Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Praise to God for His Loyal Love
118 Give thanks to Yahweh for he is good,
for his loyal love is forever.
2 Let Israel say,
“His loyal love is forever.”
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to Yah.[a]
20 This is the gate of Yahweh,
through which the righteous will enter.
21 I will give thanks to you for you have answered me,
and you have become my salvation.[b]
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is from Yahweh;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
24 This is the day Yahweh has worked;[c]
let us rejoice and be glad in him.[d]
25 O Yahweh, please save;
O Yahweh, please grant success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of Yahweh.
We bless you[e] from the house[f] of Yahweh.
27 Yahweh is God, and he has given us light.[g]
Bind the festal sacrifice[h] with cords[i]
to the horns[j] of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you.
You are my God; I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to Yahweh for he is good,
for his loyal love is forever.
The Triumphal Entry
21 And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village before you, and right away you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her. Untie them[a] and[b] bring them[c] to me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you will say, ‘The Lord needs them,’[d] and he will send them at once.” 4 Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying,
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
and[e] on a colt, the foal of a pack animal.’”[f]
6 So the disciples went[g] and did[h] just as Jesus directed them, 7 and[i] brought the donkey and the colt and put their[j] cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 And a very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them[k] on the road. 9 And the crowds who went ahead of him and the ones who followed were shouting, saying,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord![l]
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”[m]
10 And when[n] he entered into Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee!”
The Servant’s Vindication
4 The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of a pupil,
to know how to help the weary with a word.
He awakens morning by morning,[a]
awakens an ear for me to listen as do the pupils.
5 The Lord Yahweh has opened an ear for me,
and I, I was not rebellious.
I did not turn backwards;
6 I gave my back to those who struck me,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;[b]
I did not hide my face from insults and spittle.
7 And the Lord Yahweh helps me,
therefore I have not been put to shame;
therefore I have set my face like flint.
And I know that I shall not be ashamed;
8 he who obtains rights for me is near.
Who will contend with me? Let us stand together.
Who is the master of my judgment? Let him approach me.
9 Look! The Lord Yahweh helps me.
Who is the one who will declare me guilty?
Look! All of them will be worn out like a garment;
the moth will eat them.
9 Be gracious to me, O Yahweh,
because I have distress.
My eye wastes away because of vexation,
along with my soul and my body.[a]
10 For my life is at an end with sorrow,
and my years with sighing.
My strength stumbles because of my iniquity,
and my bones waste away.
11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a disgrace,
especially to my neighbors,
and a dread to my acquaintances.
Those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have become forgotten like one dead, out of mind.[b]
I am like a destroyed vessel.
13 For I hear the rumor of many,
“Terror on every side!”
When conspiring together against me,
they have plotted to take my life.
14 But as for me, I trust you, O Yahweh.
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times[c] are in your hand.
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies
and from those who pursue me.
16 Shine your face upon your servant.
Save me by your loyal love.
Christ’s Humiliation and Exaltation
5 Think this in[a] yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider being equal with God something to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself
by[b] taking the form of a slave,
by[c] becoming in the likeness of people.
And being found in appearance like a man,
8 he humbled himself
by[d] becoming obedient to the point of death,
that is, death on a cross.
9 Therefore also God exalted him
and graciously granted him the name above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,
of those in heaven and of those on earth and of those under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Judas Arranges to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and[a] said, “What are you willing to give me if I in turn deliver him to you?” So they set out for him thirty silver coins. 16 And from that time on, he began seeking a favorable opportunity in order that he could betray him.
Jesus’ Final Passover with the Disciples
17 Now on the first day[b] of the feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came up to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 And he said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I am celebrating the Passover with you with my disciples.”’ 19 And the disciples did as Jesus directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 And when it[c] was evening, he was reclining at table with the twelve disciples.[d] 21 And while[e] they were eating he said, “Truly I say to you, that one of you will betray me.” 22 And greatly distressed, each one began to say to him, “Surely I am not he, am I,[f] Lord?” 23 And he answered and[g] said, “The one who dips his[h] hand in the bowl with me—this one will betray me. 24 The Son of Man is going just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if that man had not been born.” 25 And Judas, the one who was betraying him, answered and[i] said, “Surely I am not he, am I,[j] Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said it.”[k]
The Lord’s Supper
26 Now while[l] they were eating Jesus took bread and, after[m] giving thanks, he broke it,[n] and giving it[o] to the disciples, he said, “Take, eat, this is my body.” 27 And after[p] taking the cup and giving thanks he gave it[q] to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 But I tell you, from now on I will never drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.” 30 And after they[r] had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me during this night, for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’[s]
32 But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 But Peter answered and[t] said to him, “If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that during this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times!” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if it is necessary for me to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the disciples said the same thing.
