What Do You Want?

Jesus asked him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" (Mark 10:51, NCV).

One of Jesus' favorite questions is "What do you want?" Many times, we don't know what we want, and Jesus challenges us to clarify this.

During my eye surgery years ago, in the middle of lights and procedures, the doctor said: “Raquel, I have a problem, and your right eye will be affected.” Leaving the hospital that day the greatest desire of my heart was to meet Jesus and to hear the same question as He asked blind Bartimaeus: “What do you want me to do for you?” I wanted fully restored vision that day.

Have you been in a situation when your heart is looking for an answer?

When the beggar, blind Bartimaeus, hears that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, he begins to shout, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (v.47, NCV). I find it fascinating that Jesus asks the man what he wants. I think it is so obvious the blind man wants to see. Don’t you think it is obvious to Jesus too? But the blind man only asks for mercy. Jesus wants him to articulate exactly what he wants most.

Why does Jesus ask the obvious?

I can think of two reasons:

• to energize one's faith and cause it to be vocalized.
• to help one decide what is most needed from Jesus.

God also asks Solomon what he wants, and he chooses wisdom for governing the kingdom. This is a bigger request than wealth, loads of wives, favor among all the other kingdoms around him, etc. But he ends up with all those things in addition to wisdom.

Bartimaeus’ faith is strengthened as he vocalizes what he wants most from Jesus Who tells him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well” (v. 52, NKJV). But Bartimaeus doesn’t exactly obey Jesus! “At once the man could see, and he followed Jesus on the road” [to Jerusalem] (v. 54. NCV).

I expect Bartimaeus serves a tremendous encouragement to others. When newcomers ask about Jesus, the disciples point to Bartimaeus and say, "Jesus healed him of blindness, you know!" Full of praise to God, Bartimaeus brings glory to Jesus.

The story of Bartimaeus' healing is a powerful example to us of how it pleases Jesus for our faith to “see” its opportunity, grasp it, and refuse to let it go until we receive what we need from God. Who would have thought this beggar would instantly become a giver!

What can your faith help you become?

What about letting God ask you the same question: “What do you want me to do for you?” Search into your heart of hearts . . . the place where the heart cries out in dread, pain, and even excitement. What do you really want God to do for you? Tell Him! And trust Him with His immediate response!

If we come before God as the broken beggars that we are, we can trust that Christ will restore our vision, and like Bartimaeus, we will see God. As you face this day, remember Jesus is near, you are not alone. The question He asked thousands of years ago he asks you today: What do you want me to do for you?

Do you have the answer?

More importantly, are you willing get up and walk with Jesus?

Written by Raquel Arrais, Women's Ministries director for North Asia-Pacific Division

Photo credits: Unsplash.com
(top to bottom) Lars Kuczynski, Natalie Grainer, Claudiu Morut; Dieny Portinanni

Published in Mosaic newsletter, 2022 Q1, Winter issue