Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

It Starts To Rain

⁴¹ Elijah told Ahab, “Get something to eat and drink. I hear a heavy rain coming.”

^42 (A) Ahab left, but Elijah climbed back to the top of Mount Carmel. Then he stooped down with his face almost to the ground ⁴³ and said to his servant, “Look toward the sea.”

The servant left. And when he came back, he said, “I looked, but I didn't see anything.” Elijah told him to look seven more times.

⁴⁴ After the seventh time the servant replied, “I see a small cloud coming this way. But it's no bigger than a fist.”

Elijah told him, “Tell Ahab to get his chariot ready and start home now. Otherwise, the rain will stop him.”

^45-46 A few minutes later, it got very cloudy and windy, and rain started pouring down. So Elijah wrapped his coat around himself, and the Lord gave him strength to run all the way to Jezreel. Ahab followed in his chariot.

A Demand for a Sign from Heaven

(Mark 8.11-13; Luke 12.54-56)

16 ^(A) The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tried to test him by asking for a sign from heaven. ² He told them:

If the sky is red in the evening, you say the weather will be good. ³ But if the sky is red and gloomy in the morning, you say it is going to rain. You can tell what the weather will be like by looking at the sky. But you don't understand what is happening now.^{[a] 4 (B)} You want a sign because you are evil and won't believe! But the only sign you will be given is what happened to Jonah.^[b]

Then Jesus left.