Shouting for Jesus
Children's sermon
Object:
none
Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" (v. 48)
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever embarrassed yourself? (let them answer) Have you ever said something that made other people pretend that you were not even with them? (let them answer) I remember once when I wanted to be part of a discussion my parents were having with older adults and I said something that I should not have said. My father asked me to go and sit down and wait for them to finish their talk. I was so embarrassed. Once I saw a man standing on the corner with a Bible in his hand and he was shouting to all of the cars that passed him. We were stopped because of the traffic light and this man came over to the car, stuck his head inside of the window, and began to preach. I was with strangers and I remember how embarrassed I was for being a Christian. I know better now. It was his way of witnessing for the Lord Jesus. It wasn't my way, but it was his way.
Things like this happen all of the time. One day, when Jesus was coming into Jericho with his disciples, they saw a huge crowd waiting for him. People lined the streets and waited to hear this famous person, Jesus, speak. As the crowd kind of quieted waiting for the first word, one man, a blind beggar, by the name of Bartimaeus, broke the silence. People were shocked and they tried to quiet him but he kept shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" He kept shouting it louder and louder and the crowd was so embarrassed because it was a beggar doing the shouting. He was blind and a beggar. Most people never even noticed him before, but they did now. Some told him to be quiet, others tried to put their hands over his mouth. People stood in front of him and other people moved away as far as they could. Bartimaeus seemed to be the disgrace of Jericho.
But Jesus heard the voice and asked that the blind beggar be brought to him. When the people knew that Jesus recognized him and wanted to speak to him, they asked him to get up and walk toward Jesus. Even though he was blind, he began to run toward the voice of Jesus. The big crowd watched silently. Then Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he could do for him. Bartimaeus said, "My teacher, let me see again." Jesus blessed him for having such faith to believe that he could heal him. Then, in an instant, Bartimaeus, who once was blind and lived by begging, was given his eyesight again.
It is easy for us to be embarrassed for others who say the wrong thing sometimes, but on this day, no matter how embarrassed the people of Jericho were of the poor, blind beggar, they were impressed when Jesus spoke with him and blessed him. You can never be embarrassed to ask for the help of Jesus. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever embarrassed yourself? (let them answer) Have you ever said something that made other people pretend that you were not even with them? (let them answer) I remember once when I wanted to be part of a discussion my parents were having with older adults and I said something that I should not have said. My father asked me to go and sit down and wait for them to finish their talk. I was so embarrassed. Once I saw a man standing on the corner with a Bible in his hand and he was shouting to all of the cars that passed him. We were stopped because of the traffic light and this man came over to the car, stuck his head inside of the window, and began to preach. I was with strangers and I remember how embarrassed I was for being a Christian. I know better now. It was his way of witnessing for the Lord Jesus. It wasn't my way, but it was his way.
Things like this happen all of the time. One day, when Jesus was coming into Jericho with his disciples, they saw a huge crowd waiting for him. People lined the streets and waited to hear this famous person, Jesus, speak. As the crowd kind of quieted waiting for the first word, one man, a blind beggar, by the name of Bartimaeus, broke the silence. People were shocked and they tried to quiet him but he kept shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" He kept shouting it louder and louder and the crowd was so embarrassed because it was a beggar doing the shouting. He was blind and a beggar. Most people never even noticed him before, but they did now. Some told him to be quiet, others tried to put their hands over his mouth. People stood in front of him and other people moved away as far as they could. Bartimaeus seemed to be the disgrace of Jericho.
But Jesus heard the voice and asked that the blind beggar be brought to him. When the people knew that Jesus recognized him and wanted to speak to him, they asked him to get up and walk toward Jesus. Even though he was blind, he began to run toward the voice of Jesus. The big crowd watched silently. Then Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he could do for him. Bartimaeus said, "My teacher, let me see again." Jesus blessed him for having such faith to believe that he could heal him. Then, in an instant, Bartimaeus, who once was blind and lived by begging, was given his eyesight again.
It is easy for us to be embarrassed for others who say the wrong thing sometimes, but on this day, no matter how embarrassed the people of Jericho were of the poor, blind beggar, they were impressed when Jesus spoke with him and blessed him. You can never be embarrassed to ask for the help of Jesus. Amen.
