This kneading caught the attention of the Pharisees, for it seemed to them to be akin to the making of bread, a labour not permitted on the Sabbath day. They were forced to agree that the offending treatment had worked: the blind man could see; nevertheless they scented an opportunity to bring Jesus before the courts, and began making enquiries. They interviewed the man’s parents, who confirmed that he really had been blind from birth; but when asked about the part played by Jesus, they referred the Pharisees back to their son. “He is of age” they said, “ask him.” The man himself was no help. “Why do you want to keep hearing the story?” he broke in; “do you too want to be his disciples?” This enraged them, but they could find no witnesses for their charge of Sabbath-breaking. So they contented themselves with barring the man from the synagogue.
For a moment it seemed as if this story would have a lonely and unhappy ending. But John tells us that Jesus went to find this lost lamb, and took him into his sheepfold; because as he told his disciples, the good shepherd cares for his sheep, and will lay down his life for them.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Attention. Own. Son.
2 Rumor. Uproar. We.
3 Native. Out. Put.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Prepositions Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below may be followed by one or more prepositions. Compose your own sentences to show which they might be. Some prepositions are given underneath.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Offended. 2. Agree. 3. Careful. 4. Claim. 5. Careless. 6. Wait. 7. Labour.
Selected Prepositions
About. Against. Among. At. By. For. From. In. Into. Of. On. Out. Over. Through. To. Towards. Upon. With.
Opposites Find in Think and Speak
Suggest words or phrases that seem opposite in meaning to each of the words below. We have suggested some possible answers; see if you can find any others.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Variations: 1.instead of opposites, suggest words of similar meaning (synonyms). 2.use a word and its opposite in the same sentence. 3.suggest any 5 opposites formed by adding dis-.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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