Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
A Prayer of Thanks
118 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His loving-kindness lasts forever. 2 Let Israel say, “His loving-kindness lasts forever.”
19 Open to me the gates of what is right and good. I will go through them and give thanks to the Lord. 20 This is the gate of the Lord. Those who are right with God will pass through it. 21 I will give thanks to You, for You have answered me. And You are the One Who saves me.
22 The stone that was put aside by the workmen has become the most important stone in the building. 23 The Lord has done this. We think it is great! 24 This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us be full of joy and be glad in it. 25 O Lord, we beg You to save us! O Lord, we ask that You let everything go well for us! 26 Great and honored is he who comes in the name of the Lord. We honor you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God. He has given us light. Tie the gift with rope to the horns of the altar on this special day. 28 You are my God and I will give You thanks. You are my God and I will praise You. 29 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His loving-kindness lasts forever.
28 When He had finished the picture-story, He went on ahead of them up to Jerusalem.
The Last Time Jesus Goes into Jerusalem (A)
29 When Jesus was coming near the towns of Bethphage and Bethany by the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His followers on ahead. 30 He said, “Go into the town ahead of you. There you will find a young donkey tied. No man has ever sat on it. Let it loose and bring it to Me. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you letting it loose?’ say to him, ‘Because the Lord needs it.’”
32 Those who were sent found everything as Jesus had told them. 33 As they were letting the young donkey loose, the owners said to them, “Why are you letting the young donkey loose?” 34 They answered, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus. They put their coats on the donkey and they put Jesus on it.
36 As Jesus was going, they put their coats down on the road. 37 Jesus was near the city and ready to go down the Mount of Olives. The many people who were following Him began to sing with loud voices and give thanks for all the powerful works they had seen. 38 They said, “Great and honored is the King Who comes in the name of the Lord. There is peace and greatness in the highest heaven.”
39 Some of the proud religious law-keepers who were in among the people said to Jesus, “Teacher, speak sharp words to Your followers.” 40 Jesus said to them, “I tell you that if these did not speak, the very stones would call out.”
4 The Lord God has given Me the tongue of those who follow Him, that I may know how to give strength when I speak to one who is tired. He wakes Me up morning by morning. He wakes up My ear to listen as a follower. 5 The Lord God has opened My ear, and I obeyed Him. I did not turn back. 6 I gave My back to those who hit Me, and My face to those who pull out the hair on my face. I did not cover My face from shame and spit. 7 For the Lord God helps Me, so I am not put to shame. I have set My face like hard stone, and know that I will not be ashamed. 8 He Who shows I am right is near. Who will fight with Me? Let us stand up to each other. Who has something against Me? Let him come near to Me. 9 See, the Lord God helps Me. Who will say that I am guilty? See, they will all wear out like a piece of clothing. The moth will eat them.
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.
Christ Was Not Proud
5 Think as Christ Jesus thought. 6 Jesus has always been as God is. But He did not hold to His rights as God. 7 He put aside everything that belonged to Him and made Himself the same as a servant who is owned by someone. He became human by being born as a man. 8 After He became a man, He gave up His important place and obeyed by dying on a cross. 9 Because of this, God lifted Jesus high above everything else. He gave Him a name that is greater than any other name. 10 So when the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow down before Him. 11 And every tongue will say Jesus Christ is Lord. Everyone will give honor to God the Father.
The First Lord’s Supper (A)
14 When the time came, Jesus sat down with the twelve followers. 15 He said to them, “I have wanted very much to eat this special supper with you to remember how the Jews left Egypt. I have wanted to eat this with you before I suffer. 16 I say to you, I will not eat this special supper again until its true meaning is completed in the holy nation of God.”
17 Then Jesus took the cup and gave thanks. He said, “Take this and pass it to each one. 18 I say to you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the holy nation of God comes.”
19 Then Jesus took bread and gave thanks and broke it in pieces. He gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you. Do this to remember Me.” 20 In the same way, after they had finished the bread, He took the cup. He said, “This cup is My blood of the New Way of Worship which is given for you.
Jesus Tells of the One Who Will Hand Him Over
21 “See, the hand of the one who will give Me over to the leaders of the country is on the table with Me. 22 The Son of Man will be taken this way because it has been in God’s plan. But it is bad for that man who hands Him over!” 23 They began to ask each other which of them would do this.
