Jesus Preaches In The Temple Court
About the middle of the Festival week, Jesus went up into the Temple Courts, and began teaching. The Jews were astonished.
“How has this man got bis learning,” they asked, “when he has never studied? “
So, in reply, Jesus said:
“My teaching is not my own; it is his who sent me. If any one has the will to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching is from God, or whether I speak on my own authority. The man who speaks on his own authority seeks honor for himself; but the man who seeks the honor of him that sent him is sincere, and there is nothing false in him. Was not it Moses who gave you the Law? Yet not one of you obeys it! Why are you seeking to put me to death?”
“You must be possessed by a demon!” the people exclaimed. “Who is seeking to put you to death? “
“There was one thing I did,” replied Jesus, “at which you are all still wondering. But that is why Moses has instituted circumcision among you—not, indeed, that it began with him, but with our ancestors—and that is why you circumcise even on a Sabbath. When a man receives circumcision on a Sabbath to prevent the Law of Moses from ‘being broken, how can you be angry with me for making a man sound and well on a Sabbath? Do not judge by appearances; judge justly.”
—John.
The Smile Worth While
‘Tis easy enough to be pleasant,
When life flows along like a song;
But the man worth while is the one who will smile
When everything goes dead wrong;
For the test of the heart is trouble.
And it always comes with the years;
And the smile that is worth the praise of the earth
Is the smile that comes through tears.
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox.