404
The Desire of Ages
for Christ. He answered the Pharisees in words that were a cutting re-
buke to his questioners. They claimed to be the expositors of Scripture,
the religious guides of the nation; and yet here was One performing
miracles, and they were confessedly ignorant as to the source of His
power, and as to His character and claims. “Why herein is a marvelous
thing,” said the man, “that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He
hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners:
but if any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth His will, him He
heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened
the eyes of one that was born blind. If this Man were not of God, He
could do nothing.”
The man had met his inquisitors on their own ground. His reason-
ing was unanswerable. The Pharisees were astonished, and they held
their peace,—spellbound before his pointed, determined words. For a
few moments there was silence. Then the frowning priests and rabbis
gathered about them their robes, as though they feared contamination
from contact with him; they shook off the dust from their feet, and
hurled denunciations against him,—“Thou wast altogether born in
sins, and dost thou teach us?” And they excommunicated him.
Jesus heard what had been done; and finding him soon after, He
said, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”
For the first time the blind man looked upon the face of his Restorer.
Before the council he had seen his parents troubled and perplexed; he
had looked upon the frowning faces of the rabbis; now his eyes rested
upon the loving, peaceful countenance of Jesus. Already, at great cost
to himself, he had acknowledged Him as a delegate of divine power;
now a higher revelation was granted him.
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To the Saviour’s question, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”
the blind man replied by asking, “Who is He, Lord, that I might believe
on Him?” And Jesus said, “Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He
that talketh with thee.” The man cast himself at the Saviour’s feet in
worship. Not only had his natural sight been restored, but the eyes of
his understanding had been opened. Christ had been revealed to his
soul, and he received Him as the Sent of God.
A group of Pharisees had gathered near, and the sight of them
brought to the mind of Jesus the contrast ever manifest in the effect
of His words and works. He said, “For judgment I am come into this
world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see