M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Chapter 23[a]
Joshua’s Final Discourse. 1 Quite some time later, after the Lord had given Israel rest from all of its surrounding enemies, and when Joshua had grown old and was well advanced in years, 2 Joshua summoned all of Israel including its leaders and officials, their judges and their officers, and he said to them, “I am now an old man, well advanced in years 3 and you have seen all that the Lord, your God, has done to all of these nations on your behalf, for the Lord, your God, has fought for you. 4 I have divided up by lot these remaining nations as an inheritance for your tribes, all the nations that I have conquered between the Jordan and the Great Sea to the west. 5 The Lord, your God, himself will drive them out before you. He will push them out of your sight so that you can take possession of the land that the Lord, your God, has promised you. 6 Be most courageous, and be careful to observe everything that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses. Do not turn away from it to the right or the left. 7 Avoid associating with these nations that still remain among you. Do not mention the names of their gods; do not swear by them. Do not serve them; do not worship them. 8 Hold fast to the Lord, your God,[b] as you have done up to the present. 9 The Lord has driven out great and powerful nations from before you. To this day no one has been able to stand up against you. 10 Just one of you has been able to route a thousand, because the Lord, your God, has fought for you, just as he promised you that he would do. 11 So be very careful to love the Lord, your God.
12 [c]“But if you were to turn away and you were to ally yourselves with the survivors of the nations that remain here, and you were to intermarry with them, and you were to associate with them, 13 then you should know for sure that the Lord, your God, will no longer drive out these nations before you. They will be like snares and traps to you, as if they were scourges upon your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you finally vanish from this good land that the Lord, your God, has given you.
14 “I am now about to go the way of all upon the earth. You know very well in your hearts and your souls that not one of the good things that the Lord, your God, promised you has failed to take place. Every promise has been fulfilled, not one of them has been broken. 15 Just as all the good things that the Lord, your God, has promised you have come true, so the Lord could bring upon you all the evil that he has threatened until he has wiped you out from this good land that the Lord, your God, has given you. 16 If you transgress the covenant that the Lord, your God, has commanded you to observe, and you go and serve other gods and worship them, then the Lord’s anger will blaze out against you. You will quickly perish from the good land that the Lord, your God, has given you.”
First Encounter with the Authorities in Israel
Chapter 3
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Walk![a] 1 One day, Peter and John were on their way to the temple for the hour of prayer at three o’clock in the afternoon.[b] 2 A man who had been crippled from his birth was carried there every day and laid at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate[c] so that he could beg for alms from those who entered the temple.
3 When this man saw Peter and John about to enter into the temple, he asked them for alms. 4 Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said to him, “Look at us!” 5 He looked at them attentively, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”
7 Then Peter grasped him by the right hand and helped him to get up. Immediately, his feet and ankles were strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood straight, and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 When all the people there saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the man who used to sit and beg for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
11 Peter Speaks to the People.[d] While he continued to cling to Peter and John, all the people came running in amazement toward them in Solomon’s Portico, as it is called. 12 When Peter saw the people assembling, he addressed them:
“Men of Israel, why are you so surprised at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had enabled this man to walk by our own power or holiness? 13 The God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant[e] Jesus whom you handed over and disowned in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him. 14 You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 The author of life[f] you put to death, but God raised him from the dead. Of this we are witnesses.
16 “By faith in his name, this man whom you see here and who is known to you has been made strong. Faith in him has made him completely well in the presence of all of you.
17 “Now I am aware, brethren, that you acted out of ignorance as did your rulers. 18 God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the Prophets, revealing that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, therefore, and be converted so that your sins may be wiped away, 20 that a time of refreshment may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, that is, Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for the universal restoration announced by God in ages past through his holy Prophets. 22 For Moses said,
‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me
from among your own people.
To him shall you listen
in whatever he tells you.
23 Everyone who refuses to listen to that prophet
will be cut off from the people.’
24 “Furthermore, all the Prophets who have spoken, from Samuel onward, predicted these days.
25 “You are the heirs of the Prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he told Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your wicked ways.”
Chapter 12
1 You are always in the right, O Lord,
whenever I take a position that conflicts with yours;
nevertheless, let me plead my case before you.
Why does it happen that the wicked prosper
and that treacherous people thrive?
2 When you planted them, they took root,
flourished, and brought forth fruit.
Your name is always on their lips,
but you are far from their hearts.
3 You know me, O Lord, and you see me;
you are aware that my heart is devoted to you.
Drag off the wicked like
sheep for a sacrifice;
set them apart for the day of slaughter.
4 For how long a period must the land be in mourning
and the green grass wither throughout the countryside?
The animals and the birds are perishing
because of the wickedness of those who dwell there
and assert that God is not concerned about them.
God’s Response
5 If you become exhausted in a footrace with men,
how will you compete with horses?
And if you fall headlong in a peaceful land,
how will you fare in the thickets of the Jordan?
6 Even your brothers and your own family
continue to deal treacherously with you
as they pursue you while shouting threats.
Do not trust them
even when they speak gentle words to you.
The Lord’s Lament[a]
7 I have abandoned my house
and forsaken my heritage.
I have given the beloved of my heart
into the hands of her enemies.
8 My own people have become to me
like a lion in the forest;
they have threatened me incessantly,
and therefore, I despise them.
9 Why has my land become a lair for hyenas,
with birds of prey hovering on every side?
Go forth and gather all the wild beasts
so that they may assemble for the feast.
10 My shepherds have ravaged my vineyard
and trampled my heritage underfoot.
