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Questions: Do you believe I can do this?

Whether talking with the disciples, speaking in a public forum, or defending Himself before His enemies, Jesus consistently asked questions.  In the four gospels, Jesus asked over 300 questions.

 

Do you believe I can do this?

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”  When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. 

Matthew 9:27-30

wednesday_39494579_SWhen I was a kid, I loved watching magicians at work. The card tricks, birds popping out of hats and handkerchiefs pulled out of ears absolutely amazed me. In a category of their own, however, were the illusionists. Their tricks far superseded ordinary magic tricks. Guys like David Copperfield, David Blaine and Siegfried and Roy would cause large items to appear or disappear.

Half the time I watched their shows because I didn’t think they could really pull it off. How in the world could a person make an elephant or the Statue of Liberty disappear? But, somehow, right before my eyes, these gifted entertainers convinced me that for a moment these huge things actually vanished.

For many people who lived during Jesus’ day, Jesus was just a trickster, illusionist or even a sorcerer of sorts. They couldn’t understand how He could perform miracles. They had heard that He was healing people and making the impossible happen while others watched. Because they wanted to see for themselves, many people were following Him around just so they could see “the show.”

In today’s passage, when Jesus is approached by two blind men, He asks them, “Do you believe I can do this?” The question will reveal the status of their hearts. Were they wanting a trick or were they trusting in God and His ability? Their answer, “Yes, Lord,” tells Him exactly what He wants to know. They believed He was capable but the “Lord” told Jesus why they believed: they had faith in Jesus’ claim as well as in His ability. Jesus allowed the world to appear before their eyes.

What a great reminder to us. Having seen and heard many amazing things that God has done in my life and in the lives of those around me, I can easily say that I believe He is able to do anything. As a result, I can flood my prayers with requests, knowing He can easily answer them if He so desires.

Sadly, I don’t always allow myself to reflect on the reason why I believe He is able. First, and foremost, He is Lord. In every way possible, I must yield to Him. His plan. His ways. His timing. Because, He is Lord. I don’t think we can ever let that truth simmer too long in our hearts. It is so foundational to the reason we can actually go to Him and ask Him whatever we want.

Today, take a moment to reflect on whether you believe He can actually do what you asked Him to do yesterday? Like kids watching a great magician at work, we can overly focus on what we see. God invites us to be like these blind men who heard about the Lord, surrendered to Him and then sought His help. I believe He wants our eyes forever fixed on His position as the Lord of our lives before we lay our requests before Him. Because He is God, He is able.

Jackie