SermonStudio

Theme:

Faith takes some doing on the part of the person.

Summary:

Bartimaeus tells his story. He was healed by Jesus and he is anxious to spread the good news about Jesus. A monologue.

Playing Time
5 minutes
Setting

Your church
Props

None
Costumes
First century, beggar
Time

The present
Cast

BARTIMAEUS






BARTIMAEUS: (ENTERS) So, what do you think? About me, I mean? What do you think?

Oh, wait a minute. They told me you would be people from Jericho. You're not from Jericho, are you? Well, that's the problem then. You don't know me. That explains why you didn't recognize me. I'm Bartimaeus. I used to be called blind Bartimaeus. Now I'm just known as Bartimaeus.

People who know me are shocked to see that I'm not blind anymore. Then I get to tell them about Jesus. It's a great way to get the opportunity to talk to people about the Savior.

So that's what I'm going to do here, now. I'm going to tell you about Jesus. Don't tell me you've heard it all. You haven't. With Jesus there's always something new.

I was going to tell you my story anyway. I can't stop talking about it. Believe me, you'd be the same way.

I was a beggar. I always sat by Jericho's western gate alongside the road. I had been there from sunup to sundown every day except the Sabbath since I was three years old. I've been blind since I was three. It was an accident. Anyway, there I was in my usual spot when Jesus came along.

I want to tell you something, it wasn't just Jesus. He had a regular parade going there. People were all over the place. You see, Jesus was going up to Jerusalem and that meant he was going to go head to head with the temple authorities there. People always like a good fight and they figured that Jesus was enough of a prophet to give them a good fight.

I yelled out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" I mean I yelled, I screamed. Otherwise I wouldn't have been heard above all that crowd noise.

Some people tried to hush me up, but here was my only chance. I knew Jesus could heal my blind eyes. I had heard all the stories. He had healed a lot of people. Why not me?

You know it's a strange thing, but the longer a person is sick or has some problem like I did, well, it's like people just accept you as you are and expect you to stay that way. Well, I didn't. I knew Jesus could heal me. So, I yelled louder. "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

You see, I went to synagogue every Sabbath and so I knew my scriptures, that's why I called Jesus "Son of David." He was in the royal line, you know. You didn't know that? Well, a lot of people didn't know that. But I knew. I studied the scriptures. Here was Jesus, the Promised One, the Messiah, my only hope.

Calling him "Son of David" got his attention because he'd never been called that before -- never. So he listened.

Jesus called me to him and one of the disciples came over to me and said, "Take courage, arise! He is calling for you." Good words. I'm telling you they were encouraging words.

It took courage just to get up. But I did. I jumped up. I did and it has changed my life. I got up and threw off my cloak. I threw it away because that was the way I caught the coins thrown my way. I was never going back to being a beggar again. Jesus was calling me. I was about to be healed.

I don't know if you know what begging does for a person's soul. It kills something in you. You become a whining, cheap imitation of a human being. I was that person. And I wasn't going back -- ever.


I walked straight to Jesus. All my life others had led me to my begging place alongside the road, but now I walked without any help. I was determined. Jesus had called me. I had the faith to walk to him.


I went to Jesus and he asked me, "What do you want me to do for you?" Now, you may think that's a strange question, but it's honest and I answered it honestly.

I had been a beggar as long as I could remember, but now I wasn't begging, I was answering in faith, "Teacher, I want to regain my sight." You know what? I could have asked for anything. Here he was, the son of God, asking me what I wanted. I wanted my sight again. I wanted to see things like I had before. To be a man who could work and support a family. I wanted to use my talents for the Lord, Jesus. I wanted my sight back.


Jesus said, "Go your way, your faith has made you well." That was what I wanted to hear. But I didn't go my way. I went his way. I followed him. I still do.

Who here can say the same? Follow him in faith as I did. That's all you have to do. Jesus will take care of you. Follow him.