Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Lord’s Suffering Servant
13 The Lord says, “See, my servant will ·act wisely [or have success].
·People will greatly honor and respect him [He will be raised and exalted; C 52:13—53:12 is the fourth of four “servant songs” in Isaiah; see 42:1].
14 Many people were ·shocked [astonished; appalled] when they saw him.
His appearance was so ·damaged [disfigured; marred] he did not look like a man;
his form ·was so changed they could barely tell he was human [L beyond the sons of man/children of humanity].
15 But now he will ·surprise [startle; or sprinkle; C as the blood of a sacrifice sprinkled on the altar; Lev. 4:6, 17] many nations.
Kings will ·be amazed [L shut their mouths because of him].
They will see things they had not been ·told about him [L told],
and they will understand things they had not heard.”
53 Who ·would have [or has] believed ·what we heard [or our message; John 12:38; Rom. 10:16]?
·Who saw the Lord’s power in this [L And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed]?
2 He grew up like a ·small plant [young plant; tender shoot; 11:1] before ·the Lord [L him],
like a root growing in a ·dry land [parched soil].
He had no special beauty or ·form [majesty] to make us notice him;
there was nothing in his appearance to make us desire him.
3 He was ·hated [despised] and rejected by people.
·He had much pain [L A man of pain/suffering/T sorrows] and ·suffering [one who knew/was acquainted with pain/grief].
People ·would not even look at [turned their backs on; L hid their faces from] him.
He was ·hated [despised], and we ·didn’t even notice him [or did not esteem him].
4 But he ·took [bore] our suffering on him
and ·felt our pain for us [carried our sorrows/sickness].
·We saw his suffering
and thought God was punishing him [L …stricken and afflicted by him; C God].
5 But he was wounded for ·the wrong we did [T our transgressions];
he was crushed for ·the evil we did [T our iniquities].
The punishment, which ·made us well [brought us wholeness/peace], was given to him,
and we are healed because of his ·wounds [lacerations; T stripes; 1 Pet. 2:24].
6 We all have ·wandered away [T gone astray] like sheep;
each of us has gone his own way [1 Pet. 2:25].
But the Lord has put on him ·the punishment
for all the evil we have done [L all of our sins/iniquity].
7 He was ·beaten down [oppressed] and ·punished [treated harshly; T afflicted],
but he didn’t ·say a word [L open his mouth].
He was like a lamb being led to be ·killed [slaughtered].
He was quiet, as a sheep is quiet ·while its wool is being cut [L before its shearers; Acts 8:32; Matt. 26:63; Mark 14:61; John 19:9; 1 Pet. 2:23];
he never opened his mouth.
8 Men took him away ·roughly and unfairly [or after unjustly condemning him; L from oppression and judgment].
·He died without children to continue his family [or Yet no one of his generation objected; L and his generation, who considers/speaks of it?].
He was ·put to death [L cut off from the land of the living];
he was ·punished [struck down] for the ·sins [transgressions] of my people.
9 He was ·buried [assigned his grave] with ·wicked men [criminals],
and ·he died with the rich [or he was put in a rich man’s tomb; L with the rich in his death; Matt. 27:57, 60].
He had done ·nothing wrong [L no violence],
and he had ·never lied [L no deceit in his mouth; 1 Pet. 2:22].
10 But it was the ·Lord who decided [Lord’s will]
to crush him and make him suffer.
The Lord made his life a ·penalty [sin] offering,
but he will still see his ·descendants [offspring; seed] and ·live a long life [L extend his days].
·He will complete the things the Lord wants him to do [L The pleasure/will/purpose of the Lord will prosper in his hands].
11 “After his soul suffers many things,
he will see ·life[a] [or light; or the light of life] and be satisfied.
[By his knowledge/experience] My ·good [righteous] servant will ·make many people right with God [justify many];
he will carry away their ·sins [iniquities].
12 For this reason I will ·make him a great man among people [or give him a portion with the great ones],
and he will ·share in all things [divide the spoils] with those who are strong,
because he ·willingly gave [laid bare; T poured out] his life
and was ·treated like a criminal [L numbered/counted with rebels/trangressors].
