M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

Uzziah Rules Judah

26 Then all the people took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah. ² He built Eloth and returned it to Judah after the king died. ³ Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king. And he ruled fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem. ⁴ Uzziah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He did all that his father Amaziah had done. ⁵ He kept on looking to God in the days of Zechariah, who had special wisdom from God and taught him in the things of God. And as long as he looked to the Lord, God made things go well for him.

⁶ Uzziah went out and made war against the Philistines. He broke down the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod. And he built cities in the land of Ashdod and among the Philistines. ⁷ God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites. ⁸ The Ammonites paid taxes to Uzziah. And his name was known as far as the land of Egypt, for he became very strong. ⁹ Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the place where the walls joined. And he made them strong. ¹⁰ He built towers in the desert and dug many wells. For he had many animals, both in the valley and in the plain. He also had farmers and vine-keepers in the hill country and in the good growing fields, for he loved farming. ¹¹ And Uzziah had an army ready for battle. It was divided by the number of names written down by Jeiel the writer and Maaseiah the captain, led by Hananiah, one of the king’s leaders. ¹² The whole number of the leaders of the family groups of powerful soldiers was 2,600. ¹³ Under their leading was an army of 307,500, who could fight with great power, to help the king against those who hated them. ¹⁴ Uzziah had battle-coverings, spears, head-coverings, strong battle-clothes, bows, and slings using arrows and large stones made for all the army. ¹⁵ In Jerusalem he made large objects of war, planned by able men, to be on the towers and the corners. They were for shooting arrows and big stones. So Uzziah’s name became known in far away places. For he was helped by God in a very special way until he was strong.

Uzziah Is Punished because of His Pride

¹⁶ But when he became strong, Uzziah’s heart was so proud that his actions were sinful. He was not faithful to the Lord his God, for he went into the Lord’s house to burn special perfume on the altar of special perfume. ¹⁷ Then Azariah the religious leader went in after him, with eighty religious leaders of the Lord who were men strong in heart. ¹⁸ They went against King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn special perfume to the Lord. It should be done by the religious leaders, the sons of Aaron, who are set apart to burn special perfume. Get out of the holy place, for you have not been faithful. You will have no honor from the Lord God.” ¹⁹ Then Uzziah was angry, and he had a dish in his hand for burning special perfume. While he was angry with the religious leaders, a bad skin disease broke out on his forehead in front of the religious leaders in the Lord’s house, beside the altar of special perfume. ²⁰ Azariah the head religious leader and all the religious leaders looked at him and saw that he had a bad skin disease on his forehead. So they were quick to get him out of there, and he himself left in a hurry because the Lord had punished him. ²¹ King Uzziah had the bad skin disease to the day of his death. He lived in a separate house, suffering with the skin disease, for he was cut off from the house of the Lord. And his son Jotham was over the king’s house, ruling the people of the land. ²² Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first to last, were written by the man of God Isaiah, the son of Amoz. ²³ Uzziah died, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the grave which belonged to the kings. For they said, “He has a bad skin disease.” And Jotham his son became king in his place.

The Two Animals—the First One from the Sea

13 I stood on the sand by the sea-shore. There I saw a wild animal coming up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns with a crown on each horn. There were names on each head that spoke bad words against God. ² The wild animal I saw was covered with spots. It had feet like those of a bear. It had a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave this wild animal his own power and his own throne as king. The wild animal was given much power. ³ One of the heads of the wild animal looked as if it had been killed. But the bad cut given to kill him was healed. The whole world was surprised and wondered about this, and they followed after the wild animal. ⁴ They worshiped the dragon for giving this wild animal such power. And they worshiped this wild animal. They said, “Who is like this wild animal? Who can fight against it?”

⁵ The animal was given a mouth which spoke words full of pride and it spoke very bad things against the Lord. It was given much power for forty-two months. ⁶ And it opened its mouth speaking very bad things against God. It spoke against God’s name and His house and against those living in heaven. ⁷ It was allowed to fight against the people who belong to God, and it had power to win over them. It had power over every family and every group of people and over people of every language and every nation. ⁸ Every person on the earth from the beginning of the world whose name has not been written in the book of life of the Lamb Who was killed will worship this animal.

⁹ You have ears! Then listen. ¹⁰ Whoever is to be tied and held will be held. Whoever kills with a sword must himself be killed with a sword. Now is when God’s people must have faith and not give up.