The Prayer in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and[u] pray.” 37 And taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be distressed and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” 39 And going forward a little he fell down on his face, praying and saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”[v] 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, were you not able to stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you will not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!” 42 Again for the second time he went away and[w] prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will must be done.” 43 And he came again and[x] found them sleeping, for they could not keep their eyes open.[y] 44 And leaving them again, he went away and[z] prayed for the third time, saying the same thing again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us go! Behold, the one who is betraying me is approaching!”
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 And while[aa] he was still speaking, behold, Judas—one of the twelve—arrived, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now the one who was betraying him had given them a sign, saying, “The one whom I kiss—he is the one.[ab] Arrest him!” 49 And he came up to Jesus immediately and[ac] said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do that[ad] for which you have come.”[ae] Then they came up and[af] laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.
51 And behold, one of those with Jesus extended his[ag] hand and[ah] drew his sword, and striking the slave of the high priest, cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place! For all who take up the sword will die by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot call upon my Father, and he would put at my disposal at once more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then would the scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen in this way?”
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber, to arrest me? Every day in the temple courts[ai] I sat teaching, and you did not arrest me! 56 But all this has happened in order that the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then the disciples all abandoned him and[aj] fled.
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
57 Now those who had arrested Jesus led him[ak] away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him from a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest. And he went inside and[al] was sitting with the officers to see the outcome. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order that they could put him to death. 60 And they did not find it,[am] although[an] many false witnesses came forward. And finally two came forward 61 and[ao] said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it[ap] within three days.’” 62 And the high priest stood up and[aq] said to him, “Do you reply nothing? What are these people testifying against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath by the living God, that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it.[ar] But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power[as] and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes, saying, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have just now heard the blasphemy! 66 What do you think?” And they answered and[at] said, “He deserves death!”[au] 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists, and they slapped him,[av] 68 saying, “Prophesy for us, you Christ! Who is it who hit you?”
Peter Denies Jesus Three Times
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a female slave came up to him and[aw] said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it[ax] in the presence of them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean!” 71 And when he[ay] went out to the gateway, another female slave[az] saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” 72 And again he denied it[ba] with an oath, “I do not know the man!” 73 And after a little while those who were standing there came up and[bb] said to Peter, “You really are one of them also, because even your accent reveals who you are.”[bc] 74 Then he began to curse and to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the statement Jesus had said, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times,” and he went outside and[bd] wept bitterly.
Jesus Taken to Pilate
27 Now when it[be] was early morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus in order to put him to death. 2 And after[bf] tying him up, they led him[bg] away and handed him[bh] over to Pilate the governor.
The Suicide of Judas Iscariot
3 Then when[bi] Judas, the one who had betrayed him, saw that he had been condemned, he regretted what he had done[bj] and[bk] returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by[bl] betraying innocent blood!” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”[bm] 5 And throwing the silver coins into the temple he departed. And he went away and[bn] hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests took the silver coins and[bo] said, “It is not permitted to put them into the temple treasury, because it is blood money.”[bp] 7 And after[bq] taking counsel, they purchased with[br] them the Potter’s Field, for a burial place for strangers. 8 (For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood until today.) 9 Then what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled, who said, “And they took the thirty silver coins, the price of the one who had been priced, on whom a price had been set by the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, just as the Lord directed me.”[bs]
Jesus Before Pilate
11 So Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And Jesus said, “You say so.” 12 And when he was being accused[bt] by the chief priests and elders he answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” 14 And he did not reply to him, not even with reference to one statement, so that the governor was very astonished.
Pilate Releases Barabbas
15 Now at each feast, the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd—the one whom they wanted. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner named Jesus[bu] Barabbas.[bv] 17 So after[bw] they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you—Jesus[bx] Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy. 19 And while[by] he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message[bz] to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man,[ca] for I have suffered much as a result of a dream today because of him.”) 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds that they should ask for Barabbas and put Jesus to death. 21 So the governor answered and[cb] said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “What then should I do with Jesus, the one who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they began to shout[cc] even louder, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
24 So Pilate, when he[cd] saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but instead an uproar was developing, took water and[ce] washed his[cf] hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this man. You see to it!”[cg] 25 And all the people answered and[ch] said, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them, but after[ci] he had Jesus flogged, he handed him[cj] over so that he could be crucified.
