There are two sets of eyes, physical and spiritual. So how good is your eyesight? Billy Graham dives into the Gospel of Mark in this 1988 message from Hamilton, Ontario. Watch more #MondayNightClassics every Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern.
FROM OUR ARCHIVES…
THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.
[applause]
TONIGHT I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT
A BLIND MAN IN THE BIBLE
THAT CAME IN CONTACT
WITH JESUS.
IT’S FOUND IN THE
10TH CHAPTER OF MARK’S GOSPEL,
THE 10TH CHAPTER
OF MARK’S GOSPEL.
BEGINNING WITH VERSE 46,
“AND THEY CAME TO JERICHO.
“AND AS HE WENT OUT OF JERICHO,
“WITH HIS DISCIPLES AND
A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE,
“BLIND BARTIMAEUS,
THE SON OF TIMAEUS
“SAT BY THE HIGHWAYSIDE
BEGGING.
“AND WHEN HE HEARD THAT
IT WAS JESUS OF NAZARETH,
“HE BEGAN TO CRY OUT,
AND HE SAID
“JESUS, THOU SON OF DAVID,
HAVE MERCY ON ME.
“AND MANY CHARGED HIM
THAT HE SHOULD HOLD HIS PEACE.
“BUT HE CRIED THE MORE
A GREAT DEAL,
“THOU SON OF DAVID
HAVE MERCY ON ME.
“AND JESUS STOOD STILL AND
COMMANDED HIM TO BE CALLED
“AND THEY CALLED
THE BLIND MAN SAYING UNTO HIM,
“BE OF GOOD COMFORT,
RISE, HE CALLETH THEE.
“AND HE, CASTING AWAY
HIS GARMENTS,
“ROSE AND CAME TO JESUS.
“AND JESUS ANSWERED
AND SAID UNTO HIM,
“WHAT WILT THOU THAT
I SHOULD DO UNTO THEE?
“THE BLIND MAN SAID UNTO HIM,
“LORD, THAT I MAY
RECEIVE MY SIGHT.”
BUT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE TODAY
THAT ARE JUST LIKE THAT.
I READ THE OTHER DAY THAT
THERE ARE 42 MILLION PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD WHO ARE BLIND.
HEALTH AUTHORITIES ESTIMATE
THAT FROM ALL CAUSES
HALF A MILLION CHILDREN
BECOME IRREVERSIBLY BLIND
AROUND THE WORLD EACH YEAR.
AND THIS IS A GREAT TRAGEDY
AND MANY PEOPLE AND COUNTRIES
AND HEALTH AGENCIES ARE
WORKING TO TURN IT AROUND.
A TRAGEDY OF EQUAL OR
GREATER PROPORTION, THOUGH,
IS THE SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
THAT PEOPLE HAVE.
BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS
YOU HAVE TWO SETS OF EYES.
YOU HAVE PHYSICAL EYES,
IN WHICH YOU CAN SEE,
AND YOU HAVE SPIRITUAL EYES.
AND YOU CAN SEE PHYSICALLY,
BUT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO SEE SPIRITUALLY.
AND SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS AFFECTS
EVERYONE IN THIS AUDIENCE.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT
THAT YOU CAN SEE ME UP HERE,
BUT YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY BLIND,
AND IT’S A BLINDNESS THAT KEEPS
YOU FROM REALLY KNOWING GOD.
NOW BARTIMAEUS
WAS A BLIND MAN,
AND HE CAME OUT OF
THE LITTLE PLACE WHERE HE HAD
SPENT THE NIGHT AND
HE NEVER HAD ANY HOPE
THAT HE WOULD EVER
BE ABLE TO SEE.
AND HE WOULD GO OUTSIDE
THE GATE OF JERICHO
AND HE WOULD BEG FROM
THE PEOPLE THAT PASSED BY.
PEOPLE ON THE WAY TO MARKET
OR PEOPLE COMING
TO THEIR BUSINESS THAT DAY,
AND HE WOULD SAY,
“HELP THE BLIND,
“HELP THE BLIND,
HELP THE BLIND,
“HELP THE BLIND!”
HE HAD HIS CANE,
HE HAD AN OLD SHAGGY COAT,
HE HAD BEGGED SOME BREAD
FROM A WOMAN
AS HE HAD GONE ON HIS WAY
AND HE GOT SOME MILK
AND THERE HE SAT WITH
OTHER BLIND PEOPLE,
AND OTHER BEGGARS
AND THEY WERE BEGGING,
HOPING THAT
THE PEOPLE WOULD THROW THEM
A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY
OR GIVE THEM SOMETHING.
AND SO I LOOK AT BARTIMAEUS
AND I SEE MYSELF OR I SEE YOU.
THE BIBLE SAYS
HE IS BLIND SPIRITUALLY.
AND OUR WORLD LEADERS
ARE GROPING.
I LISTEN TO SOME OF
THESE THINGS ON TELEVISION
FROM SOME OF OUR WORLD LEADERS
AND I’M AMAZED AT
THE SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.
