What does Luke 18:38 mean?

A beggar named Bartimaeus sits beside the road near Jericho (Luke 18:35; Mark 10:46). It's a prime spot for a blind man as Jews stream across the Jordan River, walk through Jericho, and climb to Jerusalem for the Passover. Plus, Passover is traditionally the time to give to the poor. This crowd is unusual for this time of year, however. It's a "great" crowd (Mark 10:46), more than Bartimaeus is used to. He asks what's going on. They tell him that Jesus of Nazareth has come (Luke 18:36–37).

The blind man starts hollering. He's heard of this Jesus: likely that He heals. If Bartimaeus could get his sight back, it would mean everything. The crowd tries to shush him. Many might think his blindness is a curse from God (John 9:1–2); perhaps they don't want Jesus distracted from their own needs. Their efforts fail. Bartimaeus yells louder. Finally, Jesus stops, sees his faith, and heals him (Luke 18:39–42).

"Son of David" is a messianic term. David wanted to build a temple for God, but God told him no, his prowess as a warrior had left too much blood on his hands. God turned the request around and promised to make David "a house." That is, God would establish David's descendants as kings, culminating in the Messiah who will reign on David's throne forever (2 Samuel 7:1–17).

At this point in Israel's history, David's house hadn't had a king since the Babylonian exile. Jesus is from the line of David on both His mother's (Luke 3:23–31) and His adoptive father's sides (Matthew 1:6–16). When God the Son took on human flesh and was born as a baby, His reign was inaugurated. When He returns at the end of the tribulation and destroys Satan and his allies, the Messiah's reign will be fulfilled (Revelation 21:5).

Bartimaeus doesn't know how Jesus will get there, but he can see enough to know who Jesus is.