M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

23 A long time after that, the Lord had given Israel rest from all those around them who hated them. Joshua had grown old, and had lived many years. ² Joshua called all Israel, their leaders, their heads, and the men chosen among them who judge between what is right or wrong. Then he said to them, “I am old and have lived many years. ³ And you have seen all the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you. The Lord your God is the One Who has fought for you. ⁴ See, I have given to you as land for your families those nations that are left, with all the nations I have destroyed. They lie from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. ⁵ The Lord your God will send them out from in front of you. He will send them away from you. Then their land will be yours, just as the Lord your God promised you. ⁶ So do not be moved by others. Keep and obey all that is written in the book of the Law of Moses. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left. ⁷ Do not mix with these nations that stay among you. Do not say the names of their gods or make anyone swear by them. Do not work for them or worship them. ⁸ But hold on to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day. ⁹ For the Lord has driven away large and strong nations from in front of you. No man has been able to stand in front of you to this day. ¹⁰ One of your men makes a thousand run away. For the Lord your God is the One Who fights for you, just as He promised you. ¹¹ Be very careful to love the Lord your God. ¹² For if you ever turn away and join the people of these nations left among you and marry some of their people and go among them, ¹³ know for sure that the Lord your God will stop driving these nations away from you. And they will be a net and a trap to you. They will be a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you are destroyed from this good land the Lord your God has given you.

¹⁴ “See, today I am going the way of all the earth. Know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God made to you has been broken. All have come true for you. Not one of them has been broken. ¹⁵ Every good promise the Lord your God made to you has come true. But in the same way, He will keep His promises to punish you. He will punish you until He has destroyed you from this good land the Lord your God has given you. ¹⁶ If you do not keep the agreement the Lord your God made with you, and serve other gods and worship them, then the anger of the Lord will burn against you and you will be destroyed from the good land He has given you.”

Peter and John Heal a Man at the Gate of the House of God

3 Peter and John were going to the house of God about three o’clock. It was the time for prayer. ² Each day a certain man was carried to the Beautiful Gate of the house of God. This man had never been able to walk. He was there begging for money from those who were going in. ³ He asked Peter and John for money when he saw them going in. ⁴ Peter and John looked at him. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ The man who could not walk looked at them. He thought he would get something from them. ⁶ Peter said, “I have no money, but what I have I will give you! In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” ⁷ Peter took the man by the right hand and lifted him up. At once his feet and the bones in his legs became strong. ⁸ He jumped up on his feet and walked. Then he went into the house of God with them. He gave thanks to God as he walked.

⁹ All the people saw him walking and giving thanks to God. ¹⁰ They knew it was the man who had been sitting and begging at the Beautiful Gate. They were surprised he was walking. ¹¹ The man who was healed held on to Peter and John. All the people who were surprised gathered together around them in a place called Solomon’s Porch.

Peter Preaches the Second Time

¹² When Peter saw this, he said to them, “Jewish men, why are you surprised at this? Why do you look at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or holy lives? ¹³ The God of our fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, has done this. He has honored His Son Jesus. He is the One you handed over to Pilate. You turned your backs on Him after Pilate had decided to let Him go free. ¹⁴ But you turned your backs against the Holy and Right One. Then you asked for a man who had killed someone to go free. ¹⁵ You killed the very One Who made all life. But God raised Him from the dead. We saw Him alive. ¹⁶ You see and know this man here. He has been made strong through faith in Jesus’ name. Yes, it is faith in Christ that has made this man well and strong. This man is standing here in front of you all.

¹⁷ “Brothers, I know you and your leaders did this without knowing what you were doing. ¹⁸ In this way, God did what He said He would do through all the early preachers. He said that Christ must suffer many hard things. ¹⁹ But you must be sorry for your sins and turn from them. You must turn to God and have your sins taken away. Then many times your soul will receive new strength from the Lord. ²⁰ He will send Jesus back to the world. He is the Christ Who long ago was chosen for you. ²¹ But for awhile He must stay in heaven until the time when all things are made right. God said these things would happen through His holy early preachers.

²² “Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up from among your brothers One Who speaks for God, as He raised me. You must listen to everything He says. ²³ Everyone among the people who will not listen to that One Who speaks for God will be put to death.’ ^{(A) 24} All the early preachers who have spoken from Samuel until now have told of these days. ²⁵ You are of the family of the early preachers and of the promise that God made with our early fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘All the families of the earth will receive God’s favor through your children.’ ²⁶ God has raised up His Son Jesus and has sent Him to you first to give God’s favor to each of you who will turn away from his sinful ways.”

