"25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out."
John 9:25-34
Having made his confession fearlessly, the man found a new accession of confidence and strength, as we can see from his bold and uninhibited retort in 27 to the Pharisees' questions in 26. Indeed, he is enjoying such freedom that he is able to employ gentle raillery - 'Will ye also be his disciples?' This must certainly have riled them beyond endurance as his continuing comments must also have done in 30-33. His theology was very simple and to the point, but it was so telling that it infuriated them to the extent that they cast him out of the synagogue. It was intolerable to them that one 'altogether born in sins' - observe their interpretation of his original malady - should presume to teach them about the things of God. In this connection it is significant to notice the repeated emphasis throughout the passage on 'knowing' - 20, 21, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31. It can hardly be accidental that these words are echoed again and again, and John must be conveying a message to us in them. He is surely underlining once again the conflict between light and darkness, knowledge and ignorance, knowledge and wilful suppression of knowledge. It is clear that the Pharisees were refusing the clear evidence of their senses, and seeking another, less intolerable explanation of the undoubted miracle before their eyes, just as the Sadducees were later to do in Acts 4 in the case of the healing of the lame man. It ever remains true that there are none so blind as those that will not see.