You are standing before Jesus and hear these words come from His mouth: “What do you want Me to do for you?” 

This is your moment…how do you respond? 

It certainly is a question many have been hearing the past month from friends and family alike as the days have led up to this weekend: “What do you want for Christmas?” 

 It seems to be the one time of the year that so many are presented with a seemingly ‘blank check’. I can remember as a kid having to take turns with my brothers to flip through the toy section of a Sears catalog making a ‘list’ of all those wonderful toys that shone from the pages. Now don’t get me wrong…it’s not like our parents promised us that we’d get whatever we asked for, but as kids, there was the sense that wishes could come true at this special time of year. 

 We read in the Gospel of Mark of an incident where Jesus was coming into Jericho followed by a great multitude of people. Sitting alongside the road was a blind man named Bartimaeus. And as was his daily custom, he was begging. That’s what he did, as during those times that was pretty much all he could do. 

We also know he wore a garment that would have been invaluable to him for multiple reasons as it was pretty much all he would have had in earthly possessions. 

 So on this one day, when he heard it was Jesus who was passing by…he began to cry out to Him. It must have created a stir because those standing nearby tried to ‘hush him’ down…seemingly uncomfortable of the scene he was creating. 

 But Bartimaeus cried out all the more. Then we read in verse 49 that ‘Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called’. 

 That is an impactful statement…”Jesus stood still”. 

 A blind beggar…sitting alongside a dusty road…most likely covered in all kinds of filth…lost in the clamoring din of voices and people…and darkness…cried out to Jesus. 

 And Jesus heard him … and stood still. 

Then He commanded that the one who cried out be brought to Him. How quickly the tune changed of those standing nearby who were trying to silence Bartimaeus, now were encouraging him to rise up and go to Jesus. We are told he did just that, and as he did, he ‘threw his garment aside’. 

 Something within him must have told him he would not need that much longer. 

 That garment represented his old life. Something was about to change. 

 He ‘came to Jesus’. 

 Where he heard these words: “What do you want Me to do for you?” 

 So again, I ask you this morning…how would you respond…right now to that question, if indeed the God who created the heavens and earth looked into your soul and asked you this very question? 

 Mark 10:51 tells us how Bartimaeus responded: “Teacher…I want to see.” 

 Interestingly I woke up this morning and to be quite honest, I had no plans on posting anything here as I didn’t sense I had anything to share. But this passage from Luke 4 was on my mind. It’s where Jesus was being tempted in the wilderness by Satan. 

 Jesus was essentially being asked the same question by the devil who was offering to Him pretty much anything and everything he could possibly desire. The devil, taking Him up on a high mountain showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time…saying I will give You everything you see and all their glory that comes with it…it’s in my power to do so…it’s all yours if you will just worship before me. [Oh…just a side note so don’t read too much in to this, but have you ever noticed that if you take the last letter in Satan’s name and move it two places to the left, what do you end up with?] 

But back to our story of Bartimaeus …Jesus must have been smiling after hearing the beggar’s response… a smile that I can only imagine radiated in such a way that it brought so much light as He commended this man, who swallowed up in darkness, was standing before him. 

 John 1:5 tells us: “ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” 

But Bartimaeus did. Because immediately he received his sight. (Mark 10:52) 

 And even a more significant detail we read -where upon him receiving what he asked for…is that he ‘followed Jesus on the road.” 

 “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” (Isa 60:1) 

Father in Heaven…may your gospel once again be proclaimed in such a way that the words you uttered to Paul may also be the result for us as well… “To open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” (Acts 26:18)

 And when our eyes are opened…may we be diligent and passionate about doing as Bartimaeus did…and ‘follow Jesus on the road’. 

 Merry Christmas to you and yours.