04/20 – Mark 16:1-8 – It Didn’t Get Him

At Creation

Prophecy: Genesis 3:8-15

In the cool of the evening the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees in the garden. The Lord God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?”

He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked so I hid.”

God asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat fruit from the tree I commanded you not to eat?”

The man answered, “That woman, the one you gave me, she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it.”

Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”

“The snake deceived me, and I ate,” the woman answered.

So the Lord God said to the snake, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all the wild or domestic animals. You will crawl on your belly and you will be the lowest of animals as long as you live. I will make you and the woman hostile toward each other. I will make your descendants and her descendant hostile toward each other. He will crush your head, and you will bruise his heel.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Prophecy Fulfilled: John 19:23-24, 28-30

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them four ways so that each soldier could have a share. His robe was left over. It didn’t have a seam because it had been woven in one piece from top to bottom. The soldiers said to each other, “Let’s not rip it apart. Let’s throw dice to see who will get it.” In this way the Scripture came true: “They divided my clothes among themselves. They threw dice for my clothing.” (Psalm 22:18) So that is what the soldiers did.

After this, when Jesus knew that everything had now been fulfilled, he said, “I am thirsty.” He said this so that Scripture could finally be concluded.

A jar filled with vinegar was there. So the soldiers put a sponge soaked in the vinegar on a hyssop stick and held it to his mouth.

After Jesus had taken the vinegar, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and died.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

At the Time of Moses

Prophecy: Deuteronomy 18:15-19

The Lord your God will raise up a prophet like Moses from among you. You must listen to him. This is what you asked the Lord your God to give you on the day of the assembly at Mount Horeb. You said, “We never want to hear the voice of the Lord our God or see this raging fire again. If we do we will die!”

The Lord said, “What they have said is good. So I will raise up a prophet like Moses from among them. I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. Whoever refuses to listen to the words that prophet speaks in my name will answer to me.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Prophecy Fulfilled: John 12:44-46,48-50

Then Jesus said loudly, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me. Whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I am the light that has come into the world so that everyone who believes in me will not live in darkness. Those who reject me by not accepting what I say have a judge appointed for them. The words that I have spoken will judge them on the last day. I have not spoken on my own. Instead, the Father who sent me told me what I should say and how I should say it. I know that what he commands is eternal life. Whatever I say is what the Father told me to say.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

At the Time of Isaiah

Prophecy: Isaiah 9:1-2,4-7

There will be no more gloom for the land that is in distress. God humbled the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali {NAF-til-eye} in earlier times, but in the future he will bring glory to the road by the sea, to the land across the Jordan River, to Galilee, where foreigners live.

The people who walk in darkness will see a bright light. The light will shine on those who live in the land of death’s shadow. You will break the yoke that burdens them, the bar that is across their shoulders, and the stick used by their oppressor, as you did in the battle against Midian. Every warrior’s boot marching to the sound of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel in the fire.

A child will be born for us. A son will be given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and peace will have unlimited growth. He will establish David’s throne and kingdom. He will uphold it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The Lord of Armies is determined to do this!

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Prophecy Fulfilled: Luke 1:26b-35

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee. The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary. When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you.”

She was startled by what the angel said and tried to figure out what this greeting meant.

The angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God. You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus. He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

Mary asked the angel, “How can this be? I am a virgin.”

The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God.

Prophecy Fulfilled Continued: John 10:24-25-27-30

The Jews asked Jesus, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered them, “I’ve told you, but you don’t believe me. The things that I do in my Father’s name testify on my behalf. My sheep respond to my voice and I know who they are. They follow me and I give them eternal life. They will never be lost, and no one will tear them away from me. My Father, who gave them to me is greater than everyone else and no one can tear them away from my Father. I and the Father are one.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Isaiah 61:1-3, 8-9

The Spirit of the Almighty Lord is with me because the Lord has anointed me to deliver good news to humble people. He has sent me to heal those who are brokenhearted, to announce that captives will be set free and prisoners will be released. He has sent me to announce the year of the Lord’s good will and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all those who grieve. He has sent me to provide for all those who grieve in Zion, to give them crowns instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of tears of grief, and clothes of praise instead of a spirit of weakness. They will be called Oaks of Righteousness, the Plantings of the Lord, so that he might display his glory.

