“Lord, Have Mercy On Me That I May See”
by Pastor Edwin Lehmann on February 17, 2023 in Luke 18:31-43
Quinquagesima Sunday February 19, 2023
Text: Luke 18:31-43 Historic Series 23:2366
Theme: Lord, Have Mercy On Me That I May See.
It has been said that if only for one brief moment in time we could hear all the prayers that ascend to the Father’s house above from every corner of the world, we could not bear the painful sorrow of it all. The groans of the wounded and the sick; the gasps of the dying; the cries of the forsaken and the distressed – if we heard their many cries for help, we could not bear the painful sorrow of it all. Only the almighty and merciful God can bear such a burden. To His glory He not only hears but He also can help. The hand that wounds knows how to bind and heal each broken heart.
So it is that He invites us in His Word: “Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Ps.50:15). And again, He assured His people: “Before (you) call, I will answer; while (you) are still speaking, I will hear” (Is.65:24). Only He is able to bear the painful sorrow of it all, and only He in His mercy can help.
The blind beggar in our text knew this. But more than simply knowing, he believed it. So it was that when Jesus passed by him on the road to Jericho, the man lifted his voice in prayer, loudly calling: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” When the crowd tried to hush him, he cried even louder: “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus asked what he wanted. The blind man replied: “Lord, that I may see.” The opportunity for divine help was at hand and the blind man would not let it get away from him.
Oh, that we would be quick to cry out with the beggar in all our needs. Persistent in faith, never letting a heavenly opportunity pass us by, for it may only come but once. In eagerness of faith seize it.
I. The opportunity comes (to see).
What would you take for your eyes? Would you be willing to sell them or give them away? I’m sure not! This beggar for many years, possibly from birth, did not have the opportunity to see. Day after day he sat by the roadside in darkness, begging for a few coins from each passer-by, just a few coins to stave off the pangs of cold and hunger. Dreary were his days, lonely his nights, few his friends. Blindness and poverty combined for a picture of earthly misery.
But this day as he sat in his place, he heard the murmur of voices approaching. Then the tramp of hundreds of footsteps betrayed the fact that a great crowd was approaching. “What is this?” he asked. “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” Here was the blind man’s one opportunity to see. He had heard of Jesus, His mighty words and works. But He was always far away, up in Capernaum, over in Jerusalem, down in Samaria, on the other side of the Jordan. But today Jesus was coming to his Jericho. In fact, Jesus was even now passing by, in reach of his voice. He seized the opportunity and cried, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
The crowd was less concerned of his opportunity and hushed him, even rebuked him for his cries. Ah, they didn’t feel his wretchedness; they didn’t understand his pain. They lacked the type of Christian love which Paul described in the Epistle Lesson: “Love is patient, love is kind…it is not rude…it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1Co.13:4f). Perhaps if they understood and were of such a faith, they would not have been so cruel. But they lacked the understanding and faith of the blind man otherwise they would never have stood in his way to the Savior.
Jesus was never to pass this way again. Even at that moment, He was on His way to Jerusalem, where, as He told the disciples, “Everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him, insult Him, spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him. On the third day He will rise again.” But the disciples didn’t understand. They did not see with the eyes of faith who Jesus fully was. The crowd did not appear to see either. But this blind man saw with the eyes of his heart for He cried out to Jesus for help from his physical ailment: “Lord, have mercy on me that I may see!” He seized the opportunity and would not be deterred from approaching the Savior.
Have you ever thought of yourself as a blind beggar sitting by the roadside? Could you for just a moment imagine yourself in such a hopeless and helpless condition of darkness? What if you were stripped of everything worthwhile in life – your ability to read and learn, to see and work, stripped of your home, savings, and fine clothing, your church, your friends – stripped of your sight? It would be a fearful condition.
Yet, realize this is just the picture that the Scriptures draw of us before God in our natural, spiritual condition. Sin blinds us towards Him. Sin robs us of the eternal things He would have us enjoy in life with Him. Yes, sometimes it even robs people of physical blessings, like sight for this man in our text. Blindness does not exist in God’s perfect world. But it does in this fallen world. It’s not a happy or flattering picture. In our natural, unconverted condition, we are poor, blind, and helpless – “dead in our trespasses and sins.”
