What do You Want Me to Do for You?

Short Talk (SHT121) What do you want me to do for you? © Jane Hulme 2018 SHORT TALK: “What do you want me to do for you?” Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: To encourage people to come to Jesus and respond to His question: “What do you want me to do for you?” This is a short All Age talk picking out one issue from the Lectionary Gospel reading of the Sunday main service. The talk stands alone and assumes that the Gospel Bible reading may not yet have been read to the congregation. It could be used for example, for the whole congregation before the children go out to their age specific groups, leaving the adults with a full sermon later. Jesus, Faith, Asking Mark 10:46-52 Year B – The last Sunday after Trinity .................................................................................................................. One of the questions that Jesus sometimes asked people He met was this:  “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:36,51a)  “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:36,51a)  Imagine if Jesus asked you that question today!  I wonder how you would answer. What would you ask Him for? One of the people that Jesus asked this question to was a blind man called Bartimaeus, who was sitting by the side of the road begging when Jesus came into town.  When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was coming close to him, he shouted out: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” (Mark 10:47)  People told Bartimaeus to be quiet but he kept on shouting: “Son of David, have mercy on me.” (Mark 10:47) Jesus stopped walking and called Bartimaeus over to Him and said: “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51a)  Bartimaeus immediately replied: “Rabbi, I want to see” (Mark 10:51b)  Jesus immediately healed Bartimaeus so that he could see again and told Bartimaeus that his faith had healed him. Bartimaeus’ life was completely changed on the day he met Jesus.  It was like Jesus gave him a brand new life.  No longer would he stumble around not being able to see.  No longer would he need to beg for money to live on.  Most important of all, Bartimaeus became a follower of Jesus. How wonderful that Jesus gave Bartimaeus what he had asked for. On another day, two of Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus to give them power and glory when Jesus said to them: “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:36) © Jane Hulme 2018 2 On this occasion however, Jesus told His disciples that He couldn’t give them what they had asked for.  What the disciples had asked Jesus for was selfish.  Having power and glory wouldn’t have helped them walk closely with Jesus and Jesus didn’t give them what they had asked for. Now Jesus is with us today and asks each one of us the same question:  “What do you want me to do for you?”  I wonder how you will answer His question. Will you be like Bartimaeus who asked Jesus to give him something life-giving?  Could you ask Jesus to give you something that will help you walk more closely with Him,  or will you be like the disciples who asked Jesus to give them something that was selfish? Let’s be quiet for a moment.....you may want to shut your eyes. Imagine that Jesus is standing right in front of you now.  He knows you and He loves you.  Listen to Him as He says to you: “What do you want me to do for you?”  In the silence of your hearts tell Him. PAUSE  Amen. © Jane Hulme 2018 3