What do you want?
Mark 10:35-52
A lot of you have been attending the “Terrific Tuesday” services and I wonder if you are feeling anything?
I wonder if any of you are feeling any renewal of your vival.
That is the intent of holding a series of special services. To receive a stirring of your soul, perhaps a rekindling of excitement and love for our savior and our creator.
Last Tuesday night, before I left the building, I felt like I was being asked a question, What do you want me to do for you?
It is not really a weird question, I get asked something similar all the time at restaurants, at home, and it happens pretty often here with the people who make our worship services and workdays and meetings come together.
The strange part, I was the only one here. So, that question just kept bouncing into my mind as I got ready to head home and through the week.
Anytime we have a nagging question it is a sign of searching. It is an opportunity for growth. Personally, I think that it means that my vival is not dead.
In this case I will give some credit to our speakers of the last couple of weeks but, I will suggest that the balance goes to the Holy Spirit answering our prayers for revival.
-- Personally, I notice in my prayer life that I call out to Jesus, asking for his attention for all kinds of situations that I know about and even some that involve me. I ask for wisdom, strength, health and peace for myself and others.
And this week that one question kept running though my mind.
What do you want me to do for you?
I felt like Jesus was addressing me like he does to so many people in the Bible.
It made me feel a little uncomfortable. I guess that I would have similar feeling if an important person noticed me a stopped to speak. I would want to say something important or at least not sound dumb.
I guess that is how I feel about my prayers as well. I know that as a Christian God hears my prayers.
So, in my prayers I start babbling about worldly problems and needs, High and important stuff far from me. Problems in our world, all the worries and concerns for the war, about our status as a Christian nation and the spiritual health of our community.
I pray for family issues and church direction, revival and suffering and needs of our church.
This week as I have prayed I felt like that question, “What do you want me to do for you?” was right there. And someone was waiting for me to answer.
I realized that while there are so many honorable and valid things we should pray for, the question in our scripture is being addresses in a similar way to me and to you. The question is not what can he do for us…it is what can He do for me!
The fireman was sitting by the phone in the volunteer fire station when it rang. He picked it up and said, “Fire department!” The woman on the other end said, “SEND A FIRE TRUCK!” and hung up.
He waited, not sure what to do, and the phone rang again. He picked it up, said “Fire department.” The woman said, “SEND A FIRE TRUCK NOW!!” Then she hung up.
He waited, and this time he was ready. The phone rang, and he picked it up and said, “Where’s the fire?” The woman said, “It’s in the kitchen!” and hung up!
Folks, I am afraid that many of us call on God, Jesus with an issue in our life and we don’t spent any time waiting for an interaction with the divine. We shoot off an areal flair and expect a response from outside of ourselves.
In our scriptures this morning the common theme is one question from Jesus to specific people. His question comes after someone makes an inquiry.
As I spent time this week thinking about that question I struggled with how I would personally respond. I hope that you will consider how you will answer Jesus’ question as you interact with our creator.
The bigger picture of this is that Jesus and the disciples and a larger crowd of followers are on the way to Jerusalem. In the verses immediately proceeding our reading Jesus had just explained that the Son of man will be betrayed and die and rise again in three days. It says that Jesus was leading them and some were afraid.
In my mind, I picture Jesus walking at the head of this flock of people. Like a shepherd. He is just ahead of the group but technically alone. Perhaps the groups is discussing the meaning of what Jesus had explained to the disciples at the last rest stop.
Then it seems that these two disciples, brothers, left the crowd following Jesus and came along side of him and made a request.
Let me read the first section: Mark:10:35-37
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
When my kids come to me they often ask a question or make a request similar to the one in our scripture. When they do the red flags start waving. The early warning system goes off indicating that someone is trying to take advantage of my good nature, my love and compassion, my mercy or just want money out of my wallet.
When someone approaches asking for a commitment in advance of the request, they want something and it is probably expensive in one way or another.
When Jesus responds he answers with a question. He does not just say yes or no but puts a reservation on his reply.
“What do you want me to do for you?”
They ask for the places of honor at Jesus right and left when he comes into his glory.
When I read this my first thought is, “What bozos, they have not learned a thing about how Jesus and the kingdom work.” I think again about how little they seem to know after being in His company for three years.
In a small way, I start comparing some of my thoughts and ideas to theirs and realize that they might seem just as selfish and unspiritual. I have been walking with Jesus for some 40+ years, on and off and I wonder why I don’t seem to get either.
It tend to think I have a great ideas and think that God and Jesus should do it my way.
I guess I am an even bigger bozo in reality.
When the brothers make this move and make such an outrageous request, to be number 2 and 3 in the kingdom, Jesus does not seem to get angry . HE does not say get behind me satan.
He tells them that they don’t understand and then asked them an additional question. Can they drink from the same cup and share the same baptism? He tells them that there is an earthly cost to discipleship instead of a tangible reward.
Some people have faith in Jesus which is great except that they believe that their faith will buy them something today.
There are many Christians that believe that their life will be blessed with success and money and comfort. They believe that all will go well because of their faith.
They tend to believe that Jesus offers promises for this world.
But, the promises from God and Jesus are for the next world.
When we become a follower of Christ thought faith we are more likely to face problems than to have a perfect life; because, if you commit to living for Jesus Christ you are agreeing to go where he says go and do what he ask you to do.
He offers only the basics to believers in this life.
