The Blank Check

"What do you want me to do for you?"

That was the question Jesus asked of blind Bartimaeus as he and his disciples were leaving Jericho and heading for Jerusalem.  Now unless I miss something, this is a hugely profound question.

Bartimaeus, as Mark tells us, the son of Timaeus (from the word unclean or defiled), was sitting on the side of the road as the not so small group was passing by. Discovering that Jesus of Nazareth was in the group he began to scream at the top of his lungs, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!" The people around him tried to shush him, but he screamed louder, "Son of David have mercy on me!" It must have been quite a sight.

Jesus stops and calls for Bartimaeus. When Bartimaeus comes over, completely unable to see the one he was calling to and had been called to, Jesus asks him, "What do you want me to do for you?"

Reading the story, I'm thinking it should be rather obvious to Jesus what the man needs.  Bartimaeus must have been stunned. In effect, Jesus was offering him a blank check. But there was only one thing on Bartimaeus' mind - to see again. That one act, would open up a whole new world for him and indeed, make anything possible.  Jesus grants his request.

In some regard, every day, Jesus is asking me, "What do you want me to do for you?" Naturally, I begin to think of all the things I have been praying for previous to that question. Then I hear a hint of "and" in my mind. "I ask for this and..." Could you do this and...?"

Often my petitions are cluttered with gimme's. I come with my hand out instead of my heart open. If I were truly aware that Jesus asks that question of me regularly, perhaps I would learn how to pray correctly and effectively. To ask for what matters, as Bartimaeus did.

I suspect, opening the eyes of the son of the unclean, forever changed that man. That is what I want my personal petitions to do for me.