Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Covenant Circumcision

17 When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty.^(A) Live in My presence and be blameless.^{(B) 2} I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you greatly.”

³ Then Abram fell facedown and God spoke with him: ⁴ “As for Me, My covenant is with you: you will become the father of many nations.^{[a] 5} Your name will no longer be Abram,^[b] but your name will be Abraham,^[c] for I will make you the father of many nations.^{(C) 6} I will make you extremely fruitful and will make nations and kings come from you. ⁷ I will keep My covenant between Me and you, and your future offspring throughout their generations, as an everlasting covenant^(D) to be your God and the God of your offspring after you.^(E)

¹⁵ God said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai, for Sarah^[a] will be her name. ¹⁶ I will bless her; indeed, I will give you a son by her.^(A) I will bless her, and she will produce nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”

The Promise Granted through Faith

¹³ For the promise to Abraham^(A) or to his descendants that he would inherit the world^(B) was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.^{[a] 14} If those who are of the law are heirs,^(C) faith is made empty and the promise is canceled. ¹⁵ For the law produces wrath.^(D) And where there is no law,^(E) there is no transgression.

¹⁶ This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace,^(F) to guarantee it to all the descendants^(G)—not only to those who are of the law^[b] but also to those who are of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all ¹⁷ in God’s sight. As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations.^(H)[c] He believed in God, who gives life to the dead^(I) and calls^(J) things into existence that do not exist.^{(K) 18} He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations^(L)[d] according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.^{(M)[e] 19} He considered^[f] his own body to be already dead^(N) (since he was about 100 years old)^(O) and also considered the deadness of Sarah’s womb,^(P) without weakening in the faith. ²⁰ He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,^{(Q) 21} because he was fully convinced^(R) that what He had promised He was also able to perform.^{(S) 22} Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.^{(T)[g] 23} Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone,^{(U) 24} but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in Him^(V) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.^{(W) 25} He was delivered up for^[h] our trespasses^(X) and raised for^[i] our justification.^[j](Y)

His Death and Resurrection Predicted

³¹ Then^(A) He began to teach them that the Son of Man^(B) must suffer many things and be rejected^(C) by the elders,^(D) the chief priests, and the scribes,^(E) be killed, and rise^(F) after three days.^{(G) 32} He was openly talking about this. So Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.

³³ But turning around and looking at His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan,^(H) because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns,^[a] but man’s!”

Take Up Your Cross

³⁴ Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself,^(I) take up his cross,^(J) and follow Me.^{(K) 35} For whoever wants to save^(L) his life will lose it,^(M) but whoever loses^(N) his life^(O) because of Me^(P) and the gospel^(Q) will save it.^{(R) 36} For what does it benefit^(S) a man to gain^(T) the whole world^(U) yet lose^(V) his life?^{(W) 37} What can a man give in exchange for his life?^{(X) 38} For whoever is ashamed^(Y) of Me and of My words^(Z) in this adulterous and sinful^(AA) generation,^(AB) the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory^(AC) of His Father^(AD) with the holy^(AE) angels.”^(AF)

The Transfiguration

² After^(A) six days^(B) Jesus took Peter, James, and John^(C) and led them up on a high mountain^(D) by themselves to be alone. He was transformed^[a](E) in front of them, ³ and His clothes^(F) became dazzling—extremely white^(G) as no launderer on earth could whiten^(H) them. ⁴ Elijah^(I) appeared to them with Moses,^(J) and they were talking with Jesus.

⁵ Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,^(K) it’s good^(L) for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles:^(M) one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— ⁶ because he did not know what he should say,^(N) since they were terrified.^(O)

⁷ A cloud^(P) appeared, overshadowing^(Q) them, and a voice^(R) came from the cloud:^(S)

⁸ Then suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone.

⁹ As^(W) they were coming down from the mountain,^(X) He ordered them to tell no one what they had seen^(Y) until the Son of Man^(Z) had risen^(AA) from the dead.^(AB)