Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Bronze Snake
4 Then they set out from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea to bypass the land of Edom, but the people became impatient because of the journey. 5 The people spoke against God and Moses: “Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!” 6 Then the Lord sent poisonous[a] snakes among the people, and they bit them so that many Israelites died.(A)
7 The people then came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede with the Lord so that he will take the snakes away from us.” And Moses interceded for the people.
8 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake image and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will recover.”(B) 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten, and he looked at the bronze snake, he recovered.
17 Fools suffered affliction
because of their rebellious ways and their iniquities.(A)
18 They loathed all food
and came near the gates of death.(B)
19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
he saved them from their distress.(C)
20 He sent his word and healed them;
he rescued them from their traps.
21 Let them give thanks to the Lord
for his faithful love
and his wondrous works for all humanity.(D)
22 Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices
and announce his works with shouts of joy.(E)
From Death to Life
2 And you were dead(A) in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world,(B) according to the ruler of the power of the air,(C) the spirit(D) now working in the disobedient.[a] 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly(E) desires, carrying out the inclinations(F) of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath(G) as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy,(H) because of his great love(I) that he had for us,[b] 5 made us alive(J) with Christ even though we were dead(K) in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,(L) 7 so that in the coming ages(M) he might display the immeasurable riches(N) of his grace through his kindness(O) to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For you are saved by grace(P) through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created(Q) in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time(R) for us to do.
14 “Just as Moses(A) lifted up the snake in the wilderness,(B) so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may[a] have eternal life.(C) 16 For God loved(D) the world in this way:[b] He gave[c] his one and only(E) Son,(F) so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.(G) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn(H) the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned,(I) because he has not believed in the name(J) of the one and only Son(K) of God. 19 This is the judgment: The light(L) has come into the world,(M) and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates(N) the light and avoids it,[d] so that his deeds(O) may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by[e] the truth comes to the light, so that his works(P) may be shown to be accomplished by God.”
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