Jesus Is Mocked
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s residence and[ck] gathered the whole cohort to him. 28 And they stripped him and[cl] put a scarlet military cloak around him, 29 and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it[cm] on his head, and put[cn] a reed in his right hand. And kneeling down before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 30 And they spat on him and[co] took the reed and repeatedly struck[cp] him[cq] on his head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the military cloak and put his own clothes on him, and led him away in order to crucify him.[cr]
Jesus Is Crucified
32 And as they[cs] were going out, they found a man of Cyrene named[ct] Simon. They forced this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they[cu] came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull),[cv] 34 they gave him wine mixed with gall to drink, and when he[cw] tasted it[cx] he did not want to drink it.[cy] 35 And when they[cz] had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves[da] by[db] casting lots. 36 And they sat down and[dc] were watching over him there. 37 And they put above his head the charge against him in writing:[dd] “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 And those who passed by reviled him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it[de] in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” 41 In the same way also the chief priests, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him,[df] saying, 42 “He saved others; he is not able to save himself! He is the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him! 43 He trusts in God; let him deliver him now if he wants to,[dg] because he said, ‘I am the Son of God’!” 44 And in the same way even the robbers who were crucified with him were reviling him.
Jesus Dies on the Cross
45 Now from the sixth hour, darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)[dh] 47 And some of those who were standing there, when they[di] heard it,[dj] said, “This man is summoning Elijah!” 48 And immediately one of them ran and took a sponge and filled it[dk] with sour wine and put it[dl] on a reed and[dm] gave it[dn] to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Leave him[do] alone! let us see if Elijah is coming to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and[dp] gave up his[dq] spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 And the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 Now the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus, when they[dr] saw the earthquake and the things that took place, were extremely frightened, saying, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” 55 And there were many women there, observing from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Jesus Is Buried
57 Now when it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who also was a disciple of Jesus himself. 58 This man approached Pilate and[ds] asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it[dt] to be given to him.[du] 59 And Joseph took the body and[dv] wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a large stone to the entrance of the tomb and[dw] went away. 61 Now Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
The Tomb Is Sealed and Guarded
62 Now on the next day, which is after the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember that while[dx] that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples come and[dy] steal him and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it[dz] as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went with the guard of soldiers and[ea] made the tomb secure by[eb] sealing the stone.
Jesus Before Pilate
11 So Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And Jesus said, “You say so.” 12 And when he was being accused[a] by the chief priests and elders he answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” 14 And he did not reply to him, not even with reference to one statement, so that the governor was very astonished.
Pilate Releases Barabbas
15 Now at each feast, the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd—the one whom they wanted. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner named Jesus[b] Barabbas.[c] 17 So after[d] they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you—Jesus[e] Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy. 19 And while[f] he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message[g] to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man,[h] for I have suffered much as a result of a dream today because of him.”) 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds that they should ask for Barabbas and put Jesus to death. 21 So the governor answered and[i] said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “What then should I do with Jesus, the one who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they began to shout[j] even louder, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
24 So Pilate, when he[k] saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but instead an uproar was developing, took water and[l] washed his[m] hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this man. You see to it!”[n] 25 And all the people answered and[o] said, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them, but after[p] he had Jesus flogged, he handed him[q] over so that he could be crucified.
Jesus Is Mocked
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s residence and[r] gathered the whole cohort to him. 28 And they stripped him and[s] put a scarlet military cloak around him, 29 and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it[t] on his head, and put[u] a reed in his right hand. And kneeling down before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 30 And they spat on him and[v] took the reed and repeatedly struck[w] him[x] on his head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the military cloak and put his own clothes on him, and led him away in order to crucify him.[y]
Jesus Is Crucified
32 And as they[z] were going out, they found a man of Cyrene named[aa] Simon. They forced this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they[ab] came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull),[ac] 34 they gave him wine mixed with gall to drink, and when he[ad] tasted it[ae] he did not want to drink it.[af] 35 And when they[ag] had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves[ah] by[ai] casting lots. 36 And they sat down and[aj] were watching over him there. 37 And they put above his head the charge against him in writing:[ak] “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 And those who passed by reviled him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it[al] in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” 41 In the same way also the chief priests, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him,[am] saying, 42 “He saved others; he is not able to save himself! He is the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him! 43 He trusts in God; let him deliver him now if he wants to,[an] because he said, ‘I am the Son of God’!” 44 And in the same way even the robbers who were crucified with him were reviling him.
Jesus Dies on the Cross
45 Now from the sixth hour, darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)[ao] 47 And some of those who were standing there, when they[ap] heard it,[aq] said, “This man is summoning Elijah!” 48 And immediately one of them ran and took a sponge and filled it[ar] with sour wine and put it[as] on a reed and[at] gave it[au] to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Leave him[av] alone! let us see if Elijah is coming to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and[aw] gave up his[ax] spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 And the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 Now the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus, when they[ay] saw the earthquake and the things that took place, were extremely frightened, saying, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
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