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[0:00] Good morning everyone. A warm welcome to the service this morning. Good to see everyone. Good to see one or two visitors with us as well and those who might be coming for the first time.

[0:11] And you're especially welcome. Good to see some returning friends as well. I'm seeing John Struthers back amongst us. And so it's good to see you all this morning.

[0:24] And if you're able to stay behind at the end of the service, there's tea and there's coffee which will be served. So please stay behind if you're able. So lots of notices have been on the screen and on the email that's gone out. I'll just highlight one or two of them from the list.

[0:39] Evening service tonight will be taken by the Reverend Roddy McRae, Roddy Barvis, as he's known to many, especially those who played football against him and have the wounds to show for it.

[0:50] So Roddy will open God's word this evening and he'll share a little about the ministry that he's involved with. It's the work of Mission International.

[1:01] He'll also speak to the YF after the service. And so the YF can note that and be encouraged to come out. Over the course of the next few days, there is a Kirk Session meeting tomorrow at 6pm here. So please know that.

[1:17] Elders Prayer Meeting is on Wednesday at half past seven. And there's always a warm encouragement to come out to the prayer meeting. In my opinion, the most important meeting of the week for us as a congregation.

[1:34] Half past seven on Wednesday. Presbytery Scalodale Camp is on this coming weekend. 27th to 30th of March.

[1:46] P6, P7 kids. Some of you are going. So I hope you enjoy it. For those of us who are way past that age. It's just on the screen there as a reminder for us to be praying for that camp as it continues.

[2:01] S1 to S6 girls have their gathering on Saturday. That's this coming Saturday from 12 to speak to Gillian for more details on that.

[2:13] Services next Sunday. Morning service will be taken by Scott. And the evening service is a Gaelic service. It's followed by an English fellowship that will be led by Stuart and Joyce.

[2:26] But members of the YF will take part in the fellowship next Sunday. Last thing is to say that I hope to be on holiday from the 30th of March through to the 6th of April.

[2:40] So if there's any pastoral issues, please speak to one of the elders. In the first instance, the Reverend Donald Dolan is available during this time as usual.

[2:50] So he will be available if anybody needs to speak to a minister. So these are all the notices I need to highlight just now. The rest you can read through at your own convenience.

[3:02] So let's worship God. Now let's sing to his praise. And we'll sing from Mission Praise 31. The words will be on the screen in just a minute. And we'll stand to sing.

[3:14] It's the moment of amazing grace. How sweet the sound that has saved a wretch like me. Amazing grace.

[3:39] desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde The grace that ought my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.

[4:22] The precious gift that grace appeared, the hour I first believed.

[4:39] Through many dangers, roils and snares, I have already known.

[4:56] Tis grace I've brought thee safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

[5:12] Let's come together in prayer.

[5:59] Let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, we thank you that this morning we are able to come together in this place.

[6:12] We thank you that we meet together in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Saviour. And we thank you that we come, thank you for the grace that we have sang of.

[6:25] And we acknowledge that it is only because of grace that we can make an approach to the God who is holy. We confess, Lord, that we are sinners.

[6:39] In our thoughts, in our words, in our actions, in our inaction, we sin. And we are told in your word that the wages of sin is death.

[6:52] We are told that you are a God who is not able to look upon sin because you are holy and pure. And yet we thank you that we can come this morning to you as sinners, but as sinners who are saved by the grace of Jesus.

[7:13] We thank you for God's righteousness, God's riches, which we receive at Christ's expense. And week by week, we praise you, Father, that we are able to return to the cross.

[7:28] And to remember that Jesus died in our place for our sin. We thank you that our sin was transferred from us to him as we believe.

[7:40] And his righteousness, the grace of God, is gifted to us. And so through that grace and through that mercy, we are saved.

[7:53] And not only saved from sin and saved from death and saved from hell, we thank you that we are saved into a relationship with the living God. The relationship that our hearts long for.

[8:08] And so we pray that our souls would be satisfied even as we come before you. And look to you this day. Bless us, Lord, we pray. Bless each home, each family, each head that is bowed.

[8:24] We thank you, Lord, for each other. From the youngest to the oldest, those who are present, those who watch. At a distance at this time.

[8:36] Who would love dearly to be here, but who are struggling with health and strength and infirmity. And as we remember them and see them in our mind's eye, Lord, we pray that you would bless them.

[8:48] As we pray that you would bless us. And meet us at the point of our need. We acknowledge, Lord, that our greatest need is to have our hearts healed, our sins forgiven.

[8:59] And we thank you that that is promised to all who come to Jesus. So we pray that each one of us today would come to Jesus. Whether for the first time or for the millionth time.

[9:13] You are the God who calls us to come. And we pray that you would give us the faith and the desire and the will to come to Jesus for the rest and the peace and the life and the salvation.

[9:26] That he alone can give. And we ask, Lord, that you would be with those who are struggling this morning. We have sung in that hymn of the wonder of heaven.

