Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Suffering Servant
13 See, My Servant will do well. He will be high and lifted up and honored very much. 14 Just as many looked in wonder at you, My people, so His face was marked worse than any man, and His body more than the sons of men. 15 He will surprise many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him. What they had never been told about Him, they will see. And what they had never heard about Him, they will understand.
53 Who has believed what we told them? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been shown? 2 He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground. He has no beautiful body and when we see Him there is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He was hated and men would have nothing to do with Him, a man of sorrows and suffering, knowing sadness well. We hid, as it were, our faces from Him. He was hated, and we did not think well of Him.
4 For sure He took on Himself our troubles and carried our sorrows. Yet we thought of Him as being punished and hurt by God, and made to suffer. 5 But He was hurt for our wrong-doing. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so we would have peace. He was beaten so we would be healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone the wrong way. Each of us has turned to his own way. And the Lord has put on Him the sin of us all.
7 Men made it very hard for Him and caused Him to suffer, yet He did not open His mouth. He was taken like a lamb to be put to death. A sheep does not make a sound while its wool is cut and He did not open His mouth. 8 He was taken away as a prisoner and then judged. Who among the people of that day cared that His life was taken away from the earth? He was hurt because of the sin of the people who should have been punished. 9 They gave Him a grave with the sinful, but with the rich at His death, for He had done no wrong, and there was nothing false in His mouth.
10 But it was the will of the Lord to crush Him, causing Him to suffer. Because He gives His life as a gift on the altar for sin, He will see His children. Days will be added to His life, and the will of the Lord will do well in His hand. 11 He will see what the suffering of His soul brings, and will be pleased. By what He knows, the One Who is right and good, My Servant, will carry the punishment of many and He will carry their sins. 12 So I will give Him a share among the great. He will divide the riches with the strong, because He gave up His life. They thought of Him as One Who broke the Law. Yet He Himself carried the sin of many, and prayed for the sinners.
A Cry of Fear and a Song of Praise
22 My God, my God, why have You left me alone? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words I cry inside myself? 2 O my God, I cry during the day, but You do not answer. I cry during the night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet You are holy. The praises Israel gives You are Your throne. 4 Our fathers trusted in You, and You saved them. 5 They cried to You and were set free. They trusted in You and were not ashamed.
6 But I am a worm and not a man. I am put to shame by men, and am hated by the people. 7 All who see me make fun of me. They open their mouths and shake their heads, and say, 8 “He trusts in the Lord. Let the Lord help him. Let the Lord take him out of trouble, because he is happy in Him.”
9 But You brought me out when I was born. You made me trust when I drank my mother’s milk. 10 I was in Your care from birth. Since my mother gave birth to me, You have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near. And there is no one to help. 12 Many bulls have gathered all around me. Strong bulls of Bashan stand around me. 13 They open their mouths wide against me, like a loud, hungry lion. 14 I am poured out like water. And all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like a melted candle within me. 15 My strength is dried up like a piece of a broken clay pot. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. And You lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs have gathered around me. A group of sinful men stand around me. They have cut through my hands and feet. 17 I can tell how many bones I have. The people look at me with wide eyes. 18 They divide my clothes among them by drawing names to see who would get them.
19 But You, O Lord, be not far from me! O my Strength, hurry to help me! 20 Take me away from the sword. Save my life from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion’s mouth, and from the horns of the wild bulls You answer me.
22 I will make Your name known to my brothers. In the center of the meeting of worship I will praise You. 23 You who fear the Lord, give Him praise. All you children of Jacob, honor Him. Fear Him, all you children of Israel. 24 For He has not turned away from the suffering of the one in pain or trouble. He has not hidden His face from him. But He has heard his cry for help.
25 My praise will be from You in the big meeting of worship. I will keep my promises to Him in front of those who fear Him. 26 Those who suffer will eat and have enough. Those who look for the Lord will praise Him. May your heart live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord. All the families of the nations will worship before Him. 28 For the holy nation is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations. 29 All the proud ones of the earth will eat and worship. All who go down to the dust will fall to their knees before Him, even he who cannot keep his soul alive. 30 Future children will serve Him. They will tell of the Lord to their children. 31 They will come and tell about His saving power to a people yet to be born. For He has done it.
16 “This is the New Way of Worship that I will give them. When that day comes, says the Lord, I will put My Laws in their hearts. And I will write them in their minds.” Then He says, 17 “I will not remember their sins and wrong-doings anymore.” (A) 18 No more gifts on the altar in worship are needed when our sins are forgiven.
We Can Go to God Through Christ
19 Christian brothers, now we know we can go into the Holiest Place of All because the blood of Jesus was given. 20 We now come to God by the new and living way. Christ made this way for us. He opened the curtain, which was His own body. 21 We have a great Religious Leader over the house of God. 22 And so let us come near to God with a true heart full of faith. Our hearts must be made clean from guilty feelings and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the hope we say we have and not be changed. We can trust God that He will do what He promised. 24 Let us help each other to love others and to do good. 25 Let us not stay away from church meetings. Some people are doing this all the time. Comfort each other as you see the day of His return coming near.