The Second Animal—from the Land

¹¹ Then I saw another wild animal coming out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb. His voice was like that of the dragon. ¹² He used the power of the first wild animal who was there with him. He made all the people on earth worship the first wild animal who had received the bad cut to kill him but was healed. ¹³ The second wild animal did great powerful works. It spoke and made those who did not worship the first wild animal to be killed. ¹⁴ He fooled the men of the earth by doing powerful works. He did these things in front of the first wild animal. He told those who live on the earth to make a god that looks like the first wild animal. The first wild animal was the one that was cut by the sword but lived. ¹⁵ The second wild animal was given power to give life to the false god. This false god was the one that was made to look like the first wild animal. It was given power to talk. All those who did not worship it would die. ¹⁶ The second wild animal made every person have a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. It was given to important men and to those not important, to rich men and poor men, to those who are free and to those who are servants. ¹⁷ No one could buy or sell anything unless he had the mark on him. This mark was the name of the first wild animal or another way to write his name. ¹⁸ This is wisdom. Let the person who has good understanding learn the meaning of the other way to write the name of the first wild animal. This name is a man’s name. It is 666.

Other Nations Are Judged

9 The Word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach and will rest upon Damascus. For the eyes of men and all the family groups of Israel are on the Lord. ² The Word of the Lord is against Hamath also, which is beside Hadrach, and against Tyre and Sidon, even though they are very wise. ³ For Tyre built a strong tower for herself. She gathered silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets. ⁴ But the Lord will take away her riches and throw them into the sea. And she will be destroyed by fire. ⁵ Ashkelon will see it and be afraid. Gaza will suffer with much pain. So will Ekron, for her hope will be destroyed. Gaza will lose her king, and no one will live in Ashkelon. ⁶ A mixed people will live in Ashdod, and I will destroy the pride of the Philistines. ⁷ I will take the blood from their mouths, and the unclean food from between their teeth. Those who are left will belong to our God, and be like a family in Judah. Ekron will be like the Jebusites. ⁸ Then I will camp around My land and keep armies from going through it. No one will make it hard for them again, for now I am keeping watch.

The Future King

⁹ Be full of joy, O people of Zion! Call out in a loud voice, O people of Jerusalem! See, your King is coming to you. He is fair and good and has the power to save. He is not proud and sits on a donkey, on the son of a female donkey. ¹⁰ I will destroy the war-wagon from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem. The battle-bow will be broken. He will make peace among the nations and rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

The Lord Will Save His People

¹¹ As for you, because of the blood of My agreement with you, I have set your people free from the deep hole that has no water. ¹² Return to the strong city, you prisoners who have hope. Today I am telling you that I will give you twice as much as you had before. ¹³ I will use Judah as My bow, and Ephraim as My arrow. I will move your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and make you like a soldier’s sword. ¹⁴ Then the Lord will be seen over them, and His arrow will go out like lightning. The Lord God will blow the horn and go in the storm winds of the south. ¹⁵ The Lord of All will fight for them, and they will destroy, and walk on the stones that were to be thrown at them. They will drink and make much noise as with wine. They will be filled like a cup used for putting blood on the corners of the altar. ¹⁶ The Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of His people. For they are like the stones of a crown, shining in His land. ¹⁷ How good and how beautiful they will be! Grain will make the young men grow strong. And the young, pure women will grow strong with new wine.

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

12 It was six days before the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus lived. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. ² They made supper for Him. Martha put the food on the table. Lazarus was at the table with Him.

³ Mary took a jar of special perfume that cost much money and poured it on the feet of Jesus. She dried His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the smell of the special perfume.

⁴ Judas Iscariot was one of the followers. He was about to hand Jesus over to the leaders of the country. He said, ⁵ “Why was not this special perfume sold for much money and given to poor people?” ⁶ He did not say this because he cared for poor people. He said this because he was a robber. He carried the bag of money and would steal some of it for himself. ⁷ Jesus said, “Let her alone. She has kept it for the time when I will be buried. ⁸ You will always have poor people with you. You will not always have Me.”

The Jews Talk about Having Lazarus Killed

⁹ Many Jews came to the place because they knew Jesus was there. They came not only to see Jesus, but to see Lazarus also. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. ¹⁰ The religious leaders of the Jews talked together about having Lazarus killed also. ¹¹ Because of Lazarus, many Jews were leaving their own religion. They were putting their trust in Jesus.

