Son of David

Can you think of a person who has seen you for who you truly are, someone who has seen your true identity in God, someone who has seen your better part, someone who has seen in you more than you have seen in yourself, your greater capacity for good?

It could have beeen a teacher at school, who pointed out an innate capacity, in you, that you did not know exist, a romantic relationship such as a spouse who loved you more than you think you could be loved, who made you recognize that you are loveable, for who you are?

Can you think of a person who believed in you when others did not, someone who saw in you a truth that others doubted and ridiculed, someone who recognized your authenticity and your genuineness. It may have been a son or a daughter, a co-worker, a member of your faith community.

When you can, I believe you may have gotten close to Jesus’ experience in this week’s Gospel Mark 10: 46-52 ‘As Jesus was leaving Jerico with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy me!”

Jesus was about to climb the steep hill, that leads up to Jerusalem over 3,000 feet higher than Jerico, where He knew He would be ridiculed, doubted, betrayed, whipped, scourged and crucified. And He encounters a blind beggar who knows His true identity and believes in Him.

By saying ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ he is acknowledging Jesus as the awaited Messiah, fulfilling Jewish messianic prophecies. The title ‘Son of David’ directly connects Jesus to King David’s lineage, which was significant because Old Testament prophecies indicated that the Messiah would come from David’s descendants (2 Samuel 7:12-16, Isaiah 11:1).

For Bartimaeus, using this title shows remarkable insight, especially considering his position as a marginalized blind beggar. By proclaiming Jesus as the ‘Son of David,’ Bartimaeus expresses profound faith, identifying Jesus not merely as a teacher or healer but as the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel—a person of divine authority and salvation.

This declaration would have also implied that Bartimaeus saw Jesus as a kingly figure with the power to bring liberation and mercy. Despite his physical blindness, Bartimaeus demonstrates a spiritual insight that those around him, even Jesus' own disciples, often struggled to grasp. It’s an appeal not just for healing but for the Messianic mercy that Jesus, as the Davidic King, has come to bring.

I believe Bartimaeus is a powerful example for each of us. Just as he recognized and acknowledged Jesus’ divinity, we too are called to proclaim His presence through our words and actions.

But, more than that, Bartimaeus challenges us to look beyond the surface in others, to see the better part—the divine spark in each person, even when it may be hidden. By striving to see others through God’s eyes, we acknowledge their worth and dignity, helping bring out the best in them. In this way, like Bartimaeus, we affirm our faith not only in Christ but in the goodness He has sown in each of us.

Friend, as we barrel down to Christmas, I am urging us to slow down and properly prepare for the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ into our hearts and homes. This is a Season of Hope for a new us, a better us, and a better world. I urge you to purchase a copy of my book Season of Hope that leads each of us to start making that spiritual preparation for His arrival. Go to the book at the following link Season of Hope