30 The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
Our unlearned beggar’s argument to his learned audience demonstrated he had a better grasp of divine things than the whole council of the Pharisees. With boldness and zeal he presented a simple unanswerable assertion which completely silenced his listeners. An astonishing miracle had been performed and it amazed our now seeing blind man that these religious giants could remain obstinate in their infidelity and strangers to a Man possessing such ability. They were learned men – leaders of God’s people – men who should have known better. He certainly expected them to have recognized and have taken notice of One such as Jesus who had restored sight to his sightless eyes. This was truly a miraculous sign beyond the power of nature - something simply too hard for mere man to accomplish. I am reminded that throughout the pages of Scripture God both tells us and demonstrates to us that nothing is too hard for Him:
17 "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Jer 32:17 (NIV)
Indeed, God Himself states to Abraham:
13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son." Gen 18:13-14 (NIV)
No doubt, God alone can do the impossible which is to create “ex nihilo” – out of nothing. He restores life from death – spiritual as well as physical – He brings into existence what was not. There is no god like Jehovah God. From Genesis to Revelation Scripture is replete with the miraculous working of His Hand – nothing being too hard for Him.
Jesus called the attention of His hearers to His miracles as well stating them to be a confirmation that He was indeed God’s Son:
Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? 37 Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." John 10:36-38 (NIV)
“The only Christ for whom there is a shred of evidence is a miraculous figure making stupendous claims.” C. S. Lewis
The miraculous sign spoke for itself. The miracle was so convincing to our now seeing blind man that his argument reeks of sarcasm. Interestingly, though our blind man could not read a letter of the Book, he remained well acquainted with the Scriptures. These Jews knew enough to know that he was right on target with his premise – those who remain willingly in their trespasses, wallowing in their Delilah’s do not have God’s ear. Scripture being replete with examples to back up what he said:
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; 19 but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Psalms 66:18-19 (NIV)
29 The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous. Prov 15:29 (NIV)
1 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2 (NIV)
Indeed, one of their number, Nicodemus, stated the exact same thing to Jesus. We find this encounter earlier in John:
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." John 3:1-2 (NIV)
Lastly, I am reminded of the futility of our works apart from Christ. While man is indeed accomplished – all works done apart from Jesus – in the flesh, in our own strength - will never make it through the fire which tests the quality of each man’s work. We often run ahead doing things in our own abilities, basking in our own glory, which God will never take part of. And we sit around scratching our heads wondering why we either fail or we remain so unsatisfied. Glory comes to God when we do His works through His power and we remain the most satisfied when God is most glorified in and through our lives.
5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:5-8 (NIV)