But he ·carried away [bore] the sins of many people
and ·asked forgiveness [made intercession] for ·those who sinned [rebels; transgressors].”
The Prayer of a Suffering Man
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of Dawn.” A psalm of David.
22 My God, my God, why have you ·abandoned [forsaken] me [Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34]?
You seem far from ·saving [helping] me,
far away from my groans.
2 My God, I call to you during the day,
but you do not answer.
I call at night;
I ·am not silent [or get no rest].
3 You ·sit as the Holy One [L are holy].
·The praises of Israel are your throne [L You are enthroned on the praises of Israel].
4 Our ·ancestors [fathers] ·trusted [had confidence in] you;
they ·trusted [had confidence], and you ·saved [rescued; T delivered] them.
5 They ·called [cried out] to you for help
and were rescued.
They ·trusted [had confidence in] you
and were not ·disappointed [shamed; humiliated].
6 But I am like a worm instead of ·a man [human].
People ·make fun of [scorn; reproach] me and ·hate [despise] me.
7 Those who look at me ·laugh [ridicule/mock me].
They ·stick out their tongues [throw insults; L open lips] and shake their heads.
8 They say, “·Turn to the Lord for help [L Trust the Lord].
Maybe he will ·save [rescue; T deliver] you.
If he ·likes [delights/takes pleasure in] you,
maybe he will ·rescue [save; T deliver] you.”
9 You ·had my mother give birth to me [L brought me out of the womb].
You made me ·trust [have confidence in] you
while I was ·just a baby [L at the breasts of my mother].
10 ·I have leaned on you since the day I was born [L On you I was cast from the womb];
you have been ·my God [L mine] ·since my mother gave me birth [L from the womb of my mother].
11 So don’t be far away from me.
Now ·trouble [distress] is near,
and there is no one to help.
12 People have surrounded me like ·angry [L many] bulls.
Like the strong bulls of Bashan [Deut. 32:14; Mic. 7:14], they ·are on every side [encircle me].
13 Like ·hungry [rending; L tearing their prey], roaring lions
they open their mouths at me.
14 My strength is gone,
like water poured out onto the ground,
and my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax [C weak, formless];
it has melted inside me.
15 My strength has dried up like a ·clay pot [potsherd],
and my tongue sticks to the top of my mouth.
You laid me in the dust of death.
16 Evil people have surrounded me;
like dogs ·they [a group of evil people] have trapped me.
They have ·bitten [pierced; or shriveled] my ·arms [hands] and ·legs [feet].
17 I can count all my bones;
people look and stare at me.
18 They divided my clothes among them,
and they ·threw [cast] lots for my clothing.
19 But, Lord, don’t be far away.
You are my ·strength [or help]; hurry to help me.
20 ·Save [Rescue; T Deliver] me from the sword;
save my life from the dogs.
21 ·Rescue [Save; T Deliver] me from the lion’s mouth;
·save [L answer] me from the horns of the bulls.
22 Then I will ·tell my brothers and sisters about you [L recount your name/reputation to my brothers];
I will praise you in the ·public meeting [assembly; congregation].
23 Praise the Lord, all you who ·respect [fear] him [Prov. 1:7].
All you ·descendants [seed] of Jacob [C Israelites], ·honor [glorify] him;
·fear [revere] him, all you Israelites.
24 He does not ·ignore [despise or disdain] ·those in trouble [L the suffering of the afflicted].
He doesn’t hide his face from them
but listens when they ·call out to him [cry to him for help].
25 Lord, ·I praise you [L from you comes my praise] in the great ·meeting of your people [assembly];
these ·worshipers [L who fear him] will see me ·do what I promised [L fulfill my vows].
26 ·Poor [or Afflicted] people will eat ·until they are full [and be satisfied];
those who ·look to the Lord [L seek him] will praise him.
May your hearts live forever!
27 ·People everywhere [L All the ends of the earth] will remember
and will turn to the Lord.
All the families of the nations
will worship him
28 because ·the Lord is King [rule belongs to the Lord],
and he rules the nations.
29 All the ·powerful people [L fat ones] on earth will eat and worship.
Everyone will ·bow down to [kneel before] him,
all who will ·one day die [L go down to the dust and cannot keep themselves alive].