AND I HAVE TALKED TO
SOME OF THEM PRIVATELY,
AND I JUST WANT TO REACH OVER
AND GRAB THEM AND SHAKE THEM,
AND TELL THEM THAT
THEY NEED CHRIST,
BECAUSE CHRIST COULD
OPEN THEIR EYES.
AND I THINK ONLY
THE TRUE BELIEVERS
REALLY KNOW WHAT’S WRONG
WITH THE WORLD,
BECAUSE WHAT’S WRONG
WITH THE WORLD
IS A SPIRITUAL PROBLEM.
NOW THIS BARTIMAEUS
COULD NOT SEE HIS RAGS,
HE COULDN’T SEE HIS FILTH,
HE COULDN’T SEE EVEN BEAUTY.
AND FROM TIME TO TIME WE READ
OF SOMEONE LIVING IN A HOUSE
OR APARTMENT THAT’S FILLED
WITH EMPTY CONTAINERS
AND REFUSE AND GARBAGE,
AND THE PERSON LIVING THERE
MAY APPEAR TO LEAD
A PERFECTLY NORMAL LIFE.
AND THEY ARE WELL DRESSED.
I KNOW A HOME LIKE THAT
RIGHT NOW
WHERE THE LADY IS WELL DRESSED,
THE HUSBAND IS A DOCTOR,
AND THEY ARE RESPECTABLE.
THEY’RE FINE PEOPLE,
AND WHEN YOU SEE THEM OUT
YOU THINK THEY ARE THE MOST
WONDERFUL COUPLE IN THE WORLD,
BUT IF YOU EVER GET INTO
THEIR HOUSE, IT IS A MESS.
IT LOOKS LIKE A HOG PEN.
[laughter]
AND THAT’S THE WAY IT IS
WITH SO MANY OF US.
WE APPEAR ALL RIGHT
ON THE OUTSIDE,
BUT DOWN IN OUR HEARTS
AND IN OUR SOULS
WE KNOW THAT SOMETHING
IS WRONG,
AND FOR SOME REASON
THE PERSON DOESN’T SEEM
TO EVEN CARE.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
“BUT THE NATURAL MAN,”
THAT’S THE ORDINARY MAN,
THE MAN BEFORE HE COMES
TO CHRIST,
“RECEIVETH NOT THE THINGS
OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD
“FOR THEY ARE FOOLISHNESS
UNTO HIM.
“NEITHER CAN HE KNOW THEM
“BECAUSE THEY ARE
SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.”
AND IT SEEMS FOOLISH FOR ME
TO STAND HERE AND TELL YOU
THAT BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST DIED
ON A CROSS 2,000 YEARS AGO
AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD THAT
THAT CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON
YOUR LIFE TODAY AND NOW.
AND GIVE YOU ASSURANCE AND
PEACE AND JOY THAT YOU NEVER
KNEW BEFORE AND HELP SETTLE
MANY OF THE PROBLEMS
IN RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU FACE
AND GIVE YOU A BURDEN FOR
YOUR FELLOW MAN,
BUT IT’S TRUE
AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD
CALL THAT FOOLISH.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT
“THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL
“IS FOOLISHNESS TO THEM
THAT PERISH.”
YOU SEE, YOU ARE BLINDED
BY THE GOD OF THIS WORLD.
NOW WHO IS THE GOD OF
THIS WORLD?
JESUS CALLED HIM THE DEVIL.
THE PRINCE AND POWER
OF THE AIR.
THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD.
THERE’S ANOTHER FORCE
IN THE WORLD.
AND THAT OTHER FORCE HAS
SUPERNATURAL POWER, TOO,
THAT OTHER FORCE
IS THE DEVIL.
AND THERE IS
A CONFLICT GOING ON,
THE CONFLICT OF THE AGES,
BETWEEN THE FORCES OF GOD
AND THE FORCES OF THE DEVIL.
YOU SAY,
“WHY DOES GOD ALLOW THAT?”
THAT IS A GREAT MYSTERY.
IT’S A MYSTERY AS TO WHERE
THE DEVIL CAME FROM.
NOW THE BIBLE TELLS US
IN THE 28th CHAPTER OF EZEKIEL ;
IT ALSO TELLS US IN
THE 14th CHAPTER OF ISAIAH ,
WE GET A LITTLE
PICTURE OF IT
AND WE GET OTHER PICTURES AND
GLIMPSES THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE,
BUT THERE IS A DEVIL.
NOW HE DOESN’T RULE IN HELL,
HE’S NEVER BEEN TO HELL.
HE’S ALIVE,
HE SETTLED ON THIS PLANET.
NOW YOU CAN CALL EVIL
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO
BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE
IS EVIL IN THE WORLD.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT
SOMETHING IS WRONG,
BUT WE DON’T KNOW WHAT.
NOW THE BIBLE TELLS US
THAT BACK OF IT ALL
IS THE DEVIL.
