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(12) "Where is he?" they asked. "I don't know," he answered. (13) Then they took to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. (14) The day that Jesus made the mud and cured him of his blindness was a Sabbath. (15) The Pharisees, then, asked the man again how he had received his sight. He told them, "He put some mud on my eyes; I washed my face, and now I can see." (16) Some of the Pharisees said, "The man who did this cannot be from God, for he does not obey the Sabbath law." Others, however, said, "How could a man who is a sinner perform such miracles as these?" And there was a division among them. (17) So the Pharisees asked the man once more, "You say he cured you of your blindness---well, what do you say about him?" "He is a prophet," the man answered. (18) The Jewish authorities, however, were not willing to believe that he had been blind and could now see, until they called his parents (19) and asked them, "Is this your son? You say that he was born blind; how is it, then, that he can now see?" (20) His parents answered, "We know that he is our son, and we know that he was born blind. (21) But we do not know how it is that he is now able to see, nor do we know who cured him of his blindness. Ask him; he is old enough, and he can answer for himself !" (22) His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, who had already agreed that anyone who said he believed that Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. (23) That is why his parents said, "He is old enough; ask him!" (24) A second time they called back the man who had been born blind, and said to him, "Promise before God that you will tell the truth! We know that this man who cured you is a sinner." (25) "I do not know if he is a sinner or not," the man replied. "One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I see." (26) "What did he do to you?" they asked. "How did he cure you of your blindness?" (27) "I have already told you," he answered, "and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Maybe you, too, would like to be his disciples?" (28) They insulted him and said, "You are that fellow's disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. (29) We know that God spoke to Moses; as for that fellow, however, we do not even know where he comes from!" (30) The man answered, "What a strange thing that is! You do not know where he comes from, but he cured me of my blindness! (31) We know that God does not listen to sinners; he does listen to people who respect him and do what he wants them to do.
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Knowledge plays a part in the man's healing; this theme is suggested by the fact that each of the parties claim both to know and not to know something. Since the claims and the reasons for them differ, the contrasts highlight their various types of knowledge. By their questioning, the Pharisees try to discredit the man's testimony, attempting to find a cause to brand the healing a fraud and to attack Jesus (verse 19). They imply that the parents should stop lying and come clean (verses 20-21). Yet, the parents affirm two facts: that the healed man was indeed their son and that he was born blind. They knew this, and they were not afraid to affirm it.
Conversely, they denied knowing how he came to see and who did the miracle. Why do they not acknowledge what they know of Christ's role in the healing? “They feared the Jews.” They know that the leaders would excommunicate anyone who confessed Jesus as the Messiah. The parents simply did not want to get involved. They were afraid to acknowledge what had been revealed to them.
This is an accurate picture of many today. The truths of Christianity have been proclaimed to them—perhaps by parents, friends, or the church. Intellectually, they know and even believe these truths, but they will not admit them. They are afraid to acknowledge Christ for fear of the consequences.
— Martin G. Collins