In the midst of spiritual darkness, thank God that Jesus of Nazareth does not leave us but still passes by. He comes near to us in His words and promises. Do you see Him passing by your soul every time you hear and read His Word, every time you come to His Holy Sacrament? Just this week He will be drawing near us again as He passes by on His way to the cross during the Lenten Season. He passes by us continually and His arm is never so short that He does not reach out to help and save the sinner who is lost and blind in sin and cries out to Him.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near,” Isaiah writes (55:6). “Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation,” Paul declares (2Co.6:20). The opportunity comes to see in Him what we need. Seize it like the blind man did.
II. When the opportunity comes, in eagerness of faith seize it.
Jesus of Nazareth passing by – that meant something to this blind man. It brought to his mind’s eye the glorious promises of God in the O.T.; the promise of the women’s Seed who would bruise the serpent’s head; the Lamb of God to be slain for the sins of the world, the great Prophet who would preach good tidings to the poor, release to the captives, healing to the sick, the opening of eyes to the blind. The name “Jesus of Nazareth” brought these thoughts to him. So the blind man called out for help: “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
With those words he revealed that he saw more deeply than most who Jesus was. Not just a man mighty in word and in deed, he saw the Messiah, the promised Son of David, capable to heal and to save eternally. He saw the Savior from sin. That explains his persistent cries. In all this wide, wide world there was no one to help except the Lord Jesus. He who had helped so many others in so many different ways would surely not reject him. Therefore, when the opportunity comes, in eagerness of faith seize it like he did. Lord, Have Mercy on Me that I May See You more clearly.
If only we always saw our spiritual blindness more clearly and felt its wretchedness as keenly as this beggar did, we too would in eagerness of faith seize the opportunity to cry out long and loudly, Lord, Have Mercy on Me. And He would say, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, That I May See in You, my Savior.” He would grant it, like here, saying, “Receive your sight.”
How wonderful Jesus must have looked to this blind beggar. Thousands look upon Jesus, but few see the love, kindness, mercy, and grace in His divine countenance like this man did.
Pray that the Savior who opened his eyes will open the eyes of your understanding this Lenten Season to see Jesus more deeply in His role as the Savior. May He help us to trust in Him with all our heart, rejoice in His deed of love, and take comfort in His redemptive work now and in eternity. Then, we too will behold the true beauty of the Christ who died and rose again to life for all.
So, in eagerness of faith seize the opportunity now for the Lord Jesus is passing by in Word and Sacrament. God grant that He give us sight to see Him in deeper faith, for His name’s sake. Amen.
Quinquagesima Sunday – Pre-Lent 3 February 19, 2023
Welcome in our Savior’s name. We are glad to have you worshiping with us today and pray that God’s Word shall open the eyes of your heart to see Him more deeply as the Savior. He is the One we look to in faith and call upon in every need.
Today is the last Sunday of the pre-Lenten season, exactly 50 days before Easter. This Sunday also marks the entrance into the Passion season which begins in 3 days on Ash Wednesday. Keeping that in mind, take note of the opening of the sermon text today when Jesus tells His disciples, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.”
In His determination to go to Jerusalem where the cross awaited, we see displayed His great love for us. That love is also made evident in His healing of the blind man who called upon Him for mercy and in His patient dealing with the disciples who just could not “see” His ultimate mission of dying and rising to life again for our forgiveness, life, and salvation.
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Lord, Open Our Eyes to See You as the Merciful Savior
The Preparation
Opening Thoughts on the Service
The Entrance Hymn: “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” #384
Order of Worship: Service of Word and Prayer pages 266-267
The Ministry of the Word
(The Lessons for the Day are taken from the Historic Pericope Series of the Christian Church.)
The Responses following each lesson are on page 267.
Jeremiah 8:4-9 The Lord laments His people’s spiritual blindness. They do not see their need for repentance and turning to Him for healing. They should know better, for they have His Word. But they refuse to listen and have rejected it. Even the rest of creation has better understanding of their Maker.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 In speaking of the gifts which the Holy Spirit bestows on His Church, the Apostle Paul testifies that Christian love is the greatest gift. All other noble qualities and endeavors are worthless unless they are carried out in Christ-like love. Such love is rooted in the Savior and reflects His redeeming love towards us.
