A Lost Opportunity for Bold Witness

21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” (John 9:21-23 ESV)

The healed man had already given his testimony of Jesus' sight-giving power. The man's parents point the religious leaders back to the man: thus, back to his testimony. However, the healed man's parents point to their son's testimony indirectly and fearfully. Despite what they told the religious leaders, the man's parents apparently knew that Jesus was responsible for their son's healing, for the text does NOT state that his parents said, 'we do not know who opened his eyes' because they truly did not know: RATHER, they said 'we do not know who opened his eyes' "because they feared the Jews". These parents missed their opportunity to be recorded in Scripture throughout history as having given a bold witness for Jesus. They feared people more than they loved the truth. The synagogue was supposed to be a place where they would learn of the Messiah and where they would be encouraged to place their hope in Him. But they valued membership in the synagogue as a kind of community meeting-place more than they valued fellowship with the Messiah.