Wednesday: Day 19

(Yes, I am finding out that I need to watch out for the wind when I do these videos!!!)

Matthew 20:30-32: There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!” Jesus stood still and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?”


This question, what do you want me to do for you? is the question Jesus asked more than any other question in the Gospels. What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asks this question more often than any other question because your answer to the question “What do you want me to do for you” speaks volumes about your whole theology of Jesus. The way you answer the question shows what you ultimately believe Jesus can do for you. The way you answer the question shows either your limited or your expansive theology about who Jesus is and what you believe he can do for you.


 What I mean by that is this. Jesus asked the blind men “What do you want me to do for you” in order to invite them to confess what he believed Jesus could actually do. I fully suspect that if Jesus would have asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”, and they would have said, “Well, you know, we’d really like to split a ham sandwich on rye with a little bit of mustard and sauerkraut,” Jesus would have asked one of his disciples to go to the local Deli and get the guys a sandwich, and then Jesus would have gone on with the rest of the crowd.


 When you are asked the question, “What do you want Jesus to do for you,” your answer reflects your whole Christology, that is, it reflects everything you think and believe about Jesus and what he can and does do for you. That’s why this week’s question follows from last’s week’s focus on “Who do you say that Jesus is?” It’s sequential. Who you say Jesus determines what you believe He can do for you. It’s a question that depends on faith for an answer.

But notice three words in our Scripture reading: Jesus stood still. Jesus was always on the move in the Gospels, from one place to another. But Jesus stood still. In the only instance in the Gospels where Jesus stood still, Jesus focused on the need of this one blind man, this one individual person who desperately needed what only Jesus could give.

Jesus stood still. And he restored the sight of this blind beggar.

And what was the first thing that blind men saw? The face of Jesus. The eyes of their Loving Lord. Jesus, standing still, is focusing only on him. His eyes were opened, and they saw….Jesus. What do you want Jesus to do for you? Remember, he does stand still for you.

So, open your eyes….and see Jesus. He can do that for you.

Questions to Ponder:

• · What are three or four things that you really would like Jesus to do for you? Do you believe that Jesus can meet those needs? How might that be accomplished?
• Where, in your life, do you need to “stand still?” Where is it that you just need to take more time to focus on what’s really important in life?

Prayer for Today: Seeing Jesus through eyes that were blind, all of his goodness now comes to mind! Dear Son of God, righteous and true, our only Savior, we recognize and worship You! Amen.

 

 

Jesus stood still.  And he saw the ones in need.  I love this song:  "Remind Me Who I Am", by Jason Gray.  Can you see yourself in the polariods?  Or is there someone you need to see?