Jeremiah’s Question

12 You are right and good, O Lord, when I complain to You about my trouble. Yet I would like to talk with You about what is fair. Why does the way of the sinful go well? Why do all those who cannot be trusted have it so easy? ² You have planted them, and they have taken root. They grow and have given fruit. You are near on their lips but far from their heart. ³ But You know me, O Lord. You see me. And You test how my heart is with You. Take them off like sheep to be killed. Set them apart for the day of killing. ⁴ How long will the land be filled with sorrow? How long will the grass of every field dry up? For the sin of those who live in it, animals and birds have been taken away, because men have said, “He will not see what happens to us.”

God’s Answer

⁵ “If you have run with men on foot and they have made you tired, then how can you run as fast as horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, how will you do among all the trees beside the Jordan? ⁶ For even your brothers and those of your father’s house have not been faithful to you. They have cried to you in a loud voice. Do not believe them, even if they say pleasing things to you.”

The Lord’s Sorrow for Israel

⁷ “I have left My house. I have left My chosen nation. I have given the loved one of My soul into the hand of those who hate her. ⁸ My chosen nation has become to Me like a lion among the trees. She has raised her voice against Me, so I hate her. ⁹ Is My chosen nation like a spot-covered, flesh-eating bird to Me? Are the flesh-eating birds against her on every side? Go, gather all the wild animals of the field, and bring them to eat. ¹⁰ Many shepherds have destroyed My grape-field. They have crushed My field under foot. They have turned My good field to an empty desert. ¹¹ It has been laid waste. Destroyed and empty, it cries with sorrow before Me. The whole land has been laid waste, because no one cares. ¹² On all the open hill-tops in the desert, destroyers have come. For the sword of the Lord destroys from one end of the land to the other. There is no peace for anyone. ¹³ They have planted grain and have gathered thorns. They have worked hard, but have nothing. Be ashamed of what you gather because of the burning anger of the Lord.”

Israel’s Neighbors

¹⁴ This is what the Lord says about all My sinful neighbors who take the gift I have given to My people Israel: “See, I am about to pull them up by the roots from their land. And I will pull up the people of Judah by the roots from among them. ¹⁵ But after I have pulled them up by the roots, I will have loving-pity on them again, and will bring them back. I will return each one to what he has been given and to his land. ¹⁶ Then if they will for sure learn the ways of My people, and promise by My name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ even as they taught My people to promise by Baal, then they will be built up among My people. ¹⁷ But if they will not listen, then I will pull that nation up by the roots and destroy it,” says the Lord.

Jesus Tells of His Death the Fourth Time ^(A)

26 When Jesus had finished all this teaching, He said to His followers, ² “You know that the special religious supper to remember how the Jews left Egypt is in two days. The Son of Man will be handed over to be nailed to a cross.”

³ The religious leaders and the leaders of the people gathered at the house of the head religious leader. His name was Caiaphas. ⁴ They talked together how they might trap Jesus and kill Him. ⁵ But they said, “This must not happen on the day of the special supper. The people would be against it. They would make much trouble.”

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

⁶ Jesus was in the town of Bethany in the house of Simon. Simon had a very bad skin disease. ⁷ A woman came with a jar of perfume. She had given much money for this. As Jesus ate, she poured the perfume on His head. ⁸ When the followers saw it, they were angry. They said, “Why was this wasted? ⁹ This perfume could have been sold for much money and given to poor people.”

¹⁰ Jesus knew what they were saying. He said to them, “Why are you giving this woman trouble? She has done a good thing to Me. ¹¹ You will have poor people with you all the time. But you will not have Me with you all the time. ¹² She put this perfume on My body to make it ready for the grave. ¹³ 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)

¹⁴ Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve followers. He went to the religious leaders of the Jews. ¹⁵ He said, “What will you pay me if I hand Jesus over to you?” They promised to pay him thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶ From that time on Judas looked for a way to hand Jesus over to them.

Getting Ready for the Special Supper ^(D)

¹⁷ On the first day of the supper of bread without yeast the followers came to Jesus. They said, “What place do You want us to make ready for You to eat the supper of the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt?” ¹⁸ He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I will eat the special supper at your house with My followers.”’” ¹⁹ The followers did as Jesus told them. They made things ready for this special supper.

The Last Special Supper ^(E)

²⁰ When evening came, Jesus sat with the twelve followers. ²¹ As they were eating, Jesus said, “For sure, I tell you, one of you will hand Me over.” ²² They were very sad. They said to Him one after the other, “Lord, is it I?” ²³ He said, “The one who will hand Me over is the one who has just put his hand with Mine in the dish. ²⁴ The Son of Man is going away as it is written of Him. It is bad for that man who hands the Son of Man over! It would have been better if he had not been born!” ²⁵ Judas was the one who was handing Jesus over. He said, “Teacher, am I the one?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it.”

The First Lord’s Supper ^(F)

²⁶ As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread. He gave thanks and broke it in pieces. He gave it to His followers and said, “Take, eat, this is My body.” ²⁷ Then He took the cup and gave thanks. He gave it to them and said, “You must all drink from it. ²⁸ This is My blood of the New Way of Worship which is given for many. It is given so the sins of many can be forgiven. ²⁹ I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine again until that day when I will drink it new with you in the holy nation of My Father.” ³⁰ After they sang a song they went out to the Mount of Olives.

