Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
11 They came to Bethphage and Bethany, near Jerusalem by the hill called Olives. Then he sent two of his disciples ahead.
2 He said, `Go into the village in front of you. As soon as you go in, you will find an animal tied. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it and bring it to me.
3 If anyone asks you, "Why are you doing this?" tell him, "The Lord needs it. He will send it back soon." '
4 The disciples went. They found the animal tied outside a door in the street. They untied it.
5 People standing there said, `What are you doing, untying the animal?'
6 The disciples said what Jesus had told them to say. So they let them go.
7 They brought it to Jesus and laid their coats on it. He got on it.
8 Many people spread their coats on the road. Others cut leaves and branches from the fields and put them on the road.
9 People in front of him and people behind him shouted, `Praise God! God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 God bless the kingdom of our father David which is coming. Praise him in heaven!'
11 And so Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. He looked at everything. Then he went out with the twelve disciples to Bethany. It was late already.
12 The next day Jesus went to Jerusalem. Many people who were at the feast heard that he was coming.
13 So they took branches of palm trees and went to meet him. They shouted, `Praise God! God bless the King of Israel! He is coming in the name of the Lord!'
14 Then Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it. He did as the holy writings say,
15 `Do not fear, people of Jerusalem. Your King is coming. He will be riding on a young donkey.'
16 His disciples did not understand this at first. But when God had made Jesus great, then they remembered what the holy writings said about him. They remembered that people had done these things to him.
5 Think the same way Jesus Christ thought.
6 He was in every way like God. Yet he did not think that being equal to God was something he must hold on to.
7 He gave this up and became a servant. He was born a baby.
8 And when he was a man, he was humble. He was even willing to die, yes, to die on a cross.
9 That is why God has made him very great. God has given him a name above every name.
10 Everyone in heaven, everyone on earth, and everyone under the earth will kneel before the name of Jesus.
11 Everyone will admit that Jesus Christ is Lord. They will praise God the Father for this.
14 The Passover Feast and the feast with bread that has no yeast in it was two days later. The chief priests and the scribes planned how to catch Jesus by some trick. They wanted to kill him.
2 But they said, `Let us not do it on the day of the feast. We do not want the people to start fighting about it.'
3 When Jesus was in the town of Bethany, he was in Simon's house. Simon had leprosy. While Jesus sat at the table, a woman came to him. She had a bottle of oil. It smelled very nice and cost much money. She broke the bottle and poured the oil on Jesus' head.
4 Some people there were angry. They said, `Why was this oil wasted like that?
5 The oil might have been sold for a lot of money. Then the money could have been given to poor people.' They said to the woman, `You should not have done this!'
6 But Jesus said, `Leave the woman alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good thing to me.
7 You will always have poor people with you. Any time you want to, you can do good to them. But I will not always be with you.
8 She has done what she could. She has put oil on my body to make me ready to be buried.
9 I tell you the truth. Any place in the whole world where people tell the good news, people will also tell what she has done. People will remember her because of it.'
10 Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the chief priests. He told them how he could help them catch Jesus.
11 They were glad when they heard that. They promised to give him money. So he watched for a good way to help them catch Jesus.
12 It was the first day of the feast with bread that has no yeast in it. The sheep had to be killed for the Passover Feast. His disciples asked Jesus `Where do you want us to make ready for you to eat the Passover Feast?'
13 He sent two of his disciples and said to them, `Go into the city. There you will meet a man who is carrying a pot of water. Follow him.
14 When he goes into a house, talk to the master of the house. Say to him, "The Teacher says, `Where is my room where I can eat the Passover Feast with my disciples?' "
15 The man will show you a large room upstairs. It will be all fixed up and ready. Get the Passover food ready for us there.'
16 The disciples went to the city. They found everything just as he had said. There they made the Passover food ready.
17 In the evening he came with the twelve disciples.
18 While they were sitting at the table eating, Jesus said, `I tell you the truth. One of you who is eating with me will give me over to people who hate me.'
19 They were sad and troubled. One after the other began to say to him, `Lord, is it I?'
20 Jesus answered them, `It is one of you twelve. It is the one who puts his hand in the same dish with me.
21 The Son of Man will go just as the holy writings tell about him. But the man who gives him over will have trouble. It would have been better for that man if he had not been born!'
22 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread. He thanked God for it and broke it. Then he gave it to the disciples and said, `Take this bread and eat it. It is my body.'