30 The ·people in the future [posterity; seed] will serve him;
they will always be told about the Lord.
31 They will ·tell that he does what is right [recount his righteousness].
People who are not yet born
will hear what God has done.
16 “This is the ·agreement [covenant; contract] I will make
with them ·at that time [L after those days], says the Lord.
I will put my ·teachings [laws] in their hearts
and write them on their minds [8:10; Jer. 31:33].”
17 Then he says:
“Their sins and ·the evil things they do [their lawless/wicked actions]—
I will not remember anymore [8:12; Jer. 31:34].”
18 Now when these have been forgiven, there is no more need for a ·sacrifice [offering] for sins.
Continue to Trust God
19 So, brothers and sisters, ·we are completely free [L since we have confidence…; C this “since” clause continues through v. 22] to enter the ·Most Holy Place [sanctuary; L holy things; T Holy of Holies] without fear ·because of [or by means of] the blood of Jesus’ death. 20 We can enter through a new and living way that Jesus ·opened [or restored; renewed; or inaugurated] for us. It leads through the curtain—Christ’s ·body [T flesh; C like the curtain of the Most Holy Place, Christ’s body, sacrificed for us, provides access to the presence of God]. 21 And since we have a great priest over God’s house, 22 let us come near to God with a ·sincere [true] heart and a ·sure [confident] faith, because we have ·been made free [L had our hearts sprinkled; C sacrificial blood was sprinkled on people and things to purify them] from a ·guilty [evil] conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water [C water was used in Judaism for ritual purification]. 23 Let us hold ·firmly [without wavering] to the hope that we have confessed, because ·we can trust God to do what he promised [L the one who promised is faithful].
24 Let us think about ·each other and help each other [or how to provoke/rouse/encourage each another] to show love and do good deeds. 25 You should not ·stay away from [neglect; forsake] ·the church meetings [meeting together], as some are doing [C some were abandoning Christianity and returning to Judaism], but you should encourage each other [C to stay faithful to Christ and to other believers], and even more so as you see the day coming [C the day of the Lord, when Christ will return].
Jesus Is Our High Priest
14 [L Therefore] Since we have a great high priest [2:17–18], Jesus the Son of God, who has ·gone into [ascended to; or passed through] ·heaven [or the heavens], let us hold ·on [firmly] to ·the faith we have [L the confession/profession; C of our faith]. 15 ·For our high priest is able [L For we do not have a high priest who is unable] to ·understand [sympathize with] our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin. 16 Let us, then, ·feel very sure that we can come before [L confidently approach] God’s throne ·where there is grace [L of grace; C as opposed to a throne of judgment and condemnation]. There we can receive mercy and ·grace [L find grace] to help us ·when we need it [L at the right time].
7 ·While Jesus lived on earth [L In the days of his flesh/earthly life], he ·prayed to God and asked God for help [L offered prayers and petitions]. He prayed with loud cries and tears to the One who could save him from death, and his prayer was heard because ·he trusted God [L of his reverence/devotion; C referring especially to Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane; Matt. 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:41, 44]. 8 Even though Jesus was ·the Son of God [or a son; C with all the rights and privileges of an heir], he learned obedience by what he suffered [C through total obedience to God, Jesus achieved the glorified or perfected state God originally intended for human beings; 2:3–9]. 9 And ·because his obedience was perfect [or having achieved perfection], he ·was able to give [L became the source/means of] eternal salvation to all who obey him.
Jesus Is Arrested(A)
18 When Jesus finished ·praying [L saying these things], he went with his ·followers [disciples] across the Kidron Valley [C a deep wadi or ravine separating Jerusalem on the east from the Mount of Olives]. On the other side there was a garden [or grove; C Gethsemane; Matt. 26:36; Mark 14:32], and Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] went into it.
2 Judas knew where this place was, because Jesus met there often with his ·followers [disciples]. Judas was the one who ·turned against [betrayed] Jesus. 3 So Judas came there with a group of soldiers [C Roman] and some guards [C Jewish temple police] from the ·leading [T chief] priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons.
