"What do you want me to do for you?"
Excerpt from Mark 10:46-52
“So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’”
Reflection by Erick Olsen
This story turns out well for Bartimaeus. He begins the day in Jericho as a blind beggar, and within a few verses he’s off and running into a new life of empowered vision. My mind too easily conjures an Aladdin-like shift: new sight comes with granted wishes of clean clothes, a steady paycheck, food on the table, whiter teeth . . . .
The truth here, though, has nothing to do with genies or fortune. This is a tale about Jesus and faith.
While the darker part of me wants to focus on the fact that Bartimaeus has nothing to lose, the truth is that he is changed at least partly because he is willing to risk everything. What if more of us dared to stand up and speak up in bold defiance of those who want us to shut up?
I can almost feel the universe pause--clouds stop moving, birds cease chirping, even the air holds still in order to hear the reply when Jesus puts the question to this blind beggar and to us: “What do you want me to do for you?” That’s one to think about for a bit.
Bartimaeus wants and gets his eyes back. But I also think he seeks validation that he showed up and stood up and said that he believed in Jesus as a fount of mercy. Finding and being found, he serves as our guide into deeper relationship with Christ. Off he goes, inviting us to come along and follow Christ “on the way.”
Prayer
Precious Lord, take our hands, lead us on, help us stand. Hear our cries, hear our calls, hold our hands lest we fall. Take our hands, precious Lord, lead us home. Amen. (With a nod of appreciation to Rev. Dorsey.)
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