1 Corinthians 15

The Resurrection of Christ

¹Now I would remind you, brothers,^[a] of the gospel^(A) I preached to you, which you received,^(B) in which you stand,²and by which^(C) you are being saved, if you^(D) hold fast to the word I preached to you—^(E)unless you believed in vain. ³For^(F) I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died^(G) for our sins^(H) in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴that he was buried, that he was raised^(I) on the third day^(J) in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵and that^(K)he appeared to Cephas, then^(L)to the twelve. ⁶Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷Then he appeared to^(M)James, then^(N) to all the apostles. ⁸Last of all, as to one untimely born,^(O) he appeared also to me. ⁹For^(P) I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because^(Q) I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary,^(R) I worked harder than any of them,^(S) though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. ¹¹Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

¹²Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead,^(T) how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³But if there is no resurrection of the dead,^(U) then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. ¹⁵We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that^(V) he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.¹⁶For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁷And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and^(W) you are still in your sins. ¹⁸Then those also who^(X) have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹If in Christ we have hope^[b] in this life only,^(Y) we are of all people most to be pitied. ²⁰But in fact^(Z) Christ has been raised from the dead,^(AA) the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹For as^(AB) by a man came death,^(AC) by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. ²²For^(AD) as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then^(AE) at his coming^(AF) those who belong to Christ. ²⁴Then comes the end, when he delivers^(AG) the kingdom to God the Father after destroying^(AH) every rule and every authority and power. ²⁵For he must reign^(AI) until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶The last enemy to be^(AJ) destroyed is death. ²⁷For^(AK) ”God^[c] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. ²⁸When^(AL) all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that^(AM) God may be all in all.

²⁹Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? ³⁰Why are we^(AN) in danger every hour? ³¹I protest, brothers, by^(AO) my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord,^(AP) I die every day! ³²What do I gain if, humanly speaking,^(AQ) I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised,^(AR) ”Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” ^33(AS) Do not be deceived:^(AT) ”Bad company ruins good morals.”^[d] 34(AU) Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For^(AV) some have no knowledge of God.^(AW) I say this to your shame.

The Resurrection Body

³⁵But someone will ask,^(AX) ”How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?”³⁶You foolish person!^(AY) What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. ³⁷And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. ³⁸But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. ³⁹For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. ⁴⁰There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. ⁴¹There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. ^42(AZ) So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. ⁴³It is sown in dishonor;^(BA) it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. ⁴⁴It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵Thus it is written,^(BB) ”The first man Adam became a living being”;^[e](BC) the last Adam became a^(BD) life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. ^47(BE)The first man was from the earth,^(BF) a man of dust;^(BG) the second man is from heaven. ⁴⁸As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven,^(BH) so also are those who are of heaven. ⁴⁹Just^(BI) as we have borne the image of the man of dust,^(BJ)we shall^[f] also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Mystery and Victory

⁵⁰I tell you this, brothers:^(BK) flesh and blood^(BL)cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹Behold! I tell you a mystery.^(BM) We shall not all sleep,^(BN)but we shall all be changed, ⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For^(BO) the trumpet will sound, and^(BP) the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ⁵³For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and^(BQ) this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

^(BR) ”Death is swallowed up in victory.” ^55(BS) ”O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?” ⁵⁶The sting of death is sin, and^(BT) the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God,^(BU) who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

^58(BV) Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in^(BW)the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord^(BX)your labor is not in vain.

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Lenten Lights is a series of devotional readings leading up to Easter. A brief introduction to the series can be read here.

[One candle lit before reading]

This was the darkest day in history. The Son of God himself was killed by people who weren’t satisfied simply to reject him; they couldn’t stand to have him exist. They thought they could put God out of existence.

And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him.

“You stiff-necked people . . . you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

“Hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”

[Snuff the last candle. Do not light again until Easter.]

