John 9:30-33

‘The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvel. You do not know where he comes from, and yet he has opened my eyes? We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does his will, he listens to him. Not since the world began has it been heard that anyone has opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God he could do nothing”.'

The man now drew out the logic of the situation. Jesus had performed a remarkable miracle. Surely this demonstrated the He was not ‘a sinner', but that He was pleasing to God?, His reply caught them out and put them on the spot. It was they who had taught the man these sentiments, and now he was using them against them. They claimed that they did not know where Jesus had come from? Surely what had happened must demonstrate conclusively that He was a man sent from God and was pleasing to God. Indeed that He was like none other. Even Moses had not opened the eyes of the blind.

Their argument had been, ‘This man is a sinner.' The blind man's reply was simple. ‘We know that God does not listen to sinners.' The irony of the situation was that the Pharisees themselves emphasised that. In their view no sinner could expect God's approval and God would not work through such men. Thus on the basis of their own teaching they should have accepted Jesus. But they were prepared to do anything rather than that.

‘But if any man is a worshipper of God and does His will He listens to him.' This was the converse of the other. Those who were true worshippers of God and were obedient to Him could know that God would listen to them.

Thus on these premises the One Who had done a greater miracle than any ever known before had surely to be from God. Not even Moses had opened the eyes of the blind. Indeed it was to be the prerogative and sign of the Messiah and the anointed prophet yet to come in the new age (Isaiah 29:18; Isaiah 35:5; Isaiah 42:7; Isaiah 61:1 as quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:18). So how then could they fail to recognise in Jesus a man sent from God?

Had they been willing to consider his words calmly they must have recognised their error, for his logic was inescapable. But they so hated Jesus that they deliberately closed their eyes. Their reply and reaction was typical of bigots who had no argument and therefore resorted to bluster.