Relationship Building ~ Bob Coy

So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" Mark 10:51 (NKJV)

One of the most touching stories in all the Bible is the exchange that takes place between Jesus and the man who has come to be known as Blind Bartemaeus. It's "classic Jesus."

As the Lord makes His way through the city of Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartemaeus hears that He's within walking distance. The commotion of the crowd grows louder and louder as it passes by him. It's Jesus, and before the opportunity slips through his fingers, the blind man cries out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

His cries are barely audible above the murmur of the multitude. Then, someone takes notice of him, then another, and another. He keeps on calling out into the black void before him. "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Before long the crowd starts telling him to shut up, that Jesus is too busy to bother with him.

But Jesus does what nobody expected. He stops dead in His tracks and asks that Blind Bartemaeus be brought to Him. Face to face, Jesus asks him, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

At first, this question seems somewhat foolish. "Isn't it obvious? Here I am, blind and calling out to you! Do you think healing me might have something to do with it?" But as always, there's a deeper issue attached to Jesus' question. The reason He asked this question was to give Bartemaeus the opportunity to confess His request. "That I may receive my sight," says Bartemaeus.

More than just about anything else, Jesus wants to build relationship with us. A big part of that is when we express and confess the desires of our heart to Him. Regardless of how obvious our requests may be, He wants us to share them with Him.

Discuss what you would say if Jesus were to ask you what you want Him to do for you. Share your answer and the reason why you would make this request.

Dig into Mark 10:46–52. What impresses you about verses 49–50? What does Blind Bartemaeus do once he is healed? What does this passage say to you about Jesus’ compassion for people?

Decide to pray for those who long to be healed. Ask God to touch those who are in physical and spiritual need.