Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

⁹ Show me loving-kindness, O Lord, for I am in trouble. My eyes, my soul and my body are becoming weak from being sad. ¹⁰ For my life gets weaker with sorrow, and my years with crying inside myself. My strength has left me because of my sin. And my bones waste away. ¹¹ Because of all those who hate me, I have become a shame to my neighbors. Even my friends do not want to be with me. Those who see me on the street run from me. ¹² I am forgotten like a dead man and they do not think about me. I am like a broken pot. ¹³ For I have heard many say things to hurt me. Fear is on every side. They planned together against me. They thought of ways to take away my life.

¹⁴ But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord. I say, “You are my God.” ¹⁵ My times are in Your hands. Free me from the hands of those who hate me, and from those who try to hurt me. ¹⁶ Make Your face shine upon Your servant. Save me in Your loving-kindness.

Religious Suppers

23 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Say to the people of Israel, ‘These are the special suppers of the Lord, which you will keep for holy meetings. These are My special suppers. ³ Work may be done for six days. But the seventh day is the Day of Rest, a holy meeting when you do no work at all. It is the Day of Rest to the Lord in all your homes.

The Supper of Bread without Yeast

⁴ ‘These are the special suppers of the Lord, the holy meetings you will keep at the right times. ⁵ On the fourteenth day of the first month in the evening begins the Lord’s religious gathering to remember how His people left Egypt. ⁶ On the fifteenth day of the same month is the Lord’s special supper of bread without yeast. For seven days you will eat bread made without yeast. ⁷ On the first day you will have a holy meeting. You will not do any hard work. ⁸ But you will give a gift by fire to the Lord for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy meeting. You will not do any hard work.’”

They Look for a Way to Put Jesus to Death ^(A)

22 The time for the supper of bread without yeast was near. It was the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. ² The religious leaders and the teachers of the Law looked for a way to kill Jesus. But they were afraid of the people.

³ Then Satan came into the heart of Judas who was called Iscariot. He was one of the twelve followers. ⁴ Judas went away and talked with the religious leaders and the leaders of the people. He talked about how he might hand Jesus over to them. ⁵ They were glad and promised to pay him money. ⁶ Judas promised to do this and then looked for a way to hand Jesus over when there were no people around.

Getting Ready for the Special Supper ^(B)

⁷ The day of bread without yeast came. It was the day when the lamb had to be killed and given on the altar in worship in the house of God. It was the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. ⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John and said, “Go and get this special supper ready for us that we may eat.” ⁹ They said to Him, “Where do You want us to get it ready?” ¹⁰ He answered, “See, when you go into the city, you will meet a man carrying a jar of water. Follow him into the house where he goes. ¹¹ Say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the room you keep for friends where I may eat this special supper with My followers?”’ ¹² He will take you to a large room on the second floor with everything in it. Make it ready for us.”

¹³ They went and found everything as Jesus had said. They got ready for the special supper.