What Does Jesus Offer?

Built to Last: A Strong Family in Church Planting

Deepening Friendships

What Do Christians Believe?

Burst Your Christian Bubble

Acts 11:19-30 | God Leads From New Places

94x50: Discipleship on the Court

Ignite Your Marriage: 7 Days to Deeper Love & Lasting Connection

Here I Am X Waha

Christian Fit Check

The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkPRO">
 <div class="chapter ch23" data-usfm="PRO.23">
 <div class="label">23</div><div class="s2">Saying 7</div><div class="q1"> 1When you sit to dine with a ruler,</div><div class="q2">note well what#23:1 Or who is before you,</div><div class="q1"> 2and put a knife to your throat</div><div class="q2">if you are given to gluttony.</div><div class="q1"> 3Do not crave his delicacies,</div><div class="q2">for that food is deceptive.</div><div class="s2">Saying 8</div><div class="q1"> 4Do not wear yourself out to get rich;</div><div class="q2">do not trust your own cleverness.</div><div class="q1"> 5Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,</div><div class="q2">for they will surely sprout wings</div><div class="q2">and fly off to the sky like an eagle.</div><div class="s2">Saying 9</div><div class="q1"> 6Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,</div><div class="q2">do not crave his delicacies;</div><div class="q1"> 7for he is the kind of person</div><div class="q2">who is always thinking about the cost.#23:7 Or for as he thinks within himself, / so he is; or for as he puts on a feast, / so he is</div><div class="q1">&#8220;Eat and drink,&#8221; he says to you,</div><div class="q2">but his heart is not with you.</div><div class="q1"> 8You will vomit up the little you have eaten</div><div class="q2">and will have wasted your compliments.</div><div class="s2">Saying 10</div><div class="q1"> 9Do not speak to fools,</div><div class="q2">for they will scorn your prudent words.</div><div class="s2">Saying 11</div><div class="q1"> 10Do not move an ancient boundary stone</div><div class="q2">or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,</div><div class="q1"> 11for their Defender is strong;</div><div class="q2">he will take up their case against you.</div><div class="s2">Saying 12</div><div class="q1"> 12Apply your heart to instruction</div><div class="q2">and your ears to words of knowledge.</div><div class="s2">Saying 13</div><div class="q1"> 13Do not withhold discipline from a child;</div><div class="q2">if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.</div><div class="q1"> 14Punish them with the rod</div><div class="q2">and save them from death.</div><div class="s2">Saying 14</div><div class="q1"> 15My son, if your heart is wise,</div><div class="q2">then my heart will be glad indeed;</div><div class="q1"> 16my inmost being will rejoice</div><div class="q2">when your lips speak what is right.</div><div class="s2">Saying 15</div><div class="q1"> 17Do not let your heart envy sinners,</div><div class="q2">but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.</div><div class="q1"> 18There is surely a future hope for you,</div><div class="q2">and your hope will not be cut off.</div><div class="s2">Saying 16</div><div class="q1"> 19Listen, my son, and be wise,</div><div class="q2">and set your heart on the right path:</div><div class="q1"> 20Do not join those who drink too much wine</div><div class="q2">or gorge themselves on meat,</div><div class="q1"> 21for drunkards and gluttons become poor,</div><div class="q2">and drowsiness clothes them in rags.</div><div class="s2">Saying 17</div><div class="q1"> 22Listen to your father, who gave you life,</div><div class="q2">and do not despise your mother when she is old.</div><div class="q1"> 23Buy the truth and do not sell it&#8212;</div><div class="q2">wisdom, instruction and insight as well.</div><div class="q1"> 24The father of a righteous child has great joy;</div><div class="q2">a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.</div><div class="q1"> 25May your father and mother rejoice;</div><div class="q2">may she who gave you birth be joyful!</div><div class="s2">Saying 18</div><div class="q1"> 26My son, give me your heart</div><div class="q2">and let your eyes delight in my ways,</div><div class="q1"> 27for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,</div><div class="q2">and a wayward wife is a narrow well.</div><div class="q1"> 28Like a bandit she lies in wait</div><div class="q2">and multiplies the unfaithful among men.</div><div class="s2">Saying 19</div><div class="q1"> 29Who has woe? Who has sorrow?</div><div class="q2">Who has strife? Who has complaints?</div><div class="q2">Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?</div><div class="q1"> 30Those who linger over wine,</div><div class="q2">who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.</div><div class="q1"> 31Do not gaze at wine when it is red,</div><div class="q2">when it sparkles in the cup,</div><div class="q2">when it goes down smoothly!</div><div class="q1"> 32In the end it bites like a snake</div><div class="q2">and poisons like a viper.</div><div class="q1"> 33Your eyes will see strange sights,</div><div class="q2">and your mind will imagine confusing things.</div><div class="q1"> 34You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,</div><div class="q2">lying on top of the rigging.</div><div class="q1"> 35&#8220;They hit me,&#8221; you will say, &#8220;but I&#8217;m not hurt!</div><div class="q2">They beat me, but I don&#8217;t feel it!</div><div class="q1">When will I wake up</div><div class="q2">so I can find another drink?&#8221;</div>
 </div>
 </div>
</div>

