Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Prophet’s Call

2 Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet and I will speak to you.” ² Then as He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me. ³ And He said to me, “I am sending you, son of man, to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people [in both the north and the south] that have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have sinned and revolted against Me to this very day. ⁴ I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord ^[a]God.’ ⁵ As for them, whether they listen or refuse [to listen]—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know and be fully aware of the fact that there has been a prophet among them.

Prayer for the Lord’s Help.

A Song of ^[a]Ascents.

² I know a ^[a]man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, [only] God knows—such a man was caught up to the ^[b]third heaven.^{(A) 3} And I know that such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, [only] God knows— ⁴ was caught up into ^[c]Paradise and heard inexpressible words which man is not permitted to speak [words too sacred to tell]. ⁵ On behalf of such a man [and his experiences] I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. ⁶ If I wish to boast, I will not be foolish, because I will be speaking the truth. But I abstain [from it], so that no one will credit me with more than [is justified by what] he sees in me or hears from me.

A Thorn in the Flesh

⁷ Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me—to keep me from exalting myself!^{(B) 8} Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me; ⁹ but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. ¹⁰ So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].

Teaching at Nazareth

6 Jesus left there and came to His hometown [Nazareth]; and His disciples followed Him.^{(A) 2} When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and many who listened to Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things [this knowledge and spiritual insight]? What is this wisdom [this confident understanding of the Scripture] that has been given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? ³ Is this not the carpenter, ^[a]the son of Mary, and the brother of ^[b]James and Joses and ^[c]Judas and Simon? Are His sisters not here with us?” And they were [deeply] offended by Him [and their disapproval blinded them to the fact that He was anointed by God as the Messiah]. ⁴ Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor (respect) except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” ⁵ And He could not do a miracle there at all [because of their unbelief] except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ He wondered at their unbelief.

And He was going around in the villages teaching.

The Twelve Sent Out

⁷ And He called the twelve [disciples] and began to send them out [as His special messengers] two by two, and gave them authority and power over the unclean spirits. ⁸ He told them to take nothing for the journey except a mere walking stick—no bread, no [traveler’s] bag, no money in their belts— ⁹ but to wear sandals; and [He told them] not to wear ^[d]two tunics. ¹⁰ And He told them, “Wherever you go into a house, stay there until you leave that town. ¹¹ Any place that does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, ^[e]shake the dust off the soles of your feet as a testimony against them [breaking all ties with them because they rejected My message].”^{(B) 12} So they went out and preached that men should repent [that is, think differently, recognize sin, turn away from it, and live changed lives]. ¹³ And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many who were sick, and healing them.