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 Nicodemus
Visits Jesus
Now
there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicode'mus, a ruler of the Jews.
This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you
are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do,
unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you,
unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicode'mus said
to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time
into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to
you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom
of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born
anew.' The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you
do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who
is born of the Spirit." Nicode'mus said to him, "How can this be?" Jesus
answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand
this? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness
to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told
you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you
heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from
heaven, the Son of man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in
him may have eternal life." For God so loved the world that he gave his only
Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the
world might be saved through him.
John 3:1-17
Jesus Foretells His Death and
Resurrection
And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and
be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be
killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter
took him, and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he
rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side
of God, but of men." And he called to him the multitude with his disciples,
and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and
take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose
it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.
For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?
For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me
and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the
Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with
the holy angels."
Mark 8:31-38
The Narrow Door
He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying
toward Jerusalem. And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved
be few?" And he said to them, "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many,
I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the
householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside
and to knock at the door, saying, "Lord, open to us.' He will answer you, "I
do not know where you come from.' Then you will begin to say, "We ate and
drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, "I
tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers
of iniquity!' There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham
and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you
yourselves thrust out. And men will come from east and west, and from north
and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last
who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
The Lament Over Jerusalem
At that very hour
some Pharisees came, and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants
to kill you." And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, "Behold, I cast
out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish
my course. Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day
following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from
Jerusalem.' O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those
who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your
house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say,
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"
Luke 13:(22-30)31-35 |
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