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

(Taken from Mark 15:22-24; Acts 7:51-53; Isaiah 53:4-6)

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Taken from Lenten Lights

John 19

Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified

¹Then Pilate took Jesus and^(A)flogged him. ^2(B) And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. ³They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. ⁴Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that^(C) I find no guilt in him.” ⁵So Jesus came out, wearing^(D) the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them,^(E) ”Behold the man!”⁶When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them,^(F) ”Take him yourselves and crucify him, for^(G) I find no guilt in him.”⁷The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and^(H) according to that law he ought to die because^(I) he has made himself the Son of God.” ⁸When Pilate heard this statement,^(J) he was even more afraid. ^9(K) He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus,^(L) ”Where are you from?” But^(M) Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?”¹¹Jesus answered him, ^(N) ”You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore^(O) he who delivered me over to you^(P) has the greater sin.” ¹²From then on^(Q) Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend.^(R)Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” ¹³So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on^(S) the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic^[a] Gabbatha. ¹⁴Now it was^(T) the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour.^[b] He said to the Jews,^(U) ”Behold your King!” ¹⁵They cried out,^(V)“Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” ^16(W) So he^(X) delivered him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

So they took Jesus, ¹⁷and^(Y) he went out,^(Z)bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. ^18(AA) There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. ¹⁹Pilate^(AB) also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” ²⁰Many of the Jews read this inscription, for^(AC) the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” ²²Pilate answered,^(AD) ”What I have written I have written.” ^23(AE) When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic.^[c]But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, ²⁴so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.”^(AF) This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

^(AG) ”They divided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did these things, ^25(AH) but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus saw his mother and^(AI) the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ^(AJ)“Woman, behold, your son!” ²⁷Then he said to the disciple, ”Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to^(AK) his own home.

The Death of Jesus

²⁸After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now^(AL)finished, said (^(AM) to fulfill the Scripture), ^(AN) ”I thirst.” ²⁹A jar full of sour wine stood there,^(AO)so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. ³⁰When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ^(AP) ”It is finished,” and he bowed his head and^(AQ) gave up his spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

³¹Since it was^(AR) the day of Preparation, and^(AS)so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was^(AT) a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.³²So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other^(AU) who had been crucified with him. ³³But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out^(AV) blood and water. ^35(AW) He who saw it has borne witness—^(AX) his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—^(AY) that you also may believe. ^36(AZ) For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled:^(BA)“Not one of his bones^(BB) will be broken.” ³⁷And again another Scripture says,^(BC) ”They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Jesus Is Buried

^38(BD) After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly^(BE) for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.^39(BF) Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus^[d] by night, came^(BG) bringing a mixture of^(BH) myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds^[e] in weight. ⁴⁰So they took the body of Jesus and^(BI) bound it in^(BJ) linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹Now in the place where he was crucified there was a^(BK) garden, and^(BL) in the garden a new tomb^(BM) in which no one had yet been laid. ⁴²So because of the Jewish^(BN) day of Preparation,^(BO)since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

John 20

The Resurrection

^1(BP) Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that^(BQ) the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ²So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple,^(BR)the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and^(BS) we do not know where they have laid him.” ^3(BT) So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.⁴Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵And stooping to look in, he saw^(BU) the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.⁶Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷and^(BV) the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’^[f] head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. ⁸Then the other disciple,^(BW) who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹for as yet^(BX)they did not understand the Scripture,^(BY) that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.¹²And^(BZ) she saw^(CA) two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. ¹³They said to her,^(CB)“Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them,^(CC) ”They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴Having said this, she turned around and^(CD) saw Jesus standing,^(CE) but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵Jesus said to her, ^(CF) ”Woman, why are you weeping?^(CG) Whom are you seeking?”Supposing him to be^(CH) the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶Jesus said to her, ”Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,^[g](CI) ”Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷Jesus said to her, ”Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to^(CJ) my brothers and say to them,^(CK) ’I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to^(CL) my God and your God.’” ¹⁸Mary Magdalene^(CM) went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

^19(CN) On the evening^(CO) of that day, the first day of the week,^(CP) the doors being locked where the disciples were^(CQ) for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ^(CR) ”Peace be with you.” ²⁰When he had said this,^(CS) he showed them his hands and his side. Then^(CT) the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ²¹Jesus said to them again, ”Peace be with you. As^(CU) the Father has sent me,^(CV)even so I am sending you.” ²²And when he had said this, he^(CW) breathed on them and said to them, ^(CX) ”Receive the Holy Spirit. ^23(CY) If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Jesus and Thomas

²⁴Now^(CZ) Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin,^[h] was not with them when Jesus came.²⁵So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them,^(DA) ”Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” ²⁶Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them.^(DB) Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ”Peace be with you.”²⁷Then he said to Thomas, ^(DC) ”Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” ²⁸Thomas answered him,^(DD) ”My Lord and my God!” ²⁹Jesus said to him, ”Have you believed because you have seen me?^(DE) Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of This Book

^30(DF) Now Jesus did many other signs^(DG) in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ^31(DH) but these are written so that you may^(DI) believe that Jesus is the Christ,^(DJ) the Son of God, and that by believing^(DK) you may have life^(DL) in his name.

