Isaiah 50:4-9

The Voice

⁴The Lord, the Eternal, equipped me for this job—
    with skilled speech, a smooth tongue for instruction.
I can find the words that comfort and soothe the downtrodden, tired, and despairing.
    And I know when to use them.
Each morning, it is God who wakes me and tells me what I should do,
    what I should say.
⁵The Lord, the Eternal, has helped me to listen,
    and I do as He says. I have not been rebellious or run away from God’s work.
⁶But it’s been hard. I offered My back to those who whipped me,
    my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not turn away from humiliation and spitting.

The prophet speaks, but his words are those of the Servant of God. The Servant is in tune with God, the Master Teacher. He teaches as he has been taught, and—for the first time it seems—He understands that suffering is an integral part of the work God has for him. The reality for God’s Servant and any who follow him is this: to be close with God means to be at odds with people.

⁷Because the Lord, the Eternal, helps me I will not be disgraced;
    so, I set my face like a rock, confident that I will not be ashamed.
⁸My hero who sets things right is near.
    Who would dare to challenge me?
Let’s stand and debate this head-to-head!
    Who would dare to accuse me? Let him come near.
⁹See here, the Lord, the Eternal, helps me—who could possibly win against me?
    All my accusers will wear out like a ratty old moth-eaten shirt.

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Psalm 70

The Voice

Psalm 70

For the worship leader. A song of David for remembering.

¹O God, hurry to save me;
    Eternal One, hurry to my side.
²For those who seek to kill me,
    God, may they burn in disgrace and humiliation!
Repulse the attacks; ridicule the efforts
    of those taking pleasure in my pain.
³I hear their taunts: “Nah, nah, nah . . . .”
    Let those hecklers fall back upon their brays—ashamed and confused—

⁴But let those who pursue You
    celebrate and have joy because of You.
And let the song of those who love Your saving grace
    never cease: “God is great!”
⁵But I am poor and in serious need,
    so hurry to my side, God,
Because You are my helper, my liberator.
    Eternal One, please don’t wait.

Hebrews 12:1-3

The Voice

12 So since we stand surrounded by all those who have gone before, an enormous cloud of witnesses, let us drop every extra weight, every sin that clings to us and slackens our pace, and let us run with endurance the long race set before us.

We may feel alone, but we aren’t. We are surrounded by an army of witnesses. They have run the race of faith and finished well. It is now our turn.

²Now stay focused on Jesus, who designed and perfected our faith. He endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him; and now He is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honor.

³Consider the life of the One who endured such personal attacks and hostility from sinners so that you will not grow weary or lose heart.

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John 13:21-32

The Voice

²¹Jesus was becoming visibly distressed.

Jesus: I tell you the truth: one of you will betray Me.

²²The disciples began to stare at one another, wondering who was the unfaithful disciple. ²³One disciple in particular, who was loved by Jesus, reclined next to Him at the table. ²⁴Peter motioned to the disciple at Jesus’ side.

Peter (to the beloved disciple): Find out who the betrayer is.

Beloved Disciple (leaning in to Jesus): ²⁵Lord, who is it?

Jesus: ²⁶I will dip a piece of bread in My cup and give it to the one who will betray Me.

He dipped one piece in the cup and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. ²⁷After this occurred, Satan entered into Judas.

Jesus (to Judas): Make haste, and do what you are going to do.

²⁸No one understood Jesus’ instructions to Judas. ²⁹Because Judas carried the money, some thought he was being instructed to buy the necessary items for the feast or give some money to the poor. ³⁰So Judas took his piece of bread and departed into the night.

³¹Upon Judas’s departure, Jesus spoke:

Jesus: Now the Son of Man will be glorified as God is glorified in Him. ³²If God’s glory is in Him, His glory is also in God. The moment of this astounding glory is imminent.

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