Sunday 21 February 2027

1After these things,God tested Abraham,and said to him, “Abraham!”

He said, “Here I am.”

2He said, “Now take your son,your only son, Isaac,whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah.Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountainswhich I will tell you of.”· · · verses 3–8 are not read9They came to the place which God had told him of.Abraham built the altar there,and laid the wood in order,bound Isaac his son,and laid him on the altar, on the wood.10Abraham stretched out his hand,and took the knife to kill his son.

11The Lord’s angel called to him out of the sky,and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

He said, “Here I am.”

12He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him.For now I know that you fear God,since you have not withheld your son,your only son, from me.”

13Abraham lifted up his eyes,and looked, and sawthat behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns.Abraham went and took the ram,and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

· · · verse 14 is not read15The Lord’s angel called to Abraham a second time out of the sky,16and said, “‘I have sworn by myself,’says the Lord, ‘because you have done this thing,and have not withheld your son, your only son,17that I will bless you greatly,and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens,and like the sand which is on the seashore.Your offspring will possess the gate of his enemies.18All the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring,because you have obeyed my voice.’”

10I believed, therefore I said,“I was greatly afflicted.”

15Precious in the Lord’s sight is the death of his saints.

16Lord, truly I am your servant.I am your servant, the son of your servant girl.You have freed me from my chains.17I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving,and will call on the Lord’s name.

18I will pay my vows to the Lord,yes, in the presence of all his people,19in the courts of the Lord’s house,in the middle of you, Jerusalem.Praise the Lord!

31What then shall we say about these things?If God is for us, who can be against us?32He who didn’t spare his own Son,but delivered him up for us all,how would he not also with him freely give us all things?33Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones?It is God who justifies.34Who is he who condemns?It is Christ who died,yes rather, who was raised from the dead,who is at the right hand of God,who also makes intercession for us.

2After six days Jesus took with him Peter,James, and John,and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves,and he was changed into another form in front of them.3His clothing became glistening,exceedingly white,like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.4Elijah and Moses appeared to them,and they were talking with Jesus.

5Peter answered Jesus,“Rabbi, it is good for us to be here.Let’s make three tents:one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”6For he didn’t know what to say, for they were very afraid.

7A cloud came, overshadowing them,and a voice came out of the cloud,“This is my beloved Son.Listen to him.”

8Suddenly looking around,they saw no one with them any more,except Jesus only.

9As they were coming down from the mountain,he commanded themthat they should tell no one what things they had seen,until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.10They kept this saying to themselves,questioning what the “rising from the dead” meant.