What Do You Want Me to Do For You?

Jesus asks you today, if you are willing to listen to him, the same question that he asked Bartimaeus, a blind man who was sitting by the roadside begging, "What do you want me to do for you?" (Mark 10:51). Answering this question tells you a lot about where your priorities lie.

How would you answer Jesus? Bartimaeus responded by telling Jesus, "Master, I want to see" (v. 51). Engaging in a literal reading of this passage may lead you to believe that Bartimaeus was merely referring to the restoration of his physical sight. This assumption may seem reasonable since Jesus responded by saying to Bartimaeus, "Go your way; your faith has saved you," whereupon Bartimaeus immediately received his sight and followed Jesus "on the way" (v. 52). Of course, there is nothing wrong with asking Jesus to heal you from a physical, cognitive, mental, emotional, or other impairment.

What happens, however, if you look deeper and seek a metaphorical meaning of this story? Do you recognize that without Christ you are also blind and in need? You are invited to call out to Christ in faith to ask him to heal you from what blinds you and prevents you from seeing with the eyes of Christ? When you ask Christ to allow you to see, you are asking for insight into Christ's ways of thinking, being, and acting that give ultimate meaning to your life, and that lead you to a more abundant life of love for God, others, yourself, and for all of creation.