What Do You Want? The Question From Jesus That Changes a Life

Introduction

A new year is beginning, and with it comes a simple question asked by Jesus himself: "What do you want?" In this message given at the threshold of 2026, Stéphane Burgos opens up four gospel passages (the ten lepers, the leper in Matthew 8, the Canaanite woman, and blind Bartimaeus), to put you in front of a decision. Not a vague resolution. A firm decision, carried by passion, addressed to a Lord who isn't afraid to come close, or to touch what you believe is shameful in you.

What all these people who meet Jesus have in common is a deep thirst for change. This morning, that same thirst is offered to you too. What remains is whether you will cry out to him, whether you will clearly express what you want, and whether you will prepare your hands to receive.

Message Outline

1. A Thirst for Change Stronger Than Leprosy

• The lepers of Luke 17 and Matthew 8 have one thing in common: a deep thirst for change, despite their sickness and their exclusion.
• Spiritually, leprosy represents sin: it eats away, it separates, it is contagious, it leads to death.
• In biblical times, the leper had to leave the camp and be quarantined; even the priests were not allowed to touch him.
• Jesus overturned that order: he came close to lepers, he touched them, he healed them. We have a Lord who isn't afraid of our sicknesses, our flaws, our sins.

2. Decide, with Firmness and Passion

• God doesn't force anyone into heaven and doesn't impose success or a new spiritual dimension on you: he does nothing without your consent.
• To decide is to determine what you want. And that requires firmness, determination, perseverance.
• To intelligence and wisdom, you must add passion. Without passion, whatever starts well in January fades in February and disappears in March.
• The lepers were passionate about their healing: that's why they cried out to Jesus with all their heart.

3. Recognize Your Leprosy for 2026

• To change, you first need to be aware of your own leprosy, and everyone brings their own into 2026.
• Your leprosy might be lukewarmness: neither hot nor cold, like the church of Laodicea.
• It might be worldliness, unforgiven resentment toward your spouse or your children, envy, jealousy.
• It might be a difficult temperament, withdrawing into yourself, an unhealed sickness, professional stagnation, a ministry that isn't moving forward, or a family on the verge of breaking apart.
• Real change happens on the spiritual level, not through a makeover: it's about a lasting transformation of who you are, your behavior, your testimony.

4. Bartimaeus and the Question That Demands an Answer

• In Mark 10:46-52, blind Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus, throws off his cloak, and jumps up the moment he's called.
• Jesus asks him a question whose answer seems obvious: "What do you want me to do for you?"
• Bartimaeus doesn't answer, "You already know what I need." He says clearly, "Rabboni, that I may see again."
• Jesus needs to hear from your own mouth what you want. That's how you express your faith that he alone can heal you.

5. Six Pieces of Advice for Living Out Transformation

• Do your part. Nothing falls into your lap ready-made: God created the earth, but it was Adam who cultivated it. Work, study, be diligent, and God will do the rest.
• Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. He speaks to you when you pray and tells you what you need to change. Accept it and put it into practice.
• Take authority over the enemy. There are times to pray, and times to cast out in the name of Jesus. Paul didn't beg the spirit of divination to leave, he took authority.
• Get away from distractions. When you pray, pray. When you fast, fast. When you serve God, do it with excellence.
• Do things differently to get different results. If you keep using flour, water, and yeast, you'll always end up with bread dough; add other ingredients and you'll get a cake.
• Keep the good recipes. Don't throw out habits that bear fruit: keep them and make them better.

6. Prepare Your Hands and Pray with Passion

• An illustration with the assistant JB: hands in his pockets, then distracted, then finally ready to receive the ball. God is waiting for you to prepare your hands.
• The little you have is enough to go to Jesus: the lepers had their legs to walk, their voice to cry out, their faith to believe.
• Pray like a leper: "Lord, this thing matters so much that if you don't do it, I will die."
• Do as the Canaanite woman did (Matthew 15:28), who accepted the place of the little dogs under the table; Jesus loved that answer, and her daughter was healed that very hour.
• When the answer comes, don't do what the nine lepers did and simply leave: come back like the tenth one to give thanks.

Key Takeaways

• Jesus's question "What do you want?" expects a clear answer, spoken out loud, carried by faith.
• Spiritual leprosy is sin in all its forms: lukewarmness, worldliness, resentment, envy, a difficult temperament.
• God imposes on you neither salvation, nor success, nor a new spiritual dimension: he waits for your decision and your cooperation.
• Change isn't tied to the calendar: it can happen on any day, but it requires firmness, perseverance, and passion.
• Use the little you have (your voice, your hands, your faith) to lay hold of what you don't have yet.

Personal Application

1. If Jesus asked you today, "What do you want?", what clear, concrete answer would you give him for 2026?
2. What is the "leprosy" you're carrying over from last year, the one you truly want to be freed from this year?
3. Is your decision to change carried by real passion, or might it fade in February like just one more good resolution?
4. Among the six pieces of advice (doing your part, listening to the Holy Spirit, taking authority, avoiding distractions, doing things differently, keeping the good recipes), which one do you need to apply first this week?
5. When God answers your prayer, do you take the time, like the tenth leper, to come back to him and say thank you?

Verses Quoted

• Luke 17:12-15 · The Ten Lepers
• Matthew 8:1-4 · Healing of a Leper
• Matthew 7:6 · Do Not Give What Is Holy to the Dogs
• Matthew 15:28 · The Faith of the Canaanite Woman
• Mark 10:46-52 · The Healing of Bartimaeus

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Jesus ask "What do you want?" when he already knows the answer?

Because he expects from us a clear expression of our faith and our desire for change. Jesus needs to hear from our own mouth what we truly want, just as he asked Bartimaeus in Mark 10:51. Without that confirmation from us, he imposes nothing: he doesn't force anyone into heaven and doesn't impose any new spiritual dimension.

What does leprosy represent spiritually in this message?

Spiritually, leprosy represents sin. Just as leprosy eats away at the body, separates people from others, and leads to death, sin eats away, separates us from God, and leads to death. Everyone brings their own "leprosy" into 2026: lukewarmness, worldliness, resentment, envy, a difficult temperament, sickness, struggles in marriage or in ministry.

Do you have to wait until January 1st to change?

No. Stéphane Burgos reminds us that the calendar is not a divine institution but a human one. The renewing of the mind happens every day with the Lord. If you haven't changed by January, you can change in February, in March, or at any time. Some changes even take several years to take deep root.