They have made the plot of land that is my delight
into a desolate wilderness.
11 They have made it into a wasteland,
the sight of which causes me to mourn.
The entire land has become desolate,
and no one shows the slightest bit of concern.
12 Upon all the barren heights of the desert
those who wreak destruction have arrived.
For the Lord will wield a devouring sword
from one end of the land to the other;
no living thing will remain unscathed.
13 Men have sown wheat only to reap thorns;
they have worked to the point of exhaustion
but have profited nothing.
Their harvests are a source of disappointment
because of the fierce anger of the Lord.
14 Judah’s Evil Neighbors. Thus says the Lord, “As for all my evil neighbors who have seized the inheritance I gave to my people Israel, I will uproot them from their land, and from among them I will uproot the house of Judah. 15 But after I uproot them, I will again take pity on them and bring them back, each one to his own heritage and his own land.
16 “Then, if they carefully adhere to the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As the Lord lives,’ just as previously they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will be reestablished among my people. 17 But if any nation refuses to listen, I will uproot that nation and destroy it completely,” says the Lord.
The Passion and Resurrection[a]
Chapter 26
The Plot against Jesus.[b] 1 When Jesus had finished discoursing on all these subjects, he said to his disciples, 2 “In two days it will be Passover, at which time the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
3 Meanwhile, the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled together in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,[c] 4 and they made plans to arrest Jesus by deceit and have him put to death. 5 However, they said, “It must not occur during the feast, or the people may begin to riot.”
A Woman of Bethany Anoints Jesus.[d] 6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment and poured it over his head as he reclined at table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they became indignant, and they remarked, “Why this waste? 9 This ointment could have been sold for a considerable sum, with the money given to the poor.”
10 Jesus was aware of their attitude, and he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has performed a good deed for me. 11 The poor you will always have with you,[e] but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has prepared me for burial. 13 Amen, I say to you, wherever in the whole world this gospel is proclaimed, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”
14 Judas Betrays Jesus.[f] Then one of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, 16 and from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
17 The Preparations for the Passover Supper.[g] On the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread,[h] the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said: “Go to a certain man in the city and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My appointed time is near. I intend to celebrate the Passover at your house with my disciples.” ’ ” 19 The disciples thereupon followed Jesus’ instructions, and they prepared the Passover.
20 The Treachery of Judas Foretold.[i] When evening came, he reclined at table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 Greatly distressed on hearing this, they began to ask him, one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”
23 He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me is the one who will betray me. 24 The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said: “Is it I, Rabbi?” Jesus replied, “You have said so.”
26 The Last Supper.[j] While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after he had pronounced the blessing, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take this and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and after offering thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from this, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 And I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I shall drink it anew with you in the kingdom of my Father.”
30 And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial.[k] Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all be scandalized because of me, for it is written:
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have been raised up, I shall go ahead of you to Galilee.”
33 Peter said to him, “Even if all the others will be scandalized because of you, I will never be.” 34 Jesus replied, “Amen, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”[l] 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.
36 The Agony in the Garden.[m] Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and he began to suffer grief and anguish.
38 Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful, even to the point of death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” 39 Moving on a little farther, he threw himself prostrate on the ground in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, allow this cup to be taken from me. Yet let your will, not mine, be done.”
40 Returning to the disciples, he found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Could you not keep watch with me for just one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went apart for a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 Then he came back again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
44 He left them there and went away again, praying for the third time in the same words as before. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour has come for the Son of Man to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up! Let us be going! Look, my betrayer is approaching.”
47 Jesus Is Arrested.[n][o]While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him there was a large crowd of men, armed with swords and clubs, who had been sent by the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now his betrayer had agreed with them on a signal, saying, “The one I shall kiss is the man. Arrest him.” 49 Proceeding directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came forward, seized Jesus, and placed him under arrest.
51 Suddenly, one of those who were accompanying Jesus reached for his sword, drew it, and struck a servant of the high priest, slicing off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put back your sword into its place. For all who take the sword shall die by the sword. 53 Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to my Father for help[p] and he will not immediately send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 At that hour, Jesus said to the crowd, “Why are you coming forth with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple, and you did not arrest me. 56 But all this has taken place so that the writings of the Prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
57 Jesus Is Condemned by the Sanhedrin.[q] Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance up to the courtyard of the high priest. Then, going inside, he sat down with the attendants to see what the outcome would be.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin tried to elicit some false testimony against Jesus so they could put him to death, 60 but they failed in their efforts, even though many witnesses came forward with perjured testimony. Finally, two men came forward 61 who stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God and rebuild it within three days.’ ”
62 The high priest then rose and said to him, “Have you no reply to counter the testimony that these witnesses have given?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I command you to tell us before the living God whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus replied, “You have said it. But I tell you:
From now on you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power
and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his robes and exclaimed, “He has blasphemed! What need do we have for any further witnesses? Behold, you have just heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” They shouted in reply, “He deserves to die.” 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. Some taunted him as they beat him, 68 “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you?”
69 Peter Denies Jesus.[r] Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the servant girls came over to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 When he walked out to the entrance gate, another servant girl caught sight of him and said to the people around her, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it, this time with an oath: “I do not know the man.”
73 Shortly afterward, some bystanders came up to Peter and said to him, “You unquestionably are one of them. Even your accent gives you away.” 74 Then Peter began to shout curses, and he swore an oath: “I do not know the man.” At that very moment, a cock crowed, 75 and Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and began to weep uncontrollably.
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