What Do You Want Jesus to Do for You? Lessons from Two Blind Men

Life has a way of stopping us in our tracks. Whether it's the unexpected loss of a loved one, a health crisis, or simply the weight of daily struggles, we find ourselves asking hard questions about our purpose and direction. In these moments, we often focus on what we want to accomplish or the legacy we hope to leave behind. But what if we're asking the wrong questions?

When Life Forces Us to Stop and Reflect

During difficult seasons, it's natural to evaluate our lives and wonder if we're on the right path. We ask ourselves: What am I doing with my life? Am I accomplishing what I want to accomplish? What kind of legacy will I leave? These aren't bad questions, but they often center around our own desires and plans rather than inviting Jesus into the conversation.

The real questions we should be asking are: Where am I asking Jesus to show up in my life? What am I asking Him to do when He does show up? What is He asking of me in these moments?

The Story of Two Desperate Men

In Matthew 20:29-34, we encounter two blind men sitting by the roadside as Jesus leaves Jericho. When they hear that Jesus is passing by, they cry out desperately: "Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!" The crowd tries to silence them, but they only shout louder.

Why Jericho Matters

The detail that they're leaving Jericho isn't random. This city was known for its balsam trees, which produced a healing balm specifically used to treat blindness. People from all over would come to Jericho seeking remedies for their sight problems. These two men had likely tried everything the world had to offer before encountering Jesus.

Recognizing Who Jesus Really Is

When the blind men call Jesus "Son of David," they're not just referencing His lineage. This is a messianic title reserved for the Anointed One of God. They believed Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies like Isaiah 35, which promised that when the Messiah came, "blind eyes will open and deaf ears will hear."

Their faith was so strong that no amount of opposition could deter them. The crowd tried to silence them, telling them they weren't worth Jesus' time, but they cried out even louder.

Jesus Stops Everything for Individuals

Here's what's remarkable: Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, knowing exactly what awaited Him there - betrayal, suffering, and crucifixion. Yet when He heard these men crying out, He stopped. In the middle of the most important week of His earthly ministry, He turned back and asked them a question we'd all love to hear: "What do you want me to do for you?"

The Power of the Right Request

Their response reveals the condition of their hearts: "Lord, let our eyes be opened." Unlike others who sought status or recognition from Jesus, these men simply wanted wholeness and healing.

Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes and immediately restored their sight. But something even more significant happened - their spiritual eyes were opened as well.

What Happens When Our Eyes Are Truly Opened

When these men received their sight, the first thing they saw was the merciful, loving, compassionate face of Jesus. Their response was immediate and decisive - they got up and followed Him.

This wasn't just physical healing; it was spiritual transformation. Jesus didn't just restore their vision; He gave them Kingdom eyes - the ability to see the world as He sees it.

Following Jesus Into the Unknown

What a time to decide to follow Jesus! This was the week leading up to His crucifixion. These newly-sighted men would witness both triumph and tragedy:

They probably didn't expect to see such difficult things with their new eyes, but they had encountered the Son of David. What other response could there be but to follow Him?

The Challenge of Kingdom Vision

When Jesus opens our eyes spiritually, we begin to see the world differently. We see:

Two Different Responses to Healing

Matthew records another similar story in chapter 9, where Jesus healed two blind men but told them not to tell anyone. They disobeyed and went throughout the region telling everyone what happened. While this might seem like a good thing, they chose to do their own thing rather than follow Jesus' instructions.

The Jericho men made a different choice. After experiencing Jesus' mercy, they got up and followed Him wherever He led, even into suffering.

Are We Ready to Have Our Eyes Opened?

Perhaps some of us hesitate to truly ask Jesus what we want from Him because we know it will require us to follow Him regardless of where He leads. We might prefer the idea of Jesus meeting our needs without the commitment that comes afterward.

Moving Beyond Self-Reliance

Too often, we try to handle our problems on our own before crying out to God. We exhaust worldly remedies and solutions, treating prayer as a last resort rather than our first response. Like someone spending years trying various treatments for a condition before finally asking their church family to pray, we can miss out on Jesus' immediate availability and power.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to stop trying to fix everything on your own and instead cry out to Jesus with the same persistence as the blind men. Ask Him the question they asked: "Lord, let my eyes be opened." But be prepared - when Jesus opens your eyes to see the world as He does, you'll be compelled to get up and follow Him.

The same compassionate Jesus who stopped for two desperate men is available to you today. He hears your cries for help and is ready to meet you exactly where you are. The question is: are you ready to see with Kingdom eyes and follow wherever He leads?