Part 16

009:020 "We know," replied the parents, "that this is our son and that he was born blind;

009:021 but how it is that he can now see or who has opened his eyes we do not know. Ask him himself; he is of full age; he himself will give his own account of it."

009:022 Such was their answer, because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already settled among themselves that if any one should acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, he should be excluded from the synagogue.

009:023 That was why his parents said, "He is of full age: ask him himself."

009:024 A second time therefore they called the man who had been blind, and said, "Give God the praise: we know that that man is a sinner."

009:025 "Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know," he replied; "one thing I know--that I was once blind and that now I can see."

009:026 "What did he do to you?" they asked; "how did he open your eyes?"

009:027 "I have told you already," he replied, "and you did not listen to me. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also mean to be disciples of his?"

009:028 Then they railed at him, and said, "You are that man's disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.

009:029 We know that God spoke to Moses; but as for this fellow we do not know where he comes from."

009:030 "Why, this is marvellous!" the man replied; "you do not know where he comes from, and yet he has opened my eyes!

009:031 We know that God does not listen to bad people, but that if any one is a God-fearing man and obeys Him, to him He listens.

009:032 From the beginning of the world such a thing was never heard of as that any one should open the eyes of a man blind from his birth.

009:033 Had that man not come from God, he could have done nothing."

009:034 "You," they replied, "were wholly begotten and born in sin, and do *you* teach *us*?" And they put him out of the synagogue.

009:035 Jesus heard that they had done this. So having found him, He asked him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?"

009:036 "Who is He, Sir?" replied the man. "Tell me, so that I may believe in Him."

009:037 "You have seen Him," said Jesus; "and not only so: He is now speaking to you."

009:038 "I believe, Sir," he said. And he threw himself at His feet.

009:039 "I came into this world," said Jesus, "to judge men, that those who do not see may see, and that those who do see may become blind."

009:040 These words were heard by those of the Pharisees who were present, and they asked Him, "Are *we* also blind?"

009:041 "If you were blind," answered Jesus, "you would have no sin; but as a matter of fact you boast that you see. So your sin remains!"

010:001 "In most solemn truth I tell you that the man who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs over some other way, is a thief and a robber.

010:002 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

010:003 To him the porter opens the door, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by their names and leads them out.

010:004 When he has brought out his own sheep--all of them-- he walks at the head of them; and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

010:005 But a stranger they will by no means follow, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."

010:006 Jesus spoke to them in this figurative language, but they did not understand what He meant.