[9:40] The fact that we can be singing the praises of God eternally. And we thank you for the comfort that that brings. That we know that beyond this world there is a place that is prepared for all who are in Christ.

[9:53] And yet still, when there are those who go from this world ahead of us, there is pain and there is sorrow in the hearts of those who have loved them. And we pray for those who are grieving today.

[10:05] We thank you for the family of John Tango. One who walked with you for many years. One who served you and who glorified you using the gift of the voice that he had.

[10:22] We thank you that even now he continues to sing praise to the one true God. But we pray for his family. And we ask, Lord, for your comfort for them.

[10:34] And for the congregation in Leverborough. And for those in Scalpy. And for all who will miss him. We pray for others who grieve. For loved ones who have gone on ahead of them.

[10:45] From this world. In past weeks and in distant years. Comfort those who grieve, we pray. We're conscious also of many who grieve.

[10:55] And who struggle and who suffer. Or who we don't know. Who are far away from us. And as we see so much suffering in the world. As we think of Iran.

[11:06] As we think of Ukraine. As we think of Syria. Sudan. Afghanistan. Pakistan. As we think of your people who are slaughtered week by week in Nigeria.

[11:18] We ask, Lord, that you would comfort those who grieve. That you would help those who are struggling and suffering. And that you would give courage and protection to your people.

[11:30] We think of some who are close to us. Who are far from us in terms of geography. But close to us in our relationship with them. As we think of those who have travelled out from here.

[11:43] We name them in our hearts. And we pray that you would help them. And give them wisdom and protection. We ask now, Lord, that you would continue with us in this service.

[11:55] We pray, especially this day and this week, for Stuart and for Joyce. As they've headed off to Edinburgh. And as they meet the board of ministry tomorrow.

[12:07] We ask, Lord, that you would be near to them. And as they respond to your call to serve. We ask, Lord, that you would give them real clarity and peace.

[12:19] About what you would have them do as they take this step in faith. And we pray for Emily and for Anna. And for all the family. We commit them to you. And ask that you would bless them.

[12:29] And that you would use them. So hear our prayers. Take away our sin, we ask. And we ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen. Boys and girls, would you like to come forward, please?

[12:56] How are you guys all today? Good, good. Can you tell me what is happening in... Five more days?

[13:11] What's happening in five more days? Family? Well, it's not quite Easter. But it's the Easter what? It's the Easter holidays. So in five more days, you're going to be on holiday.

[13:25] Are you looking forward to going on holiday? Yeah. I think Joseph's already on his holidays, isn't he? So he's enjoying his holidays today.

[13:38] Sometimes... Do you ever, boys and girls, do you ever get tired? No. Do you ever feel... Benjamin's shaking his head. Never. Do you ever feel like you've got so much homework?

[13:51] And so many jobs to do at home? And so many classes to go to? And so many Highland dancing competitions to jump around in? Do you ever feel, oh, my goodness, I wish I could just have a wee holiday?

[14:07] Yes. The teachers probably would say the same thing. We all sometimes feel like we need a holiday.

[14:18] Like we need a wee rest. Now, here's one more thing. When people are on holiday, tell me, when people are on holiday, can you get hold of them?

[14:30] Benjamin, could you message Joseph today and say, I want you to meet me tomorrow at the Mugger and we're going to have a game of football?

[14:44] No? How come? Pardon? I don't have a phone. You don't have a phone. Okay. Take note. Just, okay, let's work with this one.

[14:57] Joseph, just imagine you had a phone. Okay? You've been gifted a phone. Could you take your own phone that your papa gave you for a present and could you message Joseph and say, Joseph, I really want to play football tomorrow at the Mugger.

[15:15] Can you meet me at 10 o'clock, please? Would you do that? But would he come? No? Why not? He's on holiday.

[15:26] He's far away. He'd have to catch a plane, wouldn't he? To come and play a game of football. And it's impossible. And that's what happens when people are on holiday.

[15:38] You might be on the Easter holidays, Shawnee, and you're just in some maths revision. And you're thinking, I wish I could speak to my maths teacher. And she could just help me with a little more revision.

[15:52] But when it's the holidays, can you get hold of her? No, you can't. So that's the thing about holidays. When people are on holiday, you can't reach them.

[16:03] Boys and girls, tell me this. Does God ever take a holiday? Ever?

[16:15] No. What do you think, guys? Watch that wee cable there. Foot's sharp. Does God ever take a holiday? No. What do you think? Anybody? Ever?

[16:26] Ever? Ever? Never takes a holiday. Does God ever get tired? No. Does he ever need to have a sleep?

[16:40] No. And we're going to sing in just a minute. In Psalm 121. And it says in that Psalm. That God, he slumbers not, nor sleeps.

[16:55] Not ever. So, if you wake up, really, at four o'clock in the morning, and you want to pray to God and ask him for help, will he ever be sleeping?

