Faith, Healing, and the Pursuit of True Needs
Summary
As Jesus and his disciples journeyed toward Jerusalem, he shared with them, for the third time, the grim prophecy of his impending suffering, death, and resurrection. Despite his clear words, the disciples failed to grasp the significance of his message, as it was hidden from them. This lack of understanding was not due to their ignorance but was part of a divine plan, allowing them to comprehend the truth only after the events had unfolded. This narrative serves as a reminder for us today, emphasizing the importance of faith and understanding in God's timing.
As they approached Jericho, a blind man named Bartimaeus sat by the roadside, begging. Despite his blindness, Bartimaeus had heard of Jesus and the miracles he performed. When he learned that Jesus was passing by, he cried out for mercy, undeterred by those who tried to silence him. His persistence caught Jesus' attention, and Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimaeus requested his sight, and Jesus granted it, acknowledging his faith.
This encounter highlights the distinction between felt needs and real needs. While Bartimaeus' immediate desire was to regain his sight, the deeper need was spiritual healing and salvation. This story challenges us to reflect on our own desires and needs. When Jesus asks us what we want, do we focus on temporary, earthly desires, or do we seek the eternal, spiritual gifts that only he can provide?
In our modern context, the philosophy of ministry often emphasizes meeting felt needs through entertainment and comfort. However, true ministry should focus on the deeper, spiritual needs of individuals, guiding them toward a relationship with God. The ultimate need is not for physical healing or material comfort but for righteousness and salvation through Jesus Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- The disciples' inability to understand Jesus' prophecy was part of God's plan, reminding us that divine truths are often revealed in God's timing, not ours. This teaches us patience and trust in God's wisdom. [02:09]
- Bartimaeus' story illustrates the power of persistent faith. Despite societal pressure to remain silent, his determination to reach Jesus resulted in both physical and spiritual healing. This encourages us to persist in our faith, even when faced with obstacles. [09:50]
- Jesus' question to Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?" challenges us to examine our own desires. Are we seeking temporary relief or eternal salvation? This reflection helps us align our desires with God's will. [12:56]
- The distinction between felt needs and real needs is crucial. While we may feel the need for comfort or healing, our deepest need is for spiritual salvation and righteousness through Christ. This perspective shifts our focus from the temporal to the eternal. [15:33]
- Bartimaeus' response to receiving his sight was to follow Jesus and glorify God. This demonstrates that true gratitude for God's gifts leads to a life of discipleship and worship. It reminds us to respond to God's grace with devotion and praise. [23:55]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:41] - Jesus' Prophecy in Jerusalem
[02:09] - Disciples' Lack of Understanding
[03:36] - Journey to Jericho
[04:58] - Bartimaeus' Blindness
[06:31] - The Intensified Senses of the Blind
[07:19] - Bartimaeus Hears of Jesus
[08:55] - Bartimaeus' Hope in Jesus
[09:50] - Bartimaeus Cries Out for Mercy
[11:32] - Jesus' Question to Bartimaeus
[12:56] - The Philosophy of Ministry
[15:33] - Felt Needs vs. Real Needs
[16:56] - Imagining Jesus' Question
[19:46] - The Greatest Need: Reconciliation with God
[23:11] - Bartimaeus Receives His Sight
[23:55] - Following and Glorifying Jesus
[24:37] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 18:31-43
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the prophecy that Jesus shared with his disciples as they journeyed toward Jerusalem, and how did the disciples respond to it? [02:09]
2. Describe the situation of Bartimaeus as Jesus approached Jericho. What was his immediate reaction upon hearing that Jesus was passing by? [08:05]
3. How did the crowd react to Bartimaeus' cries for mercy, and what was Jesus' response to Bartimaeus' persistence? [09:50]
4. What question did Jesus ask Bartimaeus, and what was Bartimaeus' request? How did Jesus respond to his request? [11:32]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why do you think the disciples were unable to understand Jesus' prophecy about his suffering and resurrection? How does this relate to the concept of divine timing in understanding spiritual truths? [02:09]
2. In what ways does Bartimaeus' story illustrate the difference between felt needs and real needs? How does this distinction challenge our understanding of what we truly need from Jesus? [15:33]
