In my devotions one day, I was struck by what seemed like a silly question in Matthew 20. Two blind beggars called out to Jesus for mercy. Jesus stopped and asked, "What will ye that I shall do unto you?"
Uhm, they wanted to see. Why would Jesus even ask that? What a silly question.
So, I sat and contemplated it. So often, we get caught up in our own affairs until we are blind to our true needs. Take for example, the four friends who let their lame buddy through a hole in the roof (talk about dedication to a cause!). The story makes it clear the friends wanted the lame man to be healed. But what did Jesus do first?
When He saw their faith (Mark 2), He forgave the man's sins.
I bet those friends were surprised at that! And yes, Jesus forgave the man's sins to make a point to those around Him, but also because having our sins forgiven is more important than physical healing. Jesus can surprise us that way sometimes.
Answering our prayer in ways we didn't expect to give us what we really needed.
But why did He ask the blind beggars what they wanted when He didn't ask the lame man?
Sometimes, I'll ask my children what seems like a silly question to give them a chance to see what is really important past the temporal needs blinding them.
My 13-year-old is picking up on that when I do it to the seven-year-old. I'm not sure the teenager notices when I do it to him though. I ask specific questions at certain moments to give them the chance to grow, to learn, to truly see all of the situation besides the bit in front of them that they asked for help with.
We are God's children. It stands to reason that sometimes God will pose a question, a situation to teach us to see beyond what we see now.
Suddenly, that 'silly' question Jesus asked the blind beggars doesn't seem so silly after all. "What will ye that I shall do unto you?" was the perfect thing to say. I think Jesus was giving the blind men the opportunity to 'see' what they really needed was Him.
They asked for mercy, and Jesus wanted to have mercy on their souls.
The best part of this story happens in the last sentence, "their eyes received sight, and they followed him." How wonderful! They truly gained their 'sight' after all.
I shouldn't be surprised (even though I often am!). God always knows the right thing to say, the right path to take, what we really need. We're the ones so blinded by our own ideas of how life is supposed to happen that we can't see what's really needed until He poses a question.
A question to make us think.
This blog is part of a Devotional collection called "Surprises in Prayer".
Check out my fellow bloggers who have also posted on this topic:
A Van, A Drama, A Prayer by Nola Lorraine
A mission's trip gone just a little awry. I loved this story!
Great is Your Faithfulness, O Lord by Virginia Wright
When you wait so long, you think God is never going to answer. A blessing to anyone who's been waiting.
Surprises in Prayer by Susan Barnes
A newborn Christian's look at how God intervenes in our lives. Quite a refreshing POV.
A fourth blog may also be forthcoming, so watch this space!
Have a blessed day,
Dienece
God' ways are not our ways. Too often, we forget that. Thanks for reminding us with this beautiful story.
It is a surprise that Jesus would ask us a question. After all, he's Lord of All, yet he takes the time to engage with us, show us his compassion, and help us grow in our faith. How blessed we are! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for those insights, Dienece. It's so true that what we often think we want is not what we really need. I'm also struck by the different ways Jesus healed people. Sometimes He'd forgive their sins, other times He'd ask what they wanted, other times He'd pronounce healing, but often we fall into the trap of thinking it should be the same way all the time. Jesus is certainly full of surprises. Thanks for sharing.