[17:11] No. No? If you're ever far away in a different place and you're a bit scared and you want to ask for God's help, will he ever be too far away to be able to hear you?

[17:25] No. Will he ever have a sign on his door that says, don't come in, I'm too busy? No. Any time, every time, always.

[17:40] Whatever time of the day or night, whether it's school holidays or whether it's term time. Always, always, always. Yes. God is ready and he is waiting to hear you pray to him.

[17:58] Have you been praying to him this week? Do you remember the wee bookmarks? Did you write some names down? Don't tell me the names. Did you write names down? No. Well, write some names down and let's remember always to be praying.

[18:15] Never to give up. Always to be speaking to God because he loves us and he always wants to hear from us. So, will we pray just now? Let's close our eyes, put our hands together.

[18:27] Let's put our hands together, boys and girls. Let's close our eyes and let's pray. Lord God, we thank you that you love us. We thank you that you always have time for us.

[18:39] We thank you that you never push us away. That you never refuse to hear our prayers. And we thank you that your answers to our prayers are always the best answers. Sometimes we can't understand exactly the answers, but we pray that you would help us always to trust you.

[18:57] And we pray especially that you would heal us in our hearts, take away our sin and make us your children, we pray. And we ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen.

[19:07] Amen. Amen. Okay, let's sing now. And we'll sing from Psalm 121. The psalm that I just mentioned a minute ago. I to the hills will lift mine eyes from whence doth come mine aid.

[19:20] My safety cometh from the Lord who heaven and earth hath made. And that very simply just means that for us to be safe in this world and forever, we just have to come to God and ask him for that.

[19:37] And he will hear us and he will hear us and he will help us. So let's stand up and we'll sing to God's praise. I to the hills will lift mine eyes from whence doth come my name.

[20:01] My safety cometh from the Lord who heaven and earth hath made.

[20:19] Thy good, dear God, let's life nor will. Thy good, dear God, let's life nor will. He slumbers and he keeps.

[20:35] Behold he that keeps Israel. He slumbers from your sleeves.

[20:52] The Lord, he keeps the Lord thy shape. All thy right hand the take.

[21:08] The Lord, he shall not smite. Nor yet the sun by day.

[21:24] The Lord shall keep thy soul. He shall preserve thee from all else.

[21:40] As for thy going out and in. God keep forever will.

[21:56] Okay, boys and girls, thank you for listening well. If you head through to Sunday school, remember to pray for them as they go. God.

[22:06] Thank you.

[22:36] If we could turn in our Bibles please to Matthew chapter 20. As we continue our studies through Matthew's Gospel.

[22:53] And we're focusing on verses 29 through to 34. I'm just going to read a little bit before that as well. From verse 20. Because it gives us a contrast.

[23:07] We see in verse 20 to verse 28. Two of the disciples of Jesus. And they come to Jesus and they ask Jesus.

[23:19] Essentially what they're asking for is majesty for themselves. They want position. They want power. They want to be lifted up. And they should have known better.

[23:33] Because they were disciples of Jesus. And Jesus corrects them. And he makes clear to them that he came not to be served.

[23:45] But to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. And then we meet two men immediately after that. And they're not asking for majesty for themselves.

[23:56] They're asking for mercy. And we're being taught to ask for mercy. Not for majesty for ourselves. We ask for mercy from God.

[24:08] So we'll just read from verse 20 to verse 34. Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to Jesus with her sons. And kneeling before him she asked him for something.

[24:19] And he said to her, what do you want? She said to him, say that these two sons of mine are to sit. One at your right hand and one at your left in your kingdom. Jesus answered, you do not know what you're asking.

[24:30] Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink? They said to him, we are able. He said to them, you will drink my cup. But to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant.

[24:42] But it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my father. And when the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, you know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord over them.

[24:57] And their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant. And whoever would be first among you must be your slave.

[25:09] Even as the son of man came not to be served but to serve. And to give his life as a ransom for many. And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed Jesus.

[25:22] And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside. And when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, Lord, have mercy on us, son of David.

[25:34] The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent. But they cried out all the more, Lord, have mercy on us, son of David. And stopping, Jesus called them and said, what do you want me to do for you?

[25:49] They said to him, Lord, let our eyes be opened. And Jesus, in pity, touched their eyes. And immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

[26:02] Amen. And may God bless that reading of his word to us. We're going to sing now two verses, two stanzas from Psalm 61.

[26:16] Psalm 61 and verses 1 and 2. These two stanzas of Psalm 61 will remain seated to sing to God's praise in Gaelic.

[26:44] Psalm 61 and verses 1 and 2.

[27:14] Psalm 61 and verses 1 and 2.

[27:44] Psalm 61 and verses 1 and 2.

[28:14] Psalm 61 and verses 1 and 2.

[28:44] Psalm 61 and verses 1 and 2.

[29:14] Psalm 61 and verses 1 and 2. desde! desde Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si Si O meska shke gujel O meska shke gujel Let's pray just for a moment as we come back to study the passage that we read.

