What Do You Want?

“As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

“Jesus stopped and said, ‘call him here.” (Mark 10:46-52)

It is interesting that Jesus heard the man. Despite the crowds and the chaos around him, he heard the man. And not only did he hear him, but he “stopped”…as in, he stopped what he was doing and listened to the man’s cries. Just because we hear someone talking in no one guarantees we are actually listening. Case in point – I know the boys in my house, including the sweet one I’m married to, “hear me,” but it is an entirely different thing for them to stop what they are doing and listen to me. That kind of response will always get a gold star.

Well Jesus stopped. Then what?

Jesus said, “call him here.” Jesus heard the blind man, but he had others go and get him. (That’s a whole other blog) “Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.”

Then; despite the obvious, Jesus asks Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” Hmm. Keep in mind, the man is blind.

What a seemingly bizarre question, and yet it does require some thought. For Jesus to heal Bartimaeus would mean Bartimaeus’ whole life would change. He would have to get a job. He would have to become responsible for himself. Everything about his daily routine would be different. True, he would finally be able to see, but sometimes it is just easier to remain blind to the things around us? How comfortable we can all get in our own discontent. Our reality might be painful, but it is also very familiar.

I love the truth that I can call out to Jesus and I know without a doubt that he hears me; but the reality is, I still have to change my posture and position – throw off my cloak and jump up – to be able to actually hear from him. Many times, I whine to the Heavens just wanting “it” to all go away or for something to instantly change, but in order to bring change, I HAVE TO come to Jesus. Once I do, I have to answer the same question the blind man was asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”

What do I want the all-powerful creator of the universe to do for me? I know what hurts my heart. I know where I am broken. I know the things I worry about, but what do I want Him to do about it?

To truly answer that question requires that we pause long enough to think about it. Jesus already knows. He needs us to know. It is important to Him that we have a true understanding of what we really want.

In the Meanwhile

Where am I blind? Where am I not seeing things clearly? Where do I need Him to heal me so I can be free?

What do you want me to do for you?” How often does Jesus ask us this question?

It would appear He asks it each time we choose to cry out to Him. That means, all throughout the day. As we learn to go to Him with our problems, fears, heartaches, confusion, stress and anger, he stops, invites us to come to Him, and then He asks.

What a sweet reality. All day long, Jesus wants to help us. All day, as He runs the universe, He is just waiting to hear us cry out to Him.

May we take the time each day to be honest with our needs…

• we can’t find our keys
• the kids are driving us crazy
• we feel all alone
• we are stuck in traffic
• we need to be more disciplined
• we need a friend
• we have too much to do
• Our bodies are hurting
• Our marriage is falling apart
• We need an attitude adjustment

…and then quick to call out to Him for help.

What can I do for you right now? – Jesus