Intro: I asked my kids to help me think of an example of a time they weren’t listening or I wasn’t listening. They said, “what?”

Text:

[Luk 18:31-34 ESV] 31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See[!], we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And [after] flogging [him], they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp [comprehend] what was said.

[Luk 18:35-43 ESV] 35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him,

Thesis: Jesus is not just hiding out, waiting for us to bother him until he decides to come back. He is seeking us and wants to hear our needs.

Think of the context of the earlier parts of Luke 18.

1. Jesus wants to prepare us, even if we can’t understand
   1. We have seen this in context (preparing for his coming [by being humble], accepting the kingdom as a child, meaninglessness of keeping property).
   2. He is a prophet par excellence
      1. [Mat 27:26-31 ESV] 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
   3. Here, he wants the disciples to understand, if not now, then later.
      1. This is not just a Jerusalem trip. This is the one in which everything will be accomplished.
         1. He had been speaking to large crowds, answering questions. Now he pulls the twelve aside, out of the crowd, and warns them of what’s to come. This is it. There are no future trips. This is the one that is the culmination of the prophets.
      2. We are also aware that Judas is with him, and this would surely later resonate in his mind.
   4. The disciples do not understand. Why?
      1. This saying was hidden (concealed) from them
         1. [Mat 11:25 ESV] 25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;”
      2. Matthew Henry “Their prejudices were so strong that they would not understand them literally, and they could not understand them otherwise, so that they did not understand them at all. “
         1. Henry goes on to warn that we too quickly accept the promises of God regarding the “glorious state of the church in the latter days. But we overlook its wilderness, sackcloth state.” In Acts, we see the Paul and Barnabas reminding others that “[Act 14:22 NIV] “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,”
         2. Isaiah warns: Isaiah 30:9-10 (NCV) These people are like children who lie and refuse to obey; / they refuse to listen to the Lord’s teachings. / They tell the seers, / “Don’t see any more visions!” / They say to the prophets, / “Don’t tell us the truth! / Say things that will make us feel good; / see only good things for us.’
      3. They didn’t have to understand in order to be able to follow him
2. Jesus wants us to cry out in hope
   1. The road to and from Jericho. There are similar stories in the other gospels. It is no surprise that this road is known for beggars and robbers. Think of the story of the good Samaritan told earlier.
   2. This is a place for the hopeless to gather.
      1. We are not told why Jesus is going to and from Jericho, but he is aware of the people on the way. Likewise, the blind man is aware in the changing cacophony of his environment. (He inquired what this meant)
      2. We should be aware that Christ is near and wants to do for us.
      3. Remember the story of the unjust judge he just told? He wants to hear our needs!
   3. Hear his cry, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” … But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
      1. Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. Deliverance of Jah, Messiah-king, have mercy.
      2. We are reminded of the tax collector in the recent parable.
      3. Maybe we think we are not in need like this man? Jesus says [Jhn 9:41 ESV] 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.
      4. Admit our blindness and need for his mercy! This is accepting the kingdom of God as a child.
3. Jesus wants to make us whole
   1. Your faith has saved/delivered/rescued you (from the ailment). This is what faith does, makes people whole (KJV). This is not “mere health.”
   2. Look at how many connections there are between health and the forgiveness of sin!
      1. [Jas 5:14-16 ESV] 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
      2. [Isa 53:5 NIV] 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
      3. [1Pe 2:24 ESV] 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
      4. [2Ch 7:14 ESV] 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
      5. [Psa 41:4 ESV] 4 As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!”
      6. [Hos 14:4 NIV] 4 “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.
      7. [Mat 9:2, 5-6 ESV] 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” … 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”–he then said to the paralytic–“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
   3. All physical healing is temporary, but Jesus knows the huge impact it can have on our minds and spirits. We are not disconnected but need to give our whole selves over to him.
   4. Resurrection is the final healing.

Conclusion:   Every miracle is followed by a funeral. Every funeral is followed by a resurrection.

-Pray that we’re driven by faith and not fear.
-Pray for people who have been impacted by this virus around the world.
-Pray for our missionary family and global partners.
-Pray for the Church to seize ministry opportunities.
-Pray Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”