[30:25] Heavenly Father we thank you for your word and we thank you once more that you hear us, that you help us, that you respond to our cries for help, for salvation, for day by day sustenance.

[30:41] And we ask Lord that you would meet with us now. We see, we hear two blind men crying out for mercy at the side of a road. And like them we pray that we would be crying out for the mercy of God even as Jesus passes by us here today.

[31:02] We pray that we would not be silent, that we would not be unresponsive. But that we would be ready to cry out asking for the mercy and the grace that Jesus is so willing to give to all who will ask for it.

[31:17] We pray Lord for the children, we thank you for them. From the youngest voices in the creche through to the teenagers as they study the resurrection.

[31:31] We ask Lord that you would be near to them. And that their eyes would be open to see Jesus. That their hearts would remain soft as they grow.

[31:43] And that they would know and receive more and more of the grace of Christ day by day. And we pray that we would see them walking with the Lord from the early years right through their lives.

[31:59] That they would walk with and point others to the grace of Jesus. So bless us we pray and help us as we acknowledge that we can do nothing apart from you.

[32:11] And so Lord we ask that we would not be apart from you but that you would draw near to us. And that you would minister to us in the word. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen. We began this service this morning.

[32:30] Singing that very familiar hymn Amazing Grace. And it begins with the verse. Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.

[32:43] I once was lost but nigh unfound. Was blind but nigh I see. And that was the testimony song of John Newton.

[32:58] We heard about him a few weeks ago. Niwaki was telling us a little of his story. John Newton was a man who went from being a notorious slave trader.

[33:12] To a man whose heart was transformed to the extent that he became the songwriter. Of that hymn that we love so much Amazing Grace.

[33:26] So it was his testimony song. But it could equally be the testimony song. Of the two blind men. That we meet with in Matthew chapter 20.

[33:39] We have in verse 29 through to verse 34. The story of how they came to believe in Jesus. And how they continue to follow Jesus.

[33:51] We have a testimony. And as we step through the gospels. And as we go through. Lots and lots of the parts of the Bible.

[34:03] We have testimony stories. And we might ask the question. Why are we given testimony stories? And there's two reasons that we're given them I believe. One.

[34:14] We need them for our encouragement. It's always encouraging to hear the story. Of how someone came to believe in Jesus. And how someone is continuing to follow Jesus.

[34:29] So Christian. If you're ever asked to give your testimony. Whether it's in conversation. Or whether it's in a small gathering. Take the opportunity. There's great encouragement in hearing.

[34:41] Other people's testimonies. But testimonies are also given. For our instruction. We're taught through them. And it's possible.

[34:55] That there might be someone here. This morning. Who wants to know. How do I become a Christian? It's possible.

[35:08] That there might be somebody here. This morning. Who is feeling. The draw. Of Jesus. They're thinking through.

[35:22] Becoming a Christian. But maybe. Are not quite sure how to do it. How do I become. A follower of Jesus. Is a question. That some here.

[35:34] Might be asking. Well. We're given guidance. Here. Through these blind men. Of what we're to do. If we want to.

[35:45] Become Christians. And there's five things. That we're taught to do. In these verses. And I'll just give you the points. And then we'll just step through them. Briefly. The first thing.

[35:56] Is we are to come to the place. Where we can expect to find Jesus. That's point number one. The second thing. Is we're to cry out to Jesus. That's point number two.

[36:07] The third thing. Is we are to be careful. Not to be distracted. By. Or discouraged by. The crowds.

[36:18] That will try to push us away from Jesus. The fourth thing. Is we are to come. To Jesus. In faith. And the final thing.

[36:31] Is we are to commit. Our lives to following. Jesus. Jesus. So that gives us the. The structure. That's what we see. As we look at these verses. So let's just step through.

[36:41] These different points. The first thing. We are taught to do. By these two blind men. Is we are to come. To the place. Where we can expect. To find Jesus. Verses 29 and 30.

[36:53] Says. And as they went. Out of Jericho. A great crowd. Followed. Jesus. And his disciples. And behold. There were two blind men.

[37:06] Sitting by. The roadside. So we have this picture. In our minds eye. Jesus. Is. Is on this journey.

[37:17] And we'll think more. About that. As we come to the next passage. Jesus. Is. Is moving. He's traveling. He's on this journey. That there's a great crowd. A vast crowd.

[37:29] That are. Following him. That are surrounding him. But then. Matthew does. What. The gospel writers. So often do. He zooms in.

[37:41] On two people. Thousands. Tens of thousands. Maybe in the crowd. But the camera zooms in. On two people. Two blind men.

[37:54] The lowest. Really. Of the low. Back in that day. There was no social services. There was no help. They were the forgotten. They were the underclass. And other people.

[38:06] Wouldn't have noticed them. Wouldn't have seen them. But Jesus. Has this razor sharp focus. On these two.

