Making Room in the Church: Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Because of his heart for people, Jesus was willing to be interrupted by Bartimaeus, Zacchaeus, and so many others. They believed in him, and he offered healing and forgiveness and changed their life into a testimony to the goodness of God. Jesus still seeks the lost today. Therefore, we must make room for more people in our church. Recorded on Sep 15, 2024, on Luke 18:35-19:10 by Pastor David Parks.
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Make Room is a three-part sermon series considering the need to make room 1) for more of God in our lives, 2) for more people in our lives, and 3) for more people in our church. Why? Because more people need good news! More people need the life and love, the freedom and forgiveness, and so much more that is only found in Christ. Our prayer is that in the coming years, many more people will experience the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Sermon Transcript
Well, today, we’re finishing up our mini sermon series called Make Room to talk about some of the Biblical foundations of our 2030 Vision. We said that this series and our 2030 Vision plan are the result of a process our elder board spent months on — listening, learning, praying, and talking together about who we are as a church, where God is bearing fruit, and where we believe God is leading us in the next 5-7 years. We also said that one of the things that became clear is that for this next season of life, we do not believe that God is leading us in a dramatically new direction. We don’t need to reinvent our mission, vision, or values. Instead, the phrase that kept coming up in this process was “make room.” So, for the last few weeks, we’ve been talking about our need to make room 1) for more of God in our lives, 2) for more people in our lives, and today, 3) for more people in our church. This is what our 2030 Vision is all about. But this vision isn’t something that might happen months or years from now. We’re actually starting to see parts of our 2030 Vision happening this month as we multiply our community groups, serving opportunities on our ministry teams, worship services, and more. Down the road, if it’s God’s will, we’ll see expansion in kid’s and student ministry, pastoral staffing, building facilities, and perhaps another church plant; who knows! But first, today, we need to count the cost. When Jesus invited men and women to follow him, he challenged them to count the cost. Would they still be willing to follow him even if they had to give up everything? Now, I’m not saying we might have to give up everything to accomplish our 2030 Vision. But the truth is that change can be painful/uncomfortable. Even change for the best can still be hard. All the things I just mentioned will make room for more, but they will also bring changes around here. So today, we’ll consider why we need to make room for more people in our church — why we need to go through the potential pain of change. Will we be willing to pay the cost? If you have your Bible/app, please open it to Luke 18:35. We’ll unpack this text as we go.
Luke 18:35–38 (NIV), “35 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!” The book of Luke was written by a man who most likely became a Christian through the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Luke was a physician who did a careful investigation into the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and then wrote a history of the early church. These works are both in the NT as the book of Luke and Acts. Luke was alive during the time of the Apostles and interviewed eyewitnesses who saw/heard/experienced the person and work of Jesus. Our account today has lots of potential witnesses. Luke writes that Jesus was approaching Jericho with a whole crowd of people. There were times in Jesus’ ministry when crowds of thousands followed him to hear his teaching or experience his miracles. However, Jericho was only 18 miles from Jerusalem and could’ve been busy as crowds of people made their way to Jerusalem for Passover. Either way, as all these people made their way, a poor blind man was there begging next to the road. From Mark’s account of this story, we’re told his name is Bartimaeus. When Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth who was passing by, he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Now, Son of David was a messianic title — a title for the promised one, the messiah that God would send to establish the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. This is an incredible confession of faith before the cross and the empty tomb. But how would Jesus respond to this interruption? Would he care for a poor, disabled man like Bartimaeus? He wasn’t rich or famous. He wasn’t obviously politically useful. Bartimaeus was totally dependent on the kindness of strangers he couldn’t see to survive. And Jesus was on a mission. Luke wrote back in Chapter 9 that Jesus had “resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” Literally, he had set his face toward Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus was determined to go to the cross and suffer and die to pay the price for the sins of the world. And he was determined that on the third day, he would rise from the dead, just as God had promised. He was on his way to carry out the most important rescue mission in the history of the world — rescuing people from the power of sin and death. He wouldn’t have had time for Bartimaeus, right?
