A Talk on Faith

Speaker Notes

Mark 10:46-52

Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Speaking points:

  • Faith is not blind

  • Faith acts persistently

  • Faith receives [Faith is the capacity to receive what God wants to give us]

  • Faith follows Jesus and leads to discipleship

  • We only need faith the size of a mustard seed


William Barclay quote:

“He did not selfishly go on his way when his need was met. He began with need, went on to gratitude, and finished with loyalty - and that is a perfect summary of the stages of discipleship.”

Ryle’s Expository thoughts on the Gospels, Vol. 1. Matthew-Mark, page 225:

Let us see in these simple words, a lively emblem of the effect that the grace of Christ ought to have on everyone who tastes it. It ought to make him a follower of Jesus in his life, and to draw him with mighty power into the way of holiness. Freely pardoned, he ought to give himself freely and willingly to Christ’s service. Bought at so mighty a price as the blood of Christ, he ought to devote himself heartily and thoroughly to Him who redeemed him. Grace really experienced will make a man feel daily, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits?” It did so for the apostle Paul: he says, “the love of Christ constraineth us” (2 Corinthians 5:14). It will do so for all true Christians at the present day. The man who boasts of having an interest in Christ, while he does not follow Christ in his life, is a miserable self-deceiver, and is ruining his own soul. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they,” and they only, “ are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14)

A Priest within the Anglican Church (the Anglican Diocese in New England), Ross is also a lawyer with Sloan and Walsh in Boston

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