[38:17] Needy. Blind men. And these blind men. They almost certainly. Would have heard. About Jesus. They would have heard. That there's this man. Called Jesus.

[38:29] And he's. He's able to make the blind see. He's done it in other places. He's. He's able to do. The most. Supernatural. Amazing miracles. And he's full of mercy.

[38:45] He's loving. He's powerful. The crowds were saying. All these kind of things. And there's this buzz. In Jericho. Because the word on the street.

[38:57] Is that Jesus. Is passing through. So the blind men. Come to. The roadside. They come to the place.

[39:08] Where they. Expect to be able to. Define Jesus. And be close to Jesus. Now. We should probably ask the question. Just as we. Approach this whole.

[39:19] Account. What does any of this. Have to do with us. That's the question. We might ask. And the answer is. It has a whole lot. To do with us. James Montgomery Boyce.

[39:31] The commentator says. The blind men. Represent us. We are spiritually blind. That's how we're born.

[39:44] So as we see. These two blind men. We're seeing ourselves. That's how we fit. In this story. Sin. Blinds us spiritually. That's our problem.

[39:59] So who can open. The eyes. Of our hearts. To make us see. Well Jesus can. And only Jesus can. So what should we do?

[40:15] Well we should come. To the place. Where we can expect. To find Jesus. And where. Can we expect. To find Jesus.

[40:26] Well. That. We can expect. To find Jesus. In church. We see this. Every week. Above my head.

[40:37] Which is more important. Than my head. By a long way. We can expect. To see. Jesus. And find Jesus. In church. He gave us the promise. Where two or three meet together.

[40:49] In his name. He will be here. In the power of the Holy Spirit. And we can expect.

[41:00] To find Jesus. In the prayerful reading. Of the Bible. Jesus. Speaks to us. He reveals.

[41:13] Himself. And his will. To us. In. And through. The word. Of God. J.C. Ryle.

[41:24] Says this. Let us. Never. Neglect. The house. Of God. Never. Forsake. The assembling. Of ourselves. With God's people. Never. Omit.

[41:34] The reading. Of our Bibles. Never. Drop. The practice. Of private. Prayer. These things. No doubt. Will not. Save us. Without the grace.

[41:44] Of the Holy Spirit. Thousands. Make use of them. And remain. Dead. In trespasses. And sins. But it is. Just. In the use. Of these things. That souls.

[41:56] Are converted. And saved. They are the ways. In which Jesus. Walks. It is those. Who sit. By the wayside.

[42:08] Who are likely. To be healed. So what are we doing. This morning. Well actually. What we're doing. Is we're sitting. By the wayside.

[42:18] We have come. To the place. Where we can expect. To find Jesus. Because.

[42:29] He promised. He would be here. With us. As we meet. In his name. And he promised. He would speak to us. In and through. His word. God. The second thing.

[42:42] We see. These blind men. Doing. Is. They cry out. To Jesus. They come to the place. Where they expected. To find Jesus. By the. The wayside. The roadside. The second thing.

[42:53] They do. Is they cry out. To Jesus. Verse 30. And when they heard. That Jesus was passing by. They cried out. Lord have mercy on us. Son of David. And again.

[43:06] Let's just try and. Get this picture in our minds. Eye. A vast crowd. Around Jesus. There is this vast crowd.

[43:19] But it actually seems that. The vast majority. In this. Great crowd. Are unresponsive. Only two men.

[43:33] Are crying out to Jesus. And you know. That's still going on. In churches. Across the country. That's probably going on. Even as I look around.

[43:45] It's probably going on. In this room today. Crowds of people. Will gather in churches. Across the land. Many will be.

[43:56] Non-responsive. I may snooze. I may plan. The next week. Or may make their minds.

[44:06] Wander often. In different directions. But there will be. Ones and twos. Today. Who will cry out. To Jesus. Which is what the blind men did.

[44:20] Vast crowd. Unresponsive. Silent. Two men. Crying out to Jesus. So what do they cry?

[44:32] What do they say to Jesus? Well. The first thing they say. Is Lord. They recognize. The authority of Jesus. They recognize.

[44:43] That he is. Sovereign over them. And he's sovereign. Over their condition. He is the Lord. So they don't. Click their fingers. Like they're speaking. To a waiter.

[44:56] They cry out. To the one. Who is above them. Who is over them. And then they say. Have mercy on us. And as they.

[45:07] They cry that. Out. They're. Acknowledging. That they. In their hearts. Are in need of mercy. They're sinners. Who are in need of the mercy.

[45:18] Of God. God. And then as they. Cry out to Jesus. They call him. Son of David. And that was a title.

[45:29] That was reserved. For the Messiah. Not just another prophet. Not a religious teacher. But the Messiah. The promised.

[45:41] Savior. That was the title. That was reserved. For the Savior. That was the title. That was reserved. For the one. Whom Isaiah. Prophesied of. In Isaiah 35. The one.

