Good morning and a blessed Thursday morning to you. 

For our time of devotion together today, I want us to take a look at two stories from the tenth chapter of Mark. 

Mark 10:35-40.  

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Appoint us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to appoint, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

In the second story Jesus was entering Jericho and encountered a blind beggar. Mark 10:46-52

46 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher,  let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

So here we have these two parallel stories, where Jesus is having a request be made to him. But notice a couple of things here. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, go to Jesus. They go to Jesus and make a request. Bartimaeus is brought to Jesus.  He was sitting by the roadside, and started calling out for Jesus, the Son of David, this Messianic title. He is recognizing that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah. Jesus stops in his tracks and calls Bartimaeus to him. 

In both stories Jesus asks the same question: “What do you want me to do for you?”  James and John go to Jesus requesting something for their own glory. They are requesting their own status or position to be great. Bartimaeus says he wants his sight restored. 

Jesus' response to each is also very telling. Jesus responds to James and John telling them, they have no idea, no clue what they are asking for. To Bartimaeus, he says, “Your faith has made you well.”

When we approach the Father are we approaching, demanding as James and John did, asking to have a better position, or a status of glory? Or do we come to the Father being drawn to him, humbly seeking that through Jesus we would see… that we would see him… that we would see those around us in need… that we would see the very goodness of God.

Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. We say the Lord's Prayer every single week. Many of us probably say it more than once a week. In that prayer we are praying God's own prayer to him.  And we are praying that his will be done in our life. We seek God's will in our life because God's will will glorify him. God's will glorifies God. And most importantly, God's will, this side of heaven, was for us to hear his good news proclaimed… to hear that he is merciful… and to hear that our sins are forgiven through him alone.

So when Jesus asks us,”What do you want me to do for you” we have a very quick answer upon our lips. Our response that it's already been done for us… a response is that by his death and resurrection we have been forgiven. We have been made whole and clean through the blood of Jesus Christ. Praise be to God! 

So as we continue to go about our lives this side of heaven, the number one priority… the number one request is already answered. We are forgiven through Christ. And he continues to work his will in our lives, that we would see him… that we would praise him… that we would glorify him… and that we would see, so that others would know him and him alone.

Let's pray. Lord, we thank you that you call us through your Holy Spirit to yourself… that you have cleansed us through the blood of Jesus Christ of our sins… and that you have made your will of forgiveness and of mercy known in our lives. Lord, open our eyes to those around us that we may introduce them to you… that we may share your goodness with them… and that the kingdom of your glory would expand through your will of love, mercy, and forgiveness. Lord, we thank you for this day. We thank you that your Word is upon our lips. And we thank you that we will eternally praise your Holy Name. Lord, we lift this to you in the blessed name of Jesus. Amen. 

Have an amazing rest of your week, and I look forward to worshiping our Lord and Savior Jesus with you this Sunday. God bless!

Pastor Malinak