3. How does the persistence of Bartimaeus in seeking Jesus' attention reflect the nature of faith? What can we learn from his determination in the face of societal pressure? [09:50]
4. What does Jesus' question to Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?" reveal about the nature of our desires and how we should approach Jesus with our requests? [11:32]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to understand a spiritual truth. How did patience and trust in God's timing help you eventually grasp it? [02:09]
2. Consider your current desires and needs. Are there areas where you might be focusing on temporary relief rather than seeking eternal salvation? How can you shift your focus to align with God's will? [12:56]
3. Bartimaeus was persistent in his faith despite being told to be quiet. Is there an area in your life where you need to persist in faith, even when facing obstacles or discouragement from others? [09:50]
4. When Jesus asks, "What do you want me to do for you?" what is your honest answer? How can you ensure that your desires align with your deepest spiritual needs? [11:32]
5. How can you distinguish between your felt needs and your real needs? What steps can you take to prioritize your spiritual growth and relationship with God over temporary comforts? [15:33]
6. Bartimaeus responded to receiving his sight by following Jesus and glorifying God. How can you express gratitude for God's gifts in your life through discipleship and worship? [23:55]
7. In what ways can you contribute to a ministry that focuses on meeting the deeper, spiritual needs of individuals rather than just their felt needs? How can you encourage others to do the same? [14:27]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Timing
The disciples' inability to understand Jesus' prophecy was not a result of their ignorance but part of a divine plan. This narrative reminds us that divine truths are often revealed in God's timing, not ours. It teaches us patience and trust in God's wisdom, as His plans unfold in ways we may not immediately comprehend. Just as the disciples eventually understood the significance of Jesus' words after His resurrection, we too must have faith that God will reveal His truths to us when the time is right. [02:09]
"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you struggle to trust God's timing? How can you practice patience and faith in His plan today?
Day 2: The Power of Persistent Faith
Bartimaeus' story illustrates the power of persistent faith. Despite societal pressure to remain silent, his determination to reach Jesus resulted in both physical and spiritual healing. This encourages us to persist in our faith, even when faced with obstacles. Bartimaeus' unwavering belief in Jesus' ability to heal him serves as a powerful example of how faith can overcome barriers and lead to profound transformation. [09:50]
"And he said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.'" (Mark 5:34, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a challenge you are currently facing. How can you demonstrate persistent faith in seeking God's help and guidance in this situation?
Day 3: Aligning Desires with God's Will
Jesus' question to Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?" challenges us to examine our own desires. Are we seeking temporary relief or eternal salvation? This reflection helps us align our desires with God's will, focusing on what truly matters in the light of eternity. It invites us to consider whether our requests to God are centered on immediate, earthly needs or on the deeper, spiritual gifts that only He can provide. [12:56]
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4, ESV)
Reflection: What is one desire you have that may not align with God's will? How can you shift your focus to seek what is truly important in your spiritual journey?
Day 4: Distinguishing Felt Needs from Real Needs
The distinction between felt needs and real needs is crucial. While we may feel the need for comfort or healing, our deepest need is for spiritual salvation and righteousness through Christ. This perspective shifts our focus from the temporal to the eternal, encouraging us to seek a deeper relationship with God rather than merely satisfying our immediate desires. [15:33]
"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a felt need in your life. How can you look beyond this need to recognize and pursue your deeper spiritual needs?
Day 5: Responding to God's Grace with Devotion
Bartimaeus' response to receiving his sight was to follow Jesus and glorify God. This demonstrates that true gratitude for God's gifts leads to a life of discipleship and worship. It reminds us to respond to God's grace with devotion and praise, living a life that reflects our thankfulness for His blessings and our commitment to His path. [23:55]
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1, ESV)
Reflection: How can you express gratitude for God's grace in your life today? What steps can you take to live more fully in devotion and worship?