[45:52] Who would open. The eyes of the blind. And so they cry out. To Jesus. Saying. Lord. Have mercy on us. Son of David. Savior. Messiah.

[46:05] John MacArthur says. They're asking him. For mercy. And most certainly. They're calling him. By the. Messianic title. Son of David. Clearly shows.

[46:17] Their recognition. Of who. Jesus. Was. So they come to the place. Where they can expect. To find Jesus.

[46:29] Then they don't sit. Silent. Unresponsive. Detached. They're engaged. They cry out to Jesus.

[46:43] And they teach us. Today. To cry out to Jesus. So how. How should we pray.

[46:55] If we want to become Christians. Today. There's somebody here. And this is connected. And you want to know.

[47:06] How do I cry out. In order to become. A Christian. What do I say. Well you say exactly. What they said. In a sense. We need to call.

[47:17] Jesus. Lord. And God. We need to recognize. Who he is. We need to confess.

[47:29] That we are sinners. Who are in need of mercy. And we need to ask. Jesus. That the son of David.

[47:40] To be. Our savior. And we need to do it now. Not next week. Not next month.

[47:51] Not next year. Not once we. Sort ourselves out. Well we need to do it now. This is urgent. The blind men.

[48:02] They know. They can. They can sense. That Jesus. He's passing by. And this was the last time.

[48:14] That Jesus passed through Jericho. He never passed that way again. And. Ryle says. Jesus never returned. To Jericho. And they.

[48:26] These blind men. Might never. Have met. With him. Again. They seem to recognize that. And so they cry out.

[48:37] With such urgency. And fervor. And today. Jesus is passing by. This place.

[48:50] He's passing by us. And we don't know. If he will ever pass by. Us again. So today.

[49:06] We need to cry out to Jesus. Third point. We need to be careful. Not to be distracted. Or discouraged.

[49:18] By the crowd. I think we all know that. The people that we have around us. The people. That we are allowed to speak into our lives. They can.

[49:29] And almost always will have a. A big influence. On us. Not always a good influence though. And the crowds that surrounded these blind men.

[49:39] An example. An example. An example of. A bad influence. That's shouting into their lives. Verse 31.

[49:50] Says. The crowd rebuked them. Telling them to be silent. And we can imagine. The pressure. Of all these voices.

[50:01] Telling these two men. To be quiet. We can imagine. All these fingers pointing. All these rebukes. All these. Tens of thousands of people.

[50:13] They're saying. Well you just quieten these two down. It seems this whole crowd.

[50:23] Is. Coming together. In such a way. As to try to stop these men. From meeting Jesus. And it would have been incredibly easy.

[50:36] To have been distracted. And giving in. To the pressure of the crowds. It would have been very easy. To have been discouraged. And just said to each other. Oh there's no point.

[50:47] Let's just settle down. This is a waste of time. But these two. Men are careful. Not to be distracted. And not to be.

[50:59] Discouraged. And the crowd. Are trying to close them down. And quieten them down. But verse 31. Tells us. But they cried out all the more.

[51:10] Lord have mercy on us. Son of David. Rather than. Becoming silent. They get louder. And more persistent.

[51:22] And I believe. Actually the word. They. In verse 31. Is really important.

[51:33] I didn't see this. In any commentaries. But it just jumped. Out at me. They. Cried out. All the more. Lord have mercy on us.

[51:43] Son of David. Matthew. Is the only one. Actually. Who tells us. That. There isn't. Just one blind man. On his own. There is a man called. Bartimaeus. That we know of.

[51:54] From the other gospels. But Bartimaeus. Has a friend. There's two blind men. And these two men together. They both have a. A felt sense of need.

[52:05] These two men. Both have a desire. To meet Jesus. And so these two men. Together. Do not allow themselves. To be distracted.

[52:16] Or discouraged. But they encourage each other. To keep on. Crying out. To Jesus. And we can.

[52:28] Learn a lot. From. These two men. You know. It's true today. Just as it was true. On that first day.

[52:39] Crowds will always. Try to distract us. From Jesus. The noise of this world. The noise of this world. Will always.

[52:51] Try to distract. Us. From Jesus. There will never be a shortage of people. Trying to silence us. If we start. To speak about.

[53:02] Feeling. In need of Jesus. Montgomery Boyce says. The crowd will not help us. Because the crowd is blind. It pushes us aside.

[53:13] Telling us to be quiet. And get out of the way. And so we. Have to be. Like these men. We have to be careful. Not to be. Distracted. By.

[53:24] The crowd. Not to be. Discouraged by the crowd. Whether the crowd is. Is real life people. Who are flooding into our lives. Or whether the crowd. Is on devices. All these people.

[53:35] That we're connected with. Through different apps. These crowds. Will always try to. Pull us away. From Jesus. So what we.

[53:48] Actually need. In our lives. Our people. Who will encourage us. To look to Jesus. We need people. In our lives. Who will encourage us.

