The Road to Jericho
The Five Most Important Questions Jesus Asked
The third most important question Jesus asked
What Do You Want Me to Do for You?
Passage · Luke 18:35–43 · Mark 10:46–52
Jericho · from The One
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Hearing a crowd passing by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
He cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and commanded that the man be brought to Him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, I want to see.”
Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God.
(Lk 18:35–43)
As Jesus left Jericho with His disciples, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more.
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” Throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. Jesus asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
Jesus said, “Go; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
(Mk 10:46–52)
“What do you want
Me to do for you?”
Devotional
As Jesus entered Jericho,
a blind man cried out:
"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
The crowd tried to silence him,
but he shouted louder—
a trumpet cutting through the crowd.
And Jesus healed him.
Later, as Jesus left Jericho,
Bartimaeus and another blind man
cried out with the exact same words.
Did Bartimaeus hear about the earlier healing?
We don't know for sure,
but it seems likely.
Even if he didn't originate the cry,
he claimed it as his own—
and Jesus responded.
You may not know this about Jesus:
He honors the echo.
He doesn't wait for originality—
He listens for a despairing cry.
He doesn't dismiss borrowed faith—
He honors the kind sparked
by someone else's breakthrough story.
Bartimaeus didn't copy a cry—
he claimed it.
Someone else's healing planted expectation.
And when Jesus passed by,
Bartimaeus shouted with a faith
stirred by that testimony.
Then Jesus asked the third most important question
of His ministry:
"What do you want Me to do for you?"
It wasn't a test.
It was an invitation—
a door opening into the impossible.
Bartimaeus asked for the impossible—
the absurd.
He asked for a miracle.
He asked to see.
And Jesus didn't hesitate.
He said, "Your faith has healed you."
Before his eyes were opened,
his faith could already see.
Like roots searching for water,
they knew it was there.
That's why he shouted that Jesus was—
Messiah, Son of David—
and dared to ask
what only God could do.
What do you want
Me to do for you?
Reflection Question
What would I ask Jesus if He stood in front of me today?
What This Means to Me
I don't need perfect words.
I need honest faith.
If I've seen Jesus move before,
I can ask Him to move again.
And if I haven't yet,
I can still trust Him
because I've heard what He's done for others.
Their testimony plants faith
like seeds that grow
until my own story begins.
I know when He works in me,
it's not just for me—
it's a spark to awaken faith in others.
Discussion Questions
- 1What would I ask Jesus if He stood in front of me today?
- 2Where has borrowed faith from others strengthened my own?
- 3What cry have I been too afraid or too tired to voice?
- 4What miracle feels “too big” to ask for?
- 5What step of faith is Jesus inviting me to take?
Prayer
Father, my deepest desire is to see Jesus clearly.
Open my eyes to behold Him. Let His work in my life become a story that strengthens the faith of others.
May Your work in me echo outward, inspiring many to believe.
He is the Servant King— exalted above every name.
I declare this in Jesus' name. Amen.
