M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

Joseph’s Cup

44 Then Joseph told the man who took care of his house, “Fill the men’s bags with as much food as they can carry. And put each man’s money in his bag. ² Put my silver cup in the bag of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did what Joseph had told him to do. ³ Early in the morning the men were sent away with their donkeys. ⁴ When they had left the city and were not far away, Joseph said to the man who took care of his house, “Get up and follow the men. When you come to them, say to them, ‘Why have you returned bad for good? Why have you stolen the silver cup? ⁵ Is this not my lord’s drinking cup that he uses for telling about the future? You have done wrong.’”

⁶ So he came to them and spoke these words to them. ⁷ And they said to him, “Why does my lord say these things? Your servants would never do such a thing. ⁸ Remember how we returned to you from the land of Canaan with the money we found in the top of our bags. Why then would we steal silver or gold from your owner’s house? ⁹ If the cup is found with any of your servants, let him be put to death. And the others of us will be your servants.”

¹⁰ He answered, “Let it be as you say. He who is found to have the cup will be my servant. But you others will be without blame.” ¹¹ Then each man put his bag down on the ground in a hurry and opened it. ¹² The man looked for it, beginning with the oldest and stopping with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s bag. ¹³ Then they tore their clothes. After each man loaded his donkey again, they returned to the city.

¹⁴ When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell to the ground in front of him. ¹⁵ Joseph said to them, “What is this that you have done? Did you not know that a man like me has power to know what is not known by others?” ¹⁶ Judah said, “We do not know what to say to my lord. How can we make ourselves right in your eyes? God has shown the guilt of your servants. See, we are your servants, both we and the one who was found with the cup.” ¹⁷ But Joseph said, “No. I will do no such thing. The person who was found with the cup will be my servant. But you others may go in peace to your father.”

¹⁸ Then Judah came near to him, and said, “O my lord, let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears. Do not be angry with your servant. For you are like Pharaoh himself. ¹⁹ My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ ²⁰ We said to my lord, ‘We have an old father and a young brother who was born to him when he was old. Now his brother is dead. So he is all that is left of his mother, and his father loves him.’ ²¹ Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him here to me, so I may see him.’ ²² But we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. For if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ ²³ Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes here with you, you will not see my face again.’

²⁴ “When we returned to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said. ²⁵ Our father said, ‘Go again and buy us a little food.’ ²⁶ But we said, ‘We cannot go there. If our youngest brother is with us, we will go there. For we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’

²⁷ “Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife gave birth to two of my sons. ²⁸ One left me, and I said, “For sure he is torn to pieces.” I have not seen him since. ²⁹ If you take this one also from me, and something happens to him, you will bring my white hair down to the grave in sorrow.’ ³⁰ My father’s life and the boy’s life are one. If I return to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, ³¹ when he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. So your servants will bring the white hair of your servant our father down to the grave in sorrow. ³² For I put myself as trust for the boy to my father. I said, ‘If I do not return him to you, then let the blame be on me forever.’ ³³ So let your servant stay and work for my lord, instead of the boy. Let the boy go home with his brothers. ³⁴ For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I am afraid to see the sorrow that my father would suffer.”

They Look for a Way to Put Jesus to Death ^(A)

14 It was now two days before the supper of the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt and the supper of bread without yeast. The religious leaders and the teachers of the Law tried to trap Jesus. They tried to take Him so they could put Him to death. ² These men said, “This must not happen on the day of the special supper. The people would be against it and make much trouble.”

Mary of Bethany Puts Special Perfume on Jesus ^(B)

³ Jesus was in the town of Bethany eating in the house of Simon. Simon was a man with a very bad skin disease. A woman came with a jar of special perfume. She had given much money for this. She broke the jar and poured the special perfume on the head of Jesus. ⁴ Some of them were angry. They said, “Why was this special perfume wasted? ⁵ This perfume could have been sold for much money and given to poor people.” They spoke against her.

⁶ Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why are you giving her trouble? She has done a good thing to Me. ⁷ You will have poor people with you all the time. Whenever you want, you can do something good for them. You will not have Me all the time. ⁸ She did what she could. She put this perfume on My body to make Me ready for the grave. ⁹ For sure, I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in all the world, this woman will be remembered for what she has done.”

Judas Hands Jesus Over to Be Killed ^(C)

¹⁰ Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve followers. He went to the head religious leaders of the Jews to talk about how he might hand Jesus over to them. ¹¹ When the leaders heard it, they were glad. They promised to give Judas money. Then he looked for a way to hand Jesus over.

Getting Ready for the Special Supper ^(D)

¹² The first day of the supper of bread without yeast was the day to kill an animal. It was for the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. His followers said to Jesus, “What place do You want us to make ready for You to eat this special supper?” ¹³ Jesus sent two of His followers on ahead and said to them, “Go into the city. There a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. ¹⁴ He will go into a house. You say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is the room you keep for friends, where I can eat this special supper with My followers?”’ ¹⁵ He will take you to a large room on the second floor with everything in it. Make it ready for us.”

¹⁶ The followers went from there and came into the city. They found everything as Jesus had said. They made things ready for the special supper.