23 He also took a cup. He thanked God for it. Then he gave it to them. They all drank some of it.
24 Then he said to them, `This is my blood. It is given for many people. It makes the agreement strong.
25 I tell you the truth. I will not drink any of the fruit of the vine again until I drink some of it new in the kingdom of God.'
26 They sang a song and then went out to the hill called Olives.
27 Jesus said to them, `All of you will leave me this night. the holy writings say, "I will kill the one who takes care of the sheep. And the sheep will run away."
28 But after I am raised from death, I will go to Galilee to meet you.'
29 Peter said, `Even if all the others leave you, I will never leave you.'
30 Jesus said, `I tell you the truth. This very night, before the cock calls two times, you will say three times that you do not know me.'
31 Peter said, `Even if I must die with you, I will never say I do not know you!' They all said the same thing.
32 Then they came to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to his disciples, `Sit here. I will go and talk with God.'
33 He took Peter, James, and John along with him. Jesus began to be sad and troubled.
34 He said to them, `My heart is very sad. I am almost dying! Stay here and watch.'
35 Jesus went on a little farther. He fell on the ground and asked God that, if it could be so, this big trouble might pass by him.
36 He said, `Oh, my Father, you can do all things. Take this cup away from me. But do not do what I want, but what you want.'
37 Jesus went back and found the disciples sleeping. He said to Peter, `Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?
38 All of you must watch and talk with God so that you will not do wrong. A person's heart can want to do it, but his body is weak.'
39 Jesus went away again and said the same words to God again.
40 Jesus went back again and found the disciples sleeping. They could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to Jesus.
41 Then he went back the third time. He said, `Are you still sleeping and resting?. It is enough. The time has come now. The Son of Man is given over to bad people.
42 Get up. Let us go. Look, here comes the one who will give me over to people who hate me!'
43 While he was saying this, Judas came. He was one of the twelve disciples. Many people came with him. They had long knives or swords and big sticks. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders had sent them.
44 The man who was going to help them catch Jesus had told them that he would give them a sign. He said, `The man that I kiss is the one. Catch him and take him away safely.'
45 So when he came, he went to Jesus right away. He said, `Master!' And he kissed him.
46 Then they caught Jesus and held him.
47 One of the men standing by took his sword. He cut off the ear of the high priest's servant.
48 Jesus said, `Have you come to take me with knives and sticks the way you would take a man who steals?
49 Every day I was with you in the temple and taught. You did not catch me then. But what the holy writings say will come true.'
50 Then all of the disciples left Jesus and ran away.
51 A young man went with Jesus. He had a piece of cloth about him. The people caught him.
52 But he left the cloth behind and ran away without any clothes on.
53 The people took Jesus away to the high priest. All the chief priests, the leaders, and the scribes met there.
54 Peter followed far behind Jesus. He went into the yard of the high priest's house. He sat down with the people who worked for the high priest. He warmed himself by the fire.
55 The chief priests, and all the judges of the court tried to find men to say Jesus had done something wrong so they could kill him. But they found none.
56 Many people came and said things that were not true. But one said this thing and the other said that thing.
57 Then some stood up to talk against Jesus.
58 They said, `We heard him say, "I will break down this temple which people have built with hands. In three days I will build another temple but not with hands." '
59 Others said, `No, that is not what he said.'
60 The high priest stood up among the people and asked Jesus, `Have you no answer? What do you have to say about this? They have said something against you.'
61 But Jesus said nothing at all. Then the high priest asked him, `Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?'
62 Jesus answered, `Yes, I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the One who has all power. You will see him coming on the clouds of the sky!'
63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, `We do not need any more proof against him.
64 What he has said is wrong! What do you think?' They all said, `He should be killed.'
65 Some people began to spit on him. They covered his face and hit him. They laughed at him and said, `Tell us if you know who hit you!' The guards took him away and hit him as they went.
66 Peter sat out in the yard. A servant girl who worked for the high priest came.
67 She saw Peter warming himself by the fire. She looked at him and said, `You were also with Jesus of Nazareth.'
68 But Peter said, `I do not know or understand what you are talking about.' Peter went out to the gate. Then a cock called.
69 A girl saw Peter there and said to the other people standing by, `This man is one of them.'
70 But again Peter said he was not. A little while after, those standing around said to Peter, `Surely you are one of them also. You come from Galilee.'
71 Then Peter began to curse and say bad words. He said, `I do not know this man you are talking about!'
72 Right then the cock called a second time and Peter remembered that Jesus had said, `Before the cock calls two times, you will say three times that you do not know me.' Then he broke down and cried.