YOU SAY, “BUT WHY DOESN’T
GOD KILL THE DEVIL
“AND GET IT ALL OVER WITH?”
WELL, SOMEDAY GOD IS
GOING TO DO JUST THAT.
HE’S NOT GOING TO KILL HIM;
HE’S GOING TO THROW HIM
INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.
BUT, THAT DAY
HASN’T COME YET,
BUT THE DEVIL HAS ALREADY
SUFFERED A GREAT DEFEAT.
AND THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT
VICTORY BY GOD AT THE CROSS.
THE CROSS LOOKED LIKE
A DEFEAT FOR GOD,
BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY A DEFEAT
FOR THE DEVIL.
AND YOU AND I CAN ENTER INTO
THE VICTORY THAT CHRIST WON
AT THE CROSS WHEN
WE COME TO KNOW HIM.
BUT ‘TIL THEN, THE GOD OF
THIS WORLD HAS BLINDED OUR EYES
SO OUR EYES ARE
SUPERNATURALLY BLINDED,
AND THAT’S WHY ONLY
THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN LIFT
THOSE BLINDFOLDS THAT ARE
ON YOUR EYES JUST NOW.
HE WAS NOT ONLY BLIND,
THIS MAN, BUT HE WAS POOR.
AND WE READ ABOUT
THE POVERTY IN THE WORLD TODAY
AND IT BREAKS OUR HEARTS.
MANY OF US ARE SUFFERING
TONIGHT FROM SPIRITUAL POVERTY.
AND THEN THIS MAN WAS NOT
ONLY BLIND AND POOR,
BUT HE WAS HELPLESS.
BARTIMAEUS EXPECTED TO DIE
IN HIS BLINDNESS.
NO ONE COULD HEAL
THAT KIND OF BLINDNESS.
BUT THERE WAS RAY OF HOPE
TO BARTIMAEUS.
BARTIMAEUS HAD HEARD MANY
RUMORS OF THIS STRANGER
FROM GALILEE THAT WAS GOING UP
AND DOWN THE COUNTRY
HEALING PEOPLE,
AND HELPING PEOPLE AND
PREACHING TO PEOPLE.
AND HE HEARD THE APPROACH OF
A GREAT CROWD OF PEOPLE.
HIS EARS WERE VERY KEEN
AND HE COULD HEAR THEM.
HE HEARD THE CHILDREN,
HE HEARD THE PEOPLE
TALKING AMONG THEMSELVES,
AND HE SAID, “WHAT’S GOING ON,
WHAT’S GOING ON?”
NOBODY WOULD TELL HIM
AND THE CROWD WAS GETTING
CLOSER AND CLOSER.
AND HE GRABBED THE SKIRT OF
A FELLOW THAT WAS PASSING BY,
AND HE SAID, “TELL ME, WHO
IS THIS PASSING THROUGH TOWN?”
AND THIS STRANGER THAT
NO ONE KNOWS HIS NAME
TURNED AND SAID, “JESUS OF
NAZARETH PASSETH BY.”
AND BARTIMAEUS
THOUGHT TO HIMSELF,
“JESUS OF NAZARETH…
I’VE HEARD ABOUT HIM.
“I’VE HEARD THAT
HE CAN HEAL PEOPLE,
“THAT HE CAN HELP PEOPLE.
“MAYBE HE COULD HELP ME.”
YOU KNOW THERE ONLY COMES
A FEW TIMES IN OUR LIVES
WHEN JESUS OF NAZARETH
PASSES BY
AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
LIKE WE HAVE TONIGHT
TO RECEIVE HIM.
YOU SEE, PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN PRAYING
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
HAS BEEN WORKING
AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE
ALREADY RECEIVED CHRIST.
AND WHAT AN HOUR AND WHAT
A MOMENT FOR YOU TO COME.
THIS STRANGER GAVE HIM
THE MESSAGE:
“JESUS OF NAZARETH
IS PASSING BY.”
I REMEMBER THE STORY OF
THE SURGEON GENERAL OF PORTUGAL,
A FORMER SURGEON GENERAL,
AND HE WAS WALKING DOWN
THE STREET ONE DAY
AND A PIECE OF PAPER
STUCK TO HIS FOOT.
HE WENT HOME, HE PULLED IT
OFF OF HIS SHOE
AND LOOKED AT IT AND
IT WAS A GOSPEL TRACT,
AND HE DECIDED TO READ IT,
AND HE READ IT.
AND TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT
HE WAS CONVERTED TO CHRIST
AND BECAME
A GREAT CHRISTIAN LEADER
AND A GREAT BIBLE TEACHER.
JUST A SIMPLE LITTLE
WITNESS LIKE THAT.
GOD CAN USE ALL OF THOSE
THINGS AND THAT’S WHY
WE OUGHT TO ALWAYS BE FAITHFUL
IN OUR WITNESS BECAUSE
YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THAT
WAITRESS IN THE RESTAURANT,
OR THAT PERSON THAT
YOU MEET IN YOUR WORK–
THEY’LL WATCH YOUR LIFE,
OF COURSE,
TO SEE IF YOU’RE BACKING IT UP
BY THE WAY YOU LIVE.
