Volume 9 · Chapter 556 · Pp. 21-30

Another Sabbath in Ephraim. Sermon to the Samaritans on the real Temple and on New Times.

Chapter 556 recounts a Sabbath gathering in Ephraim where Jesus delivers a sermon to the Samaritans, focusing on the true nature of the Temple and the advent of new times. The discourse emphasizes sorrow not as punishment but as a form of grace and priesthood that can appease divine justice and transform sin into good. The chapter also depicts interpersonal dynamics among the apostles, highlighting Judas Iscariot's skepticism contrasted with Jesus' silent compassion. This setting underscores themes of spiritual understanding, acceptance of suffering, and the unfolding of God's plan through Jesus' teachings.

Themes: Sorrow as grace, True Temple, Divine justice, Priesthood of suffering, New covenant, Jesus' teachings