15 As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, leaders, and the scribes talked together. They tied Jesus and took him before Pilate to be judged.
2 Pilate asked him, `Are you the King of the Jews?' Jesus answered, `Yes, I am.'
3 The chief priests brought many complaints against Jesus.
4 Then Pilate asked him, `Have you nothing to say? These people are bringing many complaints against you!'
5 But Jesus said nothing. Pilate was very much surprised about this.
6 At the feast Pilate used to let one prisoner free. He let the people choose the man they wanted to go free.
7 In the prison was a man named Barabbas. He had led some people who had been fighting in the city. He had killed a man.
8 The people started shouting. They asked Pilate to let one prisoner free, as he used to do.
9 Then Pilate asked, `Do you want me to let the King of the Jews go free?'
10 He knew that the chief priests did not like Jesus. He knew that was why they brought Jesus to him.
11 But the chief priests talked to the people. They told them to ask Pilate to let Barabbas go free.
12 Pilate asked them, `Then what shall I do with the man whom you call King of the Jews?'
13 They shouted back, `Nail him to a cross!'
14 Pilate then asked, `Why, what wrong thing has he done?' But they shouted even more, `Nail him to a cross!'
15 Pilate wanted to please the people, so he let Barabbas go free. He told the soldiers to beat Jesus and nail him to a cross.
16 The soldiers took Jesus to a room. They called all the soldiers together.
17 They put a red gown on Jesus. They made a big ring of thorns like a crown and put it on his head.
18 Then they began to speak to him as if he were a king. They shouted, `Greetings, King of the Jews!'
19 They hit him on the head with a stick and spat on him. They kneeled down before him as if to give him great respect.
20 When they had made fun of him, they took off the red gown and put his own clothes on him again. Then they took Jesus out of the city to nail him to a cross.
21 man was coming in from the farms. His name was Simon. He was born in the country of Cyrene. Alexander and Rufus were his sons. The soldiers caught Simon and made him carry Jesus' cross.
22 They took Jesus to Golgotha. That means the place of a head bone.
23 They wanted Jesus to drink wine mixed with something bitter. But Jesus would not drink it.
24 Then they nailed him to a cross. They gambled to see how they should divide Jesus' clothes.
25 It was nine o'clock in the morning when they nailed him on the cross.
26 They put the complaint they had against him above Jesus' head. It was, `The King of the Jews.'
27 They also nailed two bad men on crosses there. One was put on the right side of Jesus and one was put on the left side of Jesus.
28 The holy writings say, `He was counted as one of the bad people.' It came true.
29 The people who passed by said wrong things about him. They shook their heads and said, `Ha, ha! You are the man who said you could break down the temple and build it again in three days.
30 Save yourself and come down from the cross.'
31 The chief priests and the scribes also made fun of him. `He saved other people, but he cannot save himself!
32 If he is the Christ, the king of the people of Israel, he should come down from the cross now. We want to see it and believe!' The bad men who were also nailed to crosses said the same things to him.
33 About midday the whole land became dark and stayed dark for three hours.
34 About three o'clock, Jesus called out loud, `Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' That means, `My God, my God, why have you left me alone?'
35 Some of the people standing there heard what Jesus said. They said, `Listen, he is calling for Elijah!'
36 One man ran to get something called a sponge. He made it wet with sour wine and put it on the end of a stick. With it he gave Jesus a drink. He said, `We will see if Elijah will come and take him down!'
37 Then Jesus called out loud. Then he died.
38 The big cloth that hung in the temple was torn into two pieces. It was torn from the top down to the bottom.
39 The captain who stood in front of Jesus saw that he died. He said, `Surely, this man was God's Son.'
40 Some women were watching from far away. Among these women were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and Joses, and Salome.
41 When Jesus was in Galilee, they came with him and helped him. Some other women who had come to Jerusalem with Jesus were also watching.
42 It was now evening of the day before the Sabbath.
43 Joseph of Arimathaea was a member of the court. He was a good man. He also was looking for the kingdom of God. He was not afraid, but went to Pilate and asked him for Jesus' body.
44 Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was dead already. He called the captain and asked him if Jesus was dead.
45 The captain told him that he was. Then Pilate let Joseph take the body.
46 Joseph went to buy some cloth. Then he took Jesus down and wrapped him in the cloth. He laid him in a grave that had been cut in a rock. Then he rolled a very big stone to close the grave.
47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where they laid Jesus.
