Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The End of the Drought

⁴¹ Then Elijah said to King Ahab, “Now, go and eat. I hear the roar of rain approaching.” ^42 (A)While Ahab went to eat, Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, where he bowed down to the ground, with his head between his knees. ⁴³ He said to his servant, “Go and look toward the sea.”

The servant went and returned, saying, “I didn't see a thing.” Seven times in all Elijah told him to go and look. ⁴⁴ The seventh time he returned and said, “I saw a little cloud no bigger than a man's hand, coming up from the sea.”

Elijah ordered his servant, “Go to King Ahab and tell him to get in his chariot and go back home before the rain stops him.”

⁴⁵ In a little while the sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind began to blow, and a heavy rain began to fall. Ahab got in his chariot and started back to Jezreel. ⁴⁶ The power of the Lord came on Elijah; he fastened his clothes tight around his waist and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

The Demand for a Miracle^(A)

16 ^(B)Some Pharisees and Sadducees who came to Jesus wanted to trap him, so they asked him to perform a miracle for them, to show that God approved of him. ² But Jesus answered, “When the sun is setting, you say, ‘We are going to have fine weather, because the sky is red.’ ³ And early in the morning you say, ‘It is going to rain, because the sky is red and dark.’ You can predict the weather by looking at the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs concerning these times!^{[a] 4 (C)}How evil and godless are the people of this day! You ask me for a miracle? No! The only miracle you will be given is the miracle of Jonah.”

So he left them and went away.