Isaiah 25:1–9; Acts 4:13–21; John 16:16–33

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Isaiah 25:1–9

God Will Swallow Up Death Forever

O Lord, jyou are my God;

kI will exalt you; I will praise your name,

for you have done wonderful things,

lplans formed of old, faithful and sure.

For you have made the city ma heap,

the fortified city a ruin;

the foreigners’ palace is a city no more;

it will never be rebuilt.

nTherefore strong peoples will glorify you;

cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

oFor you have been a stronghold to the poor,

a stronghold to the needy in his distress,

pa shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat;

qfor the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,

rlike heat in a dry place.

You subdue the noise of the foreigners;

as heat by the shade of a cloud,

so the song of the ruthless is put down.

sOn this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples

a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,

tof rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

And he will swallow up son this mountain

the covering that is cast over all peoples,

uthe veil that is spread over all nations.

vHe will swallow up death forever;

and wthe Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,

and xthe reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,

yfor the Lord has spoken.

It will be said on that day,

Behold, this is our God; zwe have waited for him, that he might save us.

This is the Lord; we have waited for him;

alet us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.


Acts 4:13–21

13 eNow when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed fstanding beside them, gthey had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, hWhat shall we do with these men? For that ia notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them jto speak no more to anyone in this name. 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, kWhether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for lwe cannot but speak of what mwe have seen and heard. 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, nbecause of the people, for all were praising God ofor what had happened.


John 16:16–33

Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy

16 aA little while, and you will see me no longer; and bagain a little while, and you will see me. 17 So csome of his disciples said to one another, What is this that he says to us, dA little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me; and, ebecause I am going to the Father? 18 So they were saying, What does he mean by a little while? fWe do not know what he is talking about. 19 gJesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, hyou will weep and lament, but ithe world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but jyour sorrow will turn into joy. 21 kWhen a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 lSo also you have sorrow now, but mI will see you again, and nyour hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 oIn that day you will pask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, qwhatever you ask of the Father in my name, rhe will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. sAsk, and you will receive, tthat your joy may be full.

I Have Overcome the World

25 I have said these things to you in figures of speech. uThe hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 vfor the Father himself loves you, because wyou have loved me and xhave believed that I came from God.1 28 yI came from the Father and have come into the world, and now zI am leaving the world and going to the Father.

29 His disciples said, Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not ausing figurative speech! 30 Now we know that byou know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that cyou came from God. 31 Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? 32 Behold, dthe hour is coming, indeed it has come, when eyou will be scattered, each to his own home, and fwill leave me alone. gYet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that hin me you may have peace. iIn the world you will have jtribulation. But ktake heart; lI have overcome the world.