The Daily Practice

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[a] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

8 Does not wisdom call out?     Does not understanding raise her voice? 2 At the highest point along the way,     where the paths meet, she takes her stand; 3 beside the gate leading into the city,     at the entrance, she cries aloud: 4 “To you, O people, I call out;     I raise my voice to all mankind. 5 You who are simple, gain prudence;     you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a] 6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;     I open my lips to speak what is right. 7 My mouth speaks what is true,     for my lips detest wickedness. 8 All the words of my mouth are just;     none of them is crooked or perverse.

1 The fool says in his heart,     “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;     there is no one who does good.

2 God looks down from heaven     on all mankind to see if there are any who understand,     any who seek God. 3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;     there is no one who does good,     not even one.

4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?

They devour my people as though eating bread;     they never call on God. 5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,     where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you;     you put them to shame, for God despised them.

6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!     When God restores his people,     let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”

9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;     the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[a]

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[b]

49 Listen to me, you islands;     hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me;     from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. 2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,     in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow     and concealed me in his quiver. 3 He said to me, “You are my servant,     Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.” 4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;     I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,     and my reward is with my God.”

5 And now the Lord says—     he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him     and gather Israel to himself, for I am[a] honored in the eyes of the Lord     and my God has been my strength— 6 he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant     to restore the tribes of Jacob     and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,     that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

7 This is what the Lord says—     the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel— to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation,     to the servant of rulers: “Kings will see you and stand up,     princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful,     the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

1 Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?     Why do you boast all day long,     you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? 2 You who practice deceit,     your tongue plots destruction;     it is like a sharpened razor. 3 You love evil rather than good,     falsehood rather than speaking the truth.[c] 4 You love every harmful word,     you deceitful tongue!

5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:     He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent;     he will uproot you from the land of the living. 6 The righteous will see and fear;     they will laugh at you, saying, 7 “Here now is the man     who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth     and grew strong by destroying others!”

8 But I am like an olive tree     flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love     for ever and ever. 9 For what you have done I will always praise you     in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name,     for your name is good.

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[b]”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” [17] [a]

18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”     and to the hills, “Cover us!”’[b]

31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”