17. They came back at the blind man, “You’re the expert. He opened your eyes. What do you say about him?”He said, “He is a prophet.”
18-19. The Jews didn’t believe it, didn’t believe the man was blind to begin with. So they called the parents of the man now bright-eyed with sight. They asked them, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? So how is it that he now sees?”
20-23. His parents said, “We know he is our son, and we know he was born blind. But we don’t know how he came to see—haven’t a clue about who opened his eyes. Why don’t you ask him? He’s a grown man and can speak for himself.” (His parents were talking like this because they were intimidated by the Jewish leaders, who had already decided that anyone who took a stand that this was the Messiah would be kicked out of the meeting place. That’s why his parents said, “Ask him. He’s a grown man.”)
24. They called the man back a second time—the man who had been blind—and told him, “Give credit to God. We know this man is an impostor.”
25. He replied, “I know nothing about that one way or the other. But I know one thing for sure: I was blind . . . I now see.”
26. They said, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27. “I’ve told you over and over and you haven’t listened. Why do you want to hear it again? Are you so eager to become his disciples?”
28-29. With that they jumped all over him. “You might be a disciple of that man, but we’re disciples of Moses. We know for sure that God spoke to Moses, but we have no idea where this man even comes from.”
30-33. The man replied, “This is amazing! You claim to know nothing about him, but the fact is, he opened my eyes! It’s well known that God isn’t at the beck and call of sinners, but listens carefully to anyone who lives in reverence and does his will. That someone opened the eyes of a man born blind has never been heard of—ever. If this man didn’t come from God, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.”
34. They said, “You’re nothing but dirt! How dare you take that tone with us!” Then they threw him out in the street.
35. Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and went and found him. He asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”