His Answer Requires Only Asking

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. (Mark 10:51)

Passing through Jericho, the popular resort city which had been rebuilt by Herod the Great, Jesus and His disciples encountered a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. It was not uncommon in the ancient world to encounter beggars; much of the work in that day was of a physical nature, so any kind of physical limitation would have made it difficult, if not impossible, for a disabled person to find employment. Bartimaeus suffered from blindness, a condition which was widely believed to be a curse from God because of some sin committed by the blind person or his family. John’s gospel recorded that Jesus made it clear this was not the case when His disciples asked that very question about a man who had been born blind (John 9:2-7).

When Bartimaeus called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me,” the phrase “son of David” identified Jesus as the promised Messiah. Bartimaeus asked in faith and Jesus answered. But notice the response from Jesus in our verse for today: “What do you want me to do for you?” It would seem obvious that the blind man wanted to be able to see, but our Lord was asking a clarifying question. What kind of mercy did the man desire? Did he want to be given money or food? Was he merely looking for another handout? In asking the blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus was moving Bartimaeus beyond his broken condition toward his blessed cure.

“Rabbi, I want to see,” Bartimaeus replied (Mark 10:51).

It’s important to understand what had happened just before this encounter with the blind man. Jesus had put the very same question to two of His disciples, James and John, and their response was to request positions of honor in heaven. I picture Jesus shaking His head sorrowfully. “You don’t know what you are asking,” He said to His self-absorbed disciples (Mark 10:38). You see, James and John were also afflicted with a broken condition evidenced by their desire for positions of honor. They too needed a healing from Jesus, although they didn’t realize it, and that is exactly what His clarifying question was designed to do–to bring realization and reptentance.

Regardless of where this message finds you today, how will you answer Jesus when He asks you, “What do you want me to do for you?” Remember, His answer requires only asking, but as it was with James and John, who were truly “blind” and asking for the wrong blessing, Jesus will always answer with what you need, not necessarily what you want.   

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!