If you could ask God about one thing, what would it be? Wisdom for a decision you are facing, insight about an event in your life, or would you look to the bigger picture? If you could ask God for one thing, what would it be? What problem would you want solved or what need would you want to be met? Our answers to these questions tell us a lot about ourselves, our concerns, and our view of God. There was a day when Jesus asked the question “what do you want me to do for you?” He actually asked it twice that day. The responses were very different.
The day would end with a famous parade into Jerusalem. This was what we call Palm Sunday. That day began, however, with a very different walk. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. His disciples and the crowd following Him were aware of the hostility the religious leaders there had towards Jesus. This group was nervous, tense, and quiet. Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and confirmed their worst fears. Jesus told them that in Jerusalem He would be betrayed, arrested, condemned, and killed. He also said that He would rise three days later.
This was a lot to digest as they walked along. Why was this happening? Why now? What would happen to them? What does He mean “rise again”? As the questions swirled around in their heads and hearts, something else was happening.
Two disciples approached Jesus and asked Him to do for them whatever they asked. What a set up! Before I ask you, just commit to doing it. Wow. Jesus asked “what do you want me to do for you?” Mark chapter 10 records these events and the response we hear from these followers of Jesus floors us. They wanted Jesus to give them the exalted positions at his right and left when He was glorified! He had just described what He was about to endure at the cross and accomplish in His resurrection, and they were focused on themselves. Sounded to them like the Kingdom was right around the corner, and they were calling dibs on the most exalted positions. Jesus reminded them that in His kingdom, those who are greatest are those who humbly serve, not those who assert themselves, and lord it over others.
Soon after this conversation, they arrived in Jericho. Last stop before Jerusalem. A blind man was there and when he heard that it was Jesus coming down the road, he shouted in an attempt to get Jesus’ attention. Some in the crowd tried to silence him, but he shouted more loudly. His request? “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47).
Jesus had the man brought to Him and for the second time that day, He asked “what do you want me to do for you?” The blind man simply said “Rabbi, I want to see” (Mark 10:51). Jesus healed the man right there in response to his faith and the grateful man now followed Jesus with the others, his vision restored.
It was the same question from Jesus, but did you see the contrast in the answers? Those who had spent years following Jesus wanted to be seen. The blind man simply wanted to see. The disciples said “exalt me”, the blind man said “help me”. What a difference! One said “you need me on your team, Jesus” while the other said “I am in desperate need of you”. One said “promote me and I will serve you, I will help you” while the other said “I know who you are and I need You to help me”.
These contrasting conversations leave us wondering…. do we use Jesus, use God, use “religion” to promote ourselves as though you and I are the point, or do we humbly serve God and follow Jesus because HE is the point? If Jesus asked you today “what do you want me to do for you?” what would your answer be? Based on Mark 10, how would Jesus respond to your request?