Hymn Response: “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” #730
Matthew 17:1-9 For a brief moment in time Jesus’ appearance transformed to show His glory as God’s Son. Two of the prophets of old, Moses and Elijah, spoke with Him. The disciples were so thrilled that they wanted to stay in sight of His glory. But they could not tarry there for Jesus had to move on from that Mount of Glory to redeem us.
The Sermon Hymn: “How Good, Lord, to Be Here” #389
The Sermon Text: Luke 18:31-43 (With the time of His suffering and death right before Him, Jesus told His disciples explicitly what would happen to Him. Then He set out for Jerusalem. Coming to Jericho, He healed a blind man who called for His help as David’s Son, the Messiah.)
“Lord, Have Mercy On Me That I May See”
Our Response to the Word
The Confession of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed page 268
Prayer of the Church
The Offering
The Lord Blesses Us
Preparation for Holy Communion: Corporate Confession and Absolution pages 278-280
The Institution and Distribution of Holy Communion
Prayer for Peace and the Blessing page 281
The Closing Hymn: “Jesus, I Will Ponder Now” st.1&6 420
Silent Prayer
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The Organist: Jane Rips is absent today, seeing to her mother’s needs in Iowa.
The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann
Point to Ponder: “The blind man stands firm in faith, presses through all obstacles, and triumphs. He would not let the whole world sever him from his confidence in Jesus, not even his own conscience. Therefore, he obtained the answer of his prayer and received Christ, so that Christ stood and commanded Him to be brought to Him. He offered to do for him whatever he wished.
So it goes with all who hold firmly only to the Word of God, close their eyes and ears against the devil, the world, and themselves, and act just as if they and God were the only ones in heaven and on earth.”
— Martin Luther on The Faith and Love of the Blind Man
Quinquagesima Sunday with the Transfiguration – Historic Series
Old Testament Lesson: Jeremiah 8:4-9 God’s People Do Not “See” Him
4 You are to tell them that this is what the Lord says: Do people fall and not get up again? If a person turns away, doesn’t he turn back again? 5 Then why has this people turned away? Why is Jerusalem always turning away? They hang on to deception and refuse to let it go. 6 I have paid attention and listened, but they do not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness. No one asks, “What have I done?” Everyone pursues his own course, like a horse charging into battle.
7 Even the stork in the sky knows her seasons. The turtledove, the swift, and the thrush observe the right time for their migration. But my people do not recognize the just judgments of the Lord.
8 How can you say, “We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us,” when in reality the lying pen of the scribes has changed it into a lie? 9 Your wise men will be put to shame. They will be shattered and captured. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have?
Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 13 Look, Love Is the Most Excellent Way
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and know all the mysteries and have all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away everything I own, and if I give up my body that I may be burned but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy. It does not brag. It is not arrogant. 5 It does not behave indecently. It is not selfish. It is not irritable. It does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 It does not rejoice over unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never comes to an end.
But if there are prophetic gifts, they will be done away with; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part, 10 but when that which is complete has come, that which is partial will be done away with.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 Now we see indirectly using a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I was fully known.
13 So now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 17:1-9 The Disciples See Jesus’ Transfiguration
1Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James; and he led them up onto a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured in front of them. His face was shining like the sun. His clothing became as white as the light. 3 Just then, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make three shelters here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them. Just then, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down and were terrified. 7 Jesus approached and as he touched them, he said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they opened their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) copyright © 2019
Calendar & Announcements for Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
A member congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue), Springfield, MO 65810
www.zionluthchurch.com Church phone: 417.887.0886
email: revelehmann@gmail.com Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244
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Feb.19 |
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Feb.21 |
Wednesday
Feb.22 |
Thursday
Feb.23 |
Friday
Feb.24 |
Sat.
Feb.25 |
Next Sun.