¹⁷ In the evening He came with the twelve followers. ¹⁸ They sat at the table and ate. Jesus said, “For sure, I tell you, one of you will hand Me over to be killed. He is eating with Me.” ¹⁹ They were very sad. They said to Him one after the other, “Is it I?” ²⁰ He said to them, “It is one of the twelve followers. It is the one who is putting his hand with mine into the same dish. ²¹ The Son of Man is going away as it is written of Him. But it will be bad for that man who hands the Son of Man over to be killed! It would have been better if he had not been born!”

The First Lord’s Supper ^(E)

²² As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread. He gave thanks and broke it in pieces. He gave it to them and said, “Take, eat, this is My body.” ²³ Then He took the cup and gave thanks. He gave it to them and they all drank from it. ²⁴ He said to them, “This is My blood of the New Way of Worship which is given for many. ²⁵ For sure, I tell you, that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the holy nation of God.” ²⁶ After they sang a song, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Tells How Peter Will Lie about Him ^(F)

²⁷ Jesus said to them, “All of you will be ashamed of Me and leave Me tonight. For it is written, ‘I will kill the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will spread everywhere.’ ^{(G) 28} After I am raised from the dead, I will go before you into the country of Galilee.” ²⁹ Peter said to Him, “Even if all men are ashamed of You and leave You, I never will.” ³⁰ Jesus said to him, “For sure, I tell you, that today, even tonight, before a rooster crows two times, you will say three times you do not know Me.” ³¹ Peter spoke with strong words, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never say that I do not know You.” All the followers said the same thing.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane ^(H)

³² They came to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to His followers, “You sit here while I pray.” ³³ He took Peter and James and John with Him. He began to have much sorrow and a heavy heart. ³⁴ He said to them, “My soul is very sad. My soul is so full of sorrow I am ready to die. You stay here and watch.” ³⁵ He went a little farther and got down with His face on the ground. He prayed that this time of suffering might pass from Him if it could. ³⁶ He said, “Father, You can do all things. Take away what must happen to Me. Even so, not what I want, but what You want.”

³⁷ Then Jesus came to the followers and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not able to watch one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray so that you will not be tempted. Man’s spirit wants to do this, but the body does not have the power to do it.”

³⁹ Again Jesus went away and prayed saying the same words. ⁴⁰ He came back and found them sleeping again. Their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to Him. ⁴¹ He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! Listen, the time has come when the Son of Man will be handed over to sinners. ⁴² Get up and let us go. See! The man who will hand Me over to the head religious leader is near.”

Jesus Handed Over to Sinners ^(I)

⁴³ At once, while Jesus was talking, Judas came. He was one of the twelve followers. He came with many other men who had swords and sticks. They came from the head religious leaders of the Jews and the teachers of the Law and the leaders of the people. ⁴⁴ The man who was going to hand Jesus over gave the men something to look for. He said, “The Man I kiss is the One. Take hold of Him and take Him away.”

⁴⁵ At once Judas went straight to Jesus and said, “Teacher!” and kissed Him. ⁴⁶ Then they put their hands on Him and took Him.

⁴⁷ One of the followers of Jesus who stood watching took his sword. He hit the servant owned by the head religious leader and cut off his ear. ⁴⁸ Jesus said to them, “Have you come with swords and sticks to take Me as if I were a robber? ⁴⁹ I have been with you every day teaching in the house of God. You never took hold of Me. But this has happened as the Holy Writings said it would happen.” ⁵⁰ Then all His followers left Him and ran away.

⁵¹ A young man was following Him with only a piece of cloth around his body. They put their hands on the young man. ⁵² Leaving the cloth behind, he ran away with no clothes on.

Jesus Stands in Front of the Head Religious Leaders ^(J)

⁵³ They led Jesus away to the head religious leader. All the religious leaders and other leaders and the teachers of the Law were gathered there. ⁵⁴ But Peter followed a long way behind as they went to the house of the head religious leader. He sat with the helpers and got warm by the fire.

Jesus Stands in Front of the Court ^(K)

⁵⁵ The religious leaders and all the court were looking for something against Jesus. They wanted to find something so they could kill Him. But they could find nothing. ⁵⁶ Many came and told false things about Him, but their words did not agree. ⁵⁷ Some got up and said false things against Him. They said, ⁵⁸ “We have heard Him say, ‘I will destroy the house of God that was made with hands. In three days I will build another that is not made with hands.’” ⁵⁹ Even these who spoke against Him were not able to agree.

⁶⁰ The head religious leader stood up in front of the people. He asked Jesus, “Have You nothing to say? What about the things these men are saying against You?” ⁶¹ Jesus said nothing. Again the head religious leader asked Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Holy One?” ⁶² Jesus said, “I am! And you will see the Son of Man seated on the right side of the All-powerful God. You will see Him coming again in the clouds of the sky.”

⁶³ Then the head religious leader tore his clothes apart. He said, “Do we need other people to speak against Him? ⁶⁴ You have heard Him speak as if He were God! What do you think?” They all said He was guilty of death. ⁶⁵ Some began to spit on Him. They covered Jesus’ face, and they hit Him. They said, “Tell us what is going to happen.” Soldiers hit Him with their hands.

