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Jesus asked the man, “What do you want me to do for you?” 

He answered, “Teacher, I want to see again.” 

Jesus said, “Go. You are healed because you believed.” Immediately the man was able to see again. He followed Jesus down the road. - Mark 10:51-52 

One of my favorite accounts about Jesus was the day He encountered a man named Bartimaeus, a man who was blind and sitting by the road as Jesus passed. When Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus going by, he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” People got mad at him and told him in so many words to be quiet. Rather than listening to them, he called out even louder.  

He wanted to get Jesus’ attention. He knew he needed help, and he knew that Jesus was the only one who could help him.  

So, he kept calling. It was a prayer. It was a persistent prayer. It was a desperate prayer.  

And Jesus heard him. He called him to come over.  

Then, Jesus asked Bartimaeus a question, a question I love. Here’s the question:  

“What do you want me to do for you?” 

It seems like an obvious kind of thing. Bartimaeus was blind. Everyone knew it. Even Jesus must have seen it. Yet He asked him anyway. He wanted Bartimaeus to say it. That would take faith to say it out loud – in front of all these people. It would take courage and faith.  

And so, Bartimaeus just said what he was feeling.  

“I want to see again.”  

“See again.” He must have been able to see at some point, but now he could not. He just wanted to see and experience that life again.  

So, what did Jesus do? He did exactly what Bartimaeus asked. He gave him back his sight. And then Bartimaeus followed Jesus. That encounter changed his life.  

What if.... what if Jesus was to ask you that same question?  

“What do you want me to do for you?” 

What would you answer?  

That’s something worth thinking about. What’s on your heart? What do you really need Jesus to do for you? Bartimaeus knew. He wanted to get back to where he once was. He wanted to live again with full sight. He wanted what only Jesus could do for him.  

What about you? This is a “it requires faith” type of prayer, to really express that thing in your life that only Jesus can do – the thing you need. The thing you long for.  

Of course, Jesus is not a genie just waiting to do whatever we want. He is willing to do whatever is best for you.  

“What do you want Jesus to do for you?” 

This is the season of Lent – the 40 days leading up to Easter, a time to get our hearts right with God, a time to seek for Him 

It can also be a time to really stop and reflect and pray.  

“What do you want Jesus to do for you?” 

I am asking the Holy Spirit to help me know what is the best thing for me to ask of Him. I want to see God at work in my life and in the lives of everyone at Bridges Church.  

“Jesus - what do you want to do in us?”  

I want us all to be able to experience Jesus in new ways. To see Him at work. To hear His voice. To become more like Him. To truly know Him.  

“I want to see You again – for all of us.”  

That is my prayer.  

Now, what about you?  

What do you want Jesus to do for you?  

Here is a prayer to consider:  

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. 

His response to you: “What do you want me to do for you?” 

What would you say? 

“I want to ...”  

May Jesus meet you right where you are just as He did with Bartimaeus.  

Today and every day.