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First Reading - Genesis 12:1–9

Psalm - Psalm 121:1–8

Second Reading - Romans 4:1–8, 13–17

Gospel - John 3:1–17

The world comes to Jesus, if it comes to him at all, with some deference. It says, “He was a great teacher” and “Jesus was a good man.” In doing so, the world wants off the hook by not facing who Jesus really was and is. Jesus was such a good teacher that he wondered at being called good (Mark 10:17-18). Nevertheless, he was so much more than a good teacher. The confession of this "something more" is what gets the world off the hook. The same could have been true for Nicodemus that night. Instead, he came to Jesus deferring to him as a good teacher, and perhaps hoping he would also receive deferential treatment. “Keep up the good work!” may have been what he hoped to hear. What he heard though, was the condemnation of the law, spoken by one come from God — yet more than a prophet. “You are dead, Nick, and you must be born again.” This shocked the Pharisee so much that his sarcastic response seems to indicate he did not, at least at first, hear the gospel that Jesus also spoke. First Jesus rattled Nicodemus, and then he told him that by believing in him, Nicodemus could have eternal life.

First Reading - Exodus 17:1–7

Psalm - Psalm 95:1–9

Second Reading - Romans 5:1–8

Gospel - John 4:5–26, 27–30, 39–42

See the lengths that our Lord goes to for us? He sat down by a well and waited to ask a woman for drink, just so he could offer her a more valuable drink. He wanted for nothing in heaven, but he came to earth to suffer thirst, just so he might quench the thirst of another. Later, he who offers to quench our thirst for good is thirsty again. While hanging on the cross, he said, “I thirst” (John 19:28). Then he died. All of this he did for the woman at the well — and for the world. He thirsted for us so that we might never thirst again; he died for us so that we would live forever.

First Reading - Isaiah 42:14–21

Psalm - Psalm 142:1–7

Second Reading - Ephesians 5:8–14

Gospel - John 9:1–41

Go and wash in the pool called “Sent.” One may as well say, go and wash in the pool of the One sent into the world. Go and wash in Christ. How else will our darkness of spirit be lifted than by bathing in the Light? Go to Jesus and wash, and receive your sight.

First Reading - Ezekiel 37:1–14

Psalm - Psalm 130:1–8

Second Reading - Romans 8:1–11

Gospel - John 11:1–45, 46–53

Lazarus is the perfect example of what God in Christ has done for us. Many wonder why Jesus tarried before going to his dying friend Lazarus. Though it pained him to linger, perhaps he did so to show us what he would also do for us. Because Jesus is the resurrection and the life, he was able to raise the thoroughly dead flesh of Lazarus. Those who believe in him, even though they die, will live and never die. Christ is also able and willing to raise our dead flesh, for we, too, are his friends (John 15:15).

First Reading - Isaiah 50:4–9a

Psalm - Psalm 118:19–26

Second Reading - Philippians 2:5–11

Gospel - Matthew 26:1–27:66

During a week when everything may have seemed to be falling apart, God was getting his glory. He was betrayed, yet anointed. In the face of such adversity, Jesus established his holy meal and worshiped with his disciples. He continued to teach his disciples up to the end, now showing them how to pray during tough times and how to face their enemies as friends (Matt. 26:50). He instructed a feisty disciple on the need to be a peacemaker. Jesus set his face as flint while many around him broke the eighth commandment. He endured wrongful judgment, mistreatment, and shame for the sake of others. He faced government inquisition and the ridicule of its agents. He ministered to the needs of another while he was enduring the agony of crucifixion, and brought at least one to everlasting life (Matt. 27:54). And, not lastly, he suffered death.

God in Christ accomplished so much at the very end of Jesus’ life. From this, we may take many measures of hope. One is that, just when all may seem lost, that our lives may not have amounted to much, God is powerfully at work in our time of greatest weakness. Be encouraged; God will get his glory out of our poor lives, too.