Feb.26 |
| 9:00 am
Divine Worship Service with Holy Communion online -Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Bible Study
Quinquagesima (50) |
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4:00 pm
Confirmation
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11 am
Midweek Bible Class 5:45 pm Supper 6:30 pm Midweek Lent 1 We Preach Christ Crucified |
Lou Schulz Funeral:
1 pm visitation 2 pm service
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9:00 am
Divine Worship Service online – Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Bible Study
Lent 1 – Invocavit |
A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today
Jesus brought healing and comfort to those who were sick and sorrowful. He provided for people’s needs here on earth. But most importantly He came as the promised Savior from sin and its damning consequences. Determined to have mercy on us in our greatest need, He came to heal us of our spiritual sickness, to dry our tears, and to lead us to our heavenly home.
The Gospel Lesson: Luke 18:31-43 (answers are found on the back side)
- What do we learn about Jesus from His healing of the blind man?
- What lesson can we learn from the blind man’s reaction first to Jesus and then towards the miracle?
Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Greg Miller; William & Laurie Moon; Pauline Jaeger; Kirsten Jaster (Laurie Moon’s sister); Greg Pierson (the Long’s son-in-law); Libya, Jodi Milam’s granddaughter; Lucille Huston; Barbara Long; Lois Wiese; Barbara Breidel; the family of Lou Schulz.
Meditations next issue of daily devotions begins next Sunday. Copies for family and friends will be found in the narthex.
Christian Funeral Service for Lou Schulz will be held this coming Friday, February 24, at Zion. Presently, a visitation is scheduled for 1 pm with the worship service following at 2 pm. The arrangements are being made through Walnut Lawn Funeral Home.
Looking Ahead to Lent The Lenten Season begins this coming Wednesday, February 22. Our suppers and services at Zion are held on Thursday evenings; at Peace in Marshfield on Wednesday evenings. The Lenten theme this year is drawn from Paul’s words, “We Preach Christ Crucified” (1 Cor. 1:23). The events and people of the Passion History are worked into Paul’s grand theme. This week’s focus is The Foolish Wisdom of the Cross.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, February 23 – Midweek Lenten Service 1 at 6:30 pm; a Supper will precede the service at 5:45 pm
The Week in Review
Last Sunday Worship: 30; Bible Class 23; Midweek Bible Class: 5; Offerings: $1,450.
Next Sunday’s Lessons:
Lent 1 – Invocavit: Genesis 22:1-14; 2 Corinthians 6:1-10; Matthew 4:1-11 (Historic Pericope Series)
Answers to Today’s Gospel Lesson Brief Study:
- As with many of Jesus’ miracles, we see in this miracle that our Lord is merciful. He cares for the needs of those who turn to Him in faith, recognizing and trusting in Him for who He truly is. We also see that He has power over sickness and death. He is David’s Son, that is Christ, the Savior.
- At this time Jesus was on the road to Jerusalem for the last time. As He had told His disciples, He was going to suffer and die on the cross. He had already explained to His disciples that following Him meant bearing crosses in His name. Following Jesus meant a life of humble service. Having received his sight, Bartimaeus, the blind man, did not hesitate. He immediately followed Jesus in response to our Savior’s merciful love.
This week I am praying for……
Our overall theme for the midweek Lenten services this year is: We Preach Christ Crucified. Each week our sermon text is taken from one of the New Testament Epistles. Often midweek Lenten series are based on Gospel readings taken from the Passion History, and occasionally from Old Testament pictures of Christ. This year our lessons will be taken from the Epistles. Even though our lessons will be taken from the Epistles, the events and people involved in Jesus’ Passion will be woven into them as examples of the truths taught in the lesson. May God help us gain insights into our lives in Him and strengthen our faith so that as we go in life…
We Preach Christ Crucified
# 1: The Foolish Wisdom of the Cross – 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
# 2: Justified by Grace Alone through Faith Alone – Romans 3:21-26
# 3: More Precious than Life – Philippians.3:7-11
# 4: The Reason to Endure – Hebrews 12:1-3
# 5: Peace with God through Our Lord Jesus Christ – Romans 5:1-11
# 6: No Longer Dead, but Alive – Colossians 2:13-15
