Another false notion of the Jews was, that any one who was a great sufferer upon earth must have been a greater sinner than others, who did not so suffer: an idea quite contrary to all the teaching of Jesus. With these two ideas in their minds, some of those who had become followers of Jesus, asked him, whether this blind man was born so, as a punishment for sins he had committed in another body; or whether his blindness was a punishment for the sins of his parents. Jesus immediately answered, that it was neither for one nor the other of these causes, that this man was born blind; but that God in His wisdom had allowed it to be so, "That the works of God should be made manifest in him." Jesus then, in a very remarkable manner, gave sight to the blind man; clearly proving that it was the power of God only, and not the means used, which had effected his cure: and He also enabled the blind man to show his faith, by making the final restoration of his sight, depend upon his obedience to the command, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam: he went his way therefore, and washed, and came (back) seeing." "The neighbours and they which before had seen him that he was blind," were much surprised; and began questioning whether he were indeed the same man, or one like him; but he quickly put an end to all doubts, and said, "I am he." Then, in answer to their questions, he told them the exact manner in which this cure had been effected, by "a man that is called Jesus": for at this time, he had no knowledge of Jesus as the Son of God, the promised Messiah. Whether from a good or bad motive we do not know, but "they brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind." And it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said, "He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see." The Pharisees could not deny the miracle; but immediately some of them raised the objection, "This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day." Others, however, less determined to disbelieve even the testimony of their own senses, said, "How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes?" The blind man, though still ignorant of the real character of Jesus, felt that He was most certainly more than a common man, and said, "He is a prophet."