Where does he hail from?

I was reading aloud from John today, practicing for my oral interpretation class, and I really enjoyed reading this part aloud. There is sarcasm, condescension, judgment, and truth. The people speaking are the Pharisees investigating the healing of a blind man (by none other than Jesus himself)...

John 9:29-34
29We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from.

30The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and a worshiper of Him and does His will, He listens to him. 32Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

34To this they retorted, "You were wholly born in sin[from head to foot]; and do you presume to teach us?"


The Pharisees are absolutely sure that this guy who was surely seeped in sin like a teabag in water cannot lecture there impeccable standards and ideals. That was their cheap reaction when they could think of nothing better to say. The man, once blind (and apparently clever too), is presenting some simple logic: God only listens to those who are obedient to His will, and only God can open eyes, so this man must come from God because of what he does, otherwise he couldn't do anything. Good logic on his part, obviously too good for Pharisees who enjoyed their blindness.

I wonder if people could logically deduce where my actions come from? I think it is pretty easy to see motives most times, would people see my actions and say that I could not do them without the strength of God? Or would they easily see them as something anyone could do in their own strength?