Lk 18:35-43
35As [Jesus] approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, 36and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. 37They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” 39The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” 40Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, 41“What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” 42Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” 43He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
SON OF DAVID: This is one of several titles applied to Jesus, a minor one when compared to other titles like “Son of God” or “Son of Man.” In fact, “Son of David” occurs in only 11 passages of the New Testament, all of which are in the Synoptic gospels.
The title “Son of David” is used more in reference to Jesus’ earthly life rather than his heavenly or exalted state (Rom 1:3). It primarily underlines the fact that Jesus is the expected royal Messiah in the line of David. He fulfills the promise God made through the prophet Nathan to David regarding the coming reign of an offspring (2 Sm 7:12-16).
The expectation of a Davidic Messiah became intense starting from the Babylonian exile. Shaken by the destruction of Jerusalem but confident in the faithfulness of God who made a covenant with David, the people in exile awaited a “righteous branch” that would reestablish the throne of David and deliver Israel from its foreign oppressors (Ez 37:22-24; Jer 23:5-8).
In contrast with the popular belief that the Davidic Messiah would establish his kingly rule through political ascendancy and military conquest, Jesus—according to Luke’s Gospel—inaugurates a mission that involves salvation of God’s people from illness and from demonic oppression (Lk 4:16-19; 11:14-23; 18:35-43) and the formation of a community that is made one by fulfilling the will of God (Lk 23:1-15, 32-49).
How is the healing of the blind beggar connected with Jesus being Davidic? The answer may be found in Zechariah’s canticle. Zechariah praises God “for raising up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant” (Lk 1:69). It is through Jesus, the Son of David, that salvation comes to the blind beggar.