Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Lord Guards His People

A song for going up to worship.

³ Jacob’s brother Esau was living in the area called Seir in the country of Edom. Jacob sent messengers to Esau. ⁴ Jacob told the messengers, “Give this message to my master Esau: ‘This is what Jacob, your servant, says: I have lived with Laban and have remained there until now. ⁵ I have cattle, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants. I send this message to you and ask you to accept us.’”

⁶ The messengers returned to Jacob and said, “We went to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you. And he has 400 men with him.”

⁷ Then Jacob was very afraid and worried. He divided the people who were with him into two camps. He also divided all the flocks, herds and camels into two camps. ⁸ Jacob thought, “Esau might come and destroy one camp. But the other camp can run away and be saved.”

⁹ Jacob said, “God of my father Abraham! God of my father Isaac! Lord, you told me to return to my country and my family. You said that you would do good to me. ¹⁰ I am not worthy of the kindness and continual goodness you have shown me. The first time I traveled across the Jordan River, I had only my walking stick. But now I own enough to have two camps. ¹¹ Please save me from my brother Esau. I am afraid he will come and kill all of us, even the mothers with the children. ¹² You said to me, ‘I will do good to you. I will make your children as many as the sand of the seashore. There will be too many to count.’”

¹³ Jacob stayed there for the night. He prepared a gift for Esau from what he had with him. ¹⁴ It was 200 female goats and 20 male goats, 200 female sheep and 20 male sheep. ¹⁵ There were 30 female camels and their young, 40 cows and 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys. ¹⁶ Jacob gave each separate flock of animals to one of his servants. Then he said to them, “Go ahead of me and keep some space between each herd.” ¹⁷ Jacob gave them their orders. To the servant with the first group of animals he said, “My brother Esau will come to you. He will ask you, ‘Whose servant are you? Where are you going? Whose animals are these?’ ¹⁸ Then you will answer, ‘These animals belong to your servant Jacob. He sent them as a gift to you my master, Esau. And Jacob also is coming behind us.’”

¹⁹ Jacob ordered the second servant, the third servant and all the other servants to do the same thing. He said, “Say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. ²⁰ Say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’” Jacob thought, “If I send this gift ahead of me, maybe Esau will forgive me. Then when I see him, perhaps he will accept me.” ²¹ So Jacob sent the gift to Esau. But Jacob stayed that night in the camp.

Jesus Heals a Blind Man

⁴⁶ Then they came to the town of Jericho. As Jesus was leaving there with his followers and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting by the road. ⁴⁷ He heard that Jesus from Nazareth was walking by. The blind man cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, please help me!”

⁴⁸ Many people scolded the blind man and told him to be quiet. But he shouted more and more, “Son of David, please help me!”

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Tell the man to come here.”

So they called the blind man. They said, “Cheer up! Get to your feet. Jesus is calling you.” ⁵⁰ The blind man stood up quickly. He left his coat there and went to Jesus.

⁵¹ Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

The blind man answered, “Teacher, I want to see again.”

⁵² Jesus said, “Go. You are healed because you believed.” At once the man was able to see again, and he followed Jesus on the road.