The miracles of Jesus - Classical Christian Literature by Athleo.net

226 THE MAN BORN BLIND
pleading for alms, to-day a bit of a hero with grit and
independence and something even of the Christian
martyr.
That, if you think rightly of it, was a greater
miracle than the opening of the eyes.
The Pharisees were resolved that Christ should not
have the credit of this healing work if they could
prevent it : they used all sorts of expedients to get it
denied or explained away they were prepared to
;
bribe the man or frighten him into silence. They
wriggled and twisted and changed ground many a
time. First, they declared that this was not the same
And then
man who had sat by the wayside begging.
they protested that if he was the same man he had
never been blind at all, but had only been shamming.
And then, when the miracle had to be admitted, they
appealed to the popular prejudice about the Sabbath,
and asserted that no man of God would do a work
finally, they
of that kind on the day of rest ;
and
pompously put forward their own authority, and
declared, "We know that this man is
a sinner," and if
anybody disputes it let him look to the consequences.
So they argued, and lied, and brow-beated, and
blustered. And here was the simple-minded beggar
who had never read a book, never heard of logic
never been to school, yet altogether too much for
them ;
because his soul was illumined with honesty,
because faith, gratitude, and love had taken possession
of him, because he was absolutely certain that Jesus
had done for him a wonderful thing.
See how he returns again and again to this point
you say that He is a sinner—well, \ know nothing
about that, but one thing I know, that, whereas I was
blind, now I see : you tell me that you know not