[53:59] To cry out to Jesus. We need people. In our lives. Who will encourage us. To come to Jesus. As these two.

[54:10] Blind men. Did. And they. Together did it. Fourth point. Come to Jesus.

[54:22] How do I become a Christian? Well. I have to go. I have to go to the place. Where I can expect. To find Jesus. That's what we've done. This morning. We have to cry out.

[54:33] To Jesus. We have to pray. Recognizing who he is. And who we are. We have to be careful. Not to be distracted. Or discouraged.

[54:44] By the crowds. And the fourth thing. Is we have to. Actually come to Jesus. Verse 32 says.

[54:57] And stopping. Again. Let's get the picture. In our minds. Vast crowd. Two men shouting. Louder and louder.

[55:07] They won't be silenced. Lord have mercy on me. A sinner. Son of David. Son of David. And then there's this moment.

[55:21] And Jesus stops. He's traveling. He's moving. And now he stops. And stopping. Verse 32.

[55:32] Jesus called him. And said. What do you want me to do for you? And this is the moment of truth. This is.

[55:43] This is the most important. moment. In our lives. Jesus called them. And they can hear his voice. He's speaking.

[55:53] Personally. To them. He's calling them. And Jesus asks them. What would you like me to do for you? Which does.

[56:04] Might seem like a. A daft question. Why. Why would you ask that question? Well. One commentator. Hale says this. Jesus asked the question. So that the crowd would know.

[56:16] That the blind men were not asking for money. But for sight. To us also. Jesus asks. What do you want me to do for you?

[56:27] And he wants us to say. Exactly. What we want. Ask. Matthew 7.

[56:38] Verse 7. And it shall. Be given you. Now I want you for a moment. Just to imagine. Imagine.

[56:50] If at this point. These two blind men. They just walked away. And they didn't come to.

[57:02] To Jesus. Imagine after all this. Imagine after coming to the place. Where Jesus would be. And crying out to Jesus.

[57:14] Not allowing the. The crowds to close them down. And distract them. And discourage them. Imagine after all that. When Jesus stops. And Jesus says. What would you like me to do for you?

[57:25] Imagine if they just walked away. Or imagine if they just. Sat at the side of the road. And they just didn't respond.

[57:39] They just sat in their chairs. You know. If that was what was going on. You would. You would want to say. To these blind men. What are you doing?

[57:52] Jesus can open your eyes. Jesus. He can heal you. He can save you. You just need to ask him. He's right there. He's calling you.

[58:06] He's speaking to you. You just have to ask him. You know. It would be such a tragedy. If these two blind men.

[58:16] Got this far. This close to Jesus. And then they just stopped. And became silent. But you know.

[58:27] There are. There are many people. There might even be. Some here today. Who have done just that. And who may. Even in this moment.

[58:38] Be doing just that. I mean. Think about it. That. But. We have come to the place. This morning. Where Jesus.

[58:50] Has promised. He will be. We're at the roadside. Jesus. Is passing by. He's close. Jesus. And we've opened the book.

[59:02] Where he speaks. And we may. Even. In these moments. Be hearing him. Speaking.

[59:13] To us. And offering. To open. Our eyes. And offering. To heal. Our hearts.

[59:24] What a tragedy. If we got. That far. And just. Sat motionless.

[59:36] Unresponsive. Silent. In our seats. And didn't say. Jesus. Will you save me?

[59:51] You know. The blind men. Had far more sense. Than to come. To the place. Where Jesus was. Hear him speak. And then go dumb. They said to him.

[60:02] Verse 33. Lord. Let our eyes. Be opened. And my prayer. Today. Is that.

[60:13] Maybe. Somebody. Will say that. The quietness. Of this place. And the privacy. Of your own heart. Will you say. To Jesus. Let my eyes.

[60:24] Be opened. Because. If we pray that. Jesus.

[60:34] Will answer that prayer. You have to pray. You have to cry out to him. You have to come to him. And these two men.

[60:48] They. They come to Jesus. They cry out to Jesus. They say. Lord. Let our eyes. Be. Be opened. And verse 34. Says. And Jesus. In pity. Touched their eyes.

[61:01] And immediately. They recovered their sight. The word pity. The word pity. Is a kind of weak word. In the English. Literally.

[61:12] It means that Jesus. Was moved. In his inner being. With great compassion. And he touched their eyes. And they're saved.

[61:24] Instantly. They're saved. Thoroughly. They're saved. By. Jesus. David Strain.

[61:35] The commentator. Says. But it can't be that simple. Surely. Don't I have to make. Restitution. Somehow. Isn't there some penance.

[61:46] I need to do. Or some ritual. I have to perform. Surely. I need to clean up my act. Deal with my drinking. Stop my lying. Kill my lust. Surely. I need to be a better man.

[61:56] A better woman. Before I can think of. Coming to Jesus. With any hope. That he will receive me. No. No. You come.

