Who_is_Jesus_4_12_21_2025_final.docx

Devotional

Day 1: Name your deepest desire before Jesus.

Jesus’ question to Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” is simple, direct, and searching. It exposes what is often hidden under noisy prayers and busy lives—the true ache of the heart. He is not offering a blank check; he is inviting truth. When you answer honestly, you step out of hiding and into relationship. You move from vague wishes to clear need. That is where transformation begins.

Take time today to sit quietly with Jesus. Let the surface wants settle, and ask, “What do I really want you to do for me?” Name the place you are hurting. Name the change you resist. Name the longing you’re embarrassed to admit. Bring it to Jesus without trying to clean it up. He cares about the details of your life, and he meets people in the place of honest need.

Mark 10:46–52
Jesus was passing through Jericho when a blind beggar named Bartimaeus cried out for mercy. People told him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder. Jesus stopped, called him over, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Teacher, I want to see,” he said. Jesus replied, “Your trust has made you whole.” Right away he could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.

Reflection: Write a single honest sentence answering Jesus’ question: “What do you want me to do for you?” Speak it out loud to him now, and repeat it at noon and before bed.

Day 2: Let God redefine the good life.

The kingdom of God is where God’s will is done in God’s way. It is not a political agenda, a cultural trend, or a religious brand. It is a new reality breaking in—one that often reverses what the world calls success. In the kingdom, dependence is blessed, humility is honored, mercy is strength, and righteousness is joy. When this kingdom defines “the good life,” our choices shift, our relationships heal, and our ambitions take on new purpose.

Today, let God redraw your definitions. Identify the places where cultural values—image, control, speed, comfort—have quietly become the standard you live by. Ask, “What does Jesus say is blessed?” Seek his rule first in your schedule, your spending, your words, and your plans. This is not about escape from the world; it is about living in the world under a different King.

Mark 1:14–15
After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news: “The time you’ve been waiting for has arrived. God’s reign is drawing near. Turn around and put your trust in this good news.”

Reflection: Choose one decision you will make today (money, time, or a conversation). On paper, write “Culture says…” and “Kingdom says…”. Decide one concrete action that follows the Kingdom column, and do it.

Day 3: Allow holy disruption to rebuild your life.

Jesus’ teaching is both beautiful and unsettling. He calls us to love enemies, to pursue purity of heart, to let go of anxiety, and to choose humility. These words do not simply smooth our lives; they shake loose what we’ve built on shaky ground. Following him often means letting go of habits, stories, and defenses that keep us safe but small. The Spirit dismantles what cannot hold us, so that lasting life can take root.

Do not fear the disruption. Let Jesus unsettle your grudges, your self-justification, your need to always be right. Step into a small act of obedience that feels costly to your pride or comfort. Trust that the discomfort is not harm; it is surgery. The kingdom does not crush you—it frees you to love in ways you could not before.

Matthew 5:43–45
“You’ve heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who oppose you. In doing this, you show yourselves to be children of your Father in heaven, who shines the sun and sends the rain on both the good and the bad.”

Reflection: Who is one person you avoid or resent? Today, choose one concrete act of enemy-love: send a kind message, pray for their good by name, or serve them quietly. Which will you do, and when?

Day 4: Live into God’s story with Spirit-shaped habits.

God does not just hand out rules; he invites you to become a certain kind of person—the kind of person who naturally lives out his values because the Spirit is shaping your heart. This is a journey of slow, steady growth. As you keep in step with the Spirit, your inner life begins to match the life of the kingdom: love grows, joy deepens, patience stretches, self-control steadies. You are not earning anything; you are being formed.

To “live into” this story, craft simple practices that open you to the Spirit. Scripture and prayer anchor you. Confession unclutters your soul. Sabbath restores trust. Service loosens self-importance. Generosity reorders desire. Start small and be consistent. Over time, habits become the trellis where new life climbs.

