What does Luke 18:40 mean?

Jesus is traveling with His disciples and a great crowd to Jerusalem (Mark 10:46). They have crossed the Jordan River, and now they're near Jericho.

Above the din, Jesus hears distinctive shouts. He stops and realizes that a beggar is yelling for Him while the crowd tries to shut the man up (Luke 18:35–39). Jesus may be thinking about the earlier events in the chapter. He had told the disciples about the persistent widow who won justice because she kept asking, comparing her to those of His followers who trust God enough to pray constantly (Luke 18:1–8). He may be thinking of His parable about the arrogant Pharisee and the humble tax collector; it was the disgraced but repentant sinner whose prayers resulted in forgiveness (Luke 18:9–14). Or He may be thinking of the children the disciples tried to keep from Him. The disciples still don't understand that those who know they don't deserve blessings but ask anyway are the ones who will enter God's kingdom (Luke 18:15–17).

Jesus tells the crowd to bring the man to Him. He asks him what he needs, and the blind man says he'd like to recover his sight. Unlike the Pharisees and the disciples, he knows he's blind, and he wants his eyes opened (Luke 18:34). Jesus gives the man his request, and he falls in with the crowd, glorifying and praising God (Luke 18:41–43).