Luke 18:39-41 (NIV), “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!” 40 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.” Earlier in Chapter 18, Luke wrote about a parable of Jesus about a man who was not deluded about his own self-righteousness. He knew he was a sinner and needed forgiveness. He knew he needed a savior. So, he cried out to God to have mercy on him. He didn’t blame-shift or make excuses. He just cast himself upon the mercy of God, rightly believing that God was a merciful God. But Jesus said this man didn’t receive mere mercy. You see, mercy means not getting the negative consequences or punishment you deserve. In the parable, the man didn’t just get out of the punishment he deserved for his sins. Jesus said that God justified the man that day. To be justified means to be declared not guilty. He received so much more than mercy. He received a completely clean slate. He was forgiven by God, but he was justified, which means he was imputed/given righteousness. We would say he was clothed with the righteousness of Christ. He went home with a new and right relationship with God going on forever. Now here, just a few verses later, the parable is coming to life. Bartimaeus is the man who cried out for God’s mercy, but he sought the mercy of God through the man Jesus of Nazareth. But is he the one through whom God would pour out his grace, mercy, and love? The good news of the gospel is the announcement that, yes, Jesus is the promised one, the Messiah, the Son of David, the King of the Kingdom of God, the eternal Son of God come in the flesh. Of course, there’s something ironic about this whole scene. We have a blind man who rightly sees who Jesus is. His physical eyes might be closed, but his spiritual sight is working just fine. This is especially ironic since in the scene immediately before this, Luke has Jesus telling his disciples for a third time that he was going to Jerusalem to be delivered over to the Gentiles and that he would suffer and die, but on the third day rise again from the dead. But they couldn’t yet understand that he was speaking literally. They didn’t fully get it until it happened, and the Holy Spirit opened their hearts and minds to see the truth about Christ. At first, the crowd thought Jesus wouldn’t want to be interrupted by this man. They rebuke him and tell him to be quiet. But Bartimaeus is persistent. He doesn’t give up. He shouted all the more. And somehow, through the noise of the crowd, Jesus heard this man’s cries and ordered that he be brought before him. But then, Jesus asks what seems to be a strange question. “What do you want me to do for you?” Wouldn’t it have been obvious? Well, maybe or maybe not. When Jesus asks questions of people, it’s never to gain more information. It’s only ever to draw out what’s in someone’s heart so he can skillfully apply the truth in love. The man replied, “Lord, I want to see.”
Luke 18:42-43 (NIV), “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.” Can you imagine how Bartimaeus would’ve felt when he heard these words from Jesus, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” And then he opened his eyes and was able to see Jesus face to face? How would you have felt? Amazed? In shock? Immediately, the man “received his sight,” but then Luke says something interesting. He writes that as soon as the man was healed, he followed Jesus and praised God. He didn’t just receive the healing mercies of Jesus and go home. Or go apply for a job somewhere now that he wasn’t blind anymore. He’d never have to beg to survive again. Instead, he became a disciple of Jesus and started following him. His whole life became defined by his relationship with Jesus and his worship of God. And his life and healing served as a testimony, which was a blessing to others as well. “When all the people saw it, they also praised God.” And this would probably be enough for us as we consider why we should make room for more people in our church. But let’s consider one more story showing Jesus’ heart for people who are lost without him.
Luke 19:1-4 (NIV), “1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.” Now, Luke put these stories back to back for a reason. Bartimaeus was a poor man with no influence or opportunities. He didn’t have rich and powerful friends. Zacchaeus was the opposite. He was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. This means he would’ve had lots of influence and opportunities. He would have rich and powerful friends. Bartimaeus was totally reliant on the kindness of strangers for his survival. Zacchaeus had enough money he didn’t need help from anyone, which was good because he would not have been well-liked. As the chief tax collector, he would’ve been seen as an ally of the occupying Roman Empire and people knew he had gotten wealthy off the legal extortion that was Roman tax collection. Tax collectors were some of the bad guys of their day. But we’re obviously meant to compare and contrast these two men and their interactions with Jesus. There are many differences, but one similarity is that Bartimaeus was blind, and Zacchaeus was short, so neither could physically see Jesus. But they both knew they needed something from him and made a great effort to reach out to him. Bartimaeus kept crying out from the roadside. Zacchaeus potentially made a fool out of himself by climbing up a sycamore fig tree. But again, Jesus wasn’t in Jericho for no reason. He was on his way to fulfill his greatest mission. But he was willing to be interrupted by Bartimaeus. Maybe that was because he was disabled and poor. Would Jesus care for an able-bodied, rich man that no one liked? Someone who had grossly profited off other’s misfortune. He doesn’t deserve a second chance from Jesus, does he?
