Luke 18:35-19:10

esus Heals a Blind Beggar
35 As they approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. 36 When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was going by. 38 So he began shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39 The crowds ahead of Jesus tried to hush the man, but he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
40 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. 41 Then Jesus asked the man, "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord," he pleaded, "I want to see!" 42 And Jesus said, "All right, you can see! Your faith has healed you." 43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.Jesus and Zacchaeus
1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was one of the most influential Jews in the Roman tax-collecting business, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowds. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree beside the road, so he could watch from there.
5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. "Zacchaeus!" he said. "Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today." 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the crowds were displeased. "He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner," they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have overcharged people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!" 9 Jesus responded, "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham. 10 And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost."Devotion: What would you Say? (Chris Bunch)
The two stories in our scripture today are two of my favorites. The story of Bartimaeus (we learn his name in Mark 10:46) and Zacchaeus. In each of the stories, both men cannot see Jesus. Bartimaeus cannot see him because he is physically blind. Zacchaeus can‘t see him because he is to short. But, this does not stop either of them from getting to Jesus.
One of them screams out to Jesus until he is heard and the other one climbs a tree to get noticed. Both, through their faith, get a glimpse of God‘s one and only Son. What I find interesting is that Jesus notices both of the men even though they are treated like outcasts by the crowd. Jesus approaches both of them and meets their need.
The question that is so powerful to me in this passage is given to Bartimaeus when Jesus asks him, "What do you want me to do for you?" I was thinking this afternoon as I am writing this, "What do I want Jesus to do for me?"
And I am asking you today, "What do you want Jesus to do for you?" Right now, I would encourage you to make a list of three or four responses you might make to Jesus’ question. Avoid generalities like: make me a better person, feed the world, etc. Get personal and specific. One I am asking right now is this, "Take away my anxiety and help me to experience your precious peace."
Don‘t hesitate to ask Jesus what others may think is impossible. If you need Jesus help, ask for it. I am confident as I look at the Bible that he desires to meet your needs when you turn to him.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for being willing to meet my needs. Help me to call out to you with boldness realizing that you are still asking, "What do you want me to do for you?" Help me now to believe you will meet my request in your time. In Jesus name. Amen