The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, April 17, 2019 - Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday)

The Daily Lectionary

WEDNESDAY, April 17, 2019 - Holy Wednesday

(Spy Wednesday)

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Isaiah 50:4-9a

The Servant’s Humiliation and Vindication
50:4 The Lord God has given me
     the tongue of a teacher,
   that I may know how to sustain
     the weary with a word.
   Morning by morning he wakens—
     wakens my ear
     to listen as those who are taught.
5  The Lord God has opened my ear,
     and I was not rebellious,
     I did not turn backward.
6  I gave my back to those who struck me,
     and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
   I did not hide my face
     from insult and spitting.

7  The Lord God helps me;
     therefore I have not been disgraced;
   therefore I have set my face like flint,
     and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
8      he who vindicates me is near.
   Who will contend with me?
     Let us stand up together.
   Who are my adversaries?
     Let them confront me.
9a It is the Lord God who helps me;

Psalm 70

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader. Of David, for the memorial offering.
1  Be pleased, O God, to deliver me.
     O Lord, make haste to help me!
2  Let those be put to shame and confusion
     who seek my life.
   Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
     who desire to hurt me.
3  Let those who say, “Aha, Aha!”
     turn back because of their shame.

4  Let all who seek you
     rejoice and be glad in you.
   Let those who love your salvation
     say evermore, “God is great!”
5  But I am poor and needy;
     hasten to me, O God!
   You are my help and my deliverer;
     O Lord, do not delay!

Hebrews 12:1-3

The Example of Jesus
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.

John 13:21-32

Jesus Foretells His Betrayal
13:21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

The New Commandment
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year C. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2019, we will be in Year A. The year which ended at Advent 2018 was Year B. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.”