The Last Time Jesus Goes to Jerusalem ^(B)

¹² The next day many people were in Jerusalem for the religious gathering. They heard Jesus was coming. ¹³ They took branches of trees and went to meet Him. They spoke with a loud voice, “Greatest One! Great and honored is He Who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of the Jews!” ¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it. The Holy Writings say, ¹⁵ “Do not be afraid, people of Jerusalem. See! Your King comes sitting on a young donkey!” ^{(C) 16} His followers did not understand what this meant at first. When Jesus had gone back to heaven to receive great honor, they remembered these things were written about Him. They remembered they had done this to Him.

¹⁷ The people who had been with Jesus when He had called Lazarus from the grave kept telling of this powerful work to others. They had seen Lazarus raised from the dead. ¹⁸ Because of this the people went to meet Jesus. They had heard He had done this powerful work. ¹⁹ The proud religious law-keepers said among themselves, “Look, we are losing followers. Everyone is following Jesus!”

The Greek People Want to See Jesus

²⁰ Some Greek people had come to worship at the religious gathering. They were among the others who had come to worship. ²¹ These Greek people came to Philip. He was from the city of Bethsaida in the country of Galilee. They said to him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus!” ²² Philip went and told Andrew. Then Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

The Law of Life

²³ Jesus said to them, “The hour is near for the Son of Man to be taken to heaven to receive great honor. ²⁴ For sure, I tell you, unless a seed falls into the ground and dies, it will only be a seed. If it dies, it will give much grain. ²⁵ Anyone who loves his life will lose it. Anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it forever. ²⁶ If anyone wants to serve Me, he must follow Me. So where I am, the one who wants to serve Me will be there also. If anyone serves Me, My Father will honor him.

²⁷ “Now My soul is troubled. Should I say, ‘Father, save Me from this time of trouble and pain’? No, this is why I came to this time. ²⁸ Father, honor Your name!”

The People Hear the Voice of God

Then a voice from heaven came, saying, “I have already honored My name. I will honor it again!” ²⁹ The people heard the voice. Some who stood there said, “It was thunder.” Others said, “An angel spoke to Him.” ³⁰ Jesus said, “The voice did not come for Me, but it came to be a help to you.

Jesus Tells How He Will Die

³¹ “Now this world is being told it is guilty. Now the leader of this world will be thrown out. ³² And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will attract all people toward Me.” ³³ He said this to tell the kind of death He was going to die.

³⁴ The people said to Him, “The Law of Moses says that the Christ is to live forever. Why do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

³⁵ Jesus said to them, “The Light will be with you for a little while yet. Go on your way while you have the Light so you will not be in the dark. When a man is walking in the dark, he does not know where he is going. ³⁶ While you have the Light, put your trust in the Light. Then you will be the sons of the Light.” Jesus said these things and then went away. He hid Himself from them.

The People Do Not Believe

³⁷ Jesus had done many powerful works in front of them, but they did not put their trust in Him. ³⁸ This happened as the words of the early preacher Isaiah said it would happen. He had said, “Lord, has anyone believed our preaching? Has the Lord shown His power to anyone?” ³⁹ The reason they could not believe is written again in Isaiah. ⁴⁰ It says, “He has blinded their eyes and made their hearts hard. Then they would not see with their eyes. They would not understand with their heart. They would not turn to Me. I could not heal them.” ^{(D) 41} This is what Isaiah said when he saw the shining-greatness of Jesus and spoke of Him.

⁴² Even among the leaders of the people there were many who believed in Jesus. But because of the proud religious law-keepers, they did not tell about it. If they had, they would have been put out of the Jewish place of worship. ⁴³ They loved to have the respect from men more than honor from God.

Jesus and His Father Are One

⁴⁴ Then Jesus spoke with a loud voice, “Anyone who puts his trust in Me, puts his trust not only in Me, but in Him Who sent Me. ⁴⁵ Anyone who sees Me, sees Him Who sent Me. ⁴⁶ I came to the world to be a Light. Anyone who puts his trust in Me will not be in darkness. ⁴⁷ If anyone hears My Words but does not believe them, I do not say he is guilty. I did not come to say the world is guilty. I came to save the world from the punishment of sin. ⁴⁸ Anyone who does not receive Me and does not receive My teaching has One Who will say he is guilty. The Word that I have spoken will say he is guilty on the last day. ⁴⁹ I have not spoken by My own power. The Father Who sent Me has told Me what to say and speak. ⁵⁰ I know that His Word is life that lasts forever. I speak the things the Father has told Me to speak.”