Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Fifth Vision: A Lampstand and Olive Trees

4 The angel who explained the visions woke me from what seemed like sleep. ² Then he asked, “What do you see?”

“A solid gold lampstand with an oil container above it,” I answered. “On the stand are seven lamps, each with seven flames. ^3 (A) One olive tree is on the right side and another on the left of the oil container. ⁴ But, sir, what do these mean?”

⁵ Then he asked, “Don't you know?”

“No sir,” I replied.

^6 (B) So the angel explained that it was the following message of the Lord to Zerubbabel:^[a]

I am the Lord All-Powerful. So don't depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit. ⁷ Zerubbabel, that mountain in front of you will be leveled to the ground. Then you will bring out the temple's most important stone and shout, “God has been very kind.”^[b]

Jesus Thanks His Father

(Matthew 11.25-27; 13.16,17)

²¹ At that same time, Jesus felt the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit,^[a] and he said:

My Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I am grateful that you hid all this from wise and educated people and showed it to ordinary people. Yes, Father, this is what pleased you.

^22 (A) My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who really knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so they can know him too.

²³ Jesus then turned to his disciples and said to them in private, “You are really blessed to see what you see! ²⁴ Many prophets and kings were eager to see what you see and to hear what you hear. But I tell you they did not see or hear.”