“What Do You Want Jesus to Do for You?”

(Mark  10:46-52) 

They came to Jericho.  As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside.  When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.”  And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.”  So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.  Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?”  The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.”  Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.”  Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.     

            “What do you want me to do for you?”  This is the question Jesus asks the blind man Bartimaeus in this morning’s reading. 

            The disciples, James and John, the Zebedee brothers, as some of you may recall from last week’s lesson, were asked that same question by Jesus in the reading that comes just prior to this morning’s lesson.  “What do you want me to do for you?”  Their answer to him, without hesitation, was “Let us sit one at your right and one at your left in glory.”  Had Jesus agreed to grant that request, there, undoubtedly, would have been an argument about who was going to get to be on which side.  Nothing would have been good enough for the Zebedee Brothers.

            Obviously, James and John were very blatantly self-serving in their answer to Jesus’ question.  If, perchance, Jesus asked each of us this question, I wonder what we would answer?  I wonder….

            Though James and John seemed only  concerned about themselves and their own interests in their answer to Jesus’ question, many of us probably would have been more circuitous, more global, more polite and humble, probably more generous in our answers.  “World peace,” we might have said, “food for everyone, economic equality, guidance for our nation’s leaders (especially now), universal health care, a cure for cancer….”

            Many of us may have had something more personal in mind: healing for Aunt Martha, a healthy baby, a job, guidance in making a decision, inner peace, forgiveness of sin….

            But unfortunately, many of us at one time or another pray for the kind of thing that the Zebedee boys were going for: winning the lottery, a big promotion, a bull market (something that would increase our IRAs or pension funds), a wealthy spouse, prestige, riches, fame, fortune….

            In contrast to the disciples’ request (and probably ours), Bartimaeus asked for something else.  In response to “What do you want me to do for you?” he requested this.  “Teacher, let me see again.”  He asked to have sight.  Now, Bartimaeus had something really important going for him.  He KNEW that he was blind.  He KNEW what was needed.  And he KNEW that Jesus could help him.

            The Zebedee boys, on the other hand, thought they had it all together and wanted Jesus to confirm that.  Their request to Jesus only proved how deluded they really were.  They would have been better asking him, as did Bartimaeus, to be able to see, to end their blindness because, the thing is, they were more blind than the blind man….  Why,  you might ask.  Because the Zebedee Boys were all about their quest for power and control rather than wanting what Jesus had been teaching them about, that is, being servants and being those who give of themselves.

            And so, of course, the question must be asked of us today and every day, not are we blind, but in what ways are we blind?  How are Christians blind?  How is our nation blind?  How are we Americans blind?

            Interestingly, today is Reformation Day, a day in which we remember Martin Luther back in the 1500’s who stood up against the religious institution and its abuses of power and of the people.  I observe it, not because we Protestants are so great and those Catholics were so bad, but because it is important to remember history so that we do not repeat it. 

But, sadly, we do keep repeating it.  Religious groups across the globe, across human history continue to abuse the privilege of their power, thinking they know it all, acting as though they are in charge of God’s will and vision.  We see it over and over again and are party to it over and over again.  We become blind, intentionally or unintentionally.  Martin Luther’s great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” is a reminder that it is God alone who is in charge, and it is we who are blind and always at risk to abuse power. 

            So, if we are anything like the Zebedee boys, and we probably are, it is very hard for us to know where our blind spots are.  But here are some red flags.  When we are motivated by fear, hatred, greed, arrogance, self-promotion, cattiness or cold-heartedness, we may very well be acting out of blindness.

            When we are motivated by compassion, love, humility, a desire to be close to God, a longing for serenity, a seeking after God’s truth, rather than protecting our own opinions, keeping our eye upon Jesus, we may have some of Bartimaeus in us.

            So, here’s the thing.  Each of us needs to humbly pray in this way, “Let me receive my sight,” as Bartimaeus asked Jesus.  Rather than gimme this and gimme that or make sure I’m set for life with my pension or that my team is going to win or that I live to be 100—all of those at any cost.  Rather, let us be so trusting of God and not demanding but, rather, pray that our eyes may be opened to God’s will for our lives and for our world.

            You know, as we approach the election, there are a lot of agendas operating around us.  I ask you to remember blind Bartimaeus and his simple plea, “Teacher, allow me to see.”  And remember my little list of motivations: when we are motivated by compassion, love, humility, a desire to be close to God, a longing for serenity, a seeking after God’s truth instead of protecting our own opinions, and knowing that we need to keep our eyes upon Jesus, then we may have some of Bartimaeus in us, and we may be able to discern what could be best for ourselves, for our nation and for our world.

            This is not only a prescription for being close to God, it is a way toward inner peace and joy, satisfaction with life as it is being revealed, a pathway that will help us avoid frustration and resentment, envy and power-grubbing.  Let us be honest and humble in saying and praying, “I am blind.  Let me see things clearly.  Lord, open my eyes.”  Amen.