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bk2SA">
 <div class="chapter ch21" data-usfm="2SA.21">
 <div class="label">21</div><div class="s1">The Gibeonites Avenged</div><div class="p"> 1During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, &#8220;It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 2The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) 3David asked the Gibeonites, &#8220;What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord&#8217;s inheritance?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 4The Gibeonites answered him, &#8220;We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;What do you want me to do for you?&#8221; David asked.</div><div class="p"> 5They answered the king, &#8220;As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, 6let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul&#8212;the Lord&#8217;s chosen one.&#8221;</div><div class="p">So the king said, &#8220;I will give them to you.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 7The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the Lord between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 8But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah&#8217;s daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul&#8217;s daughter Merab,#21:8 Two Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 1 Samuel 18:19); most Hebrew and Septuagint manuscripts Michal whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.</div><div class="p"> 10Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night. 11When David was told what Aiah&#8217;s daughter Rizpah, Saul&#8217;s concubine, had done, 12he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had stolen their bodies from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) 13David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.</div><div class="p"> 14They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul&#8217;s father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.</div><div class="s1">Wars Against the Philistines</div><div class="p"> 15Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. 16And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels#21:16 That is, about 7 1/2 pounds or about 3.5 kilograms and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. 17But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David&#8217;s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David&#8217;s men swore to him, saying, &#8220;Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 18In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.</div><div class="p"> 19In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair#21:19 See 1 Chron. 20:5; Hebrew Jaare-Oregim. the Bethlehemite killed the brother of#21:19 See 1 Chron. 20:5; Hebrew does not have the brother of. Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver&#8217;s rod.</div><div class="p"> 20In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot&#8212;twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David&#8217;s brother, killed him.</div><div class="p"> 22These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.</div>
 </div>
 </div>
</div>

