Mark 10:51 | I Want To See
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” —Mark 10:51 NIV
I love reading about the miracles of Jesus. Each story is packed with underlying messages that reveal the heart of God. The writers could have listed in a table all the names of those Jesus healed along with their condition and how Jesus healed them, but that would have missed the point of how relational Jesus was even in these supernatural works. Jesus was not going around like a ruler zapping people into health. He was a humble servant walking the streets while the outcasts called on him from afar.
When this man heard Jesus was coming by, he began shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” to the point where the crowd started to shush him and push him away. Scripture says he called all the louder until Jesus beckoned him to come over.
Interestingly, Jesus questions the man as if his persistent shouting was not enough to communicate his desire. So why did Jesus ask him what he wanted? Jesus was not unaware of the man’s condition. Most likely, everyone there knew why he was calling for Jesus. But something is critical in Jesus’ invitation to this man.
This story illustrates the power of asking in faith. The man called out repeatedly, but standing face to face with the Savior, he had a choice between passively engaging or boldly pressing in. Jesus made it clear that the man was to tell him what he needed and be courageous enough to say that he wanted Jesus to heal him.
I think we overlook the absolute craziness of this story. Could you imagine a blind person coming up to a believer with such faith in the power of God to say, “I want to see?” That would be a radical request that would confront our faith, yet this is precisely what Jesus was setting up at this moment.
This morning I am thinking about how passively we tend to engage with God. We miss out on radical requests because we fear being let down. God definitely works around our lives when we don’t ask, but he is also ready for us to ask him directly for what we need. I wonder if there is something you can ask God for directly today? Pause for a moment and see if you can hear the shepherd's voice saying, “what do you want me to do for you?” There is your opportunity to ask in faith, “Rabbi, I want _________.”
God loves when his people ask him to provide.
-
Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired by the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.
-
Our first devotional book is available on our online store! Abiding Daily: Volume One is a devotional book including 120 prompts from the Daily Invitation. This book is designed to help believers connect with God through the word and discover more of what it means to abide in Christ. Click here to learn more.
