Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

God Reigns

Elijah is Taken to Heaven

2 As the time drew near when the Lord was about to take Elijah to heaven in a wind storm, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. ² Elijah instructed Elisha, “Remain here on this side, please, because the Lord is sending me as far as Bethel.”

But Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives, I’m not going to leave you while you’re still alive!” So they both went on to Bethel.

³ When the Guild of Prophets^[a] who lived in Bethel came out to greet Elisha, they asked him, “You are aware, aren’t you, that later today the Lord is going to remove your master from being your mentor?”^[b]

“Of course I’m aware of it,” he said. “Calm down.”

⁴ Elijah also spoke to him, “Elisha, remain here on this side, please, because the Lord is sending me to Jericho.”

But Elisha responded, “As the Lord lives, and while you’re still alive, I’m not going to leave you!” So they went to Jericho.

⁵ The Guild of Prophets who lived in Jericho approached Elisha and asked him, “You are aware, aren’t you, that later today the Lord is going to remove your master from being your mentor?”^[c]

“Of course I’m aware of it,” he said. “Calm down.”

⁶ Elijah also spoke to him, “Elisha, remain here on this side, please, because the Lord is sending me to the Jordan River.”^[d]

But Elisha responded, “As the Lord lives, and while you’re still alive, I’m not going to leave you!” So they went on their way,^{[e] 7} accompanied by 50 men from the Guild of Prophets, who stood at a short distance from them while they were both standing by the Jordan. ⁸ Elijah took off his ornamented cloak, wrapped it up in a roll, struck the water, and all of a sudden the water divided into two parts! One side of the river stood still opposite the other until the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

⁹ When they had crossed the Jordan River,^[f] Elijah invited Elisha, “Ask me what you want me to do for you before I’m taken away from you.”

So Elisha asked, “Please, may there be a double portion of^[g] your spirit upon me!”

¹⁰ “That’s a hard thing to ask for,” Elijah answered, “but if you see me while I’m being taken from you, it will happen for you. But if you don’t see me, it won’t happen.”

¹¹ As they continued on, talking as they went, suddenly chariots blazing with fire and pulled by fiery horses appeared, separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a wind storm to heaven! ¹² As Elisha continued to watch, he cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots of Israel and its cavalry!”^[h] Then he did not see Elijah anymore.

After this, Elisha^[i] gripped his clothes that he was wearing, tore them apart into two pieces,

God Has Brought Us from Death to Life

2 You used to be dead because of your offenses and sins ² that you once practiced as you lived according to the ways of this present world and according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now active in those who are disobedient.^{[a] 3} Indeed, all of us once behaved like^[b] them in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of our flesh and senses. By nature we were destined for^[c] wrath, just like everyone else. ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love for us^{[d] 5} even when we were dead because of our offenses, made us alive together with^[e] the Messiah^[f] (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavenly realm in the Messiah^[g] Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might display the limitless riches of his grace that comes to us through his kindness in the Messiah^[h] Jesus.