JESUS HAS BEEN PASSING BY
IN HAMILTON.
JESUS HAS BEEN PASSING BY
IN THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE.
HE MAY BE PASSING BY
IN YOUR HOME;
HE MAY BE PASSING BY
IN THE ROOM
THAT YOU OCCUPY AT A HOTEL.
HE’S PASSING BY HERE
IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO.
AND IN DESPERATION,
BARTIMAEUS CRIED AT
THE TOP OF HIS VOICE,
“JESUS, THOU SON OF DAVID,
HAVE MERCY ON ME,
“HAVE MERCY ON ME!”
AND THE OTHER BEGGARS SAID,
“CLOSE YOUR MOUTH,
CLOSE YOUR MOUTH!
“THE MAGISTRATES WILL
HEAR ABOUT THIS
“AND THEY WILL COME
AND PUT US IN PRISON!”
BUT HE KEPT ON CRYING OUT.
THIS WAS HIS ONE MOMENT,
THIS WAS HIS ONE CHANCE.
JESUS WAS THERE AND HE WAS
GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
AND THE OTHERS SAID
“KEEP STILL, BARTIMAEUS,
“WHO WANTS TO HEAR ANYTHING
“FROM A POOR OLD BEGGAR
LIKE YOU?”
BUT THE MORE THEY REBUKED HIM,
THE MORE HE CRIED OUT,
AND I WANT YOU TO NOTICE
SEVERAL THINGS ABOUT IT.
FIRST HE CRIED
FOR THE RIGHT THING:
HE CRIED FOR MERCY.
HE NEEDED OTHER THINGS,
BUT THE THING HE NEEDED
MOST OF ALL WAS CHRIST.
HE NEEDED GOD,
“HAVE MERCY UPON ME,
YOU SON OF DAVID.”
HAVE MERCY UPON ME.
THAT’S WHAT WE ALL NEED TONIGHT
IS GOD’S MERCY.
MERCY.
WHEN I STAND AT
THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
I’M NOT GOING TO SAY,
“LORD, I WANT JUSTICE.”
IF I GET JUSTICE,
I’M GOING TO END UP IN HELL.
I WANT MERCY.
AND GOD HAS OFFERED
HIS MERCY FROM THE CROSS
AND HE SAYS I WILL FORGIVE YOU
AND CLEANSE YOU
FROM EVERY SIN THAT YOU’VE
EVER COMMITTED.
YOU’LL NEVER HAVE TO FACE
THE JUDGMENT.
YOU WILL NEVER BE
IN DANGER OF HELL
IF YOU SURRENDER
YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST.
AND SO YOU HAVE TO SAY,
FIRST OF ALL, I AM A SINNER,
YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT TO YOURSELF
AND MAYBE TO OTHERS.
JUST LIKE AN ALCOHOLIC,
BEFORE YOU CAN HELP
AN ALCOHOLIC
THEY HAVE TO BE WILLING
TO SAY, “I AM AN ALCOHOLIC.”
BEFORE YOU CAN HELP
IN DRUG ADDICTION,
YOU HAVE TO SAY,
“I AM A DRUG ADDICT;
“I NEED HELP.”
AND WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST
YOU MUST SAY,
“I AM A SINNER,
I NEED HELP,
“AND, OH LORD GOD,
PLEASE HELP ME.”
AND THEN THE SECOND THING,
NOT ONLY DID HE CRY
FOR THE RIGHT THING,
BUT HE CRIED TO
THE RIGHT PERSON.
HE CRIED TO
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.
THE ONLY ONE IN ALL THE WORLD
THAT COULD HELP HIM
STOOD RIGHT THERE.
AND ALL OF HIS HOPES
WERE CENTERED IN HIM.
THE BIBLE SAYS, “NONE OTHER
NAME IS GIVEN AMONG MEN
“WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED,”
EXCEPT THROUGH THE NAME
OF JESUS.
TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?
THOU HAST THE WORDS
OF ETERNAL LIFE.
JESUS HAD SAID, “I’M THE WAY,
THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.
“NO MAN COMETH TO
THE FATHER BUT BY ME.”
AND THIS MAN, BARTIMAEUS
WAS COMING IN THE RIGHT WAY.
HE WAS COMING TO
THE RIGHT PERSON.
HE WAS COMING TO JESUS,
THE SON OF GOD.
AND HE CRIED AT THE RIGHT TIME,
JESUS WAS PASSING BY.
SUPPOSE HE HAD WAITED AND SAID,
“I’M GONNA SEE WHAT
THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES
“AND THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
HAVE TO SAY ABOUT HIM.
“I’LL WAIT UNTIL HE COMES
TO JERICHO AGAIN.”
JESUS NEVER CAME
TO JERICHO AGAIN.
HE MAY NEVER COME IN
THIS WAY AGAIN, LIKE THIS.
