Timaeus was a man with disappointed hopes.  His name meant 'highly prized'; presumably he was the joy of his parents.  But his own son (Bar-timaeus) was blind.  We do not know how he became blind but his best economic hope was to be a beggar, using his sightlessness to stir charity.  Whatever his family's social status, Bartimaeus was despised and ridiculed, a grown man treated like a child.  Certainly not highly prized - at least, not by the standards of the day!  

Although we know this passage as the prelude to Palm Sunday (Mark 11:8-11), these disciples were living one day at a time.  Even though Jesus had told them three times about His forthcoming death (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33), they did not understand what was going to happen.  So, one day at a time, one instruction at a time, was enough.  The orders were clear and precise.  All they had to do was to do exactly what Jesus had told them, trusting that He always sees the next step in the plan.  The fact that they did not understand Jesus' plan or the purpose behind the request was irrelevant.

So much Old Testament prophetic history is tucked into these verses.  Jesus had carefully prepared the timing of this event, which many know as Palm Sunday.  It was a week before the Passover when He would be slain as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).  Never before in His ministry had Jesus claimed to be King, and not even on that day, but He allowed the symbolism of riding the donkey to stimulate the Biblically literate crowd into proclaiming Him as God's King.  

If anyone asks, "What makes God angry?", a good first answer is: "Taking God's holy things and using them for selfish purposes".  The temple was intended to be the place where the world could see the greatness of God, and submit to Him.  Instead, Caiaphas, the High Priest had recently licenced a commercial market in the Outer Court of the Gentiles, selling ritually pure items and animals for sacrifice.  Not that God is against trading, provided it is fair (Leviticus 25:14); but this was grossly unfair - on God!  To take the worship of God as an opportunity for personal fame and fortune, aro