John 17

The High Priestly Prayer

¹When Jesus had spoken these words,^(A) he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ”Father,^(B)the hour has come;^(C) glorify your Son that the Son may^(D)glorify you, ²since^(E) you have given him authority over all flesh,^(F) to give eternal life to all^(G) whom you have given him.^3(H) And this is eternal life,^(I)that they know you^(J) the only^(K)true God, and^(L) Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴I^(M)glorified you on earth,^(N) having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. ⁵And now, Father,^(O) glorify me in your own presence with the glory^(P)that I had with you^(Q) before the world existed. ^6(R) ”I have manifested your name to the people^(S) whom you gave me out of the world.^(T) Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷Now they know that everything^(U) that you have given me is from you. ⁸For I have given them^(V) the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that^(W) I came from you; and^(X) they have believed that you sent me.⁹I am praying for them.^(Y) I am not praying for the world but for those^(Z) whom you have given me, for^(AA) they are yours. ^10(AB)All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and^(AC) I am glorified in them. ¹¹And I am no longer in the world, but^(AD) they are in the world, and^(AE) I am coming to you.^(AF) Holy Father,^(AG) keep them in your name,^(AH) which you have given me,^(AI) that they may be one,^(AJ) even as we are one. ^12(AK) While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have^(AL)guarded them, and^(AM) not one of them has been lost except^(AN) the son of destruction,^(AO) that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³But now^(AP) I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have^(AQ) my joy fulfilled in themselves. ^14(AR) I have given them your word, and^(AS) the world has hated them^(AT) because they are not of the world,^(AU) just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵I^(AV) do not ask that you^(AW) take them out of the world, but that you^(AX) keep them from^(AY) the evil one.^[a] 16(AZ) They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ^17(BA)Sanctify them^[b] in the truth;^(BB) your word is truth. ^18(BC) As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹And^(BD) for their sake^(BE) I consecrate myself,^[c] that they also^(BF)may be sanctified^[d] in truth.

²⁰“I do not^(BG) ask for these only, but also for those^(BH) who will believe in me through their word, ^21(BI) that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that^(BJ) they also may be in^(BK) us, so that the world^(BL) may believe that you have sent me. ^22(BM) The glory that you have given me^(BN) I have given to them,^(BO) that they may be one even as we are one, ^23(BP) I in them and you in me,^(BQ) that they may become perfectly one,^(BR) so that the world may know that you sent me and^(BS) loved them even as^(BT) you loved me. ²⁴Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be^(BU)with me^(BV) where I am,^(BW) to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me^(BX)before the foundation of the world. ^25(BY) O righteous Father, even though^(BZ) the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. ^26(CA) I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love^(CB) with which you have loved me may be in them, and^(CC) I in them.”

John 18

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

¹When Jesus had spoken these words,^(CD) he went out with his disciples across^(CE) the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. ²Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew^(CF) the place, for^(CG) Jesus often met there with his disciples. ^3(CH) So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. ⁴Then Jesus,^(CI) knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them,^(CJ) ”Whom do you seek?” ⁵They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, ”I am he.”^[e] Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. ^6(CK) When Jesus^[f] said to them, ”I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.⁷So he asked them again, ^(CL) ”Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁸Jesus answered, ”I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” ^9(CM) This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: ”Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” ¹⁰Then Simon Peter,^(CN) having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant^[g] and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)¹¹So Jesus said to Peter, ”Put your sword into its sheath;^(CO) shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas

¹²So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. ¹³First they^(CP) led him to^(CQ) Annas, for he was the father-in-law of^(CR) Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ¹⁴It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews^(CS) that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

^15(CT) Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, ^16(CU) but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. ^17(CV) The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” ¹⁸Now the servants^[h] and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves.^(CW)Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

^19(CX) The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. ²⁰Jesus answered him, ”I have spoken^(CY) openly^(CZ) to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together.^(DA) I have said nothing in secret. ²¹Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”²²When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying,^(DB) ”Is that how you answer the high priest?” ²³Jesus answered him, ”If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” ^24(DC)Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

^25(DD) Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” ²⁶One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of^(DE) the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you^(DF) in the garden with him?” ²⁷Peter again denied it, and^(DG) at once a rooster crowed.

