To this they replied,”You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
You know that you have won the argument when your opponent gets so spittin’ mad that they resort to calling you names and throwing you out. It is instructive to read between the lines here and see how the man who was formerly blind responds.
While we don’t know for certain if he said or did anything rude, based on what we know so far, I would suggest that he went out quietly. A lifetime of being blind is a powerful training ground in humility. The man knew how to keep his mouth shut if he had to. To be blind is to be vulnerable. He had been trained to take abuse and let it slide off of his back, very much like our Lord teaches when he tells his followers to “turn the other cheek.” (Matthew 5: 39) Perhaps his behavior here is another example of “the works of God” that Jesus spoke of in verse 3.
Discuss: How would your attitude change if you were blind?
That is a difficult question. I am not sure, but I know that it would significantly change everything. I also imagine the reverses is true. This man who was blind can now see – both physically and spiritually. It is truly a new life for him.
Rich,
Many years ago I knew a man who had been blind since birth. His world was very different. Like the man in this story he was a very gentle soul. His blindness had not made him bitter, but it had made him very cautious. I think it tempers what a person does, even though it might not change who they are inside.