15 As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, leaders, and the scribes talked together. They tied Jesus and took him before Pilate to be judged.
2 Pilate asked him, `Are you the King of the Jews?' Jesus answered, `Yes, I am.'
3 The chief priests brought many complaints against Jesus.
4 Then Pilate asked him, `Have you nothing to say? These people are bringing many complaints against you!'
5 But Jesus said nothing. Pilate was very much surprised about this.
6 At the feast Pilate used to let one prisoner free. He let the people choose the man they wanted to go free.
7 In the prison was a man named Barabbas. He had led some people who had been fighting in the city. He had killed a man.
8 The people started shouting. They asked Pilate to let one prisoner free, as he used to do.
9 Then Pilate asked, `Do you want me to let the King of the Jews go free?'
10 He knew that the chief priests did not like Jesus. He knew that was why they brought Jesus to him.
11 But the chief priests talked to the people. They told them to ask Pilate to let Barabbas go free.
12 Pilate asked them, `Then what shall I do with the man whom you call King of the Jews?'
13 They shouted back, `Nail him to a cross!'
14 Pilate then asked, `Why, what wrong thing has he done?' But they shouted even more, `Nail him to a cross!'
15 Pilate wanted to please the people, so he let Barabbas go free. He told the soldiers to beat Jesus and nail him to a cross.
16 The soldiers took Jesus to a room. They called all the soldiers together.
17 They put a red gown on Jesus. They made a big ring of thorns like a crown and put it on his head.
18 Then they began to speak to him as if he were a king. They shouted, `Greetings, King of the Jews!'
19 They hit him on the head with a stick and spat on him. They kneeled down before him as if to give him great respect.
20 When they had made fun of him, they took off the red gown and put his own clothes on him again. Then they took Jesus out of the city to nail him to a cross.
21 man was coming in from the farms. His name was Simon. He was born in the country of Cyrene. Alexander and Rufus were his sons. The soldiers caught Simon and made him carry Jesus' cross.
22 They took Jesus to Golgotha. That means the place of a head bone.
23 They wanted Jesus to drink wine mixed with something bitter. But Jesus would not drink it.
24 Then they nailed him to a cross. They gambled to see how they should divide Jesus' clothes.
25 It was nine o'clock in the morning when they nailed him on the cross.
26 They put the complaint they had against him above Jesus' head. It was, `The King of the Jews.'
27 They also nailed two bad men on crosses there. One was put on the right side of Jesus and one was put on the left side of Jesus.
28 The holy writings say, `He was counted as one of the bad people.' It came true.
29 The people who passed by said wrong things about him. They shook their heads and said, `Ha, ha! You are the man who said you could break down the temple and build it again in three days.
30 Save yourself and come down from the cross.'
31 The chief priests and the scribes also made fun of him. `He saved other people, but he cannot save himself!
32 If he is the Christ, the king of the people of Israel, he should come down from the cross now. We want to see it and believe!' The bad men who were also nailed to crosses said the same things to him.
33 About midday the whole land became dark and stayed dark for three hours.
34 About three o'clock, Jesus called out loud, `Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' That means, `My God, my God, why have you left me alone?'
35 Some of the people standing there heard what Jesus said. They said, `Listen, he is calling for Elijah!'
36 One man ran to get something called a sponge. He made it wet with sour wine and put it on the end of a stick. With it he gave Jesus a drink. He said, `We will see if Elijah will come and take him down!'
37 Then Jesus called out loud. Then he died.
38 The big cloth that hung in the temple was torn into two pieces. It was torn from the top down to the bottom.
39 The captain who stood in front of Jesus saw that he died. He said, `Surely, this man was God's Son.'
40 Some women were watching from far away. Among these women were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and Joses, and Salome.
41 When Jesus was in Galilee, they came with him and helped him. Some other women who had come to Jerusalem with Jesus were also watching.
42 It was now evening of the day before the Sabbath.
43 Joseph of Arimathaea was a member of the court. He was a good man. He also was looking for the kingdom of God. He was not afraid, but went to Pilate and asked him for Jesus' body.
44 Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was dead already. He called the captain and asked him if Jesus was dead.
45 The captain told him that he was. Then Pilate let Joseph take the body.
46 Joseph went to buy some cloth. Then he took Jesus down and wrapped him in the cloth. He laid him in a grave that had been cut in a rock. Then he rolled a very big stone to close the grave.
47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where they laid Jesus.
© 1969, 1971, 1996, 1998 by SOON Educational Publications