MARK x. 51. “Jesus
answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should
do unto thee?”
I. CONSIDER the disposition this question shows on our
Saviour’s part.
I. It shows the delicacy of the Saviour. There is as
little allusion made by the gospel itself to the sin of the
sinner as possible. It is not, Come filthy, come naked, but
it is, Come whosoever will.
2. Note the wisdom of the Saviour. Our Lord asks him
a question which sets his mind to work, and gives him
lessons in prayer.
II. Turn the question over again as it appeals to our-
selves. What should we say in reply?
1. It ought to prompt a Christian tenderness in us.
2. Let us seek to conquer wisdom. The text suggests
the idea of state: “What wilt thou that I should do unto
thee?”
3. The generosity involved in our Lord’s question sup-
plies us with a strong incentive to boldness at the throne
of the heavenly grace.
Charles H. Spurgeon
From a biblical point of view, prayer is related to everything that we are and everything that God is. God does not respond to our prayers. God responds to us: to our whole life. What we say to Him cannot be separated from what we think, feel, will and do. Prayer is communication from whole persons to the Wholeness which is the living God. Prayer is misunderstood until we see it this way.
Bingham Hunter