As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. "They told him, 'Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.' He called out, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!' Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!' Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 'What do you want me to do for you?' 'Lord, I want to see,' he replied. Jesus said to him, 'Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.' Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God" (Luke 18:35-43). The synoptic Gospels--Matthew, Mark and Luke--all contain accounts of Jesus healing a blind beggar in Jericho as he passed through the town on his way to Jerusalem. People coming from the Galilee region in the north continued to travel down the Jordan River valley and then go up to Jerusalem from Jericho.
Mark identifies the blind man as Bartimaeus. We will refer to him as "Bart." Like a lot of individuals who do not have the sense of sight, Bart heard more than seeing people. He was aware of the crowd going by and he inquired as to what was going on. He was told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. No doubt he had heard people talking about the miraculous signs that Jesus had performed in Galilee and Jerusalem. Now Jesus was walking past where he was sitting and begging! Bart see the opportunity to call out to Jesus. Notice how he addressed him, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me" (Luke 18:37). By this designation we can conclude that he believed Jesus to be the Christ or Messiah. The Biblical passage of Isaiah 61:1 indicated that Messiah would cause the blind to see (see also Luke 4:18). The people in the crowd were not sympathetic; they told him to be quiet. But Bart was not to be deterred or denied; he hollered all the louder. When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. Then Jesus asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" (Luke 18:41). The blind man had a simple and immediate request, "Lord, I want to see."
Jesus has in essence told us the same thing. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8). How would you answer the question, "What do you want ME to do for you?" Do you have something specific in mind? Remember to ask in faith (see mark 11:24).
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In response to Bart's petition, Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you" (Luke 19:42). Immediately, he received his sight and then he proceeded to follow Jesus and give praise. The miracle caused the crowd to join in praising God. Many people asked God for things--but how many showed their gratitude by following the Lord and publicly praising his Name? What do you want from God? Will you faithfully follow the Lord after receiving your request? Will you remember to praise him for hearing and answering?
