LA UBF

Lk18d-2016N.docx

Son of Man, Son of David

Luke 18:31-43

Key Verse 38

“He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”’

Introduction

Many college students think that the central teaching of the Bible is about moral lessons like “Love your neighbor” or “Do not steal.” They consider Jesus as a good teacher just like the ruler whom we studied about last week. But if we hold to this idea, we cannot have a right relationship with Jesus and we wouldn’t be able to see God’s whole story clearly due to our wrong perspective. Today Jesus teaches us the main point of the Bible, which is his death and resurrection as the Son of David. When we believe in Jesus, that he died for our sins, we can have a personal relationship with him as children of God. On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus also opens the blind man’s eyes as he cries out to him for his mercy. However he had spiritual insight to know who Jesus is. Like him, may the Lord open our spiritual eyes to see him and welcome him as our Lord.

1. Read verses 31-34. What did Jesus tell His disciples? (31-33) What is the meaning of his suffering, death, and resurrection? (Isa 53:4, 5; 1Pe 2:24; 1 Cor 15:3; Ro 10:9) Why did Jesus keep repeating this message to his disciples? (34; 9:22; 17:25)

1-1, Read verses 31-34.

Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” 34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

1-2, What did Jesus tell His disciples? (31-33)

1-3, What is the meaning of his suffering, death, and resurrection? (Isa 53:4, 5; 1Pe 2:24; 1 Cor 15:3; Ro 10:9)

Isaiah 53:3-5 reads,

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 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.”

1 Peter 2:24 reads,

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Corinthians 15:3 reads,

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”

Romans 10:9 reads,

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

As Jesus approached Jerusalem, he took the disciples aside and told them plainly what would happen to him in Jerusalem.
Even if Jesus had not specifically told them, their trip from Galilee to south at about the time of the Passover feast made it easy to understand that Jesus and the disciples would be in Jerusalem for the Passover.
Jesus said that everything that is written about him would be fulfilled in Jerusalem. If Jesus had stopped here, the disciples might have expected Him to establish an earthly kingdom.
But He continued to say that people would mock him, insult him and even spit on him. They would flog him and kill him.
Jesus emphasized teachings about the Son of Man that were commonly neglected and overlooked by the Jewish people of His day.
The Messiah would suffer and die as a sin-bearing servant.
Jesus was determined to go up to Jerusalem to endure such suffering, pain, injustice, and a cruel death to fulfill the prophecies written about him. He did this so that we could be forgiven. He did this to save sinners like us from eternal condemnation. He took all the punishment we deserve in order to save us.
In order to save sinners like us, Jesus did not claim justice or his own rights. He endured injustice and unfair treatment. He even endured and suffered death on a cross for us.
We don’t like it when we are treated even a little unfairly. But Jesus volunteered to take all the punishment for us.
I the book of Isaiah, it says: he was crushed for our transgressions. By his wounds we are healed and by his blood we are forgiven. Sin is so serious that it demands the blood of the Son of God.

Jesus is a perfect sacrifice for our sins before God. There is nothing we can add to this.
When we simply believe that Jesus died for our sins, God forgives us completely.

2 Cor 5:21 reads,

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”

Hebrews 2:14b-15 says,

“...so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-- that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

Not only did Jesus die for our sins, but Jesus also rose from the dead. By his resurrection, Jesus defeated the power of sin and death.
We all must yield to the power of death. No matter how much we exercise, no matter how much we diet, we cannot escape death.
But Jesus rose from the dead, defeating the power of death so that we too could rise and live forever with him.

Jesus’ death and resurrection is the essence of the entire Bible. When we remember how Jesus died for our sins, we can be comforted and strengthened in our time of trouble.
We can be refreshed when our souls feel tired and burdened. Jesus’ death is the only basis on which we sinners can approach the holy God in prayer.
When we remember his resurrection, we can be empowered to overcome the power of sin and live for his glory.

1-4, Why did Jesus keep repeating this message to his disciples? (34; 9:22; 17:25)

34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” - Lk 9:22

But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. - Lk 17:25

At this time, the disciples did not yet understand the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
It wasn’t until later, after the resurrection, that Jesus opened the meaning of the Scriptures to them. Then they began to understand Jesus’ words and their hearts burned within them.

Luke 24:31-32 reads,

“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

John 2:21-22 reads,

“But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.”

