What do you want me to do for you?

This message explores two remarkable encounters in Luke 18-19 that reveal what happens when we truly see Jesus and allow Him to see us. We journey with blind Bartimaeus who desperately cries out for mercy despite the crowd telling him to be quiet, and with Zacchaeus the wealthy tax collector who climbs a tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. Both men wanted to see, but their stories reveal something deeper about spiritual vision. Bartimaeus needed physical sight, but more importantly he recognized Jesus as the Son of David, the Messiah. Zacchaeus had physical sight but needed spiritual clarity about what really mattered in life. When Jesus asks Bartimaeus the penetrating question, "what do you want me to do for you," He invites us all into that same conversation. This question appears simple on the surface, but it requires us to examine what we truly need versus what we think we want. The disciples walking alongside Jesus heard Him predict His death and resurrection three times, yet scripture tells us the meaning was hidden from them. Sometimes we are spiritually blind to the very truths we need most. The connection between these stories challenges us to consider what obstacles prevent us from seeing Jesus clearly. Is it our wealth like Zacchaeus, our circumstances like Bartimaeus, or our preconceptions like the disciples? Jesus still asks each of us today: What do you want me to do for you? Our answer reveals the maturity of our faith and our willingness to surrender what blinds us.