How many parents remember the infant through toddler years?  Remember when they learned to walk but our little ones were still learning the language, so they did a lot of pointing.  When frustrated, they would point at the object they wanted.  When you didn’t respond the pointing was accompanied by crying until you got frustrated and would say, “What do you want from me?” Many times we would get that quizzical look from our precious child that asked, “why don’t you know what I want.”

Many times when we finally got the requested item, they would change their minds because they saw something else they might like better, forgetting about the first item.  I remember holding up numerous snack boxes up to my one year old, only to hear, “No, no…fafooms, faFOOMS.”  What?!

For those of you who do not speak toddler, fafooms were marshmallows.

When I finally figured it out, we were both very happy.  We sat down and ate fafooms together.  Moms and Dads know serving in those early years.

In our passage today, two blind men know exactly what they want and who can give it to them.  No language barrier here.  But still, Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”  What?!?

Matthew 20

Two Blind Men Receive Sight

²⁹ As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. ³⁰ Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

³¹ The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

³² Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

³³ “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”

³⁴ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

THINK ABOUT IT…

HUMBLE SERVING

“Lord, have mercy on us” were the words shouted for Jesus, the Messiah and Healer, accompanied by call Jesus the “Son of David”.  Did this get the attention of Jesus?  Or was it the compassion of Jesus?  Jesus, as an example to his disciples, became a servant to beggars who’s living consisted of asking for pennies every day at the gate to the city.  Do you think Jesus turned toward them because He knew they knew who He was and believed in what He could do?

Jesus, having compassion on blind Bartimaeus and his blind companion, asked specifically what they wanted in “mercy”.  We are not sure why Jesus asked them, “What do you want me to do for you?” when it seemed obvious to all standing around watching.  But isn’t it a wonderful example of serving?  When servers come to your table at your favorite restaurant, they do not tell you what to eat, but they ask you want you want?  THIS is serving.

A servant of a King comes to him for orders, asking humbly, “What do you want from me?”  And then the servant does what was asked of him.  So, here Jesus put into practice what He had just taught the disciples. He became a servant to two rejected blind beggars. The crowds around Jesus tried to silence the two men. After all, what claim did they have on the great Teacher? But Jesus had compassion on them and healed them. He was the servant even of beggars.

God’s Word contains some hard things for us to receive and practice. If we love the things of this world, we cannot love God supremely. If we are not yielded completely to His will, we cannot obey Him unreservedly. If we seek glory for ourselves, or if we compare ourselves with other believers, then we cannot glorify Him. We cannot acknowledge Jesus as our King unless we love Him supremely, obey Him unreservedly, and glorify Him completely. But if we do these things, we will share in His life and joy, and one day reign with Him!

HOLY PAUSE

When we serve, do we do for others what we think they need?  Or, like Jesus, do we ask, “what do you want from me” and then do it.

Serving is putting others interests and desires before our own.  What is obvious and assumed by us is not necessarily the true need.  (See also Philippians 2)

We must ask questions, listen carefully and then respond humbly.  Serving is not about us “doing the good thing” so we will feel good.  It is about helping others and glorifying God above all.

“Lord, we want out sight.” 

Dear Lord and Savior,

Heal our spiritual blindness when it comes to humbly serving.  Help us to take cues from You and Your Holy Spirit when helping others by asking the right questions.  Continue to transform us to more like you and less like the world in our thinking and behaving.  In Jesus Name, Amen