When a Jerusalem beggar who had been born blind was spotted walking about and, for the first time in his life able to see, it created more than a little stir. The explanation he gave for his cure was simple: “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.” (John 9:11).

Some of the Jewish leaders had already decided that Jesus was not to be accepted, and threatened any who did (John 9:22). As news of the miracle spread like wildfire, their position fast became difficult to hold and they were faced with two options: accept Jesus as genuinely from God, or find a reason to discredit Him.

Despite both the beggar and his parents confirming beyond doubt that the miracle was genuine, they chose the ‘discredit Jesus’ option. They accused Him of being a sinner (John 9:24) because He had performed the miracle on the Jewish Sabbath, their weekly day of rest.

The newly seeing beggar exposed the folly of their position with withering sarcasm (John 9:30-34), but the Jewish leaders were unmoved, and on another occasion went so far as to attribute the miracles of the Lord to the power of Satan (Luke 11:15-18).

The great irony is that when it came to the Lord Jesus’ trial before Pilate, they couldn’t get a single accusation – true or false – to stick. Jesus had even invited scrutiny on this point, asking them, “which of you convicts me of sin?” (John 8:46). Some were prepared to accuse Him of being a sinner, but not one could back it up. The Bible asserts that the Lord Jesus committed no sin, knew no sin, and that in Him there is no sin (1 Peter 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:5). And it is exactly this which makes His death purposeful – to all who believe that Jesus is the sinless Son of God, who died sacrificially on behalf of sinners, God offers free and total forgiveness.