Luke 19:5-8 (NIV), “5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Well, Jesus was willing, again, to be interrupted. And he was willing to be interrupted by someone who it wasn’t obvious how he would benefit by helping. With Bartimaeus, he healed a poor blind man. With Zacchaeus, who was desperate to try and even see Jesus, Jesus saw him, he knew him, and invited himself over for dinner. Well, how would Zacchaeus respond (despite the mutterings of the people)? Zacchaeus would respond with a heart-changed gift of generosity and a desire for reconciliation — not just with one person or some people, but with all of the people he had defrauded. “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” But was this Zacchaeus trying to buy the approval of Jesus? If so, Jesus would know. He understands the human heart. But I think we have a good sign with the fact that Jesus invited himself over for dinner. Look at v. 9.
Luke 19:9-10 (NIV), “9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” A lot of people have a lot of respect for Jesus. This is true in and outside the church. I speak with a lot of people who aren’t Christians, who don’t believe the gospel, and who aren’t trying to follow the way of Jesus, who have a lot of respect for Jesus. And maybe that’s you today. You’re considering what it would mean to be a Christian. You’re considering the claims of Christianity. Well, v. 10 here in Luke Chapter 19 is like a job description that Jesus had for himself. Why did you come, Jesus? What was your purpose? What was your mission? What were you trying to accomplish in your time here on this earth? Well, he said, using the title he used most often for himself (Son of Man), he says, “I came to seek and to save the lost.” Now, friends, that says at least three things to us today. And this is where I’m going to close. The first thing this says to us is that God cares so much about people and our condition in separation from him because of sin and death that he was willing to send his son, Jesus, into this world to provide a way, to provide reconciliation, to make things right and allow people to not only be forgiven but to be justified, declared righteous and be with him in relationship with him forever. This is how much God cares. That’s one thing this says. The second thing this says is what Jesus’ mission is. It’s to seek and to save the lost. Jesus wasn’t just a great teacher whose mission was to educate people and make people wiser or smarter or more knowledgeable, even about theological things. Although Jesus was a brilliant teacher. Jesus didn’t only come to be a mighty prophet with miraculous powers from God to be spiritually impressive. Although he was, of course. But Jesus actually came, his mission was to save. He says, “…to seek and to save the lost.” So first, we see how much God cares that he would send his son into a broken world full of sinful people who need a savior. Second, it says a lot about the mission of Jesus that this was his mission to seek and to save the lost — he was the savior sent and promised by God. Third, and finally, these stories speak to how we, too, respond to him. We respond to his attention, care, grace, mercy, and healing by being willing to leave all behind and follow him to become his disciples and to let the whole sum of our lives and our testimonies be an offering of praise to God. Now, friends, if that’s what the whole Bible is about, and if that’s really what the gospel is, and (to a degree) how we respond to it — by faith in the person and work of Jesus and following him as his disciple — then what that means is that we as the people of God will be a growing people. We will grow. We will grow in the depths of our character. We will grow in the depths of our knowledge and understanding of who God is, and what he has done, and what he has promised for our future. We will grow in our unity together as a church. We will grow in our love for one another as we grow into the likeness of Christ. But we will also take on and adopt Jesus’ heart for the lost and his willingness to be interrupted by all people, rich/poor/blind/with sight/young/old. And to continue his ministry of offering the good news of Jesus Christ and the healing/forgiveness/love/joy/peace/and the whole life that is brought by faith in Jesus Christ. Good news does that. The gospel brings this growth in both width and depth. And if that’s true, we gotta make room. Things might get uncomfortable. Change will come. But it’s ok. It’s part of the process. It’s what you get when you join the procession of the saints who are following Jesus as he leads the way toward that heavenly city of Jerusalem. Not just to celebrate the Passover once again. But to be with him and enjoy him and one another forever in the kingdom where he is King and life is without end. Let us pray.
