Note 8 at Jn. 9:27: This man showed great courage in confronting these religious leaders. Even Peter later backed down for fear of this same group of men (Lk. 22:54-62). Certainly one thing that gave him this boldness was that he knew what Jesus had done for him. And even beyond the physical healing, he knew that Jesus had healed him because He loved him. It's our security in the Lord's love for us that gives us the strength to face rejection from others. As Proverbs 28:1 puts it, "the righteous are bold as a lion."

Peter denied the Lord three times because he was confused. Nothing was going the way he had thought it would. He wasn't sure about anything. However, after seeing the resurrected Christ and being totally forgiven by Him, Peter was fearless in his defense before these elders of the people (Acts 4:5- 14). The antidote for fear of men is a large dose of the love of God (1 Jn. 4:18).