We should pray and ask Jesus to open the Scriptures to us until our hearts are burning within us, and we become willing to share this good news of the finished work of Jesus.
No matter how unpopular Jesus’ gospel might be, we need to remind ourselves of this and continue to share with others.
Most importantly we may follow Jesus’ footstep by participating in His remaining suffering in fulfilling God’s redemptive purpose in our generation. Amen.

2. Read verses 35-39. Describe the situation of the blind beggar sitting by the roadside. (35) How did he realize that Jesus was passing by? (36-37) What did he do when he heard that Jesus was passing by? (38) How did he respond to the rebukes of the people? (39) What can we learn from him?

2-1, Read verses 35-39.

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!” 39 Those 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!”

2-2, Describe the situation of the blind beggar sitting by the roadside. (35)

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

One of the most traveled roads from Galilee to Jerusalem went through Jericho.
When Jesus came to this city, He was not far from Jerusalem and the crucifixion waiting for Him there.
Mark 10:46 says the blind man’s name was Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus.
A blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.
While many such people would have withdrawn from society, this man was eager to participate in what was happening around him despite his situation.

2-3, How did he realize that Jesus was passing by? (36-37)

36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

Instead of giving up because he could not seek Jesus by sight, he sought Jesus the way that he could - by hearing.
Though he could not see, he borrowed the eyes of others to find out what was going on. He was told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

2-4, What did he do when he heard that Jesus was passing by? (38)

38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

The man heard Jesus was passing by. He was desperate to get Jesus’ attention.
He would not be embarrassed, and he would not be shut up. He called out for His mercy.
“Son of David” is a messianic title. This man believed that Jesus is the Messiah who could heal any kind of person, including giving sight to the blind (Isa 35:5).
He also believed that the Messiah would hear his cry of mercy. He knew clearly who Jesus was.
It must have come from his humility and carefully listening to the stories about Jesus, and to Bible prophecies he had heard.
Though he was blind physically, he saw Jesus most clearly. It was his faith in Jesus that became his remarkable strength.
“Have mercy on me” - The blind man knew that he needed mercy from Jesus. He didn’t think that God owed him; he wanted mercy.

2-5, How did he respond to the rebukes of the people? (39)

Those 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!”

They thought he was an annoyance. But this man was undeterred. He shouted all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
He had the power of faith in his soul, for he knew from the Scriptures who Jesus is.
He believed that anyone and everyone can come to the Messiah for mercy, including him.
There is a difference in the ancient Greek words used to describe the action of the blind man in verses 38 and 39, and show the blind man’s great desperation.
Cried out (Luke 18:38): An ordinary loud shout to attract attention.
Cried out all the more (Luke 18:39): The instinctive cry of ungovernable emotion, a scream, an almost animal cry.
People tried to shut him up, but they couldn't because he really wanted a touch from Jesus.
Blind Bartimaeus didn't have much tact, but he did have persistence and determination.
The persistent and energetic nature of Bartimaeus' prayer is a good example of prayer. He wasn't discouraged because no one led him to Jesus. Those who told him to stay away did not discourage him.
Cold prayers never win God's ear.
Have mercy on me! The blind man knew what he needed from Jesus - mercy. He didn't come thinking that God owed him. All he wanted from Jesus was mercy.

2-6, What can we learn from him?

Again it is remarkable that he called Jesus, son of David. The ‘son of David’ is a title for the promised Messiah.
It seems as if he had heard about Jesus – how he had healed many sick people including the blind.
The more he heard about Jesus, he began to believe that Jesus must be the Messiah and he could be healed, only if he could meet Jesus.
This became his persistent prayer each and every day. Though he could not see physically, his spiritual eyes began to see.
When he finally heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth that was passing by, he immediately cried out. “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!”
When others interrupted him, he shouted more. It reveals his determined heart and desire. May the Lord help us to follow his example in seeking Jesus’ mercy.
From this man, we can learn to cry out to Jesus for mercy. Jesus can heal our spiritual blindness or any other infirmity, enable us to see clearly, and to follow him joyfully.

3. Read verses 40-43. What did Jesus do when he heard the blind beggar calling out to himt? (40-41a) What was the beggar’s one request? (41b) What can we learn from this blind beggar? What did Jesus say to him? (42) What can we learn from Jesus’ response? What did this man do after receiving his sight? How did the people respond?

3-1, Read verses 40-43.

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.

3-2, What did Jesus do when he heard the blind beggar calling out to him? (40-41a)

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?”