Arguing about Who Is the Greatest
24 They started to argue among themselves about who was thought to be the greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the nations show their power to the people. Those who have power over the people are given names of honor. 26 But you will not be like that. Let the greatest among you be as the least. Let the leader be as the one who cares for others. 27 Who is greater, the one who is eating at the table, or the one who is caring for him? Is it not the one who is eating at the table? But I am here with you as One Who cares for you.
The Followers Will Be Honored
28 “You have stayed with Me through all the hard things that have come to Me. 29 As My Father has given Me a holy nation, I will give you the right 30 to eat and drink at My table in My holy nation. You will sit on thrones and judge the twelve family groups of the Jewish nation.”
Jesus Tells How Peter Will Lie about Him (B)
31 The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has wanted to have you. He will divide you as wheat is divided from that which is no good. 32 But I have prayed for you. I have prayed that your faith will be strong and that you will not give up. When you return, you must help to make your brothers strong.” 33 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison and to die with You!” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, a rooster will not crow today before you will say three times that you do not know Me.”
The Followers Are Told of Trouble to Come
35 Jesus said to them, “I sent you without money or bag or shoes. Did you need anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36 Then He said to them, “But now whoever has a money-bag and a bag for food should take it. Whoever does not have a sword should sell his coat and buy one. 37 I tell you, that what has been written about Me must happen. It says, ‘They thought of Him as One Who broke the Law.’ (C) What is told about Me must happen.”
38 They said, “Lord, look, we have two swords.” He answered, “That is enough.”
Jesus Prays in the Garden (D)
39 Jesus came out of the room. Then He went to the Mount of Olives as He had been doing. The followers went with Him. 40 When He got there, He said to them, “Pray that you will not be tempted.” 41 He walked away from them about as far as a stone can be thrown. There He got down with His face on the ground and prayed. 42 He said, “Father, if it can be done, take away what must happen to Me. Even so, not what I want, but what You want.” 43 An angel from heaven came and gave Him strength. 44 His heart was much troubled and He prayed all the more. Water ran from His face like blood and fell to the ground.
45 When Jesus got up after praying, He went back to the followers. He found them sleeping because of so much sorrow. 46 He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not be tempted.”
Jesus Is Handed Over to Sinners (E)
47 While Jesus was speaking, Judas came walking ahead of many people. He was one of the twelve followers. He came near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you handing over the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 Those around Jesus saw what was going to happen and asked, “Lord, should we fight with our swords?” 50 One of them hit a servant who was owned by the head religious leader and cut off his right ear. 51 Jesus said, “Stop! This is enough.” And He put His hand on his ear and healed him.
Jesus Stands in Front of the Religious Leaders (F)
52 Jesus said to the religious leaders and the leaders of the house of God and the other leaders who came to Him, “Have you come with swords and sticks to take Me, as if I were a robber? 53 While I was with you everyday in the house of God, you never took hold of Me. But now is the time you are to come and you have come in the dark.”
54 Then they led Jesus away to the house of the head religious leader. Peter followed a long way behind Him.
Peter Said He Did Not Know Jesus (G)
55 They built a fire in the yard and sat down. Peter sat down with them. 56 One of the servant-girls saw Peter as he sat by the fire and looked right at him. She said, “This man was with Jesus also.” 57 Peter lied and said, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58 After awhile another person saw him and said, “You are one of them also.” Peter said, “No, sir, I am not.” 59 About an hour later another person said the same thing, “For sure, this man was with Jesus also because he is from Galilee.” 60 But Peter said, “Sir, I do not know what you are saying.” And at once, while he was talking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. He remembered the Lord had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you do not know Me.” 62 Peter went outside and cried with a troubled heart.
63 Those who watched Jesus so He could not get away made fun of Him and beat Him. 64 They covered His eyes with a cloth and asked Him, “Tell us who hit You!” 65 They said many other bad things against Jesus.
66 When it was morning the leaders of the people and the religious leaders and the teachers of the Law got together. They took Jesus to the court of the religious leader. They said, 67 “Tell us if you are the Christ.” He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe Me. 68 If I ask you something, you will not tell Me. 69 From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the All-powerful God.” 70 They all said, “Then are You the Son of God?” He said, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What other word do we need against Him? We have heard Him say this with His own mouth.”
Jesus Stands in Front of Pilate (H)
23 Then all the many people got up and took Jesus to Pilate. 2 They began to tell things against Him, saying, “We have found this Man leading the people of our nation in a wrong way. He has been telling them not to pay taxes to Caesar. He has been saying He is Christ, a King.”
3 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He said, “What you said is true.” 4 Then Pilate said to the religious leaders and to the people, “I find nothing wrong in this Man.” 5 They became more angry. They said, “He makes trouble among the people. He has been teaching over all the country of Judea, starting in Galilee and now here.”