Jesus Before Pilate

^28(DH) Then they led Jesus^(DI) from the house of Caiaphas to^(DJ) the governor’s headquarters.^[i] It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters,^(DK) so that they would not be defiled,^(DL) but could eat the Passover. ^29(DM) So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” ³⁰They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” ³¹Pilate said to them,^(DN) ”Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” ^32(DO) This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken^(DP) to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

^33(DQ) So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him,^(DR) ”Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴Jesus answered, ”Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” ³⁵Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”³⁶Jesus answered, ^(DS) ”My kingdom^(DT) is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world,^(DU)my servants would have been fighting, that^(DV) I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” ³⁷Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, ^(DW) ”You say that I am a king.^(DX) For this purpose I was born and for this purpose^(DY) I have come into the world—^(DZ) to bear witness to the truth.^(EA) Everyone who is^(EB) of the truth^(EC)listens to my voice.” ³⁸Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this,^(ED) he went back outside to the Jews and told them,^(EE) ”I find no guilt in him. ^39(EF) But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” ⁴⁰They cried out again,^(EG) ”Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.^[j]

John 15

I Am the True Vine

¹“I am the^(A) true vine, and my Father is^(B) the vinedresser. ^2(C)Every branch in me that does not bear fruit^(D) he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes,^(E) that it may bear more fruit. ³Already^(F)you are clean^(G) because of the word that I have spoken to you.^4(H) Abide^(I) in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵I am the vine;^(J) you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that^(K) bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not abide in me^(L) he is thrown away like a branch and withers;^(M) and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷If^(N) you abide in me, and my words abide in you,^(O) ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ^8(P) By this my Father is glorified, that you^(Q) bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ^9(R) As the Father has loved me,^(S) so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ^10(T) If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as^(U) I have kept^(V) my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹These things I have spoken to you,^(W) that my joy may be in you, and that^(X) your joy may be full. ^12(Y) ”This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ^13(Z) Greater love has no one than this,^(AA) that someone lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴You are^(AB) my friends^(AC) if you do what I command you. ^15(AD) No longer do I call you servants,^[a] for the servant^[b](AE) does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for^(AF) all that I have heard from my Father^(AG) I have made known to you. ¹⁶You did not choose me, but^(AH) I chose you and appointed you that you should go and^(AI) bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that^(AJ)whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. ¹⁷These things I command you,^(AK) so that you will love one another.

The Hatred of the World

^18(AL) ”If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ^19(AM) If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because^(AN) you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰Remember the word that I said to you:^(AO) ’A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me,^(AP) they will also persecute you.^(AQ) If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. ²¹But^(AR) all these things they will do to you^(AS) on account of my name,^(AT)because they do not know him who sent me. ²²If I had not come and spoken to them,^(AU) they would not have been guilty of sin,^[c] but now they have no excuse for their sin. ^23(AV) Whoever hates me hates my Father also. ^24(AW) If I had not done among them the works that no one else did,^(AX) they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have^(AY) seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁵But^(AZ) the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled:^(BA) ’They hated me without a cause.’ ²⁶“But^(BB) when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father,^(BC) he will bear witness about me. ²⁷And^(BD) you also will bear witness,^(BE) because you have been with me^(BF)from the beginning.