He would not be denied. His persistent prayer was heard by Jesus. Jesus stopped and had the man brought to him.
Then Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Jesus asked this question with full knowledge that this man was blind. He knew what he needed and what he wanted, but God still wants us to tell Him our needs.
It might seem that the need of Bartimaeus was obvious. Yet Jesus had a deliberate purpose in the question.
There was real power in both the asking and in the answer of Jesus. God may ask us the same question. When Jesus asks, we should be able to articulate an answer that glorifies Him.

3-3, What was the beggar’s one request? (41b)

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

The blind man said, “Lord, I want to see.” It was precisely the right thing to ask.
It was what he really needed and it was what Jesus came to do, according to the Scriptures.
He did not hesitate even for a moment because this was the burning desire within his heart.
His desire became his clear prayer topic.

3-4, What can we learn from this blind beggar?

He was persistent in prayer. He never stopped praying, though he was rebuked by the people.
Such bold prayer comes from his personal faith in the Lord Jesus. When he cried out to Jesus, his miserable condition became an opportunity for God’s blessing.
He had been blind and miserable, but through this experience he came to know Jesus very personally. After experiencing Jesus’ mercy and grace, he could praise the Lord.
This man teaches us that we should cry out to Jesus despite our problems. When we turn to people with our problems, we are often disappointed by their limitations or their inability to help.
But when we turn to God for help, he will not disappoint us. When we turn to God in prayer, we come to know Jesus personally by experiencing God’s healing power in our lives. We can be filled with a joy that knows no bounds and live a life that praises God.
When Jesus asks: What do you want me to do for you? What will you say? Whatever problem or desire you may have, we must cry out to Jesus persistently.
Though we are not physically blind, we are sometimes spiritually blind. When we study the Bible, many times we feel we are so blind.
Also when we look around, we can see many people are spiritually blind, and we must cry out for them that God may open their eyes to see the Lord Jesus who died and rose again for our sins.

3-5, What did Jesus say to him? (42)

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
Jesus granted the man’s request and healed him of blindness. Jesus related the man’s healing with his faith.
There were many notable points of this man’s faith.
This man’s faith was a faith that was determined to reach Jesus (he cried out all the more).
It was faith that knew who Jesus was (Son of David).
It was faith that came humbly to Jesus (have mercy on me). - He knows who he is before God.
It was faith that humbly submitted to Jesus (as Lord).
It was faith that could tell Jesus what he wanted (that I may receive my sight).

3-6, What can we learn from Jesus’ response?

Jesus never ignores our prayers but answers them.
He encourages us to have personal faith no matter what.
Prayer is also God’s mighty and powerful weapon in spiritual warfare.
Jesus is our merciful Messiah. In order to solve our sin and death problem, Jesus fulfilled everything written by the prophets--both the painful and shameful parts, as well as what is glorious.
Jesus hears our cries for help. Let’s accept the cross of Christ in our hearts and cry out to him for mercy in our personal lives, in our ministries, in our nation, and beyond.

3-7, What did this man do after receiving his sight?

3-8, How did the people respond?

Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. All the people also praised God.
The way of Jesus became his way. He might have said, "Now that I have my sight, I always want to look upon Jesus."
This was especially significant considering that Jesus was on His way towards Jerusalem to die.
Praise Jesus who is the prototype for those who are spiritually blind in our generation (first in terms of healing their blindness. as well as in terms of making disciples to follow him all the way to His crucifixion and resurrection).

Conclusion

This passage reminds us of Acts 8:32-35. “This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” There are many people who are wondering what’s going on with their lives, without knowing what Jesus as the Son of David has done for them. May the Lord raise up many Bible teachers who are able to explain who Jesus is and what He has done through one on one Bible study. Also in this easy going and fast food culture, it’s not easy to preach, for preaching the gospel on our campuses is considered hostile towards ungodly people. There is a cross involved. Let’s accept the cross, pray for the Lord’s help and preach the gospel boldly on our campuses. May the Lord help us to participate in the remaining suffering of Jesus to destroy sin, death, and the works of the devil, to advance the reign of Christ. It will require sacrifice, suffering and even death. We should accept this truth and be willing to go through rigorous training and preparation to be a disciple-maker and missionary. May the Lord help us to increase our faith like the beggar in this passage so that we may be very positive in seeking God’s mercy first and have faith to rescue many souls out of their broken condition. Amen.

One word: Son of David, have mercy on us!