Take Heart! Rise Up - He is calling You!(Part II)

July, 2018

It was a huge crowd surrounding Jesus. The disciples most likely still pondering their earlier reprimand from Jesus concerning which of them would be honored most in heaven. Imagine the scene. Jesus asked James and John, “What do you want me to do for you?”. So, after responding with a request to sit at his right hand in heaven, he sharply replies  “You don’t know what you are asking!” 

 And now,  in the midst of the huge crowd attempting to silence Bartemeaus’, (who’s name incidentally means ‘Worthy to Honor”!) - Jesus says  “Call him over”.   I have been wondering if the disciples noticed who Jesus was deeming worthy of honor.…as they just finished asking to sit on his left and right in heaven. 

The blind beggar did not waste time - nor was he distracted by the crowd, getting up - he immediately throws off his tell-tale cloak and runs to the Messiah who asked “What do you want me to do for you?” to which the blind man said ....“Please let me recover my sight…” and yes,  Jesus healed him.  In fact, he said ‘your faith has made you well’ 

Do you see the parallel here? Immediately prior to this in Mark 10:36, Jesus asks the exact same key question to James and John- “What do you want me to do for you?” And to their plea to sit on his right and left in heaven induces a very different response from Jesus. “He who is first must be servant of all.” I guess these words weren’t enough for James and John. Jesus needed to show them…. (and maybe you and me too) that the faith and heart of Bartimeaus was honored that day, his longing to be healed and belief Jesus could do it. Maybe that needs to be the cry of our heart. “Jesus…. Pease let me recover my sight”

John Eldridge states in his book , Desire—
“So, let's come back to the simple question Jesus asks of us all: What do you want? Don't minimize it; don't try to make sure it sounds spiritual; don't worry about whether or not you can obtain it. Just stay with the question until you begin to get an answer. This is the way we keep current with our hearts.” 

 I remember when I was seriously asked that for the first time. “What do you really want ? I thought and thought - it actually took me 3 months to write an answer. I want to share it with you, just click on the link. But in the mean time YOU think about it! Mark 10:46-52