Quotes
This text begins ominously. In verse 31 as Jesus and his disciples had made their way south from Galilee and are now coming very close to Jerusalem, for the third time, Jesus talks to his disciples and tells them what is soon to take place. The message that he gives is a grim one and as I said, this is the third time he has told them these things, but they don't get it. They don't understand it or whatever they do understand about it, they don't believe. [00:00:10]
But Luke tells us, they understood none of these things for this saying was hidden from them and they did not know the things which were spoken. Now, there's something strange about this text, isn't it? Jesus tells them what's going to happen and Luke tells us they don't understand what he said and then Luke tells us the reason they didn't understand what Jesus has just told them was that it was kept from them. [00:02:09]
It was only after the scales were removed from the eyes of the disciples that they remembered these things. After the fact. "Yes, he said that he told us this. Three times, but we didn't get it." After this brief interlude of mentioning this third announcement that Jesus give, Luke goes on to describe the events as they come near Jericho. [00:03:36]
So hearing the multitude passing by, he asks someone what it meant. So they said to him, "Bartemaeus, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." Now you notice what Bartemaeus doesn't say, he doesn't say, "Who's that? Jesus of Nazareth, never heard of the fella." No, no, no. By this time, news of Jesus had spread across the whole country. [00:08:15]
You can imagine that in his darkness he would have his dream. "Someday, just someday maybe, Jesus of Nazareth will pass this way." The only hope this man had on this earth to receive his sight was rested in Jesus of Nazareth. He knew there was no cure, but he had heard the stories. And now the thunder of the rushing multitude coming nearby, he hears it. [00:08:55]
So he cried out just like the lepers had before that Luke told us about. He cried, he yelled, he screamed, "Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!" When he starts screaming like that, he was upsetting everybody. The whole decorum of the place was ruined. And so those who went before Jesus warned him, said, "Shh, Hush. Be quiet. You're making a scene." [00:09:50]
Now, we have here at Saint Andrews, a philosophy of ministry and it's not the same philosophy that is found everywhere else. In fact, it's not the same philosophy of ministry that is the prevalent view of ministry today. We are totally committed to expository preaching from whole books of the Bible as we've following through the gospel of Luke and before that we did Matthew and Mark and John and Acts and Romans and so on. [00:13:16]
We depend upon what we call the Ordinary Means of Grace, the Sacraments of Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, of prayer, of fellowship, of witness, of mercy; but we are deeply committed to studying the things of God. Both in our sermons and in our adult Sunday School. Now that flies in the face of the whole current view of philosophy of ministry that we find all around us. [00:13:50]
If you've left because you know that you need your soul to be fed and your family to be prepared for eternal life with Jesus Christ, and you didn't feel you needed that, you need to go back there; because there's a distinction frequently between felt need and real needs. I had a pastor once say to me, "My goal as a preacher is to scratch them where they itch." [00:15:33]
I said, "But the people's greatest need is to find out who God is and how they can be reconciled to him. But they don't feel it all." I don't know how many people have said to me, "I don't feel the need for Jesus." I say to them, "There's nothing you need more in all of the universe than Jesus." You may be inured to the feeling of it, but feeling what you need is not always the same as understanding what you really need. [00:19:46]
If Jesus came to you and said, "What can I do for you?" You've had time to think about it. Do a little wool gathering, take a vacation from my sermon. But I invited you to do that. What would you say to him? Lord I lost my job, I need a new job. Lord, my marriage is in trouble. I need to be healed in my marriage. [00:20:37]
If Jesus has given to you what you need the most, then is it not the sensible thing to follow him and to glorify God? Let's pray. Father, give to us not what we feel we need, but what we really need. Your righteousness for our salvation. For we ask it in your name, Amen. [00:24:37]
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