Daily bread, forgiveness of sins, deliverance from evil….
I can’t recall a single instance where Jesus offers mounds of cash or personal power. His touch in this world is to build up the faithful, to take weakness and turn it into strength.
When He asks us what can He do for us, he is asking for us to share our weakness and needs that we might be made ready to serve and not to be served ourselves. He is asking what we need in order to be able to follow him in a better way.
That sounds like a crummy deal….but, only if you place little or no value in the promises of the next world.
The story continues as Jesus and the disciples were leaving Jericho still on the trip to Jerusalem.
They are about 10 to 15 miles from Jerusalem. The number of people on the road was large; because, lots of people were on the way to celebrate the Passover. Jesus and his disciples were exiting the city. Along the roads in the city there were beggars. They would have congregated along this road because the number of people on vacation, so to speak, could give them extra income.
One of them was named Bartimaeus. There must have been and extra commotion or noise as Jesus and His group are recognized.
And When Bartimaeus finds out who is passing by he shouts to get attention and it works.
Let me re-read the next place I want you to notice again:
Mark 10:49-51
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
This situation does not have that sneaky feeling of the two brothers. It is less about letting people be seen and more about personally seeing. It still involves personal benefit but not at the expense or in the place of others.
Bartimaeus, moves to Jesus calling out for mercy. Jesus hears him and calls to the beggar.
He threw his cloak aside. That would be the piece of cloth that he held out to catch the coins that people would toss to him. He could feel them hit and find them before a sighted beggar took it from him.
By tossing the cloak aside he is already confident that his life will be changed. He would not need what little he had, because it was all going to be different in a moment.
How often in our prayers do we ask or healing, or help and not have any expectation that we will be heard and action taken on our behalf. Or have no concept of how God can use all things for good even our discomfort and needs.
Jesus asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
This is exactly the same question that he used when his disciples came to him. Bartimaeus’answer is simple and it is his most desperate need. He is asking for something that no one on earth could give him. His sight is one thing that will let him have a normal life; it is a change from darkness to light.
“Rabbi, I want to see!”
Jesus grants his request and because of his faith, he can see. Then text mentions that he follows Jesus along the road.
--- What is the difference between the two situations?
In Bartimaeus situation his faith is based on rumor or provided by God but his request is for a real need. By granting his request God is glorified and people can be amazed with this wonderful sign.
With the disciples the request, they have faith that it can be granted but the need is for power and high position.
The granting of this request was more of an earthly want or desire and had little if any means of glorifying God or amazing others about what God could do.
The brothers did not see how there request was outside the plans of God and was a request to satisfy a personal satisfaction and desire for position.
So what is the real message that God offers us today?
A believer may pray and ask for anything and God will not be angry. No matter how inappropriate or unspiritual or selfish.
However, I believe that it is not the automatic ATM kind of response that Jesus is offering.
Our faith is not a membership in a bank which entitles us to credit or access to loans. Membership in God’s family does not automatically entitle us to special privileges but, to access to a special relationship which can and will give us peace, and often a special power to endure and grow.
God responds to our needs to help us to move closer to and do something for God more than our desires to just sit next to God.
There is one detail that I hope you will take into consideration. In each of the events in our scripture this morning, the people moved toward Jesus to make their request. The people wanted something from Jesus, right or wrong they acted.
Brothers and Sisters every worship service offers us an opportunity to improve our relationship with God. Every worship service is a special opportunity for us to experience the presence of Jesus Christ.
But I am afraid that most of us are content to walk with the crowd and we are content with where we are. Perhaps we were influenced by God in the past and we felt something and as far as we are concerned that is good enough…maybe even more than we feel we deserve.
In other words, we are content to walk with the crowd or sit by the road with others in need and over hear the wisdom and grace of God at a distance.
Folks, I don’t think living like that reflects what the Christian life is about.
A Christian life is about probing and searching and traveling some distance to move closer to and perhaps mature in our position related to God.
Heaven’s Grocery Store
I was walking down life’s pathway Not so very long ago
When I looked up and saw a sign, Heaven’s Grocery Store.
I got a little closer And the door swung open wide.
The next thing I knew I was standing there inside.
I saw a host of angels. They were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket and said, “My child, now shop with care.”
Everything a Christian needed Was in that Grocery Store,
And what you couldn’t carry out You could come back next day for more.
Well, first I got some patience, Love is in the same row.
Further down was understanding. You need those everywhere you go.
I got a box or two of wisdom And a bar or two of faith. You couldn’t miss the Holy Ghost He was all over the place.
I didn’t forget salvation For salvation—that was free.
I wanted to get enough of that To save both you and me.
There was meekness, longsuffering and gentleness I saw these at a glance.
I knew I’d better get some. I would never have a better chance.
I stopped to get some courage To help me run life’s race.
Then my basket was getting full And I remembered I needed grace.
Then I started for the counter To pay my grocery bill
I thought I had most everything To do the Father’s will.
And I saw prayer, I just had to put that in.
I knew when I stepped outside the door, I’d run right into sin. (Source unknown)
We are to ask Jesus for what we need.
We are to ask Jesus for what we want.
And recognize that a wrong questions or desire is not the problem.
The problem is being satisfied with what little we have and know.
Are you satisfied with your relationship with God?
Is there something you want or need to help you in your Christian walk?
Have you approached Jesus and allowed Him to ask you, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
All Glory be to God!
