As St Luke comes to the end of the last journey of Jesus to Jerusalem which concludes His public ministry, he describes incidents which characterize that ministry in some ways.

The Apostles surrounded Jesus as He spoke along the road. Other similar groups led by rabbis were also going to Jerusalem for the Passover. A blind beggar learnt that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by and called out repeatedly, "Son of David, have pity on me!" When the crowds tried to quieten him, he shouted all the louder to the Son of David or the Messiah for help.

Jesus stopped His discourse and the journey and sent for the beggar. He asked him gently, "What do you want me to do for you" - The beggar asked for sight. Jesus replied, "receive your sight, your faith has healed you" His deep faith was not shaken by the opposition of the unfeeling crowd.

The mission of the Messiah was precisely to help the poor and outcast, who believed in His power to save them. In sharp contrast, the rich and teachers of the law were generally self-sufficient and did not believe in Him.