This kneading caught the attention of the Pharisees, for it seemed to them to be akin to the making of bread, a labour not permitted on the Sabbath day. They were forced to agree that the offending treatment had worked: the blind man could see; nevertheless they scented an opportunity to bring Jesus before the courts, and began making enquiries. They interviewed the man’s parents, who confirmed that he really had been blind from birth; but when asked about the part played by Jesus, they referred the Pharisees back to their son. “He is of age” they said, “ask him.” The man himself was no help. “Why do you want to keep hearing the story?” he broke in; “do you too want to be his disciples?” This enraged them, but they could find no witnesses for their charge of Sabbath-breaking. So they contented themselves with barring the man from the synagogue.

For a moment it seemed as if this story would have a lonely and unhappy ending. But John tells us that Jesus went to find this lost lamb, and took him into his sheepfold; because as he told his disciples, the good shepherd cares for his sheep, and will lay down his life for them.