[62:09] To Jesus. Begging. Like. These blind men. In the filthy rags. Of your spiritual poverty. There is really no.

[62:22] Other way to come. You have no hope. Of amending your life. Unless you give yourself. Up first. To Jesus. To save you.

[62:33] Holy. Through. And through. Come. To Jesus. With your sin. Intact. You can't deal with it yourself.

[62:46] You come to Jesus. Bankrupt. And begging. And you say. With the blind men. Have mercy. It's just faith.

[62:58] That saves. It's that simple. Now we might say. Well that was good.

[63:10] For these blind men. But does Jesus feel. The same pity. Does he feel. The same compassion. Towards. Me. Is he willing. To save me.

[63:23] And the answer is. Yes. Yes. How do we know that? Well we know that. Because of the cross. Such.

[63:36] Was the compassion. Of Jesus. That he was willing. To go through. Jericho. All the way. To Jerusalem.

[63:48] Knowing that. When he got there. He would be. As it says. In verse 19. Mocked. And flogged. And crucified. Why would he go through.

[64:00] All that? It's so. That all. Who. Will. Come to him. Will be saved.

[64:10] God. The blind men. Are teaching. You and I. To come. To Jesus. Just as we are. Sinners.

[64:23] In need of mercy. And nothing. To offer. We come. To Jesus. And the last thing. Very. Briefly. As we are.

[64:34] To commit. Our lives. To following. Jesus. We might. Be tempted. To. To think. The story. Finishes. With. With the eyes. Opening.

[64:45] Probably. If we were asked. Can you tell us. The story. Of what happened. With the. Blind men. We. We finish it. With. Their eyes. Getting opened. And Jesus. Does open their eyes. But what happened next?

[64:57] What happened. Once their eyes. Were opened. Well. It tells us. In verse 34. They followed Jesus. And Jesus. In pity. Touched their eyes. Verse 34. And immediately.

[65:08] They recovered their sight. And. Followed. Him. They didn't come to Jesus. Like we come to. A vending machine.

[65:19] And push the buttons. Get what we ask for. And walk away. No. They come to Jesus. In faith.

[65:31] They cry out. To him. Asking for salvation. He hears their prayers. He opens their eyes. And now. These men. See Jesus. And they know.

[65:43] They can trust. Jesus. And they love Jesus. Because he first loved them. And they want to follow him.

[65:55] They don't want to walk. In a different direction. They want to follow. Jesus. They commit. Their lives to Jesus. And that's what a Christian is.

[66:08] Not just someone who is saved. From sin. And saved from death. And saved. From hell. And who walks away. To get on with their old lives.

[66:21] That's not what a Christian is. Yes. Jesus saves us from. Sin and death and hell. But it doesn't save us. In order for us. Just to carry on. As we were before.

[66:33] No. A Christian is someone. Who is not just saved. From these things. A Christian is someone. Who is saved. For. Jesus. Our lives.

[66:45] If we are Christians. Are to be lived. Not for self. But for. Jesus. A Christian is someone.

[66:58] Who commits. Not to follow in their own way. Set in their own course. But a Christian is someone.

[67:08] Who commits. To following Jesus. Even if. Like Stuart and Joyce. Are. Thinking about just now. Even if he calls us. To go. Off in a direction. We would never have expected.

[67:18] If he calls us. We go. And these blind men.

[67:31] Thankful for all Jesus did for them. Without a moment's hesitation. Commit their lives. To following Jesus. And the question.

[67:44] I finish with. Is will we do the same. Let's pray. Heavenly Father.

[67:55] We thank you for. This testimony. For. This account. Of these two men. Who. Are given. Their physical sight. But much more than that. Are given.

[68:06] The spiritual sight. Whose hearts are healed. We thank you for the salvation. That only Jesus. Can give. To those who cry out to him. And those who come to him.

[68:18] And we pray. That there may be. Even someone here today. Who goes from. A posture of sitting. In a chair. Distant.

[68:31] To coming close to Jesus. And saying. Will you have mercy on me. Will you open. The eyes in my heart. We thank you.

[68:42] That that is a prayer. Lord Jesus. That you hear. And you always answer. So help us to pray. And help us.

[68:53] As those. Whose. Eyes are opened. And whose hearts are healed. Of us not to live. For. Ourselves. Not to seek.

[69:04] Majesty for self. As James and John. Did. But to simply. Cry out for mercy. And to commit. Our lives.

[69:14] To following. You Lord Jesus. In the direction. That you will guide us. And we pray this. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. We will sing to conclude.

[69:27] From mission praise. Three hundred. And ninety. Six. Just as I am. Without one plea. But that thy blood was shed for me.

[69:39] And that thou bidst me come to thee. O Lamb. Of God. I come. This is a. A hymn that we can actually respond. To the call of Jesus to. If we sing it.

[69:51] From our hearts. To the soul. Amen. Amen.

[70:52] Amen. Amen.

[71:52] Amen. Amen.

[72:52] Amen. Amen.