John 16

¹“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. ^2(BG) They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed,^(BH) the hour is coming when^(BI) whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. ³And they will do these things^(BJ)because they have not known the Father, nor me. ⁴But^(BK) I have said these things to you, that when^(BL) their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning,^(BM) because I was with you. ⁵But now^(BN) I am going to him who sent me, and^(BO)none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’⁶But because I have said these things to you,^(BP)sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for^(BQ) if I do not go away,^(BR) the Helper will not come to you. But^(BS) if^(BT) I go,^(BU) I will send him to you. ^8(BV) And when he comes, he will^(BW) convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹concerning sin,^(BX)because they do not believe in me; ^10(BY)concerning righteousness,^(BZ) because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; ^11(CA)concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world^(CB) is judged. ¹²“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³When^(CC) the Spirit of truth comes,^(CD) he will^(CE) guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but^(CF) whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.¹⁴He will^(CG) glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ^15(CH) All that the Father has is mine;^(CI) therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy

^16(CJ) ”A little while, and you will see me no longer; and^(CK) again a little while, and you will see me.” ¹⁷So^(CL) some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ^(CM)‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ^(CN)‘because I am going to the Father’?” ¹⁸So they were saying, “What does he mean by ’a little while’?^(CO) We do not know what he is talking about.” ^19(CP) Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, ”Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? ²⁰Truly, truly, I say to you,^(CQ) you will weep and lament, but^(CR)the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but^(CS) your sorrow will turn into joy. ^21(CT) When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ^22(CU) So also you have sorrow now, but^(CV) I will see you again, and^(CW) your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. ^23(CX) In that day you will^(CY) ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you,^(CZ) whatever you ask of the Father in my name,^(DA) he will give it to you. ²⁴Until now you have asked nothing in my name.^(DB) Ask, and you will receive,^(DC) that your joy may be full.

I Have Overcome the World

²⁵“I have said these things to you in figures of speech.^(DD) The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. ²⁶In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; ^27(DE)for the Father himself loves you, because^(DF) you have loved me and^(DG) have believed that I came from God.^[d] 28(DH) I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now^(DI) I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” ²⁹His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not^(DJ) using figurative speech! ³⁰Now we know that^(DK) you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that^(DL) you came from God.” ³¹Jesus answered them, ”Do you now believe?³²Behold,^(DM) the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when^(DN) you will be scattered, each to his own home, and^(DO) will leave me alone.^(DP) Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. ³³I have said these things to you, that^(DQ) in me you may have peace.^(DR) In the world you will have^(DS)tribulation. But^(DT) take heart;^(DU) I have overcome the world.”

John 13

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

¹Now^(A) before^(B) the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that^(C) his hour had come^(D) to depart out of this world to the Father,^(E) having loved^(F) his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ²During supper, when^(G) the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, ³Jesus, knowing^(H)that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that^(I)he had come from God and^(J)was going back to God, ⁴rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel,^(K) tied it around his waist.⁵Then he^(L) poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ⁶He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” ^7(M) Jesus answered him,”What I am doing^(N) you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” ^8(O) Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, ^(P) ”If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”⁹Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” ¹⁰Jesus said to him, ”The one who has bathed does not need to wash,^(Q) except for his feet,^[a]but is completely clean. And^(R)you^[b] are clean,^(S) but not every one of you.” ^11(T) For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, ”Not all of you are clean.” ¹²When he had washed their feet and^(U) put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ^(V) ”Do you understand what I have done to you? ^13(W) You call me^(X) Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. ¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,^(Y) you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵For I have given you an example,^(Z) that you also should do just as I have done to you.¹⁶Truly, truly, I say to you,^(AA) a servant^[c] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷If you know these things,^(AB) blessed are you if you do them. ^18(AC) I am not speaking of all of you; I know^(AD) whom I have chosen. But^(AE) the Scripture will be fulfilled,^[d](AF) ’He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ ^19(AG) I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. ²⁰Truly, truly, I say to you,^(AH) whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

One of You Will Betray Me

²¹After saying these things,^(AI) Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, ^(AJ) ”Truly, truly, I say to you,^(AK) one of you will betray me.”^22(AL) The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. ^23(AM) One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table^(AN) close to Jesus,^[e] 24so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus^[f] of whom he was speaking. ^25(AO) So that disciple,^(AP) leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?”²⁶Jesus answered, ^(AQ) ”It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread^(AR) when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel,^(AS) he gave it to Judas,^(AT) the son of Simon Iscariot.²⁷Then after he had taken the morsel,^(AU) Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ^(AV) ”What you are going to do, do quickly.” ²⁸Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. ²⁹Some thought that,^(AW) because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need^(AX) for the feast,” or that he should^(AY) give something to the poor. ³⁰So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out.^(AZ)And it was night.