WHEN WILL WE EVER SEE
A SIGHT LIKE THIS
IN HAMILTON AGAIN?
IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE
THIS MANY PEOPLE CAME
AND HEARD THE GOSPEL AND
SO MANY PEOPLE WORKED
AND PRAYED AND BELIEVED
AS THEY’VE DONE HERE.
AND THE CHURCHES UNITED AND
COOPERATED, AS THEY’VE DONE.
AND GOD HAS BEEN SPEAKING
AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
FINDING CHRIST AND TONIGHT
YOU CAN FIND CHRIST.
NO, HE CALLED AT THAT MOMENT.
THE BIBLE SAYS,
“HE THAT HARDENS HIS HEART,
“BEING OFTEN REPROVED
SHALL SUDDENLY BE CUT OFF
“AND THAT WITHOUT REMEDY.”
IN OTHER WORDS
WHEN YOU HEAR THE GOSPEL
AND DO NOTHING ABOUT IT,
IT HARDENS YOUR HEART
A LITTLE BIT MORE.
GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT,
WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK TO YOU,
BUT YOU CAN’T HEAR HIM,
BECAUSE YOU GET DEAF.
THE BIBLE SAYS,
“EPHRAIM IS JOINED
TO HIS IDOLS LET HIM ALONE.”
THERE COMES A POINT,
I DON’T KNOW WHERE IT IS
OR WHEN IT IS,
BUT THERE’S A POINT
BEYOND WHICH YOU CAN GO.
THAT YOUR HEART IS SO HARD,
THAT EVEN THOUGH GOD WILL
STILL SPEAK, YOU CANNOT HEAR.
SO COME NOW WHILE YOU
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
THE GREAT GOVERNOR FELIX
TREMBLED
WHEN PAUL WAS SPEAKING
TO HIM ABOUT THE GOSPEL.
AND HE SAID,
“GO YOUR WAY, PAUL,
“WHEN I HAVE A MORE
CONVENIENT SEASON
“I’LL CALL FOR YOU.”
BUT HE NEVER HAD
A MORE CONVENIENT SEASON,
THAT WAS HIS MOMENT,
THAT WAS HIS HOUR BEFORE GOD
AND HE DIDN’T TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF IT.
THE BIBLE SAYS,
“NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME,
“NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.”
NOT TOMORROW, THERE MAY
NEVER BE A TOMORROW FOR YOU.
THIS MAY BE
THE MOMENT FOR YOU.
“HE THAT HARDENS HIS HEART,
BEING OFTEN REPROVED
“SHALL SUDDENLY BE CUT OFF.”
NOTICE HOW JESUS
MET HIS NEED.
HERE WAS A GREAT CROWD
OF PEOPLE,
AND WE HAVE A WAY TODAY
THAT WE THINK IN TERMS
OF GREAT CROWDS, THERE’S
A GREAT CROWD HERE TONIGHT,
18,000 PEOPLE,
I’M TOLD.
AND WE THINK IN TERMS
OF CROWDS,
WE THINK IN TERMS OF
FILLING OUR CHURCHES,
AND FILLING AN AUDITORIUM
OR HAVING A BIG CROWD
AT A BALL GAME.
WE THINK IN TERMS OF CROWDS,
BUT IT’S INTERESTING
NOT ONLY DID JESUS
PREACH TO THE CROWDS,
BUT THE GREATEST SERMONS
I THINK HE EVER PREACHED
WERE TO INDIVIDUALS.
HE STOPPED AND STOOD STILL
WHEN THIS BLIND MAN CALLED HIM.
A GREAT CROWD OF LEADERS
WERE AROUND HIM.
HE COULD HAVE SAID
“I DON’T HAVE TIME,
“I’M ON MY WAY TO JERUSALEM
“TO DIE FOR THE SINS
OF THE WORLD.”
BUT HE STOPPED ON HIS WAY
TO THE CROSS
TO HEAR THIS BEGGAR’S CRY.
HE STOPPED DYING ON THE CROSS
IN ORDER TO HEAR THAT THIEF SAY,
“REMEMBER ME WHEN THY COMEST
“TO THY KINGDOM.”
HE STOPPED WHEN A WOMAN
TOUCHED HIS GARMENT,
AND JESUS WILL STOP
FOR YOU TONIGHT.
BECAUSE YOU SEE,
HE SEES YOU TONIGHT
AS THOUGH YOU’RE THE ONLY PERSON
IN ALL THE WORLD.
HE DOESN’T SEE YOU AS A PART
OF THIS GREAT CROWD.
HE SEES YOU AS YOU ARE.
HE KNOWS ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTS
AND ALL OF YOUR INTENTS
AND ALL THE STRUGGLES
THAT’S GOING ON INSIDE OF YOU.
AND THE BIBLE SAYS
HE LOVES YOU.
AND HE DIED FOR YOU,
AND IF YOU’D BEEN THE ONLY ONE
IN THE WHOLE WORLD,
HE WOULD HAVE DIED
FOR YOU.
