50.1 The Lord's Help Makes Us Joyful

Ezra 6:19-22

The people who had returned from exile celebrated Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month of the following year. All the priests and the Levites had purified themselves and were ritually clean.  The Levites killed the animals for the Passover sacrifices for all the people who had returned, for the priests, and for themselves.  The sacrifices were eaten by all the Israelites who had returned from exile and by all those who had given up the pagan ways of the other people who were living in the land and who had come to worship the Lord God of Israel.  For seven days they joyfully celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread.  They were full of joy because  the Lord had made the emperor of Asssyria favorable to them, so that he supported them in their work of rebuilding the Temple of the God of Israel.

49.5 The Lord Saves Israel

Psalm 105:1-10

Give thanks to the Lord,
proclaim his greatness;
tell the nations what he has done.
Sing praise to the Lord;
tell the wonderful things he has done.
Be glad that we belong to him;
let all who worship him rejoice.
Go to the Lord for help;
and worship him continually.
You descendants of Abraham, his servant;
you descendants of Jacob, the man he chose:
remember the miracles that God performed
and the judgments that he gave.

The Lord is our God;
his commands are for all the world.
He will keep his covenant forever,
his promises for a thousand generations.
He will keep the agreement he made with Abraham
and his promise to Isaac.
The Lord made a covenant with Jacob,
one that will last forever.

49.4 John's Humility

John 3:28-30

You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, "I am not the Messiah, but I have sent ahead of him." The bridegroom is the one to whom the bride belongs; but the bridegroom's friend, who stands by and listens, is glad when he hears the bridegroom's voice.  This is how my own happiness is made complete.  He must become more important while I become less important.

49.3 John Sends Disciples To Christ

Matthew 11:2-6

When John the Baptist heard in prison about the things that Christ was doing, he sent some of his disciples to him. "Tell us," they asked Jesus, "are you the one John said was going to come, or should we expect someone else?"

Jesus answered, "Go back and tell John what you are hearing and seeing: the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor.  How happy are those who have no doubts about me!"

49.2 Jesus Is The Lamb To Be Followed

John 1:29-31

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I was talking about when I said , 'A man is coming after me, but he is greater than I am, because he existed before I was born.' I did not know who he would be, but I came baptizing with water in order to make him known to the people of Israel."

49.1 John's Message

Matthew 3:7-12

When John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to be baptized, he said to them, "You snakes-- who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send? Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. And don't think you can escape punishment by saying that Abraham is your ancestor.  I tell you that God can take these rocks and make descendants for Abraham! The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire.  I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the one who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  He is much greater than I am; and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals.  He has his winnowing shovel with him to thresh out all the grain. He will gather his wheat into his barn, but he will burn the chaff in a fire that never goes out."

48.5 All The Nations Will Know Your Salvation

Psalm 67

God, be merciful to us and bless us;
look on us with kindness,
so that the whole world may know your will;
so that all nations may know your salvation.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!

May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
because you judge the peoples with justice
and guide every nation on earth.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!

The land has produced its harvest;
God, our God, has blessed us.
God has blessed us;
may all people everywhere honor him.

48.4 Prepare The Road For The Savior

Isaiah 62:10-12

People of Jerusalem, go out of the city
and build a road for your returning people!
Prepare a highway; clear it of stones!
Put up a signal so that the nations can know
that the Lord is announcing to all the earth:
"Tell the people of Jerusalem
that the Lord is coming to save you,
bringing with him the people he has rescued."
You will be called "God's Holy People,"
"The People the Lord  Has Saved."
Jerusalem will be called "The City That God Loves,"
"The City That God Did Not Forsake."

48.3 A Renewed World

Isaiah 61:4-7

They will rebuild cities that have long been in ruins.
My people, foreigners will serve you.
They will take care of your flocks
and farm your land and tend your vineyards.
And you will be known as the priests of the Lord,
the servants of our God.
You will enjoy the wealth of the nations
and be proud that it is yours.
Your shame and disgrace are ended.
You will live in your own land,
and your wealth will be doubled;
your joy will last forever.

48.2 The Mission Of The Savior

Isaiah 61:1-3

The Sovereign Lord has filled me with his spirit.
He has chosen me and sent me
to bring good news to the poor,
to heal the broken-hearted,
to announce release to captives
and freedom to those in prison.
He has sent me to proclaim
that the time has come
when the Lord will save his people
and defeat their enemies.

He has sent me to comfort all who mourn,
to give to those who mourn in Zion
joy and gladness instead of sorrow.
They will be like trees
that the Lord himself has planted.
They will all do what is right,
and God will be praised for what he has done.

