Matthew 20:29-31 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, son of David, have mercy on us!”
(NIV)

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These blind men were strategic. They sat at a busy intersection, begging for what they needed to survive. Busy intersections where people travel on foot are also good places to overhear the day’s news and gossip. 

No doubt these blind men had heard about Jesus, and when they heard about him, they listened carefully. His were the hands of a healer. No doubt they hoped that one day he would pass their way. And he did. 

Verse 30 says, “And when they heard that Jesus was going by . . .” Matthew says “they heard,” whereas if he were writing about us, he would probably say “they saw.”

The one they had been waiting for was here. The healer was in reach, but they couldn’t see to get close enough to grasp him. So they did what they could do. They shouted. This may seem rude, but it was a moment of hopeful desperation. Their best chance at a normal life was walking by. They dared not let him walk on uninterrupted.

So, “they shouted all the louder. ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’”

Jesus had ears to hear. He heard more than an urgent request. He heard the hopeful desperation in their voices. What happened next is instructive. 

Verse 32 says, “Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’” 

When we likewise stop and ponder this, it seems maybe a little ridiculous. Blind men called him. They begged him for mercy. Surely he who could see their predicament would hear in their tones what they wanted him to do. Jesus saw the need, but he did not presume their desire. 

We’ve all sat in our cars at intersections where someone had a sign and a dog and begged for money. The dog is important. People who do not give beggars the time of day tend to have soft spots for dogs. 

No doubt you are often as conflicted as I am at times like this. I don’t want anyone, or their dog, to go hungry. I also don’t want anyone to harm themselves with the kinds of things that make them feel good for a little while but don’t do good to their bodies and minds.

If you read the Gospels carefully, you’ll notice that Jesus asked this same question more than once. He’s still asking it. It’s an invitation. It’s an opportunity. It’s a moment that could change our lives forever. 

Let’s assume Jesus is asking you and me, “What do you want me to do for you?” How will you respond? What’s your deepest need, your highest desire, your greatest concern? As the old hymn says, “Tell it to Jesus.” 

These men did not mind telling Jesus what they wanted. They wanted to see. 

How did Jesus respond? Verse 34 says, “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” 

These men had ears to hear. These men gained eyes to see. 

The question for you and me is: Do we have ears to hear what Jesus is saying to us today? Do we have eyes to see what he sees? If we hear what he hears and see what he sees, what should we do next? Again, if you don’t know, ask him. He always knows. He’s always ready to change someone’s destiny. 

Why not take a moment right now and write down, “Here’s what I want Jesus to do for me”? If you are uncomfortable shouting at him, you might want to just read those words aloud in a normal voice. You can even pray them silently so you don’t disturb or frighten anyone.

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I will tell Jesus what I want him to do for me.

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Our Father, thank you for the gift of prayer. Thank you for teaching us to pray with passages like Psalm 23 and the Lord’s Prayer. Thank you that we can bring our greatest needs and our deepest desires to you. Thank you for hearing and answering these prayers better than we know how to pray them. We bring our request to you today and trust your heart to do for us and in us what is most beneficial to us, those we relate to most closely, and those we serve. Amen.