Asking for Help
Read: Mark 10:46–51
Her email arrived late in a long day. In truth, I didn’t open it. I
was working overtime to help a family member manage his serious
illness. I didn’t have time, therefore, for social distractions.
The next morning, however, when I clicked on my friend’s message, I saw this question: “Can I help you in any way?” Feeling embarrassed, I started to answer no. Then I took a deep breath to pause. I noticed then that her question sounded familiar—if not divine.
That’s because Jesus asked it. Hearing a blind beggar call out to Him on the Jericho Road, Jesus stopped to ask this man, named Bartimaeus, a similar question. Can I help? Or as Jesus said: “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51).
The question is stunning. It shows the Healer, Jesus, longs to help us. But first, we’re invited to admit needing Him—a humbling step. The “professional” beggar Bartimaeus was needy, indeed—poor, alone, and possibly hungry and downcast. But wanting a new life, he simply told Jesus his most basic need. “Rabbi,” he said, “I want to see.”
For a blind man, it was an honest plea. Jesus healed him immediately. My friend sought such honesty from me too. So I promised her I’d pray to understand my basic need and, more important, I’d humbly tell her. Do you know your basic need today? When a friend asks, tell it. Then take your plea even higher. Tell God.
The next morning, however, when I clicked on my friend’s message, I saw this question: “Can I help you in any way?” Feeling embarrassed, I started to answer no. Then I took a deep breath to pause. I noticed then that her question sounded familiar—if not divine.
That’s because Jesus asked it. Hearing a blind beggar call out to Him on the Jericho Road, Jesus stopped to ask this man, named Bartimaeus, a similar question. Can I help? Or as Jesus said: “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51).
The question is stunning. It shows the Healer, Jesus, longs to help us. But first, we’re invited to admit needing Him—a humbling step. The “professional” beggar Bartimaeus was needy, indeed—poor, alone, and possibly hungry and downcast. But wanting a new life, he simply told Jesus his most basic need. “Rabbi,” he said, “I want to see.”
For a blind man, it was an honest plea. Jesus healed him immediately. My friend sought such honesty from me too. So I promised her I’d pray to understand my basic need and, more important, I’d humbly tell her. Do you know your basic need today? When a friend asks, tell it. Then take your plea even higher. Tell God.
Lord, I am needy. I want to share my heart with You now. Help me to humbly receive the help of others also.
God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5
INSIGHT
Today’s story is a beautiful picture of the compassion of our Savior. Even to those He initially refused to help (see the story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21–28), He stretched out a merciful and loving hand. All of His actions proved the claim He made at the beginning of His ministry—He was anointed by God and came “to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18–19).But while Jesus is the epitome of mercy, He didn’t heal everyone. In the stories recorded in Scripture, we are told He healed all who came to him (see Matthew 8:16). But that’s the qualification—they came to Him. He healed all who admitted their need of something only He could provide.
Jesus still welcomes everyone who comes to Him. He may not always heal in the same way He did while He was here on Earth, but He still offers forgiveness and salvation to anyone who asks.
I maybe speculating too much but perhaps because Jesus can see the condition of our hearts that Bartimaeus the blind beggar was in the right frame of mind and heart condition to open up to him his needs.Thus Jesus approached him with the question “What do you want me to do for you?” It is also interesting that he did not offer Jesus a laundry list of his needs but the most important one, being able to see. What also is wonderful is that then he began to follow Jesus. I believe this implies more than simply walking with him but carries the connotation that he followed him in a devoted sense of spiritual adherence to Jesus' teachings. This is in great contrast to healing of the ten leapers and only one was grateful enough to come back to Jesus and thank him.
ReplyDeleteI am reading through a devotional lately that deals with this issue a lot, our reflexive no to the question of whether we need or are willing to receive help. The few times that I say ok to someones offer, I am instantly relieved of a weight. I really don't know why I don't accept help more often...control freak, pride, ... Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of family, friends and colleagues that offer help and the humility to accept it.
ReplyDeleteAsking for Help:
ReplyDelete“But while Jesus is the epitome of mercy, He didn’t heal everyone. In the stories recorded in Scripture, we are told He healed all who came to him (see Matthew 8:16). But that’s the qualification—they came to Him. He healed all who admitted their need of something only He could provide.”
This was the statement that made me think. “We” need to “come to Jesus” and plea to him for the things that are heavy on our heart. I need to start meditating on those things that I desire answers to and help from the Lord in. I feel like I try to do so much on my own, but that is pride. All God wants of us is to stop and truly look up to be in His presence.
Mike Jones
This devotional is very eye opening. Life is a hard one, and in reality I would never be able to do my life without our Lord Jesus Christ but sometimes for Christians we think that we can do everything on our own. I find myself handling a lot and not pausing enough during the day to pause and speak to the Lord and ask him to take my load off my shoulders. This is a wonderful quote- Jesus, longs to help us. But first, we’re invited to admit needing Him" I need to let go of my stress and really allow for him to carry it for me, walk beside me and carry it!
ReplyDeleteAsking for help implies trust and confidence in the one you are asking. Some of us have been trained since childhood not to ask for help; a sign of weakness. But let's admit it, we all need help more often than we would like to acknowledge.
ReplyDelete