Journey--Come -- Jesus as Lord transforms
Last week we saw that Jesus invites everyone to “come” and join Him on the journey as His follower. Zacchaeus responded to Jesus’ invitation and the Zaccheaus at the end of the account is not the same Zacchaeus at the start of it.
We actually see this same kind of transformation in many accounts of people following Jesus, both in the New Testament and in the present day. This is because–
2nd Corinthians 5:17 | …anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
From the moment we accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins the process of transforming us as His follower. We go from being spiritually blind to our sin and the selfishness that controls us to being convicted by the Holy Spirit to live differently, serving Jesus as master instead of serving ourselves.
We see this transformation in a very tangible way in the account of Jesus and the blind beggar named Bartimaeus. Once again, Jesus is in Jericho, which must have been a city ready for revival because another man is desperate to encounter Him.
Mark 10:46-47 | Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Now if a business man in a tree didn’t get your attention, Bartimaeus’ uncontrollable shouting should. Bartimaeus loudly pleas for Jesus’ help. He knows Jesus is the Savior he is in need of and his desperation is frustrating to the people around him–
Mark 10:48 | “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
No one could restrain Bartimaeus and because of it, Jesus heard his cries.
Mark 10:49 | When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!
Ready for Bartimaeus’ response? Just like Zaccheaus, Bartimaeus’ excitement jumps off the pages of Scripture-
Mark 10:50 | Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
The blind beggar doesn’t let anything get in his way. Then–
Mark 10:51-52a | “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.”
Bartimaeus’ life, like Zacchaeus’, is radically changed by his faith (or his realization that Jesus is the Savior he so desperately needed). Now you might be thinking, ‘of course the blind man wanted to see!’ But evidence of Bartimaeus’ true heart transformation, not just physical transformation, can be seen in his actions that follow–
Mark 10:52b | Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
Bartimaeus didn’t miss a beat. Instantly his desire was to follow and serve Jesus- His Lord and Master. Recently we saw Zacchaeus and Matthew undergo the same transformation. Their spiritual blindness was stripped away and with new spiritual sight, they chose to abandon their old way and to follow God’s way instead.
The truth is, if you’ve joined the journey with Jesus, transformation should be evident in your life too. The first part of the transformation is instant –
Isaiah 1:18b | “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”
If you’re a follower of Jesus, you were instantly transformed from lost to found, transferred from the road that leads to destruction to the road that leads to life.
But the second part of the transformation occurs over time.
2nd Corinthians 3:18b | And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
The Holy Spirit continues to transform us as our desires change and our life fills with fruit that only He can grow (Galatians 5:22-23).
This isn’t without effort on our end as well – a “taking off” and “putting on” described in Ephesians 4–
Ephesians 4:21-24 | Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Are you ready to journey with Jesus? Jesus said–
Luke 9:23b | “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”
Are you prepared to abandon your old way to follow Him? If you already have, are you picking up your cross daily – saying no to your sinful nature and putting on His nature instead?
Join the journey–
Realize you’re a sinner in need of a savior
Recognize that Jesus is that Savior
Respond to His invitation to ‘come.’
Be transformed as you learn to know your Creator and become more like Him (Colossians 3:10)
What transformation happens to God’s followers?
How?
Why?
What two transformations can we see in the short Biblical account of Bartimeaus?
What transformation have you seen in your own life since following Jesus?
What transformation happened instantly?
What transformation is happening over time?
What if someone who says they are a follower of Jesus has not changed at all since believing in Him? What should they do?