Mark 9, 10

January 17, 2011

Mark 9, 10

Overview:  Jesus is active. Healing. Teaching. Instructing the disciples about what will happen to him.

A key component to a solid relationship with Jesus is quite simply asking well.  Two times towards the end of Mark 10, Jesus asks a question that leads to important considerations on our part.  Jesus question?  First to James and John, "What is it you want me to do for you?" and then further on to the blind man Bartimaeus "What do you want me to do for you?".   James and John's response is that they want to sit one at his right hand and one at his left when he comes into power.  Bartimaeus response is he'd like to be able to see.  Two of the twelve who are closest to Jesus use the question as an opportunity for an attempted power grab.  A man who can't see uses the question to ask Jesus for healing.  Jesus does not respond with anger to his followers, but he does use their question as an opening to asking some probing questions and to help them see some harsh realities about what they are asking.  Jesus responds with compassion to Bartimaeus - "Go your faith has made you well."  As we read Scripture, as we come into God's presence in prayer the tone and the purpose of these two answers to Jesus question are important for us to consider as we listen for Jesus asking us "What do you want me to do for you?" and as we formulate our own answers.