Sunday, April 18

1Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

2Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

3And they said among themselves, 'Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?'

4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.

5And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

6But he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

7But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.'

8So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

11But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.

12Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

13For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,

14how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

23But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

24Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

32Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:

33'Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles;

34and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.'

35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, 'Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.'

36And He said to them, 'What do you want Me to do for you?'

37They said to Him, 'Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.'

38But Jesus said to them, 'You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?'

39They said to Him, 'We are able.'

40So Jesus said to them, 'You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.'

41And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.

42But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, 'You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

43Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

44And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.

45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.'

36Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.

37And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,

38and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

39Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, 'This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.'

40And Jesus answered and said to him, 'Simon, I have something to say to you.'

41So he said, 'Teacher, say it.' 'There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

42And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?'

43Simon answered and said, 'I suppose the one whom he forgave more.'

44And He said to him, 'You have rightly judged.' Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.

45You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.

46You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.

47Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.'

48Then He said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'

49And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, 'Who is this who even forgives sins?'

50Then He said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.'