NTDS (22): What Do You Want Jesus To Do For You?

Matt 20:32 Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. NIV

Picture this scene. Jesus and His disciples are leaving Jericho with a large crowd following them. There were two blind men sitting by the road. They hear that Jesus is passing by, so they shout, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd tells them to be quiet but they just shout louder!

Jesus then stops and asks them this amazing question. The answer would seem to be obvious. They wanted their sight, but that may not be as obvious as we think. Normally a blind man in that day would be sitting by the side of the road in order to ask passers by for money. This was the only way they could survive. This was the life they were accustomed to and they could have been afraid of how their life might change if they were given their sight. But these two men were not afraid. They wanted to see!

They knew something was different about this passer by. The amazing thing is that even without being able to see Jesus, they knew who He was and therefore what He could do! They address Him as “Lord” (kurios in Greek, meaning supreme in authority) and Son of David” (a Messianic title). They knew that Jesus was capable of giving them more than money and they did not want this opportunity to pass by. They were going to get His attention, no matter what it took!

Well, it worked. Jesus stopped and asked the question. When they answered, the Bible records some beautiful words. “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” (Matt 20:34 NIV)

I want to you to note three things. One, Jesus had compassion on them. All through the book of Matthew, we read that phrase. James 5:11 tells us that the Lord is full of compassion. Two, His compassion leads to action. Jesus immediately heals the men and they receive their sight. Three, the response of the two men is to follow Jesus. They could have just thanked Him and gone home, but instead, they followed their Lord and Messiah.

What a tremendous lesson for us. It seems that, even as believers in Jesus, we do not take the same approach as these two men did when we have a deep need or desire in our life. Let’s be clear on what they did and see if we can apply it to our relationship with Jesus:

Make sure we get His attention. How do we do that? In prayer and supplication. Phil 4:6-7 but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. NASU

Believe that Jesus has compassion on you and loves to meet your need.

Matt 7:9-12 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" NIV

Have faith in His ability to provide for your need. Heb 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." NASU

Follow Him! This is the response the Lord desires, following Him.

John 10:27-28 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; NASU

We serve an awesome and mighty God. He is the creator of all things and holds all things together (Col 1:17). He gives life to all things and supplies us with all things (1 Ti 6:13,17). He loves to bless His children. Matt 7:7-8

 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. NIV

Do you have a great need in your life today? Take a lesson from these two blind men and let the Lord know what you would like Him to do for you! I know He has the same compassion for you that he had for them. Have faith that He will give you what you need and then, most importantly, follow Him!

God bless you

Coach