MERCY PLEASE! Luke 18:35-43
“35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. 42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.” (Luke 18:35-43)
“Love for those who like us is ORDINARY
Love for those who are like us is NARCISSISTIC
Love for those who are unlike us is EXTRAORDINARY.
Love for those who dislike us is REVOLUTIONARY.” (Graham Kings)
“Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet” (Luke 18:19)
Are we being the best St James we can be if we only love our friends and ignore those who are different from us?
How does that impact how we behave in the “coffee time” after the service?
3 principles to help you grow as a follower of Jesus Christ
Jesus of Nazareth v Jesus Son of David
1)Marvel at the Messiah
Jesus “is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17)
- Jesus is the image of the invisible God.
- [Jesus is] the firstborn over all creation…
- [In him] all things were created.
- All things have been created through him and FOR him.
- In him all things hold together.
So… (for starters…)
- The world exists for him
- The history of the world is all about him
- He has prepared a role for us in that story
- He has the last word on right and wrong
“no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18:29-30)
MERCY = “compassion shown to an offender, or to one subject to one’s power”.
2)Repent of your Wretchedness
“The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.” (Luke 18:11)
Rich young ruler -> ““Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18)
None of us is as good as we think we are. No one else is as good as you think they are either!
Repentance = admitting you’ve gone the wrong way and doing a u-turn
“When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said “Repent,” he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance.” (Martin Luther, 95 Theses #1)
Wretchedness does not mean we are worthless to God!
Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.” (Luke 18:35-43)
3) Rejoice at God’s mercy
Jesus is amazing
We are wretched
But he steps in to rescue us anyway.
So praise him!
Speak “…to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph.5:19-20).
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I want to know more:
- What is Christianity? 321 The Story of God, the World and You:
- Who is Jesus? Roger Carswell – available for free in the foyer.
- More on Luke 18: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous, by Bob Deffinbaugh,
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