A New Commandment

³¹When he had gone out, Jesus said, ^(BA) ”Now is the Son of Man glorified, and^(BB) God is glorified in him. ³²If God is glorified in him,^(BC) God will also glorify him in himself, and^(BD) glorify him at once. ³³Little children,^(BE) yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just^(BF) as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ ^34(BG) A new commandment^(BH) I give to you,^(BI) that you love one another:^(BJ) just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ^35(BK) By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial

³⁶Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?”^(BL) Jesus answered him, ”Where I am going^(BM) you cannot follow me now,^(BN) but you will follow afterward.” ^37(BO) Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” ³⁸Jesus answered, ”Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you,^(BP) the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

John 14

I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

^1(BQ) ”Let not your hearts be troubled.^(BR) Believe in God;^[g] believe also in me. ²In^(BS) my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that^(BT) I go to prepare a place for you?^[h] 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you^(BU) to myself, that^(BV) where I am you may be also. ⁴And you know the way to where I am going.”^[i] 5(BW)Thomas said to him, “Lord,^(BX) we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶Jesus said to him, ”I am^(BY) the way, and^(BZ) the truth, and^(CA) the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ^7(CB) If you had known me, you would have^(CC) known my Father also.^[j] From now on you do know him and^(CD)have seen him.” ^8(CE) Philip said to him, “Lord,^(CF) show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” ⁹Jesus said to him, ”Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip?^(CG) Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰Do you not believe that^(CH) I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you^(CI) I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. ¹¹Believe me that^(CJ) I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else^(CK) believe on account of the works themselves.

¹²“Truly, truly, I say to you,^(CL) whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I^(CM) am going to the Father. ^13(CN) Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that^(CO) the Father may be glorified in the Son. ^14(CP) If you ask me^[k] anything in my name, I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

^15(CQ) ”If you love me, you will^(CR) keep my commandments. ¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another^(CS) Helper,^[l] to be with you forever, ¹⁷even^(CT) the Spirit of truth,^(CU)whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and^(CV) will be in you. ¹⁸“I will not leave you as orphans;^(CW) I will come to you. ^19(CX) Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but^(CY) you will see me.^(CZ) Because I live, you also will live. ^20(DA) In that day you will know that^(DB) I am in my Father, and^(DC) you in me, and^(DD) I in you. ^21(DE)Whoever has my commandments and^(DF) keeps them, he it is who loves me. And^(DG) he who loves me^(DH) will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and^(DI) manifest myself to him.”^22(DJ) Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it^(DK) that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” ²³Jesus answered him, ^(DL) ”If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and^(DM) we will come to him and^(DN) make our home with him. ²⁴Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And^(DO) the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

²⁵“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. ²⁶But the^(DP) Helper, the Holy Spirit,^(DQ) whom the Father will send in my name,^(DR) he will teach you all things and^(DS)bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. ^27(DT) Peace I leave with you;^(DU) my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.^(DV) Let not your hearts be troubled, neither^(DW) let them be afraid. ^28(DX) You heard me say to you,^(DY) ’I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I^(DZ) am going to the Father, for^(EA) the Father is greater than I. ²⁹And^(EB) now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. ³⁰I will no longer talk much with you, for^(EC) the ruler of this world is coming.^(ED) He has no claim on me,³¹but I do^(EE) as the Father has commanded me,^(EF) so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Lenten Lights is a series of devotional readings leading up to Easter. A brief introduction to the series can be read here.

Sixth Sunday of Lent (if reading weekly)

or

Thursday before Easter (if reading daily)

[Two candles lit before reading]

God made very sure that we could understand who he is, what he is like, and what he wants for us and what he wants from us. He did this by sending his Son, Jesus. Now we don’t have just the written Word, we have the Living Word — a real person. When people watched Jesus, they were seeing God.

BUT even God himself, God in person, was rejected. People hated him and rejected his message from God.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

[Snuff the next candle. Do not light again until Easter.]

And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him.”

(Taken from John 3:16; Luke 2:6-7; Isaiah 53:3; Mark 10:32-34)

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Taken from Lenten Lights