Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 126
A Song of Ascents.
1 When the Lord restored the captives of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.
4 Restore our captives, O Lord,
as the streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap in joy.
6 He who goes forth and weeps,
bearing precious seed to sow,
shall come home again with rejoicing,
bringing his grain sheaves with him.
21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Draw out and take for yourselves a lamb according to your families and kill the Passover lamb. 22 You shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and apply the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin, and none of you shall go out from the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through to kill the Egyptians. And when He sees the blood upon the lintel and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not permit the destroyer to come to your houses to kill you.
24 “And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance to you and to your sons forever. 25 When you enter the land which the Lord will give you, according as He has promised, that you shall observe this service. 26 And when your children shall say to you, ‘What does this service mean to you?’ 27 that you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians, and delivered our households.’ ” And the people bowed down and worshipped.
The Plot to Kill Jesus(A)
45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what Jesus had done, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled the Sanhedrin and said, “What shall we do? This Man is performing many signs. 48 If we leave Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
49 Then one of them named Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, that the whole nation should not perish.”
51 He did not say this on his own authority. But being the high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but that He might also gather together in unity the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53 So from that day forward they planned to put Him to death.
54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and remained there with His disciples.
55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand. Many went up to Jerusalem from the country before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 Then they searched for Jesus and said among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think, that He will not come to the feast?” 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.