Now as he approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" The 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!" Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He replied, "Lord, please let me see." Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you." He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God. (Lk 18:35-43)
A blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. Blindness and begging need not go together. It only shows that a blind man is dependent. He depends on others for his living. He needs to be helped out for survival. He is on the roadside because he has no home of his own or he has been thrown out of his house. Blindness, begging, and roadside seem to describe the situation of that person.
But he has heard about Jesus. The blind man knows that Jesus is the son of David. He calls him by that name at the second time. The blind man is a Jew or at least he knows the Jewish traditions. He also knows the role of the son of David. Son of David has a messianic role Jesus has come to fulfil that. And this was the reason that the blind man asks for mercy.
Jesus sees the faith of the person. Jesus also sees that the blind man is a human person and he needs to be respected like any other person. Jesus does not ignore him as the crowd does. Even amidst the noise of the crowd Jesus goes out to show his concern for a single individual. Jesus sees the person, he also sees the faith of the person and Jesus sees the person as an integral (complete, whole ) person and that is the outcome (miracle)