Jesus—Our Great Religious Leader
14 We have a great Religious Leader Who has made the way for man to go to God. He is Jesus, the Son of God, Who has gone to heaven to be with God. Let us keep our trust in Jesus Christ. 15 Our Religious Leader understands how weak we are. Christ was tempted in every way we are tempted, but He did not sin. 16 Let us go with complete trust to the throne of God. We will receive His loving-kindness and have His loving-favor to help us whenever we need it.
7 During the time Jesus lived on earth, He prayed and asked God with loud cries and tears. Jesus’ prayer was to God Who was able to save Him from death. God heard Christ because Christ honored God. 8 Even being God’s Son, He learned to obey by the things He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He planned and made it possible for all those who obey Him to be saved from the punishment of sin.
Jesus Handed Over to Sinners (A)
18 When Jesus had said these things, He went with His followers across the small river Kidron. He and His followers went to a garden there. 2 Judas, who was handing Him over to the leaders, knew the place also. Jesus and His followers had met there many times. 3 Judas led some soldiers and some men who had been sent by the head religious leaders of the Jews and the proud religious law-keepers to the garden. They carried lamps and sticks that were burning and swords.
4 Jesus knew what was going to happen to Him. He went out and asked them, “Who are you looking for?” 5 The soldiers answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said, “I am Jesus.” Judas, who was handing Him over, was with them also.
6 When He said to them, “I am Jesus,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. 7 He asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” They said again, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 He said, “I have told you that I am Jesus. If you are looking for Me, let these men go their way.” 9 He said this so the words He spoke might happen, “I have not lost one of those You gave Me.”
10 Simon Peter had a sword. He took it and hit a servant who was owned by the head religious leader and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 Then Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back where it belongs. Am I not to go through what My Father has given Me to go through?”
Jesus Stands in Front of Annas
12 Then the soldiers and their captain and the men sent by the Jewish religious leaders took Jesus and tied Him. 13 They took Him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the head religious leader that year. 14 Caiaphas had talked to the Jews. He told them it would be a good thing if one man should die for the people.
Peter Lies about Jesus (B)
15 Simon Peter and another follower came behind Jesus. This other follower was known to the head religious leader. He went with Jesus to the head religious leader’s house. 16 Peter stood outside at the gate. The other follower, who was known by the head religious leader, went out and talked to the servant-girl who watched the gate. Then he took Peter inside. 17 The servant-girl who watched the door said to Peter, “Are you not a follower of this Man?” He said, “I am not!” 18 The servants who were owned by someone and the soldiers had made a fire because it was cold. They were getting warm by the fire. Peter was standing with them getting warm.
Jesus Stands in Front of Caiaphas (C)
19 The head religious leader of the Jews asked Jesus about His followers. He asked Jesus about His teaching. 20 Jesus said, “I have spoken very plain words to the world. I have always taught in the Jewish place of worship and in the house of God. It is where the Jews go all the time. My words have not been said in secret. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard what I said to them. They know what I said.”
22 Then one of the soldiers standing there hit Jesus with his hand. He said, “Is that how You talk to the head religious leaders?” 23 Jesus said, “If I said anything wrong, tell Me what was wrong. If I said what was right, why did you hit Me?” 24 Then Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas, the head religious leader. Jesus was still tied up.
25 Simon Peter was standing there and getting warm. They said to him, “Are you not one of His followers also?” He lied and said he did not know Jesus and answered, “I am not!” 26 A servant who was owned by the head religious leader was there. He was of the family of the man whose ear Peter cut off. The man said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Again Peter lied and said he did not know Jesus. At once a rooster crowed.
Jesus Stands in Front of Pilate (D)
28 They led Jesus from Caiaphas into the court room. It was early in the morning. They did not go inside because their Law said if they did they would become dirty with sin. Then they would not be able to eat the religious supper to remember how the Jews left Egypt. 29 So Pilate came out to them. He asked, “What have you to say against the Man?” 30 The Jews said, “If He had not done wrong, we would not have brought Him to you.”
31 Then Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and give Him a trial by your Law.” The Jews said to him, “It is against our Law to put anyone to death.” 32 This happened as Jesus said it would happen. He had told what kind of death He would die.
33 Then Pilate went back into the court room. He called for Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus said, “Do you ask Me this yourself, or did others say this to you about Me?” 35 Pilate said, “Do you think I am a Jew? Your own people and religious leaders have handed You over to me. What have You done?” 36 Jesus said, “My holy nation does not belong to this world. If My holy nation were of this world, My helpers would fight so I would not be handed over to the Jews. My holy nation is not of this world.” 37 Pilate said to Him, “So You are a King?” Jesus said, “You are right when you say that I am a King. I was born for this reason. I came into the world for this reason. I came to speak about the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Jesus or Barabbas Is to Go Free (E)
38 Pilate said to Jesus, “What is truth?” After Pilate said this, he went out again to the Jews. He said, “I do not find Him guilty. 39 But every year a man who is in prison is allowed to go free at the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. Do you want the King of the Jews to go free?” 40 Then they spoke with loud voices, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
The Crown of Thorns (F)
19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him beaten. 2 The soldiers put a crown of thorns on His head. They put a purple coat on Him. 3 Then they said, “Hello, King of the Jews!” and hit Him with their hands.