4 Knowing everything that would happen to him, Jesus went out and asked, “Who is it you are looking for?”
5 They answered him, “Jesus ·from Nazareth [L the Nazarene].”
“·I am he [L I am; C this may be an allusion to God’s (Yahweh’s) self identification as “I AM” in Ex. 3:14 or to God’s repeated claim that “I am he” throughout Is. 40—55; see John 8:24, 28, 58],” Jesus said. (Judas, the one who ·turned against [betrayed] Jesus, was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “·I am he [L I am; see 18:5],” they moved back and fell to the ground.
7 Jesus asked them again, “Who is it you are looking for?”
They said, “Jesus ·of Nazareth [L the Nazarene].”
8 “I told you that I am he [see 18:5],” Jesus ·said [answered]. “So if you are looking for me, let the others go.” 9 This happened so that the words Jesus said before would ·come true [L be fulfilled]: “I have not lost any of the ones you gave me [6:39; 17:12].”
10 [L Then] Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the ·servant [slave; bond-servant] of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. (The ·servant’s [slave’s; bond-servant’s] name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back [L into its sheath]. Shouldn’t I drink the cup the Father gave me?” [C The prophets spoke of a cup of judgment; by dying on the cross Jesus drinks it on our behalf; Jer. 25:15–29.]
Jesus Is Brought Before Annas
12 Then the soldiers [C Roman] with their commander and the guards [C Jewish temple police] arrested Jesus. They tied him 13 and led him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who ·told [advised; counseled] the Jews that it would be better if one man died ·for [on behalf of] all the people.
Peter Says He Doesn’t Know Jesus(B)
15 Simon Peter and another one of Jesus’ ·followers [disciples] ·went along after [followed] Jesus. This ·follower [disciple] knew the high priest, so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. 16 But Peter waited outside near the ·door [gate]. The ·follower [disciple] who knew the high priest came back outside, spoke to the ·girl at the door [gatekeeper; doorkeeper], and brought Peter inside. 17 The ·girl at the door [gatekeeper; doorkeeper] said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of that man’s ·followers [disciples]?”
Peter answered, “No, I am not!”
18 It was cold, so the ·servants [slaves; bond-servants] and guards [temple police] had built a [charcoal] fire and were standing around it, warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 The high priest asked Jesus questions about his ·followers [disciples] and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken ·openly [publicly] to ·everyone [L the world]. I have always taught in synagogues and in the Temple, where all the Jews come together. I never said anything in secret. 21 So why do you question me? Ask the people who heard ·my teaching [L what I said to them]. They know what I said.”
22 When Jesus said this, one of the ·guards [officials; temple police] standing there ·hit [slapped] him. The ·guard [official; temple policeman] said, “Is that the way you answer the high priest?”
23 Jesus answered him, “If I said something wrong, then ·show [testify to; witness to] what it was. But if what I said is ·true [right], why do you hit me?”
24 Then Annas sent Jesus, who was still tied, to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter Says Again He Doesn’t Know Jesus(C)
25 As Simon Peter was standing and warming himself, they said to him, “Aren’t you one of that man’s ·followers [disciples]?”
Peter ·said it was not true [denied it]; he said, “No, I am not.”
26 One of the ·servants [slaves; bond-servants] of the high priest was there. This servant was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off [see 18:10]. The servant said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the ·garden [grove]?”
27 Again Peter ·said it wasn’t true [denied it]. At once ·a rooster [T the cock] crowed.
Jesus Is Brought Before Pilate(D)
28 Early in the morning they [C the Jewish leaders] led Jesus from Caiaphas’s house to the ·Roman governor’s palace [or governor’s headquarters; L Praetorium]. They would not go inside the ·palace [L Praetorium], because they did not want to make themselves ·unclean [C according to early Jewish sources a Jew who entered the house of a Gentile would become ritually unclean]; they wanted to eat the Passover meal. 29 So Pilate [C Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea from ad 26 to 37] went outside to them and asked, “What ·charges [accusation] do you bring against this man?”
30 They answered, “If he were not a ·criminal [L evildoer], we wouldn’t have brought him to you.”
31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”
“But ·we are not allowed [it is not legal for us] to put anyone to death,” the Jews answered. [C The Jewish people had to concede the authority for capital punishment to their Roman occupiers.] 32 (This happened so that what Jesus said about how he would die [C by crucifixion rather than stoning] would ·come true [L be fulfilled; see 12:32–33].)
