The Raising of Lazarus (after Rembrandt) by Vincent van Gogh, May 1890, Saint-Rémy, oil on canvas at the Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh, Amsterdam

Prime Timers

The Prime Timers were a Bible study group at St. Martin's for eight years. One of the goals of our founder, Jackie Rose, was to have a weekly web page for the group and all the pages are still online here. The group disbanded but the readings below are being kept up to date.

Lectionary readings

The Readings for Sunday, April 7 are from Lectionary Year C, Fifth Sunday in Lent: Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b-14 and John 12:1-8. The text is from the Bible Study Tools - New International Version.

Isaiah 43:16-21

¹⁶ This is what the LORD says—
     he who made a way through the sea,
     a path through the mighty waters,

¹⁷ who drew out the chariots and horses,
     the army and reinforcements together,

and they lay there, never to rise again,
     extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

¹⁸ “Forget the former things;
     do not dwell on the past.

¹⁹ See, I am doing a new thing!
     Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness
     and streams in the wasteland.

²⁰ The wild animals honor me,
     the jackals and the owls,

because I provide water in the wilderness
     and streams in the wasteland,

to give drink to my people, my chosen,
    ²¹ the people I formed for myself

that they may proclaim my praise.

Psalm 126

¹ When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
     we were like those who dreamed.

² Our mouths were filled with laughter,
     our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,
     “The LORD has done great things for them.”

³ The LORD has done great things for us,
     and we are filled with joy.

⁴ Restore our fortunes, LORD,
     like streams in the Negev.

⁵ Those who sow with tears
     will reap with songs of joy.

⁶ Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow,
     will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

Philippians 3:4b-14

^4bIf someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

John 12:1-8

¹ Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³ Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. ⁴ But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. ” ⁶ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. ⁷ “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. ⁸ You will always have the poor among you,but you will not always have me.”

Thanks to Bible Study Tools for today's text.