Each Sunday we open our service with a Call to Worship — a moment when we intentionally turn our attention and affection toward God. That’s a good thing for us to do — but it’s not the first move today.

We don’t make the first move in our relationship with God. He does. He created us. He gives us the breath of life. God the Father sent Jesus His Son to heal us. And He sends His Holy Spirit to comfort us every day. So what we’re doing here today is responding. We are responding to God — and returning to Him.

Scripture says:

By God’s mercy, we do not lose heart.
The ruler of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers,
so they cannot see the light of the gospel.
But God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,”
has made the light of His glory shine in our hearts.

As God’s grace reaches more and more people,
there will be even greater rejoicing and thanksgiving.
We will give God more and more glory.

What a friend is Jesus
All our sins and griefs He bears
What a grace to carry
everything to God in prayer

O what peace we often forfeit
O what needless pain we bear
When we do not carry
everything to God in prayer

Have we trials, temptations
Is there trouble everywhere
Never be discouraged
take it to the Lord in prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our weakness,
take it to the Lord in prayer

Jesus also suffered
on a cross he died for me
Though my flesh may fail and
heart goes wandering, I will be

Soon in glory bright unclouded
we’ll sing praises heavenly
What a friend is Jesus
His forever eternally

Oh, Oh, What a friend!

Church, will you join me in a time of prayer?
Please bow your heads and close your eyes. Jesus, our faithful friend, You know our weakness, and You see our hearts.
We confess that we often trust our own strength instead of Yours.
We confess that we turn our eyes toward lesser things and lose sight of You.
We bring You our sins, our fears, and our failures —the things we’ve done and the things we’ve left undone.
In Your mercy, meet us here. Forgive us, heal us, and renew us by Your grace.

Let’s take a few moments now to confess quietly before the Lord.

(Silence 10-15 sec.)

Great is Your mercy towards me
Your loving kindness towards me
Your tender mercies I see day after day
Forever faithful to me
Always providing for me
Great is Your mercy towards me
Great is Your grace

The Lord is not a distant God. He is always drawing near. And the grace we have just sung about is not an idea or a feeling. It takes shape in real people, real stories, and real healing.
What you’re about to hear is not a story of effort or achievement.
It is a witness to Christ drawing near and doing the work only He can do.

Church, what we have just heard points us beyond one life to the saving work of Jesus Christ. Long before we could name our need, God spoke His promise. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the One who would show us God’s love in this way:

He carried our weaknesses.
Our sorrows weighed Him down.
We thought He was punished by God—

But He was pierced for our rebellion
and crushed for our sins.
He was wounded so we could be healed.

His life was poured out
as an offering for sin.
He will bring many children to God.
He will bear all their sins.

Jesus, You were crushed for our sin so that we could know peace. Your love did not turn away from the cross —it carried You to it.
Thank You for a love stronger than our sin and deeper than our weakness.
Church, let’s respond together in gratitude.

I was a wretch I remember who I was
I was lost I was blind
I was running out of time
Sin separated the breach was far too wide
But from the far side of the chasm
You had me in Your sight

So You made a way across the great divide
Left behind Heaven’s throne
to build it here inside
There at the cross You paid the debt I owed
Broke my chains freed my soul
For the first time I had hope

Thank You Jesus for the blood applied
Thank You Jesus it has washed me white

Thank You Jesus You have saved my life
Brought me from the darkness
Into glorious light

You took my place laid inside my tomb of sin
You were buried for three days
But then You walked right out again
And now death has no sting
And life has no end
For I have been transformed
By the blood of the Lamb

There is nothing stronger
Than the wonder working power of the blood
The blood
That calls us sons and daughters
We are ransomed by our Father
Through the blood the blood

Seeing Jesus Clearly

Jamaal Williams 

35 As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Hearing a crowd passing by, he asked what was happening.

36 “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.

37 So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

38 Then those in front told him to keep quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to him. When he came closer, he asked him,

40 “What do you want me to do for you?”

41 “Lord,” he said, “I want to see.”

42 “Receive your sight,” Jesus told him. “Your faith has saved you.”

43 Instantly he could see, and he began to follow him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

–Luke 18:35-43

Big Idea: We see Jesus clearly when we stop pretending we see clearly.

1.  On the Road Near Jericho (Luke 18:35–37)

• "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."

2. A Cry for Mercy (Luke 18:38)

• "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

3. Resistance from the Crowd (Luke 18:39)

• "Those in front told him to keep quiet..."

4. Jesus Stops (Luke 18:40)

• “Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him.”

5. An Honest Question (Luke 18:40–41)

• "What do you want me to do for you?"

6. Walking Behind Jesus 

7. The Reveal 

8. A Pause to Pray

You were the Word at the beginning
One with God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You, our Christ

What a beautiful name it is
What a beautiful name it is
The name of Jesus Christ my King
What a beautiful name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful name it is
The name of Jesus

You didn’t want Heaven without us
So Jesus You brought Heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now?

What a wonderful name it is
What a wonderful name it is
The name of Jesus Christ my King
What a wonderful name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful name it is
The name of Jesus

Death could not hold You, the veil tore before You
You silenced the boast of sin and grave
The Heavens are roaring the praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again
You have no rival, You have no equal
Now and forever, God You reign
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name above all names

What a powerful name it is
What a powerful name it is
The name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful name it is
The name of Jesus
What a powerful name it is
The name of Jesus
What a powerful name it is
The name of Jesus