4 Pilate went out again and said to the people, “See, I bring Him out to you so you will know I do not find Him guilty.” 5 Jesus came out. He had on the crown of thorns and a purple coat. Pilate said to the people, “See! This is the Man!”
Pilate Tries to Let Jesus Go Free
6 The religious leaders and the soldiers saw Him. They spoke with loud voices, “Nail Him to a cross! Nail Him to a cross!” Pilate said, “Take Him yourselves and nail Him to a cross. As for me, I do not find Him guilty.” 7 The Jews said to Pilate, “We have a Law that says He should die because He has said He is the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard them say this, he was more afraid. 9 He went into the court room again. He said to Jesus, “Where do You come from?” Jesus did not say a word. 10 Pilate said, “Will You not speak to me? Do You not know that I have the right and the power to nail You to a cross? I have the right and the power to let You go free also.” 11 Jesus said, “You would not have any right or power over Me if it were not given you from above. For this reason the one who handed Me over to you has the worse sin.”
12 When Pilate heard this, he wanted to let Jesus go free. But the Jews kept saying, “If you let this Man go free, you are not a friend of Caesar! Whoever makes himself as a king is working against Caesar.” 13 When Pilate heard this, he had Jesus brought in front of him. Pilate sat down at the place where men stand in front of him if they are thought to be guilty. The place is called the Stone Floor.
14 It was the day to get ready for the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. It was about noon. Pilate said to the Jews, “See, your King!” 15 They spoke with a loud voice, “Take Him away! Nail Him to a cross!” Pilate said to them, “Do you want me to nail your King to a cross?” The head religious leaders said, “We have no king but Caesar!” 16 Then Pilate handed Him over to be nailed to a cross. They took Jesus and led Him away.
Jesus on the Cross (G)
17 Jesus carried His own cross to a hill called the Place of the Skull. 18 There they nailed Him to the cross. With Him were two others. There was one on each side of Jesus. 19 Then Pilate put a writing on the cross which said, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 This was read by many of the Jews. The place where Jesus was nailed to the cross was near the city. The writing was written in the Hebrew and the Latin and the Greek languages. 21 Then the head religious leaders of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’! Write, ‘He said, I am the King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate said, “What I have written is to stay just as it is!”
They Divided His Clothes (H)
23 The soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross took His clothes and divided them in four parts, each soldier getting one part. But His coat which was not sewed was made in one piece. 24 They said to each other, “Let us not cut it up. Let us draw names to see whose it should be.” This happened as the Holy Writings said it would happen, “They divided My clothes among them and they drew names for My coat.” (I) 25 This is what the soldiers did.
The Women at the Cross (J)
The mother of Jesus and her sister Mary, the wife of Cleophas, were standing near the cross. Mary Magdalene was there also. 26 Jesus saw His mother and the follower whom He loved standing near. He said to His mother, “Woman, look at your son.” 27 Then Jesus said to the follower, “Look at your mother.” From that time the follower took her to his own house.
The Death of Jesus (K)
28 Jesus knew that everything was now finished. Everything happened as the Holy Writings said it would happen. He said, “I am thirsty.” (L) 29 There was a jar full of sour wine near. They filled a sponge and put it on a stick and put it to His mouth. 30 Jesus took the sour wine and said, “It is finished.” He put His head down and gave up His spirit and died.
His Bones Were Not Broken
31 This was the day before the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. The next day was the Day of Rest and the great day of the religious gathering. The Jews went to Pilate and asked to have the legs of the men broken. They wanted their bodies taken away so they would not be hanging on the crosses on the Day of Rest. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been nailed to crosses beside Jesus. 33 They came to Jesus. They saw He was already dead so they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pushed a spear into His side. Blood and water ran out.
35 The one who saw it is writing this and what he says is true. He knows he is telling the truth so you may believe. 36 These things happened as the Holy Writings said they would happen, “Not one of His bones will be broken.” (M) 37 And in another place the Holy Writings say, “They will look at Him Whose side they cut.” (N)
The Grave of Jesus (O)
38 Joseph was from the town of Arimathea. He was a follower of Jesus but was afraid of the Jews. So he worshiped without anyone knowing it. He asked Pilate if he could take away the body of Jesus. Pilate said he could. Then Joseph came and took it away. 39 Nicodemus came also. The first time he had come to Jesus had been at night. He brought with him a large box of spices. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus with the spices and put it in linen cloths. This was the way the Jews made a body ready for the grave.
41 There was a garden near the place where He had been nailed to the cross. In the garden there was a new grave in the side of the hill. No one had ever been laid there. 42 This place was near by. Because it was the day the Jews got ready for the special religious gathering, they laid Jesus in it.
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