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

³¹ 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 be spread everywhere.’ ^{(H) 32} After I am raised from the dead, I will go before you to the country of Galilee.”

³³ Peter said to Jesus, “Even if all men give up and turn away because of You, I will never.” ³⁴ Jesus said to him, “For sure, I tell you, before a rooster crows this night, you will say three times you do not know Me.” ³⁵ Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never say I do not know You.” And all the followers said the same thing.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane ^(I)

³⁶ Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, “You sit here while I go over there to pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him. He began to have much sorrow and a heavy heart. ³⁸ Then 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 with Me.”

³⁹ He went on a little farther and got down with His face on the ground. He prayed, “My Father, if it can be done, take away what is before Me. Even so, not what I want but what You want.”

⁴⁰ Then He came to the followers and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Were you not able to watch with Me one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray so that you will not be tempted. Man’s spirit is willing, but the body does not have the power to do it.”

⁴² He went away again the second time. He prayed, saying, “My Father, if this must happen to Me, may whatever You want be done.” ⁴³ He came and found them asleep again. Their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ He went away from them the third time and prayed the same prayer.

⁴⁵ Then He came to His followers and asked them, “Are you still sleeping and getting your rest? As I speak, the time has come when the Son of Man will be handed over to sinners. ⁴⁶ Get up and let us go. See! The man who will hand Me over is near.”

Jesus Handed Over to Sinners ^(J)

⁴⁷ Judas, one of the twelve followers, came while Jesus was talking. He came with many others who had swords and sticks. They came from the religious leaders of the Jews and the leaders of the people. ⁴⁸ The man who handed Jesus over gave the men something to look for. He said, “The One I kiss is the One you want. Take Him!” ⁴⁹ At once Judas went up to Jesus and said, “Hello, Teacher,” and kissed Him. ⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came and put their hands on Jesus and took Him.

⁵¹ One of those with Jesus took his sword. He hit the servant who was owned by the religious leader and cut off his ear. ⁵² Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back where it belongs. Everyone who uses a sword will die with a sword. ⁵³ Do you not think that I can pray to My Father? At once He would send Me more than 70,000 angels. ⁵⁴ If I did, how could it happen as the Holy Writings said it would happen? It must be this way.”

⁵⁵ Then Jesus said to the many people, “Have you come with swords and sticks to take Me as if I were a robber? I have been with you every day teaching in the house of God. You never put your hands on Me then. ⁵⁶ But this has happened as the early preachers said in the Holy Writings it would happen.” Then all the followers left Him and ran away.

Jesus Stands in Front of the Religious Leaders ^(K)

⁵⁷ Those who had taken Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas. He was the head religious leader. The teachers of the Law and the other leaders were gathered there. ⁵⁸ But Peter followed Him a long way behind while going to the house of the head religious leader. Then he went in and sat with the helpers to see what would happen.

⁵⁹ The religious leaders and the other leaders and all the court were looking for false things to say against Jesus. They wanted some reason to kill Him. ⁶⁰ They found none, but many came and told false things about Him. At last two came to the front. ⁶¹ They said, “This Man said, ‘I am able to destroy the house of God and build it up again in three days.’”

⁶² Then the head religious leader stood up. He said to Jesus, “Have You nothing to say? What about the things these men are saying against You?” ⁶³ Jesus said nothing. Then the head religious leader said to Him, “In the name of the living God, I tell You to say the truth. Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.” ⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, “What you said is true. I say to you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated on the right hand of the All-powerful God. You will see Him coming on the clouds of the sky.”

⁶⁵ Then the head religious leader tore his clothes apart. He said, “He has spoken as if He were God! Do we need other people to speak against Him yet? You have heard Him speak as if He were God! ⁶⁶ What do you think?” They said, “He is guilty of death!”

⁶⁷ Then they spit on His face. They hit Him with their hands. Others beat Him. ⁶⁸ They said, “Tell us, Christ, You Who can tell what is going to happen, who hit You?”

Peter Said He Did Not Know Jesus ^(L)

⁶⁹ Peter sat outside in the yard. A young servant-girl came to him. She said, “You were also with Jesus Who is from the country of Galilee!” ⁷⁰ But Peter lied in front of all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” ⁷¹ After he had gone out, another young servant-girl saw him. She said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁷² Again he lied and swore, “I do not know this Man!” ⁷³ After a little while some of the people standing around came up to Peter and said, “For sure, you are one of them. You talk like they do.” ⁷⁴ Then he began to say bad words and swear. He said, “I do not know the Man!” At once a rooster crowed.

⁷⁵ Peter remembered the words Jesus had said to him, “Before a rooster crows, you will say three times you do not know Me.” Peter went outside and cried with loud cries.