Sunday, December 17, 2034

^20:1Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ²Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!” ³Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb. ⁴They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

⁵Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he didn’t enter in. ⁶Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying, ⁷and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁸So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed. ⁹For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

^3:4When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory. ⁵Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. ⁷You also once walked in those, when you lived in them, ⁸but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. ⁹Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, ¹⁰and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,

¹¹where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.

^14:16But he said to him, “A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people. ¹⁷He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’ ¹⁸They all as one began to make excuses. “The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please have me excused.’ ¹⁹“Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go try them out. Please have me excused.’ ²⁰“Another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I can’t come.’

²¹“That servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’ ²²“The servant said, ‘Lord, it is done as you commanded, and there is still room.’ ²³“The lord said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. ²⁴For I tell you that none of those men who were invited will taste of my supper. For many are called, but few are chosen.’”

^20:1Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ²Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!” ³Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb. ⁴They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

⁵Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he didn’t enter in. ⁶Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying, ⁷and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁸So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed. ⁹For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

^3:12Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; ¹³bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. ¹⁴Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

^13:7Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith. ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited. ¹⁰We have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside of the camp.

¹²Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate. ¹³Let’s therefore go out to him outside of the camp, bearing his reproach. ¹⁴For we don’t have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come. ¹⁵Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name. ¹⁶But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

^17:12As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance. ¹³They lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” ¹⁴When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed. ¹⁵One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice. ¹⁶He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine? ¹⁸Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” ¹⁹Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.”

^12:32“Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. ³³Sell what you have and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ³⁵“Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. ³⁶Be like men watching for their lord when he returns from the wedding feast, that when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him.

³⁷Blessed are those servants whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will dress himself, make them recline, and will come and serve them. ³⁸They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch and finds them so. ³⁹But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.”