1 Corinthians 15:12-23

[12]Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? [13]If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; [14]and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. [15]We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ - whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. [16]For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. [17]If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. [18]Then those also who have died in Christ have perished.

[19]If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

[20]But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. [21]For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; [22]for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. [23]But each in his own

order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

[1]Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, [2]through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you - unless you have come to believe in vain.

[3]For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received:

that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, [4]and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, [5]and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [6]Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. [7]Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. [8]Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. [9]For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. [10]But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them - though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. [11]Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

John 1:1-18

[1]In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2]He was in the beginning with God. [3]All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being [4]in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. [5]The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

[6]There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7]He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. [8]He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. [9]The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

[10]He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. [11]He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. [12]But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, [13]who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

[14]And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. [15](John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") [16]From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. [17]The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [18]No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.

Psalm 31

[1] In you, O LORD, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me.
[2] Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me.

[3] You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake lead me and guide me,
[4] take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
[5] Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

[6] You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the LORD.
[7] I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have taken heed of my adversities,
[8] and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.

[9] Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
my eye wastes away from grief,
my soul and body also.
[10] For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,
and my bones waste away.

[11] I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
a horror to my neighbors,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
[12] I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
[13] For I hear the whispering of many --
terror all around! --
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.

[14] But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
[15] My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
[16] Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.
[17] Do not let me be put to shame, O LORD,
for I call on you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.
[18] Let the lying lips be stilled
that speak insolently against the righteous
with pride and contempt.

[19] O how abundant is your goodness
that you have laid up for those who fear you,
and accomplished for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of everyone!
[20] In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from human plots;
you hold them safe under your shelter
from contentious tongues.

[21] Blessed be the LORD,
for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
when I was beset as a city under siege.
[22] I had said in my alarm,
"I am driven far from your sight."
But you heard my supplications
when I cried out to you for help.

[23] Love the LORD, all you his saints.
The LORD preserves the faithful,
but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.
[24] Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the LORD.

Psalm 22

[1] My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?

[2] O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night, but find no rest.

[3] Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
[4] In you our ancestors trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
[5] To you they cried, and were saved;
in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

[6] But I am a worm, and not human;
scorned by others, and despised by the people.
[7] All who see me mock at me;
they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
[8] "Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver --
let him rescue the one in whom he delights!"

[9] Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
you kept me safe on my mother's breast.
[10] On you I was cast from my birth,
and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
[11] Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.

[12] Many bulls encircle me,
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
[13] they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.

[14] I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
[15] my mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.



[16] For dogs are all around me;
a company of evildoers encircles me.
My hands and feet have shriveled;
[17] I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;
[18] they divide my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.

[19] But you, O LORD, do not be far away!
O my help, come quickly to my aid!
[20] Deliver my soul from the sword,
life from the power of the dog!
[21] Save me from the mouth of the lion!

From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me.
[22] I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
[23] You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
[24] For he did not despise or abhor
the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me,
but heard when I cried to him.

[25] From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
[26] The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the LORD.
May your hearts live forever!

[27] All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the LORD;
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before him.
[28] For dominion belongs to the LORD,
and he rules over the nations.

[29] To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
and I shall live for him.
[30] Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord,
[31] and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
saying that he has done it.

Hebrews 12:1-3

[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.

Psalm 34:1-10

[1]   I will bless the LORD at all times;  

          his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  

[2]   My soul makes its boast in the LORD;  

          let the humble hear and be glad.  

[3]   O magnify the LORD with me,  

          and let us exalt his name together.  

[4]   I sought the LORD, and he answered me,  

          and delivered me from all my fears.  

[5]   Look to him, and be radiant;  

          so your faces shall never be ashamed.  

[6]   This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD,  

          and was saved from every trouble.  

[7]   The angel of the LORD encamps  

          around those who fear him, and delivers them.  

[8]   O taste and see that the LORD is good;  

          happy are those who take refuge in him.  

[9]   O fear the LORD, you his holy ones,  

          for those who fear him have no want.  

[10]  The young lions suffer want and hunger,  

          but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.