AND JESUS NOT ONLY STOPPED,
BUT HE SAID, “CALL HIM.”
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
IN LUKE 19:10:
“HE CAME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE
THAT WHICH WAS LOST.”
YOU’RE LOST.
PSYCHOLOGICALLY,
SPIRITUALLY, YOU’RE LOST.
YOU NEED SOMEBODY TO FIND YOU
AND PUT THEIR ARMS AROUND YOU.
THAT’S WHAT HE’LL DO
FOR YOU TONIGHT.
AND THERE WAS A SURPRISE ON
THE FACE OF THE PEOPLE
IN THE CROWD, TO CALL THAT
POOR OLD BLIND BEGGAR,
FILTHY AND DIRTY,
THE FIRST TIME ANYONE,
I SUPPOSE, HAD EVER CALLED HIM.
SOMEONE THREW HIS CLOAK
ABOUT HIM,
SOMEONE GAVE HIM HIS CANE.
HE THREW THEM BOTH AWAY.
AND CAME RUNNING AND
FELL DOWN BEFORE JESUS.
AND JESUS ASKED HIM
A STRANGE QUESTION.
HE’D BEEN BLIND ALL THESE YEARS
AND JESUS ASKED HIM,
“WHAT DO YOU WANT ME
TO DO FOR YOU?”
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME
TO DO FOR YOU?
AND HE SAID, “LORD.”
AND THAT WORD “LORD” MEANS
THAT AT THAT MOMENT,
HE HAD RECEIVED CHRIST
INTO HIS HEART.
“MY VERY OWN LORD,
THAT I MIGHT RECEIVE MY SIGHT.”
AND I THINK HE WAS TALKING NOT
ONLY ABOUT HIS PHYSICAL EYES,
BUT HIS SPIRITUAL EYES AS WELL.
SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THAT
33 MILLION OF THE 42 MILLION
BLIND PEOPLE IN THE WORLD,
EITHER CAN BE CURED,
OR THEIR BLINDNESS COULD
HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.
SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
CANNOT BE PREVENTED.
IT’S CAUSED BY SIN
AND WE ALL HAVE IT.
BUT IT CAN BE CURED BY
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
HE’LL OPEN YOUR EYES.
AND HE CAN OPEN
YOUR EYES TONIGHT.
WHAT IS YOUR NEED?
WHAT DO YOU WANT CHRIST
TO DO FOR YOU TONIGHT?
“WHAT DO YOU WANT ME
TO DO?” HE SAID.
SOME OF YOU SAY, “I WANT HIM
TO FORGIVE MY SIN,
“I WANT HIM TO GIVE ME
ASSURANCE SO THAT I CAN KNOW
“THAT IF DIED AT THIS MOMENT
I’D GO TO HEAVEN.
“I WANT PEACE.
“I’D LIKE TO
REDEDICATE MY LIFE,
“I’VE BEEN BAPTIZED OR
I’VE BEEN CONFIRMED,
“BUT SOMEHOW I DON’T HAVE
THAT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
“WITH CHRIST, AND I DON’T
HAVE THAT WALK WITH HIM
“THAT I OUGHT TO HAVE, AND
I’D LIKE TO HAVE THAT
“AND SO I’D LIKE TO RECONFIRM
MY CONFIRMATION VOWS.”
WHATEVER IT IS.
AND JESUS SAID TO HIM,
“GO YOUR WAY.
“YOUR FAITH HAS
MADE YOU WHOLE.”
NOT MONEY, NOT GOOD WORKS,
BUT “YOUR FAITH HAS
“MADE YOU WHOLE.”
LAST DECEMBER, AN 18-YEAR-OLD
STUDENT PILOT NAMED KIM
WAS MAKING A SOLO FLIGHT
CROSS-COUNTRY,
WHEN SHE BECAME LOST
IN A STORM.
SHE COULDN’T SEE ANYTHING
OUT THE WINDSHIELD OF
HER SMALL PLANE.
SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHERE SHE WAS
OR HOW TO GET OUT THE STORM
AND BACK TO THE SAFETY.
SOMETHING HAD GONE WRONG WITH
ONE OF HER INSTRUMENTS.
SO SHE REACHED FOR HER RADIO
AND MADE CONTACT WITH
A LOCAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER,
AND SHE SAID,
“I DON’T KNOW WHERE I AM.
“I NEED SOME HELP,
PLEASE, PLEASE, HELP ME.”
THE CONTROLLER LOCATED HER
ON HIS RADAR SCREEN AND
BEGAN TALKING HER DOWN
TOWARD A NEARBY AIRPORT
WHERE THE WEATHER WAS GOOD.
SHE COULDN’T SEE A THING.
BUT HE COULD SEE HER
ON THE RADAR.
HE KNEW WHERE SHE WAS,
WHICH DIRECTION SHE WAS HEADED.
WHERE SHE NEEDED TO GO AND
THE BEST WAY TO GET THERE.
