's sentence, he was seeing at the

end of it! No surgery! No bandages! No adjustment! Boom—sight! He saw

human beings for the first time. He saw the gawking crowd. He saw "The City

of Roses" hung with palm trees, and the hills of Moab off in the distance. But

the thing he saw first was the face of Jesus. (R. Kent Hughes. Preaching the Word. Bible

B. THE MIRACLE WAS REMARKABLE. This miracle was both extraordinary

and unusual. The Bible says here—“And immediately he received his sight...”.

Jesus spoke and it happened—instantly.

C. THE MIRACLE WAS NOTICEABLE. We know this miracle truly impacted

this man's life because it changed this man's life. Once he was blind, but now

he could see. Once he had no one to care for him, but now he could care for

himself. Once he was lost, but now he was found!

THE MAN WAS MISERABLE, THE MESSAGE WAS MEANINGFUL, THE

MASTER WAS MERCIFUL, THE MULTITUDE WAS MURMURING, THE MIRACLE WAS MIGHTY, and lastly...

(6) THE MANIFESTATION WAS MARVELOUS

LUKE 18:43b—“And...he...and followed him, glorifying God: and all the

people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”

A. HE REALIZED. He saw what Jesus had done and realized the debt of

gratitude he owned the Lord. It tells us—“And immediately he received his

sight, and followed him...”. He immediately followed God. His changed life

led to changed actions. When Jesus passes by a person's life that person is

changed and immediately begins following Jesus in the way. 2 Corinthians

5:17 tells us—“therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old