What Do You Want Me to do for You?

“What Do You Want Me to Do for You…”

Mark 10:46-52, Matthew 20:29-34, Luke 18:35-43

By Carrie Malvig

Have you been to Bath and Bodyworks this Advent season? My kids and I were there recently and their staff are well trained to ask, “Is there anything I can help you with?” From the entrance to the checkout, we had 4 salespeople ask! Of course, they are asking about their products, but what if they weren’t? What if they could help you with more than finding your grandma’s favorite sent? Even more intriguing, what if God himself asked what he could do for you? Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell about Jesus’ question for a blind man.

Bartimaeus, a blind roadside beggar, sat near Jericho. We can see the theology of the day in John 9. The religious leaders asked about a man blind from birth, “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” They believed sin was the cause of blindness. Therefore Bartimaeus was seen by all as cursed by God making him lower than a peasant.

The area was flooded with people making their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover. The crowds were gathered in the streets full of energy and conversation. It was near the end of Jesus’ ministry and the news of Jesus had spread. He had healed, removed demons, changed water into wine, and even raised Lazarus from the dead. He had shown authority over disease, demons, death, and nature. He showed power over the law and religiosity of the day. 

In this crowded roadway, Jesus walked with his disciples. Bartimaeus could sense the stir and energy in the crowd. He asked, “What’s happening?” Someone responded, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 

He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Krazō is the verb used here for called. In Revelation 12 Krazō is used in reference to the screaming of a woman in birth pain. This was a powerful cry from the heart, from the soul, from the very depth of Bartimaeus. He cried out for mercy proclaiming this man, Jesus, as the “Son of David.”

He knew exactly who Jesus was, not just Jesus of Nazareth, but the messianic title, “Son of David” as seen in 2nd  Samuel 7. This man, who was blind, and therefore near worthless in the eyes of the world, could see. He saw his savior. He wasn’t claiming Jesus as the conquering king to rid Israel of Roman rule. No, he was claiming Jesus to be the true Messiah from Isaiah 61. The one whom the Lord anointed “to preach good news to the poor…bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners.” Was he poor? Yes. Broken-hearted? I am sure. Captive? Check. A prisoner of darkness? Absolutely. 

He knows Jesus can save him and he cries out for mercy or undeserved favor. He knows he has done nothing to deserve healing. He knows where to find help, and he cries it out for all to hear. There is no shame, no hesitation, or quiet plea. He is all in, turning to the healer. 

The crowd is annoyed and embarrassed. His desperate cry leads them to rebuke him. But he cries out all the more. What does Jesus do? Does he ignore him, confirming his worthlessness? No, he goes against the crowd and calls Bartimaeus to himself. “Throwing his cloak aside, he (Bartaemaus) jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.” 

Imagine the hush that must have come over that busy road. A man making a spectacle of himself and instead of shunning him, Jesus pulled him in. But what Jesus saw was not a crazy man, but a man seeking the Savior, a man wooed by God and calling out to God’s Son. Everyone’s attention was fixed on them, and what does Jesus say? 

“What do you want me to do for you?”

Does Jesus not know? Of course, he does! But he is asking because he wants to hear. He wants him to say it. He is building relationships by digging in deep. He is asking so that Bartimaeus may experience holding his deepest desire before the throne of God. He knows that surrender and vulnerability are powerful to build relationships. 

Bartimaeus responded, “Rabbi, I want to see.” Rabbi, master. In Luke, he says, “Lord, Master.” Wow, first he proclaimed him as Messiah, then he named him as Lord and Master. This blind beggar can see Jesus despite his blindness. 

“Go, your faith has healed you,” was Jesus’ response. The verb for healed used is sōzō. The word salvation comes from this word. So not only did he heal him physically, but he also healed him spiritually bringing him into the family of God. Bartimaeus became a child of the most high God. He brought him from a lowly place to a place of honor as the seeing son of the King. He followed Jesus, praising God. He went from a worthless blind beggar to proclaiming Jesus as Messiah, Master, and Lord, to a follower of Jesus, a worshiper.

If Jesus did this for Bartimaeus does he do it for us? Does he ask us, what do you want me to do for you? He wants to hear our deepest longings. He knows that the opportunity to voice our longings makes us vulnerable and surrendered. It brings us to the right posture before the Lord by looking to him to fill our deepest needs. By doing this we humble ourselves before the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the one who has authority over disease, death, demons, and nature! Where better to lay our hope?

Jesus is asking you, “What do you want me to do for you?” Sit there awhile. Imagine yourself standing before Jesus, he is waiting patiently, tenderly anticipating your need. He wants you to say it, to voice it, and to humble yourself before the one who can do more than you could ever ask or imagine.