What do you want me to do for you? Luke 18:41
Ann was meeting with her oral surgeon for a preliminary exam—a physician she’d known for many years. He asked her, “Do you have any questions?” She said, “Yes. Did you go to church last Sunday?” Her question wasn’t intended to be judgmental, but simply to initiate a conversation about faith.
The surgeon had a less-than-positive church experience growing up, and he hadn’t gone back. Because of Ann’s question and their conversation, he reconsidered the role of Jesus and church in his life. When Ann later gave him a Bible with his name imprinted on it, he received it with tears.
Sometimes we fear confrontation or don’t want to seem too aggressive in sharing our faith. But there can be a winsome way to witness about Jesus—ask questions.
For a man who was God and knew everything, Jesus sure asked a lot of questions. While we don’t know His purposes, it’s clear His questions prompted others to respond. He asked his disciple Andrew, “What do you want?” (John 1:38). He asked blind Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51; Luke 18:41). He asked the paralyzed man, “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6). Transformation happened for each of these individuals after Jesus’ initial question.
Is there someone you want to approach about matters of faith? Ask God to give you the right questions to ask.
Why can questions be better conversation starters than direct statements? What questions can you ask those who need spiritual help?
Dear Jesus, please help me to reach out to others in a way that can lead to transformation.
INSIGHT
Jesus’ healing of the blind beggar (Luke 18:35–43) is a concrete fulfillment of His self-described purpose “to proclaim good news to the poor . . . and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (4:18–19; see also Isaiah 58:6; 61:1–3). This account of healing is placed immediately after an account of the disciples’ failure to understand Jesus’ clear description of His coming suffering and death (Luke 18:31–34). These two accounts are likely connected by the theme of Christ’s suffering and humility (v. 14). The disciples as well as the crowds couldn’t comprehend a Savior willing to suffer for the lowliest and most disregarded members of society, such as someone blind (v. 35). But while they remained spiritually blind to Jesus’ heart and purpose, the blind man was willing to trust Him and joyfully received his sight (v. 43).