THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

Bartimaeus’ cry was loud and persistent and insistent. He keeps on shouting. Eventhough the crowd continues to tell him to stop crying out, he won’t be stopped.200Some people are intimidated and subdued by their own handicaps. It's possible to almostgive up. But not Blind Bartimaeus. His faith in Jesus’ ability to heal kept him shouting.To call someone "Son of David" as a title is equivalent to calling someone, "Messiah,"for it signifies to the Jews a person who is the promised descendent of David who will sit uponthe throne of Israel (2 Sa 7:11-16; 1 Ch 17:9-14; 22:1-19; 2 Ch 6:5-17; 13:5; 21:7; Psalm 89:19-37; Isa16:5; 22:20-25; Jer 23:5; 33:15-26; Lk 1:32-33). If you don't count the phrase that appearsin Jesus' genealogy (3:31), this is the first time in Luke that the term "Son of David" is used.These words are also shouted by the crowds during the triumphal entry that follows Jesus'healing of Bartimaeus (identified only by Mark—10:46 of the Synoptic Gospel writers) by only afew days. "The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted,'Hosanna to the Son of David!"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!Hosanna in the highest!'" (Mt 21:9; see also 21:15).During most of His ministry, Jesus doesn't encourage others to refer to Him as theMessiah, because the political implications of this title would soon prevent him from being ableto minister effectively (Mt 16:16, 20). But now his hour is come. His face is set towardsJerusalem where he will be crucified, in large part for his unwillingness to renounce the title of"Christ" and "king of the Jews" (23:2-3, 35; Mk 14:61-62).When Bartimaeus asks the "Son of David" for mercy, he is expecting that the Son ofDavid, the Messiah, will grant his request.JESUS QUESTIONS THE BEGGAR (18:40-42)After he cries out for mercy, Jesus rather strangely asks the beggar what he wants:“ Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When He came near, Jesusasked him, ‘ What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Lord, I want to see,’ he replied.Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has healed you’" (vv. 40-42)