SHE TRUSTED HER LIFE TO
A MAN SHE HAD NEVER SEEN,
WHOSE NAME SHE DID NOT KNOW.
AND HE GOT HER OUT
OF THE STORM,
AND SAFELY TO GROUND.
TONIGHT, YOU CAN TRUST IN
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
YOU’VE NEVER SEEN HIM
WITH YOUR NAKED EYE.
YOU MAY NOT KNOW HIM,
BUT HE’S THERE WAITING FOR
YOU WITH OPEN ARMS, TO HELP YOU.
SO I’M ASKING YOU TO
QUIT FLYING BLIND.
TRUST YOURSELF
TO JESUS CHRIST.
FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE
OF HIS INSTRUMENTS
WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD,
THE BIBLE.
AND THEN THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“AND IMMEDIATELY,”
IMMEDIATELY,
“HE RECEIVED HIS SIGHT.”
FOR SOME PEOPLE,
IT’S THAT QUICK.
FOR OTHER PEOPLE,
IT’S A PERIOD OF TIME
IN WHICH YOU’RE CONVICTED
OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD,
AND YOU GROW GRADUALLY
INTO THE KNOWLEDGE.
BUT THERE COMES A MOMENT,
WHEN YOU MAKE THAT STEP
FROM DEATH TO LIFE,
FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT.
I’M ASKING YOU TO TAKE
THAT STEP TONIGHT.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS
ABOUT IT IN YOUR HEART,
MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT
TONIGHT.
DID YOU KNOW THAT EACH NIGHT
WE’VE BEEN HERE
WE’VE SEEN MORE THAN
700 PEOPLE BOTH NIGHTS,
EACH NIGHT, COME TO CHRIST,
AND COME AND MAKE
A COMMITMENT?
AND WHAT I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO DO IS WHAT WE’VE DONE
ALL OVER LATIN AMERICA,
ALL OVER EUROPE,
ALL OVER THE ORIENT,
ALL OVER AMERICA,
ALL ACROSS CANADA,
WE’VE ASKED PEOPLE TO GET UP
OUT OF THEIR SEAT,
AND COME AND STAND IN FRONT
OF THE PLATFORM,
AND SAY BY COMING
SYMBOLICALLY,
“I NEED CHRIST.
“I WANT HIS MERCY,
I WANT HIS LOVE AND HIS GRACE.
“I WANT TO KNOW HIM
FOR MYSELF.”
WHY DO I ASK YOU
TO COME FORWARD
AND MAKE THAT
A PUBLIC DECLARATION?
BECAUSE JESUS HUNG ON
THE CROSS PUBLICLY FOR YOU.
HE DIDN’T DO IT IN PRIVATE,
HE DID IT PUBLICLY,
AND PEOPLE WERE AGAINST HIM,
SNEERING AT HIM,
HE WAS NAKED AND BLEEDING.
AND HE DID IT PUBLICLY.
AND HE SAID,
THAT IF WE’RE NOT
WILLING TO CONFESS HIM
PUBLICLY BEFORE MEN,
HE WILL NOT CONFESS US BEFORE
HIS FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.
IT’S A PUBLIC COMMITMENT.
AND I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO
MAKE THAT COMMITMENT TONIGHT.
AND AFTER YOU’VE ALL COME
AND STAND HERE,
I’M GOING TO SAY A WORD TO YOU
AND HAVE A PRAYER WITH YOU.
AND GIVE YOU A BOOK THAT YOU
CAN TAKE HOME WITH YOU
TO HELP YOU
IN YOUR CHRISTIAN GROWTH.
AND IF YOU’RE WITH FRIENDS
OR RELATIVES, THEY’LL WAIT.
IF YOU’RE IN A BUS,
THEY’LL WAIT.
AND YOU PEOPLE IN
THE OTHER AUDITORIUM,
OR THE OTHER ROOM,
THAT COULD NOT GET IN HERE,
YOU CAN GET UP AND COME,
AND THE USHERS
WILL LET YOU IN THIS BUILDING,
SO THAT YOU CAN JOIN
THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO COME.
AND FROM THE BALCONY,
IT’S TAKING A LITTLE BIT LONGER
THAN I THOUGHT
THE FIRST NIGHT,
IT’S GOING TO TAKE AT LEAST
THREE MINUTES FOR YOU TO COME,
SO GET UP AND START NOW.
BUT DON’T LET A LITTLE BIT
OF TIME KEEP YOU BACK.
AND DON’T LET THE BIG CROWD
KEEP YOU BACK.
YOU JUST GET UP AND COME.
BECAUSE IT’S YOU
BEFORE GOD TONIGHT.
THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMITMENT
THAT YOU HAVE EVER MADE.
AND IF YOU WANT TO
BRING A FRIEND WITH YOU,
BRING YOUR FRIEND.
BUT GET UP AND COME,
AND DON’T LET ANYTHING
KEEP YOU BACK.
WE’RE GOING TO WAIT AND
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE PRAYING
ALL OVER THIS GREAT COLISEUM
AS YOU COME.