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bk2SA">
 <div class="chapter ch23" data-usfm="2SA.23">
 <div class="label">23</div><div class="s1">David&#8217;s Last Words</div><div class="p"> 1These are the last words of David:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse,</div><div class="q2">the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High,</div><div class="q1">the man anointed by the God of Jacob,</div><div class="q2">the hero of Israel&#8217;s songs:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 2&#8220;The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me;</div><div class="q2">his word was on my tongue.</div><div class="q1"> 3The God of Israel spoke,</div><div class="q2">the Rock of Israel said to me:</div><div class="q1">&#8216;When one rules over people in righteousness,</div><div class="q2">when he rules in the fear of God,</div><div class="q1"> 4he is like the light of morning at sunrise</div><div class="q2">on a cloudless morning,</div><div class="q1">like the brightness after rain</div><div class="q2">that brings grass from the earth.&#8217;</div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"> 5&#8220;If my house were not right with God,</div><div class="q2">surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant,</div><div class="q2">arranged and secured in every part;</div><div class="q1">surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation</div><div class="q2">and grant me my every desire.</div><div class="q1"> 6But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns,</div><div class="q2">which are not gathered with the hand.</div><div class="q1"> 7Whoever touches thorns</div><div class="q2">uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear;</div><div class="q2">they are burned up where they lie.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">David&#8217;s Mighty Warriors</div><div class="p"> 8These are the names of David&#8217;s mighty warriors:</div><div class="p">Josheb-Basshebeth,#23:8 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts suggest Ish-Bosheth, that is, Esh-Baal (see also 1 Chron. 11:11 Jashobeam). a Tahkemonite,#23:8 Probably a variant of Hakmonite (see 1 Chron. 11:11) was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed#23:8 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:11); Hebrew and other Septuagint manuscripts Three; it was Adino the Eznite who killed eight hundred men in one encounter.</div><div class="p"> 9Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim#23:9 See 1 Chron. 11:13; Hebrew gathered there. for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, 10but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.</div><div class="p"> 11Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel&#8217;s troops fled from them. 12But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.</div><div class="p"> 13During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15David longed for water and said, &#8220;Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!&#8221; 16So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. 17&#8220;Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!&#8221; he said. &#8220;Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?&#8221; And David would not drink it.</div><div class="p">Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.</div><div class="p"> 18Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.#23:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:20); two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Thirty He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 19Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.</div><div class="p"> 20Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab&#8217;s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian&#8217;s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. 23He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="li1"> 24Among the Thirty were:</div><div class="li2">Asahel the brother of Joab,</div><div class="li2">Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,</div><div class="li2"> 25Shammah the Harodite,</div><div class="li2">Elika the Harodite,</div><div class="li2"> 26Helez the Paltite,</div><div class="li2">Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,</div><div class="li2"> 27Abiezer from Anathoth,</div><div class="li2">Sibbekai#23:27 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 21:18; 1 Chron. 11:29); Hebrew Mebunnai the Hushathite,</div><div class="li2"> 28Zalmon the Ahohite,</div><div class="li2">Maharai the Netophathite,</div><div class="li2"> 29Heled#23:29 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also 1 Chron. 11:30); most Hebrew manuscripts Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite,</div><div class="li2">Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,</div><div class="li2"> 30Benaiah the Pirathonite,</div><div class="li2">Hiddai#23:30 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:32) Hurai from the ravines of Gaash,</div><div class="li2"> 31Abi-Albon the Arbathite,</div><div class="li2">Azmaveth the Barhumite,</div><div class="li2"> 32Eliahba the Shaalbonite,</div><div class="li2">the sons of Jashen,</div><div class="li2">Jonathan 33son of#23:33 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:34); Hebrew does not have son of. Shammah the Hararite,</div><div class="li2">Ahiam son of Sharar#23:33 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:35) Sakar the Hararite,</div><div class="li2"> 34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite,</div><div class="li2">Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,</div><div class="li2"> 35Hezro the Carmelite,</div><div class="li2">Paarai the Arbite,</div><div class="li2"> 36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,</div><div class="li2">the son of Hagri,#23:36 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 11:38); Hebrew Haggadi</div><div class="li2"> 37Zelek the Ammonite,</div><div class="li2">Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,</div><div class="li2"> 38Ira the Ithrite,</div><div class="li2">Gareb the Ithrite</div><div class="li2"> 39and Uriah the Hittite.</div><div class="li1">There were thirty-seven in all.</div>
 </div>
 </div>
</div>

