What Do You Want?
Bartimaeus sat by the roadside outside of Jericho as he did every day (except the Sabbath), listening for passersby and begging them for contributions. Day in, day out - season after season, year after year.
On this particular day he heard a group of people approaching. Ahead of the travelers, several people ran in his direction, calling to their friends and relatives to come, because Jesus the Son of David was on the road.
Jesus, an intense man of love and passion for the Lord was headed up the road and would be passing directly in front of Bartimaeus. Stowing the coins he had collected for the day in a small pouch near his belt, Bartimaeus cleared his parched throat and called, " Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" His neighbors moved in front of him to get a better look at Jesus and told him to hold his tongue: they wanted to hear the Rabbi speak to them and grant their petitions. In a louder voice still, Bartimaeus called out: "JESUS, SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON ME!!"
Almost immediately, the group slowed down and stopped. Jesus had heard the blind man shout and told the disciples to tell him to come foreword. Hearing this, Bartimaeus didn't wait even a second more; he got up quickly, even leaving his walking stick and cloak behind and hurried in the direction of that distinctive voice. The disciples lead him to stand in front of the Master and Jesus spoke.
"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked.
Bartimaeus hesitated for a moment. This is the first time someone had asked him a question, not based on his obvious handicap, but based on his most precious need.
"Teacher, let me see again" Bartimaeus replied, raising his body - head and shoulders - to a more upright position. Seconds passed. He heard his neighbors mutter that he had no right to trouble Jesus with such a request. Then the mumbling was hushed with the words spoken by Jesus.
"Go. Your faith has made you well."
With those words, Bartimaeus began seeing blurry shades of grey, then more distinct shapes in increasing color. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he shielded his eyes from a brilliance he had not known since he was a small child. Searing light flooded his mind and his heart. As he tried to adjust to his new found sight, he followed that magnetic voice, straining to catch up and see the face of the one that resorted him. Held up by some of the disciples, Bartimaeus joined the group that followed Jesus on his journey.
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It strikes me as amazing that Jesus actually asked Bartimaeus what the blind man wanted. Our Lord made no assumptions as to the blind man's deepest longing -- which could easily have been to remove the anger and fear and resentment from his heart.
God does not look at our obvious infirmities, but asks us to examine our hearts and minds to discover what we need and what we long to ask for. Then, with humble hearts, we ask that our desires be fulfilled. Upon reflection, we may notice that God provided us with what we truly needed in a given situation.
Ask, knock, seek. Always willing to meet our needs, God awaits our response to the question "What do you want me to do for you?" Let us be prepared to reveal our heart's desire to our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.
On this particular day he heard a group of people approaching. Ahead of the travelers, several people ran in his direction, calling to their friends and relatives to come, because Jesus the Son of David was on the road.
Jesus, an intense man of love and passion for the Lord was headed up the road and would be passing directly in front of Bartimaeus. Stowing the coins he had collected for the day in a small pouch near his belt, Bartimaeus cleared his parched throat and called, " Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" His neighbors moved in front of him to get a better look at Jesus and told him to hold his tongue: they wanted to hear the Rabbi speak to them and grant their petitions. In a louder voice still, Bartimaeus called out: "JESUS, SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON ME!!"
Almost immediately, the group slowed down and stopped. Jesus had heard the blind man shout and told the disciples to tell him to come foreword. Hearing this, Bartimaeus didn't wait even a second more; he got up quickly, even leaving his walking stick and cloak behind and hurried in the direction of that distinctive voice. The disciples lead him to stand in front of the Master and Jesus spoke.
"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked.
Bartimaeus hesitated for a moment. This is the first time someone had asked him a question, not based on his obvious handicap, but based on his most precious need.
"Teacher, let me see again" Bartimaeus replied, raising his body - head and shoulders - to a more upright position. Seconds passed. He heard his neighbors mutter that he had no right to trouble Jesus with such a request. Then the mumbling was hushed with the words spoken by Jesus.
"Go. Your faith has made you well."
With those words, Bartimaeus began seeing blurry shades of grey, then more distinct shapes in increasing color. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he shielded his eyes from a brilliance he had not known since he was a small child. Searing light flooded his mind and his heart. As he tried to adjust to his new found sight, he followed that magnetic voice, straining to catch up and see the face of the one that resorted him. Held up by some of the disciples, Bartimaeus joined the group that followed Jesus on his journey.
=========================
It strikes me as amazing that Jesus actually asked Bartimaeus what the blind man wanted. Our Lord made no assumptions as to the blind man's deepest longing -- which could easily have been to remove the anger and fear and resentment from his heart.
God does not look at our obvious infirmities, but asks us to examine our hearts and minds to discover what we need and what we long to ask for. Then, with humble hearts, we ask that our desires be fulfilled. Upon reflection, we may notice that God provided us with what we truly needed in a given situation.
Ask, knock, seek. Always willing to meet our needs, God awaits our response to the question "What do you want me to do for you?" Let us be prepared to reveal our heart's desire to our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.
posted by Joanna Depue | 8:46 PM
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