What Do you Want Me to Do For You?

In Mark 10:33-37 we read that Jesus said to His disciples, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”

Think about this. Immediately after Jesus tells His disciples all that is to come relating to His death and resurrection, the first thing that James and John can think of to ask Him is to have a prominent seat next to Him in glory.

Maybe a modern day translation would read, "Uh, yeah, that's great, Jesus, but do you think that after you die and, you know, get to heaven, we could sit next to you and, uh, help to rule Your kingdom and all?"

Jesus told James and John, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

After Jesus answered them they continued their journey. The story continues in verses 46-50:

“Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”

And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

Once again Jesus asked the question, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

Bartimaeus asked that he may receive his sight. He sought a need to be met.

Jesus met his need and replied, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Bartimaeus was immediately healed and he followed Jesus on the road.

Note the contrast. James and John both sought to have their desires met. Bartimaeus asked for a need to be met. The question to each was the same. The motives of the hearts were different.

Jesus asks us the same question today, “What do you want Me to do for you?” What is your response? More importantly, what is the motive behind your reply?

May we see Jesus as well as blind Bartimaeus did so long ago, acknowledge Him for who He is and be humble in our requests before Him.