I, the Lord love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people’s work. I will make an everlasting promise to them. Then their offspring will be known among the nations and their descendants among the people. Everyone who sees them will recognize that they are the descendants whom the Lord has blessed.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Luke 4:14-22a

Jesus returned to Galilee. The power of the Spirit was with him and the news about him spread throughout the surrounding country. He taught in the synagogues, and everyone praised him. Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As usual he went into the synagogue on the day of rest, a holy day. He stood up to read the lesson. The attendant gave him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened it and found the place where it read: “The Spirit of the Lord is with me. He has anointed me to tell the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to announce forgiveness to the prisoners of sin and the restoring of sight to the blind, to forgive those who have been shattered by sin, to announce the year of the Lord’s favor.” Jesus closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue watched him. Then he said to them, “This passage came true today when you heard me read it.” All the people spoke well of him. They were amazed to hear the gracious words flowing from his lips.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Zechariah 12:1-2b, 10-11b, 13:1-2

A prophecy: The word of the Lord concerning Israel:

The Lord who spread out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit in a person says, “I’m going to make Jerusalem like a cup of wine that makes all the surrounding people stagger. I will pour out the Spirit of blessing and mercy on David’s family and on those who live in Jerusalem. They will look at me whom they have pierced. Then they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son, and they will cry bitterly for him as one cries for a firstborn son. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be intense.”

The Lord declares, “On that day a fountain will be opened for David’s family and for those who live in Jerusalem to wash away their sin and stain. On that day,” declares the Lord of Armies, “I will wipe away the names of the idols from the land. They will no longer be remembered. I will also remove the false prophets and the unclean spirit from the land.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

John 19:33-36

When the soldiers came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead they didn’t break his legs. However one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with his spear, and blood and water immediately came out. The one who saw this is an eyewitness. What he says is true and he knows that he is telling the truth so that you, too will believe.

This happened so that the Scripture would come true: “None of his bones will be broken.” Another Scripture passage says, “They will look at the person whom they have pierced.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Malachi 4:1-2,4-5

1 “Certainly the day is coming! It will burn like a furnace. All arrogant people and all evildoers will be like straw. The day that is coming will burn them up completely,” says the Lord of Armies. “It won’t leave a single root or branch. The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings for you people who fear my name. You will go out and leap like calves let out of a stall. Remember the teachings of my servant Moses, the rules and regulations that I gave to him at Horeb for all Israel. I’m going to send you the prophet Elijah before that very terrifying day of the Lord comes.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Matthew 11:9-15

What did you go [out in the wilderness] to see? A prophet? Let me tell you that John the Baptist is far more than a prophet. He is the one about whom Scripture says, ‘I’m sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare the way in front of you.’

“I can guarantee this truth: Of all the people ever born no one is greater than John the Baptizer. Yet the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. From the time of John the Baptizer until now the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people have been seizing it. All the Prophets and Moses’ Teachings prophesied up to the time of John. If you are willing to accept their message, John is the Elijah who was to come. Let the person who has ears listen!

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Prophecy: Isaiah 55:1-3,5-9-13

Listen! Whoever is thirsty, come to the water! Whoever has no money can come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk. You don’t have to pay; it’s free! Why do you spend money on what cannot nourish you and your wages on what does not satisfy you? Listen carefully to me: Eat what is good, and enjoy the best foods. Open your ears, and come to me! Listen so that you may live!

I will make an everlasting promise to you, the blessings I promised to David. You will summon a nation that you do not know and a nation that doesn’t know you will run to you because of the Lord your God, because of the Holy One of Israel. He has honored you.

Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call on him while he is near. Let wicked people abandon their ways. Let evil people abandon their thoughts. Let them return to the Lord, and he will show compassion to them. Let them return to our God, because he will freely forgive them.

My thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are not your ways,” declares the Lord. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts. Rain and snow come down from the sky. They do not go back again until they water the earth. They make it sprout and grow so that it produces seed for farmers and food for people to eat. My word, which comes from my mouth, is like the rain and snow. It will not come back to me without results. It will accomplish whatever I want and achieve whatever I send it to do.” You will go out with joy and be led out in peace. The mountains and the hills will break into songs of joy in your presence, and all the trees will clap their hands. Cypress trees will grow where thornbushes grew. Myrtle trees will grow where briars grew. This will be a reminder of the Lord’s name and an everlasting sign that will never be destroyed.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Prophecy Fulfilled: Matthew 28:1-3,5-8, 18-20

After the day of rest, a holy day, as the sun rose Sunday morning, Mary from Magdala and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. Suddenly, there was a powerful earthquake. An angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, rolled the stone away, and was sitting on it. 3e was as bright as lightning and his clothes were as white as snow.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He has been brought back to life as he said. Come see the place where he was lying. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has been brought back to life. He is going ahead of them into Galilee. There they will see him. Take note that I have told you.”

They hurried away from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples.

When Jesus came near Jesus spoke to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.