YOU’LL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER
MOMENT QUITE LIKE THIS.
YOU COME,
WE’RE GOING TO WAIT,
RIGHT NOW.
AND AFTER YOU’VE COME
I’LL SPEAK TO YOU.
♪ JUST AS I AM,
WITHOUT ONE PLEA ♪
♪ BUT THAT THY BLOOD… ♪
AS YOU CAN SEE, MANY
HUNDREDS ARE RESPONDING TO
MR. GRAHAM’S INVITATION
TO MAKE JESUS CHRIST
THEIR SAVIOR AND
TRUST HIM AS LORD.
YOU TOO CAN MAKE
THAT DECISION.
THERE’S A PHONE NUMBER
ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW
THAT YOU CAN CALL FOR
SPIRITUAL HELP AND COUNSELING.
MAKE THAT CALL NOW.
SPECIAL FRIENDS
ARE STANDING BY,
WAITING TO TALK AND
TO PRAY WITH YOU.
♪ I COME ♪
YOU THAT HAVE BEEN
WATCHING BY TELEVISION,
YOU CAN SEE THAT HERE
IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO,
GOD HAS BEEN SPEAKING MIGHTILY
TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
AND HUNDREDS HAVE
ALREADY COME,
AND STILL ARE COMING.
AND YOU CAN MAKE THAT
COMMITMENT WHERE YOU ARE,
AND SAY YES TO JESUS CHRIST.
HE’LL COME INTO YOUR HEART.
HE’LL FORGIVE YOUR SINS.
HE CAN MAKE YOU A NEW PERSON.
YOU CAN HAVE A TRANSFORMATION,
RIGHT NOW, IN YOUR LIFE.
SURRENDER YOUR LIFE TO HIM.
AND IF YOU WILL, PICK UP
THE PHONE AND CALL THAT NUMBER
THAT YOU SEE ON THAT SCREEN.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT
ARE STANDING BY,
AND IF YOU GET
A BUSY SIGNAL,
CALL BACK A FEW MINUTES
LATER, YOU’LL GET,
YOU’LL GET THROUGH BECAUSE
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LINES.
AND BE SURE AND GO TO CHURCH
NEXT WEEKEND.
♪ JUST AS I AM,
THY LOVE UNKNOWN ♪
YOU CAN STILL CALL
THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN
AND MAKE YOUR DECISION
FOR JESUS CHRIST RIGHT NOW.
IF THE LINE IS BUSY,
SIMPLY WRITE THE NUMBER DOWN
AND CALL LATER.
WE’LL BE THERE AS LONG AS
THE CALLS KEEP COMING IN.
WE DO WANT TO HELP YOU,
SO CALL THE NUMBER NOW.
WE HOPE THAT YOU’LL MAKE
YOUR PLANS TO JOIN US AGAIN
TOMORROW NIGHT FOR THE NEXT
IN THIS SERIES OF PROGRAMS
FROM HAMILTON, ONTARIO.
OUR SPECIAL GUESTS WILL BE
SHEILA WALSH,
DAVID LAMBERT,
MYRTLE HALL
AND GEORGE BEVERLY SHEA.
MR. GRAHAM’S SERMON IS
ENTITLED,
“TIME TO COME HOME.”
SO PLAN TO JOIN US
TOMORROW NIGHT
AND INVITE A FRIEND
TO SHARE THE TELECAST WITH YOU.
NOW FOR BILLY GRAHAM
AND ALL THE TEAM
THIS IS CLIFF BARROWS
SAYING GOOD NIGHT
AND MAY THE LORD
RICHLY BLESS YOU.
IF YOU JUST PRAYED THAT PRAYER
WITH MY FATHER,
OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP
WITH JESUS CHRIST,
WHY DON’T YOU CALL
THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN.
THERE WILL BE SOMEONE THERE TO
TALK WITH YOU, PRAY WITH YOU AND
ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND REMEMBER,
GOD LOVES YOU!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMIT
YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST,
PLEASE CALL US RIGHT NOW,
TOLL FREE AT
1-877-772-4559.
THAT’S 1-877-772-4559.
OR YOU CAN WRITE TO US AT:
BILLY GRAHAM
1 BILLY GRAHAM PARKWAY
DEPARTMENT C
CHARLOTTE, NC 28201
OR YOU CAN CONTACT US ON THE WEB
24/7 AT PEACEWITHGOD.TV.
WE’LL GET THE SAME HELPS TO YOU
THAT WE GIVE TO EVERYONE
WHO RESPONDS AT THE INVITATION.
ON BEHALF OF
FRANKLIN GRAHAM AND
THE BILLY GRAHAM
EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS.
(Franklin Graham)
WE STILL HAVE
A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
TO REACH A LOST
AND DYING WORLD
WITH THE TRUTH
OF GOD’S LOVE.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE.
WE’VE GOT
AN OPPORTUNITY
TO TELL OTHERS
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO DO WITH IT?