Jesus Is Sent to Herod
6 When Pilate heard the word, Galilee, he asked, “Is the Man from Galilee?” 7 As soon as Pilate knew Jesus belonged in the country where Herod was king, he sent Him to Herod. Herod was in Jerusalem at that time also.
8 Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus because he had wanted to see Him for a long time. He had heard many things about Him and had hoped to see Him do some powerful work. 9 Herod talked to Jesus and asked many things. But Jesus said nothing. 10 The religious leaders and the teachers of the Law were standing there. They said many false things against Him.
11 Then Herod and his soldiers were very bad to Jesus and made fun of Him. They put a beautiful coat on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 That day Pilate and Herod became friends. Before that they had worked against each other.
13 Pilate called the religious leaders and the leaders of the people and the people together. 14 He said to them, “You brought this Man to me as one that leads the people in the wrong way. I have asked Him about these things in front of you. I do not find Him guilty of the things you say against Him. 15 Herod found nothing wrong with Him because he sent Him back to us. There is no reason to have Him put to death. 16 I will punish Him and let Him go free.”
Jesus or Barabbas Is to Go Free (I)
17 *Every year at the time of the special supper, Pilate would let one person who was in prison go free. 18 They all cried out together with a loud voice, “Take this Man away! Let Barabbas go free.” 19 Barabbas had killed some people and had made trouble against the leaders of the country. He had been put in prison.
20 Pilate wanted to let Jesus go free so he talked to them again. 21 But they cried out, “Nail Him to a cross! Nail Him to a cross!” 22 Pilate said to them the third time, “Why, what bad thing has He done? I have found no reason to put Him to death. I will punish Him and let Him go free.”
23 But they kept on crying out with loud voices saying that He must be nailed to a cross. Their loud voices got what they wanted. 24 Then Pilate said that it should be done as they wanted. 25 Pilate let the man go free who had made trouble against the leaders of the country and who had killed people. He gave Jesus over to them to do with as they wanted.
Jesus on the Cross (J)
26 They led Jesus away. A man named Simon was coming in from the country of Cyrene and they made him carry the cross following behind Jesus.
27 Many people followed Jesus. There were women who cried and had sorrow for Him. 28 Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem do not cry for Me. Cry for yourselves and your children. 29 Listen! The days are coming when they will say, ‘Those who have never had children are happy. Those whose bodies have never given birth are happy. Those who have never fed babies are happy.’ 30 They will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us.’ They will say to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 If they do these things to a green tree, what will they do when it is dry?”
32 Two other men were led away with Jesus to be put to death also. These men had done things making them guilty of death. 33 When they came to the place called Calvary, they nailed Jesus to a cross. The other two men were nailed to crosses also. One was on the right side of Jesus and the other was on His left side. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.” And they divided His clothes by drawing names.
35 The people stood around looking on. The leaders were there with them making fun of Jesus. They said, “He saved others, let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the Chosen One of God!” 36 The soldiers made fun of Him also. They put sour wine before Him. 37 They said, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” 38 These words were written in the Greek and Latin and Hebrew languages above His head: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
The Two Robbers (K)
39 One of the men who was guilty of death who was on a cross beside Jesus spoke bad words to Him. He said, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” 40 But the other man on a cross spoke sharp words to the one who made fun of Jesus. He said, “Are you not afraid of God? You are also guilty and will be punished. 41 We are suffering and we should, because of the wrong we have done. But this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your holy nation.” 43 Jesus said to him, “For sure, I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
The Death of Jesus (L)
44 It was dark over all the earth from noon until three o’clock. 45 The sun did not shine. In the house of God the curtain was torn in two pieces.
46 Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I give My spirit.” When He said this, He died.
47 When the soldier saw what had happened, he thanked God. He said, “For sure, He was a good man.” 48 All the many people who came together to see the things that were done, went away beating themselves on their chests. 49 All His friends and the women who had come with Him from Galilee stood a long way off watching these things.
The Grave of Jesus (M)
50 There was a man named Joseph who belonged to the court. He was a good man and one who did right. 51 This man did not agree with what the court did. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews. He was looking for the holy nation of God to come. 52 Joseph went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
53 Then he took it down and put it in linen cloth. It was laid in a grave which had been cut out in the side of a rock. This grave had never been used.
54 It was time to get ready for the Day of Rest which was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed behind. They saw the grave and how His body was laid. 56 They went back and got some spices and perfumes ready. But they rested on the Day of Rest as the Law said to do.