Peter Said He Did Not Know Jesus ^(L)

⁶⁶ Peter was outside in the yard. One of the servant-girls of the head religious leader came. ⁶⁷ She saw Peter getting warm. She looked at him and said, “You were with Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁶⁸ Peter lied, saying, “I do not know Jesus and do not understand what you are talking about.” As he went out, a rooster crowed.

⁶⁹ The servant-girl saw him again. She said to the people standing around, “This man is one of them.” ⁷⁰ He lied again saying that he did not know Jesus. Later, those who stood around said to Peter again, “For sure you are one of them. You are from the country of Galilee. You talk like they do.” ⁷¹ He began to say strong words and to swear. He said, “I do not know the Man you are talking about!”

⁷² At once a rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him, “Before a rooster crows two times, you will say three times you do not know Me.” When he thought about it, he cried.

Job Keeps On Talking

10 “I hate my life. I will be free in my complaining. I will show how bitter I am in my soul when I speak. ² I will say to God, ‘Do not say that I am guilty and punish me. Let me know why You work against me. ³ Do You think it is right for You to make it hard for me, to turn away from the work of Your hands and favor the plans of the sinful? ⁴ Do You have eyes of flesh? Do You see as a man sees? ⁵ Are Your days as the days of man, or Your years as man’s years, ⁶ that You should look for my wrong-doing and my sin? ⁷ You know that I am not guilty, yet there is no one who can take me away from Your hand.

⁸ ‘Your hands put me together and made me, and now would You destroy me? ⁹ Remember that You have made me as clay. Would You turn me into dust again? ¹⁰ Did You not pour me out like milk and make me become hard like cheese? ¹¹ You have given me clothing of skin and flesh, and have tied me together with bones and cord. ¹² You have given me life and loving-kindness. Your care has kept my spirit alive. ¹³ Yet You have hidden these things in Your heart. I know that this is in Your thoughts. ¹⁴ If I sin, You would see me, and would not free me from my guilt. ¹⁵ If I am sinful, it would be bad for me! If I am right and good, I cannot lift my head for I am filled with shame and see all my trouble. ¹⁶ If I would lift up my head, You would hunt me like a lion. Again You would show Your power against me. ¹⁷ You would send new ones who would speak against me, and become more angry with me. You would send me more and more trouble.

¹⁸ ‘Why then did You let me be born? If only I had died and no one had seen me! ¹⁹ I should have been as if I had never lived, carried from my mother to the grave.’ ²⁰ Are not my days few? Leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort ²¹ before I go to a place from which I will not return. I will go to the land of darkness and shadow. ²² It is the land of complete darkness and shadow and trouble, where the light is darkness.”

14 If there is someone whose faith is weak, be kind and receive him. Do not argue about what he thinks. ² One man believes he may eat everything. Another man with weak faith eats only vegetables. ³ The man who eats everything should not think he is better than the one who eats only vegetables. The man who eats only vegetables should not say the other man is wrong, because God has received him. ⁴ Who are you to tell another person’s servant if he is right or wrong? It is to his owner that he does good or bad. The Lord is able to help him.

⁵ One man thinks one day is more important than another. Another man thinks every day is the same. Every man must be sure in his own mind. ⁶ The man who worships on a special day does it to honor the Lord. The man who eats meat does it to honor the Lord. He gives thanks to God for what he eats. The other man does not eat meat. In this way, he honors the Lord. He gives thanks to God also.

⁷ No one lives for himself alone. No one dies for himself alone. ⁸ If we live, it is for the Lord. If we die, it is for the Lord. If we live or die, we belong to the Lord. ⁹ Christ died and lived again. This is why He is the Lord of the living and of the dead. ¹⁰ Why do you try to say your Christian brother is right or wrong? Why do you hate your Christian brother? We will all stand before God to be judged by Him. ¹¹ The Holy Writings say, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me. And every tongue will say that I am God.” ¹² Everyone of us will give an answer to God about himself.

¹³ So you should stop saying that you think other people are wrong. Instead, decide to live so that your Christian brother will not have a reason to trip or fall into sin because of you. ¹⁴ Christ has made me know that everything in itself is clean. But if a person thinks something is not clean, then to him it is not clean. ¹⁵ If your Christian brother is hurt because of some foods you eat, then you are no longer living by love. Do not destroy the man for whom Christ died by the food you eat. ¹⁶ Do not let what is good for you be talked about as bad. ¹⁷ For the holy nation of God is not food and drink. It is being right with God. It is peace and joy given by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ If you follow Christ in these things, God will be happy with you. Men will think well of you also.

¹⁹ Work for the things that make peace and help each other become stronger Christians. ²⁰ Do not destroy what God has done just because of some food. All food is good to eat. But it is wrong to eat anything that will make someone fall into sin. ²¹ Do not eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it would make your Christian brother fall into sin. ²² Keep the faith you have between yourself and God. A man is happy if he knows he is doing right. ²³ But if he has doubts about the food he eats, God says he is guilty when he eats it. It is because he is eating without faith. Anything that is not done in faith is sin.