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bk2SA">
 <div class="chapter ch24" data-usfm="2SA.24">
 <div class="label">24</div><div class="s1">David Enrolls the Fighting Men</div><div class="p"> 1Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, &#8220;Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 2So the king said to Joab and the army commanders#24:2 Septuagint (see also verse 4 and 1 Chron. 21:2); Hebrew Joab the army commander with him, &#8220;Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 3But Joab replied to the king, &#8220;May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 4The king&#8217;s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.</div><div class="p"> 5After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aroer, south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Gad and on to Jazer. 6They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon. 7Then they went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah.</div><div class="p"> 8After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.</div><div class="p"> 9Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.</div><div class="p"> 10David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, &#8220;I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 11Before David got up the next morning, the word of the Lord had come to Gad the prophet, David&#8217;s seer: 12&#8220;Go and tell David, &#8216;This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.&#8217;&#8198;&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 13So Gad went to David and said to him, &#8220;Shall there come on you three#24:13 Septuagint (see also 1 Chron. 21:12); Hebrew seven years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 14David said to Gad, &#8220;I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 15So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. 16When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, &#8220;Enough! Withdraw your hand.&#8221; The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.</div><div class="p"> 17When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, &#8220;I have sinned; I, the shepherd,#24:17 Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; Masoretic Text does not have the shepherd. have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">David Builds an Altar</div><div class="p"> 18On that day Gad went to David and said to him, &#8220;Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.&#8221; 19So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through Gad. 20When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.</div><div class="p"> 21Araunah said, &#8220;Why has my lord the king come to his servant?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;To buy your threshing floor,&#8221; David answered, &#8220;so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 22Araunah said to David, &#8220;Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. 23Your Majesty, Araunah#24:23 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts King Araunah gives all this to the king.&#8221; Araunah also said to him, &#8220;May the Lord your God accept you.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 24But the king replied to Araunah, &#8220;No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.&#8221;</div><div class="p">So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels#24:24 That is, about 1 1/4 pounds or about 575 grams of silver for them. 25David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.</div>
 </div>
 </div>
</div>

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkJHN">
 <div class="chapter ch11" data-usfm="JHN.11">
 <div class="label">11</div><div class="s1">The Death of Lazarus</div><div class="p"> 1Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2(This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3So the sisters sent word to Jesus, &#8220;Lord, the one you love is sick.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 4When he heard this, Jesus said, &#8220;This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God&#8217;s glory so that God&#8217;s Son may be glorified through it.&#8221; 5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7and then he said to his disciples, &#8220;Let us go back to Judea.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 8&#8220;But Rabbi,&#8221; they said, &#8220;a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 9Jesus answered, &#8220;Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world&#8217;s light. 10It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 11After he had said this, he went on to tell them, &#8220;Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 12His disciples replied, &#8220;Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.&#8221; 13Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.</div><div class="p"> 14So then he told them plainly, &#8220;Lazarus is dead, 15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 16Then Thomas (also known as Didymus#11:16 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.) said to the rest of the disciples, &#8220;Let us also go, that we may die with him.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus</div><div class="p"> 17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Now Bethany was less than two miles#11:18 Or about 3 kilometers from Jerusalem, 19and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.</div><div class="p"> 21&#8220;Lord,&#8221; Martha said to Jesus, &#8220;if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 23Jesus said to her, &#8220;Your brother will rise again.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 24Martha answered, &#8220;I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 25Jesus said to her, &#8220;I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 27&#8220;Yes, Lord,&#8221; she replied, &#8220;I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 28After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. &#8220;The Teacher is here,&#8221; she said, &#8220;and is asking for you.&#8221; 29When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.</div><div class="p"> 32When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, &#8220;Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34&#8220;Where have you laid him?&#8221; he asked.</div><div class="p">&#8220;Come and see, Lord,&#8221; they replied.</div><div class="p"> 35Jesus wept.</div><div class="p"> 36Then the Jews said, &#8220;See how he loved him!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 37But some of them said, &#8220;Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead</div><div class="p"> 38Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39&#8220;Take away the stone,&#8221; he said.</div><div class="p">&#8220;But, Lord,&#8221; said Martha, the sister of the dead man, &#8220;by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 40Then Jesus said, &#8220;Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, &#8220;Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, &#8220;Lazarus, come out!&#8221; 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.</div><div class="p">Jesus said to them, &#8220;Take off the grave clothes and let him go.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Plot to Kill Jesus</div><div class="p"> 45Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.</div><div class="p">&#8220;What are we accomplishing?&#8221; they asked. &#8220;Here is this man performing many signs. 48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 49Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, &#8220;You know nothing at all! 50You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 51He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53So from that day on they plotted to take his life.</div><div class="p"> 54Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.</div><div class="p"> 55When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, &#8220;What do you think? Isn&#8217;t he coming to the festival at all?&#8221; 57But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.</div>
 </div>
 </div>
</div>

Mercy Culture Whole Bible Reading PlanSample

Scripture

About this Plan

Related Plans