Tag: immediately recovered sight
“What Do You Want Me to Do for You?”
Scripture reading for November 2: Matthew 20:29-34 “And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed Him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?: They said to Him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed Him.”
Jesus and His disciples were passing though Jericho on their way to Jerusalem for the last time. Beside the road sat two blind men, probably begging alms from those passing by. They men were told that Jesus was passing by and they could hear the buzz of a great crowd of people following Jesus. They began to call out to Jesus, crying loudly and desperately out of their need. They addressed Jesus as “Lord” and called Him with a Messianic title, “Son of David”. They were so loud and persistent that the crowd rebuked them, telling them to ‘shut up’! This did not deter the men and they cried out all the louder, asking for the Lord Jesus to have mercy on them.
To their amazement and that of the crowd, Jesus called them out and addressed them with a question. “What do you want Me to do for you?” This question brought a focus to their cry for mercy in general and caused them to focus on the specific need that they were seeking in their hearts. They simply stated that they wanted Jesus to open their eyes. The mercy and compassion of the Father flowed through Jesus and as He touched their eyes, they immediately received their sight!
I believe each person is precious to our Lord and He hears our cry for mercy. He also asks us to ask Him specifically what we want Him to do for us. Through relationship and communication we humbly make our requests to Him. He has pity on those who humbly ask and generously gives without condemnation. Don’t be silent under pressure from the crowd trying to silence you! Press in and clearly ask what you need Jesus to do for you! Amen.