Did you recently see us at a rodeo? Every weekend people fill arenas all over this nation of ours, to see Cowboys and Cowgirls compete in the most exciting sporting event in the world, The Rodeo!!! I’ve known the thrill of coming out on a bull. It is an adrenaline rush that can’t be explained. The excitement of the bulls, the broncs, or when you round that last barrel wide open is unbelievable. It is a wonderful feeling, no doubt!!!

What about the feeling you have when the crowd leaves? What about the times that you don’t make eight? How do you feel when the prize money is spent and your gold buckle is not so shiny anymore? Is there an emptiness inside of you that can’t be explained? Is there a longing for something that is missing? Something that no amount of money, fame, or gold buckles can fill? If you feel that emptiness inside of you, please read on!!! In the Bible, we read of a man, a blind man. You might not be as different from this beggar as you think you are!!!

 46Then they came to Jericho And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.  47When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, " Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him here." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you." 50Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. 51And answering him, Jesus said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" And the blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!" 52And Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.  Mark 10: 46-52

The scriptures say that this man, Bartimaeus, was blind and that he sat along the roadside begging. A great multitude of people had begun to gather and he wanted to know what was going on. The crowd was gathered because Jesus was coming through Jericho. What they didn’t know was this was the last time Jesus would pass through Jericho before He went to the cross!!!

When Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus Christ passing through he began to yell, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" The crowd told him, shut up you old fool, but Blind Bartimaeus didn’t listen to the crowd around him!!! He cried out once again even louder, " Son of David, have mercy on me!" He was saying, Jesus I need your help, oh I need you.

What did Jesus do? Jesus stood still and called for Bartimaeus. And blind Bartimaeus jumped off the ground, throwing off his garment, and I imagine ran to Jesus!!!

Then Jesus asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said, I want to see, I want to see!!! Now for the good part.

“And Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.”

Are you like that blind man today? I know you are not physically blind, but are you spiritually blind? Do you need to be made whole? Does that Emptiness deep down inside of you need to be filled? If so, today is the day!!!  Remember I said this was the last time Jesus would ever pass through Jericho before He went to the cross? Today could be the last time He ever passes by your way!!! Would you be bold enough to cry out to Jesus today? No matter what the crowd says, would you call upon His name? If you put your FAITH in Jesus Christ, He will make you whole!!! He will heal that spiritual blindness if you call upon His name. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – Romans 10:13