Recently, my Bible study group and I studied Mark chapter 10, and I was stopped in my tracks by the question that Jesus asks the blind man, Bartimaeous, when Jesus and his disciples were leaving the city of Jericho. “What do you want Me to do for you?”
Let’s back up a little and set the scene. We read in Mark chapter 10 that Jesus and His disciples had been visiting Jericho, and as they were leaving they encountered Bartimaeous. We can gather from the text that Bartimaeous is not only blind, but he is poor, because we encounter him begging. Bartimaeous is desperate, and when he learned that Jesus, who apparently he had heard could help him, was passing by, he began to cry out. He cried out, “Son of David, have mercy on me! (Mark 10:47, NKJV).”
The other people around him thought that this was disgraceful and asked him to be quiet. But we read in Mark 10:48, that he cried out all the more! I just love this! I love his boldness, his tenacity, and his realization that he was desperate. Bible teacher Michelle Randall sums it up quite well when she says, “Desperate people don’t allow them to stop them from coming to Jesus.”
Friend, are you in desperate need today for help from Jesus? Do you have a problem so big in your life that only Jesus can fix it? Bartimeous could do nothing for himself. He could not fix his blindness and he could not resolve the fact that he was poor. He knew he was desperate for help from the Lord. We too, have things in our lives that are so big, we are powerless to fix them.
So often, we continue in our own efforts, thinking that if we just try a little bit harder we can solve a large problem in our life. Let us pause here for a minute, and model the behavior of Bartimaeus. Let us humble ourselves and cry out to Him who can truly help us.
I think of the verse Psalm 18:6 in which David wrote, “In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears (NKJV).” Isn’t that encouraging? “He heard my voice.”
So from this passage we first learn that we are to desperately cry out to the Lord. We are to acknowledge His power and His ability to help us in our time of need. The Lord does not want us to try hard in our own strength, but he wants us to call out to Him. I feel so much relief from this realization.
And then the story just gets better! Although those around him had instructed Bartimaeous to stop crying out, he cried out all the more. Jesus turned to him and answered, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Mark 10:52, NJKV) Bartimaeous couldn’t see Jesus, but he could hear Him.
Bartimeous replied to Jesus that he wanted to receive his sight. And right then and there, Jesus healed him and allowed him to see. Not only that, but what Jesus said next, “Go on your way, your faith has made you well,” shows us that Jesus was pleased by Bartimaeous’ faith.
Today, friends, I believe that Jesus is still asking that question, “What do you want me to do for YOU?” He wants you to exercise your faith and ask Him. What is it that you need that only He can give? Is it salvation for a prodigal child? Is it healing? Is it the restoration of an injured relationship? Is it provision?
I wonder, is there something in your life that that you’re saying is impossible? You know that God can do it, but you’re not asking Him for it, because you think it is too big. I encourage you to truly pour out your heart to our Jesus who wants to help you. He wants to meet your need. Stop today, and ponder this question that Jesus is asking, “What do you want me to do for you?” Let us be like Bartimeous and desperately ask our Lord for help. Then let’s see what only He can do. Let’s get alone today with Jesus and express our deepest needs to Him.
Psalm 62:8, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”
Author Info
Annie Boyd
Annie Boyd is a co-founder and contributor at The Gingham Apron, an online place of encouragement and inspiration. She is the co-author of The Gathering Table: Growing Strong Relationships through Food, Faith, and Hospitality. Annie lives in southern California with her family, enjoying both the mountains and beaches.