33 Then Pilate went back inside the ·palace [headquarters; L Praetorium] and called Jesus to him and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 Jesus ·said [answered], “Is that your own question, or did others tell you about me?”
35 Pilate answered, “·I am not one of you [L Am I a Jew?]. It was your own ·people [nation] and their ·leading [T chief] priests who ·handed you over [or betrayed you] to me. What have you done wrong?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom ·does not belong to [T is not of] this world. If it belonged to this world, my servants would have fought to keep me from being ·given over [betrayed; handed over] to the ·Jewish leaders [L Jews]. But my kingdom is from another place.”
37 Pilate said, “So you are a king!”
Jesus answered, “You are the one saying I am a king. This is why I was born and came into the world: to ·tell people [testify/witness to] the truth. And everyone ·who belongs to the [on the side of] truth ·listens to me [L hears my voice].”
38 Pilate said, “What is truth?” After he said this, he went out to the ·crowd [L Jews] again and said to them, “I find ·nothing [no case; no basis for a charge] against this man. 39 But it is your custom that I ·free [release] one prisoner to you at Passover time. Do you want me to ·free [release] the ‘king of the Jews’?”
40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Let Barabbas ·go free [be released]!” (Barabbas was a ·robber [bandit; revolutionary; terrorist; C the Romans referred to insurrectionists as “robbers” or “criminals”].)
19 Then Pilate ordered that Jesus be taken away and ·whipped [flogged]. 2 The soldiers ·made [wove; twisted together] a crown ·from some thorny branches [T of thorns] and put it on Jesus’ head and put a purple robe [C purple was the color of royalty] around him. 3 Then they came to him many times and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and ·hit him in the face [slapped/struck him].
4 Again Pilate came out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing Jesus out to you. I want you to know that I find ·nothing [no case; no basis for a charge] against him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “·Here is the man [T Behold the man]!”
6 When the ·leading [T chief] priests and the ·guards [officials; temple police] saw Jesus, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
But Pilate answered them, “Crucify him yourselves, because I find ·nothing [no case; no basis for a charge] against him.”
7 The ·leaders [Jewish leaders; L Jews] answered [L him], “We have a law [Lev. 24:16] that says he should die, because he ·said he is [made himself; claimed to be] the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard this [L statement; word], he was even more afraid. 9 He went back inside the ·palace [headquarters; L Praetorium] and asked Jesus, “Where do you come from?” But Jesus did not answer him. 10 Pilate said [L to him], “You refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know I have ·power [authority] to ·set you free [release you] and ·power [authority] to have you crucified?”
11 Jesus answered [him], “The only ·power [authority] you have over me is the ·power [authority] given to you ·by God [L from above]. The man who ·turned me in to you [betrayed me; C Caiaphas or perhaps Judas] is guilty of a greater sin.”
12 ·After this [or For this reason], Pilate tried to let Jesus go. But ·some in the crowd [L the Jews] ·cried out [shouted], “Anyone who makes himself king ·is against [opposes] Caesar [C the Roman emperor]. If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar.”
13 When Pilate heard ·what they were saying [L these words], he brought Jesus out and ·sat down [or seated him] on the judge’s seat at the place called The Stone Pavement. (In the ·Hebrew language [C more specifically, Aramaic, the native language of the Jews at the time] the name is Gabbatha.) 14 It was about ·noon [L the sixth hour; C hours were counted from dawn, about 6 AM] on Preparation Day of Passover week. Pilate said to ·the crowd [L the Jews], “·Here is your king! [L Look, your king! or Look at your king!]”
15 They shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to crucify your king?”
The ·leading [T chief] priests answered, “The only king we have is Caesar.”