48.1 The Lord Restores Justice

Isaiah 59:15b-21

The Lord has seen this, and he is displeased that there is no justice. He is astonished to see that there is no one to help the oppressed.  So he will use his own power to rescue them and to win the victory.  He will wear justice like a coat of armor and victory like a helmet. He will clothe himself with the strong desire to set things right and to punish and avenge the wrongs that people suffer. He will punish his enemies according to what they have done, even those who live in distant lands.  From east to west everyone will fear him and his great power.  He will come like a rushing river, like a strong wind.

The Lord says to his people, "I will come to Jerusalem to defend you and to save all of you that turn from your sins.  And I make a covenant with you: I have given you my power and my teachings to be yours forever, and from now on you are to obey me and teach your children and your descendants to obey me for all time to come."

47.4 The Lord Will Defend My Cause

Psalm 43

O God, declare me innocent,
and defend my cause against the ungodly;
deliver me from lying and evil men!
You are my protector;
why have you abandoned me?
Why must I go on suffering from the cruelty of my enemies?

Send your light and your truth;
may they lead me and bring me back to Zion,
your sacred hill,
and to your Temple, where you live.
Then I will go to your altar, O God;
you are the source of my happiness.
I will play my harp and sing praise to you,
O God, my God.

Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled?
I will put my hope in God,
and once again I will praise him,
my savior and my God.

47.3 God Will Judge Through Jesus Christ

Romans 2:12-16

The Gentiles do not have the Law of Moses; they sin and are lost apart from the Law.  The Jews have the Law; they sin and are judged by the Law.  For it is not by hearing the Law that people are put right with God, but by doing what the Law commands.  The Gentiles do not have the Law; but whenever they do by instinct what the Law commands, they are their own law, even though they do not have the Law.  Their conduct shows that what the Law commands is written in their hearts.  Their consciences also show that this is true, since their thoughts sometimes accuse them and sometimes defend them.  And so, according to the Good News I preach, this is how it will be on that Day when God through Jesus Christ will judge the secret thoughts of all.

47.2 He Is The Judge Of The Living And The Dead

Acts 10:34-43

Peter began to speak:  "I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis.  Whoever fears in him and does what is right is acceptable to him, no matter what race he belongs to.  You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.  You know of the great event that took place throughout the land of Israel, beginning in Galilee after John preached his message of baptism. You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God poured out on him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, for God was with him.  We are witnesses of everything that he did in the land of Israel and in Jerusalem. Then they put him to death by nailing him to a cross. But God raised him from death three days later and caused him to appear, not to everyone but only to the witnesses that God had already chosen, that is, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from death. And he commanded us to preach the gospel to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God has appointed judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets spoke about him, saying that everyone who believes in him will have his sins forgiven through the power of his name." 

47.1 He Will Come To Judge

Malachi 3:1-5

The Lord Almighty answers, "I will send my messenger to prepare the way for me.  Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to his Temple.  The messenger you long to see will come and proclaim my covenant."

But who will be able to endure the day when he comes? Who will be able to survive when he appears? He will be like strong soap, like a fire that refines metal. He will come to judge like one who refines and purifies silver. As a metal-worker refines silver and gold, so the Lord's messenger will purify the priests, so that they will bring to the Lord the right kind of offerings.  Then the offerings which the people of Judah and Jerusalem bring to the Lord will be pleasing to him, as they used to be in the past.

The Lord Almighty says, "I will appear among you to judge, and I will testify at once against those who practice magic, against adulterers, against those who give false testimony, those who cheat employees out of their wages, and those take advantage of widows, orphans, and foreigners--against all who do not respect me.

46.5 Praise The Lord, He Is Holy

Psalm 99

The Lord is King, and the people tremble.
He sits on his throne above the winged creatures, and the earth shakes.
The Lord is mighty in Zion; he is supreme over all the nations.
Everyone will praise his great and majestic name.
Holy is he!

Mighty king, you love what is right;
you have established justice in Israel;
you have brought righteousness and fairness.
Praise the Lord our God;
worship before his throne! Holy is he!

Moses and Aaron were his priests,
and Samuel was one who prayed to him:
they called to the Lord, and he answered them.
He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud:
they obeyed the laws and commands that he gave them.

O Lord, our God, you answered your people;
you showed them that you are a God who forgives,
even though you punished them for their sins.
Praise the Lord our God,
and worship at his sacred hill!
The Lord our God is holy.