Gospel
John 7:14-36 (NRSV)
14 About the middle of the festival Jesus
went up into the temple and began to teach. 15 The Jews were
astonished at it, saying, "How does this man have such learning,
when he has never been taught?" 16 Then Jesus answered
them, "My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. 17 Anyone
who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching
is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. 18 Those who
speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks
the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false
in him.
19 "Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps
the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?"
20 The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who is trying
to kill you?" 21 Jesus answered them, "I performed
one work, and all of you are astonished. 22 Moses gave you circumcision
(it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and
you circumcise a man on the sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision
on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken,
are you angry with me because I healed a man's whole body on the
sabbath? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right
judgment." 25 Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying,
"Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? 26 And
here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can
it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah?
27 Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah
comes, no one will know where he is from." 28 Then Jesus
cried out as he was teaching in the temple, "You know me,
and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the
one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. 29 I know him,
because I am from him, and he sent me." 30 Then they tried
to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour
had not yet come. 31 Yet many in the crowd believed in him and
were saying, "When the Messiah comes, will he do more signs
than this man has done?" 32 The Pharisees heard the crowd
muttering such things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees
sent temple police to arrest him. 33 Jesus then said, "I
will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to
him who sent me. 34 You will search for me, but you will not
find me; and where I am, you cannot come." 35 The Jews said
to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we
will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among
the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean by saying,
'You will search for me and you will not find me' and 'Where I
am, you cannot come'?"
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.