Jesus Stands in Front of Pilate (A)
23 Then all the many people got up and took Jesus to Pilate. 2 They began to tell things against Him, saying, “We have found this Man leading the people of our nation in a wrong way. He has been telling them not to pay taxes to Caesar. He has been saying He is Christ, a King.”
3 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He said, “What you said is true.” 4 Then Pilate said to the religious leaders and to the people, “I find nothing wrong in this Man.” 5 They became more angry. They said, “He makes trouble among the people. He has been teaching over all the country of Judea, starting in Galilee and now here.”
Jesus Is Sent to Herod
6 When Pilate heard the word, Galilee, he asked, “Is the Man from Galilee?” 7 As soon as Pilate knew Jesus belonged in the country where Herod was king, he sent Him to Herod. Herod was in Jerusalem at that time also.
8 Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus because he had wanted to see Him for a long time. He had heard many things about Him and had hoped to see Him do some powerful work. 9 Herod talked to Jesus and asked many things. But Jesus said nothing. 10 The religious leaders and the teachers of the Law were standing there. They said many false things against Him.
11 Then Herod and his soldiers were very bad to Jesus and made fun of Him. They put a beautiful coat on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 That day Pilate and Herod became friends. Before that they had worked against each other.
13 Pilate called the religious leaders and the leaders of the people and the people together. 14 He said to them, “You brought this Man to me as one that leads the people in the wrong way. I have asked Him about these things in front of you. I do not find Him guilty of the things you say against Him. 15 Herod found nothing wrong with Him because he sent Him back to us. There is no reason to have Him put to death. 16 I will punish Him and let Him go free.”
Jesus or Barabbas Is to Go Free (B)
17 *Every year at the time of the special supper, Pilate would let one person who was in prison go free. 18 They all cried out together with a loud voice, “Take this Man away! Let Barabbas go free.” 19 Barabbas had killed some people and had made trouble against the leaders of the country. He had been put in prison.
20 Pilate wanted to let Jesus go free so he talked to them again. 21 But they cried out, “Nail Him to a cross! Nail Him to a cross!” 22 Pilate said to them the third time, “Why, what bad thing has He done? I have found no reason to put Him to death. I will punish Him and let Him go free.”
23 But they kept on crying out with loud voices saying that He must be nailed to a cross. Their loud voices got what they wanted. 24 Then Pilate said that it should be done as they wanted. 25 Pilate let the man go free who had made trouble against the leaders of the country and who had killed people. He gave Jesus over to them to do with as they wanted.
Jesus on the Cross (C)
26 They led Jesus away. A man named Simon was coming in from the country of Cyrene and they made him carry the cross following behind Jesus.
27 Many people followed Jesus. There were women who cried and had sorrow for Him. 28 Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem do not cry for Me. Cry for yourselves and your children. 29 Listen! The days are coming when they will say, ‘Those who have never had children are happy. Those whose bodies have never given birth are happy. Those who have never fed babies are happy.’ 30 They will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us.’ They will say to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 If they do these things to a green tree, what will they do when it is dry?”
32 Two other men were led away with Jesus to be put to death also. These men had done things making them guilty of death. 33 When they came to the place called Calvary, they nailed Jesus to a cross. The other two men were nailed to crosses also. One was on the right side of Jesus and the other was on His left side. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.” And they divided His clothes by drawing names.
35 The people stood around looking on. The leaders were there with them making fun of Jesus. They said, “He saved others, let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the Chosen One of God!” 36 The soldiers made fun of Him also. They put sour wine before Him. 37 They said, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” 38 These words were written in the Greek and Latin and Hebrew languages above His head: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
The Two Robbers (D)
39 One of the men who was guilty of death who was on a cross beside Jesus spoke bad words to Him. He said, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” 40 But the other man on a cross spoke sharp words to the one who made fun of Jesus. He said, “Are you not afraid of God? You are also guilty and will be punished. 41 We are suffering and we should, because of the wrong we have done. But this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your holy nation.” 43 Jesus said to him, “For sure, I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
The Death of Jesus (E)
44 It was dark over all the earth from noon until three o’clock. 45 The sun did not shine. In the house of God the curtain was torn in two pieces.
46 Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I give My spirit.” When He said this, He died.
47 When the soldier saw what had happened, he thanked God. He said, “For sure, He was a good man.” 48 All the many people who came together to see the things that were done, went away beating themselves on their chests. 49 All His friends and the women who had come with Him from Galilee stood a long way off watching these things.
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