Galatians 5:22–25
The Spirit grows in us qualities like love, joy, and peace—patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Those who belong to Christ have put to death the old way with its selfish cravings. Since our life comes from the Spirit, let’s walk in step with the Spirit.

Reflection: Choose one Spirit-shaped habit to begin today (for example: 10 minutes of Scripture and prayer, a daily act of hidden service, or a set time of silence). Name the time and place, and put it on your calendar for the next seven days.

Day 5: Receive help that changes what you want.

Jesus offers real help for real life, but his help often surprises us. Sometimes he meets the request we bring; other times he exposes a deeper need and invites surrender. He may ask you to release an outcome you are clinging to, or to follow him down a path that looks like loss at first. Yet the life he gives is fuller and freer than the one you are trying to control.

Trust him with both your need and your expectations. Ask not only for what you want, but also for a new wanting. Let him reshape desire so that obedience becomes joy, not just duty. The way of Jesus is cross-shaped before it is resurrection-shaped—but it always leads to life.

Mark 8:34–35
Jesus gathered the crowd and his disciples and said, “If anyone wants to follow me, they must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and come after me. If you grasp your life to keep it, you’ll lose it; but if you let go of your life for my sake and for the good news, you’ll find it.”

Reflection: Name one outcome you are insisting on with God. Open your hands and pray, “Your will be done.” What is one counterintuitive step of obedience you can take today that trusts Jesus with this outcome? Do it before the day ends.

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon**

This sermon explores the profound question Jesus asked Bartimaeus: “What do you want me to do for you?”—a question that echoes through the centuries and invites each of us to bring our deepest needs and desires to Jesus. The message then shifts to the heart of Jesus’ teaching: the arrival of God’s kingdom, a reality that is radically different from any earthly kingdom or human expectation. By examining the context of Jesus’ ministry and the Sermon on the Mount, the sermon highlights how Jesus redefines what it means to live a full and meaningful life—not by the standards of the world, but by the values of God’s kingdom. The invitation is to live into this new reality, empowered by God’s Spirit, and to allow Jesus’ words to both comfort and challenge us as we seek to follow him. As we approach a new year, the sermon encourages us to honestly answer Jesus’ question for ourselves, trusting that he is able and willing to meet us in our need and lead us into the life we were created for.

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Key Takeaways

1. Jesus’ Question Invites Honest Self-Examination When Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” he is not just offering a blank check, but inviting us to reflect deeply on our true needs and desires. This question exposes the places where we are hurting, longing, or even resisting change. It is an invitation to vulnerability before God, trusting that he cares about the details of our lives. Taking time to honestly answer this question can open the door to transformation.
2. The Kingdom of God Redefines Reality Jesus’ message about the kingdom of God is not a call to political revolution or cultural accommodation, but to a new way of being in the world. The kingdom is where God’s will is done in God’s way—a reality that often stands in stark contrast to the values and priorities of our culture. Living in this kingdom means allowing God’s desires to shape our actions, relationships, and ambitions. It challenges us to rethink what “the good life” truly is.
3. God’s Kingdom Disrupts Our Comfort Zones The teachings of Jesus, especially in the Sermon on the Mount, are both inspiring and unsettling. They call us to love enemies, pursue purity, reject worry, and embrace humility—values that often conflict with our instincts and societal norms. Following Jesus means being willing to let go of the pillars we’ve built our lives on if they don’t align with God’s heart. True transformation often requires the dismantling of old ways before new life can take root.
4. The Invitation Is to Live Into God’s Story, Not Just Follow Rules As Eugene Peterson notes, Scripture invites us to “live into” God’s story, not just to adopt a set of rules or beliefs. The kingdom life is about becoming the kind of person who naturally lives out God’s values, empowered by his Spirit. This is a journey of ongoing growth and maturity, where we learn to see ourselves and the world through God’s eyes. It is a call to participate in God’s ongoing work of renewal and restoration.
5. Jesus Offers Real Help for Real Life—But It May Not Look Like We Expect Jesus’ offer to meet us in our need is genuine, but his help often comes in ways that challenge our assumptions and stretch our faith. He may address needs we didn’t know we had, or invite us to let go of things we thought we couldn’t live without. The path to the full and free life Jesus promises is not always easy, but it is always good. As we respond to his question, we can trust that he is both able and willing to change our story, just as he did for Bartimaeus.