16 So Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.
Jesus Is Crucified(E)
The soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, Jesus went out to a place called The Place of the Skull, which in the Hebrew [C Aramaic; see v. 13] language is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Jesus. They also crucified two other men, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle. 19 Pilate wrote a ·sign [title; notice; inscription] and ·put [fastened] it on the cross. It read: jesus ·of nazareth [L the Nazarene], the king of the jews. 20 The ·sign [title; notice; inscription] was written in Hebrew [C Aramaic; 19:13], in Latin, and in Greek [C the languages spoken in Jerusalem at the time]. Many of the people read the sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. 21 The ·leading [T chief] priests [L of the Jews] said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews.’ But write, ‘This man ·said [claimed], “I am the King of the Jews.”’”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23 After the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, with each soldier getting one part [C it was a custom that the executioners would get the victim’s clothes]. They also took his ·long shirt [tunic; undergarment], which was ·all one piece of cloth [seamless], woven from top to bottom. 24 So the soldiers said to each other, “We should not tear this into parts. Let’s throw lots [C similar to dice] to see who will get it.” This happened so that this Scripture would come true:
“They divided my clothes among them,
and they threw lots for my clothing [Ps. 22:18].”
So the soldiers did this.
25 [L Now] Standing near his cross were Jesus’ mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. [C It is unclear whether Mary the wife of Clopas is the same as Jesus’ mother’s sister or someone else.] 26 When Jesus [L therefore] saw his mother and the ·follower [disciple] he loved [C probably John himself] standing nearby, he said to his mother, “·Dear woman [L Woman; see 2:4], ·here is [T behold] your son.” 27 Then he said to the ·follower [disciple], “·Here is [T Behold] your mother.” From that time on, the ·follower [disciple] took her to live in his home.
Jesus Dies(F)
28 After this, Jesus knew that everything had been ·done [finished; completed]. So that the Scripture would ·come true [be fulfilled], he said, “I ·am thirsty [T thirst; Ps. 22:15; 69:21].” 29 There was a jar full of ·vinegar [sour wine] there, so the soldiers soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a ·branch [stalk] of a hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ mouth. 30 When Jesus ·tasted [L received] the ·vinegar [sour wine], he said, “It is ·finished [completed; accomplished].” Then he bowed his head and ·died [L gave up/yielded his spirit].
31 This day was Preparation Day [C for the celebration of Passover; 12:12], and the next day was a ·special [high; L great] Sabbath day [C special because it occurred during Passover]. Since the ·religious leaders [L Jews] did not want the bodies to stay on the cross on the Sabbath day, they asked Pilate to order that the legs of the men be broken [C so they would die quicker] and the bodies be taken away [Deut. 21:22–23]. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man on the cross beside Jesus. Then they broke the legs of the man on the other cross beside Jesus. 33 But when the soldiers came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers ·stuck [pierced] his ·spear [lance; javelin] into Jesus’ side, and at once blood and water came out [C indicating his death as a human being]. 35 (The one who saw this happen is the one who ·told us this [witnesses; testifies; C again probably an allusion to the disciple John], and ·whatever he says [his witness/testimony] is true. And he knows that he tells the truth, and he tells it so that you might believe [see 21:24].) 36 [L For] These things happened to ·make the Scripture come true [fulfill the Scripture]: “Not one of his bones will be broken [Ps. 34:20; see Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12].” 37 And [L again] another Scripture says, “They will look at the one they ·stabbed [pierced; Zech. 12:10].”
Jesus Is Buried(G)
38 ·Later [L After these things], Joseph from Arimathea asked Pilate if he could take the body of Jesus. (Joseph was a secret ·follower [disciple] of Jesus, because he was afraid of ·some of the leaders [the Jewish leaders; L the Jews].) Pilate gave his permission, so Joseph came and took Jesus’ body away. 39 Nicodemus, who earlier had come to Jesus at night [3:1–15; 7:50–52], went with Joseph. He brought about seventy-five pounds [C Greek: a hundred litrai; a litra was about 12 ounces] of [a mixture of] myrrh and aloes [C used to cover a decomposing body to prevent the stench]. 40 These two men took Jesus’ body and wrapped it with the spices in pieces of linen cloth, ·which is how they bury the dead [L according to the burial custom of the Jews]. 41 In the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden. In the garden was a new tomb that had never been used before. 42 The men laid Jesus in that tomb because it was nearby, and ·they were preparing to start their Sabbath day [L because it was the Jewish Day of Preparation].
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