In Matthew 20 we find what I consider to be one of the most heart warming statements of Jesus; one in which I suspect almost everyone would want to hear. Actually, it’s a question. He asks two blind men, one named Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46), who have been crying out to Him for help. Verse 32 says, “And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Matthew 20:32, NASB). They replied that they wanted their sight, and, “Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.” (Matthew 20:34). Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem where He will give His life as a ransom for our sin, the crowd is trying to quiet the blind men, and Jesus stops. In the most personal way possible he touches their eyes to heal them. This speaks volumes of the nature of our Lord.
Who wouldn’t want to hear the Son of God, full of divine power, ask, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Knowing that He could heal the injury, cure the disease, rescue the lost, leads desperate people to ask. Believing that He is compassionate toward the hurting inspires hope in Him. But Jesus doesn’t always heal, or cure or rescue. If you’ve asked, you may not have not received.
It’s tempting to conclude that Jesus healed the blind men because He knew they would follow Him. However, there was another request made of Jesus just before this, to which Jesus replied, “What do you wish?” (Matthew 20:21) It was a request by three who were already following Him. Two disciples, James and John, and their mother, asked Jesus for seats to His right and to His left in His kingdom (Matthew 20:20-21). This request was denied. The disciples had been promised thrones to govern Israel with Him in His kingdom (Matthew 19:28), and James and John were as deserving as any of the disciples. We might be tempted to conclude that the Lord won’t honor requests that promote self. However, answers to most requests for His help generally do promote self in some way.
Bottom line, I can’t answer why the Lord would answer with a miracle for one and not for another. This however, I do know, He is still compassionate. He is good (Psalm 86:5), and He is righteous (Psalm 11:7) in all that He does and doesn’t do. Therefore, like the blind men, or the leper (Matthew 8:2), we can ask and believe that He can. At the same time, we must trust that when He intervenes, or when He doesn’t, it will be for the best. By far the greatest miracle any of us will ever receive is the gift of eternal life. It is forgiveness for all our sin and being welcomed into a personal, eternal, relationship with Himself. I hope you’ve asked Him for this miracle.
— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Dan Krahenbuhl is pastor of Monroe Bible Church.