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

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### Bible Reading

- **Mark 10:46-52** (Jesus heals Bartimaeus)
- **Matthew 4:23-25** (Jesus proclaims the good news of the kingdom and heals many)
- **Matthew 5:1-12** (The beginning of the Sermon on the Mount: Jesus describes life in God’s kingdom)

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### Observation Questions

When Bartimaeus calls out to Jesus, how do the people around him respond, and what does Jesus do in response?
In Matthew 4:23-25, what are the main activities Jesus is doing as he begins his ministry?
According to the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12), what kinds of people does Jesus say are “blessed” in God’s kingdom?
What is the question Jesus asks Bartimaeus, and how does Bartimaeus answer?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why might Jesus have asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” even though it seemed obvious what Bartimaeus needed?
How does Jesus’ description of the kingdom of God in the Sermon on the Mount differ from what people in his time (like the Sadducees or Zealots) expected?
In what ways do Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom challenge the values and priorities of our own culture today?
The sermon mentioned that Jesus’ words both comfort and challenge us. What are some examples from the passages or the sermon where Jesus’ teaching might feel comforting? Where might it feel challenging?

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### Application Questions

Jesus’ question to Bartimaeus was, “What do you want me to do for you?” If Jesus asked you that question today, how would you honestly answer? Is there a need, longing, or area of pain in your life you want to bring to him?
The sermon talked about the kingdom of God being “where God’s will gets done in God’s way.” Are there areas in your life where you sense your own will or desires are in conflict with God’s? What might it look like to surrender those to him?
Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount call us to love our enemies, pursue purity, and reject worry. Which of these teachings feels most difficult for you to live out right now? Why?
The message said that living in God’s kingdom often means letting go of things we’ve built our lives on if they don’t align with God’s heart. Is there something you sense God might be asking you to let go of or change?
The sermon encouraged us to “live into God’s story, not just follow rules.” What’s one practical way you could focus more on becoming the kind of person who naturally lives out God’s values, rather than just trying to keep up with religious expectations?
Jesus’ help sometimes comes in ways we don’t expect and may challenge our assumptions. Can you think of a time when God answered a prayer or met a need in your life in a surprising way? How did that experience shape your faith?
As you look ahead to the new year, what is one area where you want to see God’s kingdom become more real in your life, your family, or your community? What step could you take this week to move in that direction?

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Sermon Quotes

2,000 years ago people were drawn to Jesus because they sensed that he had something to offer. That he could make a difference in their lives in some way, and they wanted to know more about that.

For Jesus, the way to live a life of meaning and happiness was by living in what he called the kingdom of God. That’s the only way to live a full, free life.

The kingdom of God is where God’s will gets done in God’s way. It’s where God’s desire for life and human flourishing are the norm and the law of the land.

When Jesus healed Bartimaeus it was a sign that the kingdom was here. It was a little example of God’s kingdom—God’s hope for human life—coming into being in that spot.

Jesus didn’t come to reinforce his audience’s current culture but instead came to challenge and disrupt every aspect of every culture that doesn’t line up with God’s heart and replace it with the values of God’s kingdom.

Jesus is inviting his hearers into a whole new way of living in the world that will result in human flourishing. And his life, his miracles, and his teachings as a whole remind us that we can only do that as we stay connected to God.

New life is possible through the forgiveness and mercy that Jesus offers. When we bow the knee to him as our King, His Spirit gives us the power we need to live into this picture of what it truly means to be human in the God-made world.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you can get there without having some of the pillars that you are currently using to build your life torn down first.

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