I tell you the truth,
everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth,
the Son of Man
will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.
But anyone who denies me here on earth
will be denied before God’s angels.
Now I am coming to you.
I told them many things while I was with them in this world,
so they would be filled with my joy.
I have given them your word.
And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world,
just as I do not belong to the world.
And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them
so they can be made holy by your truth.
“I am praying not only for these disciples
but also for all who will ever believe in me
through their message.
I pray that they will all be one,
just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father,
and I am in you.
And may they be in us so that the world
will believe you sent me.”
Most of the crowd spread their garments
on the road ahead of him,
and others cut branches from the trees
and spread them on on the road.
Jesus was in the center of the procession,
and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God for the Son of David!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!
Praise God in highest heaven!”
The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered.
“Who is this?” they asked.
And the crowds replied,
“It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
…Jesus looked up to heaven and said,
“Father, the hour has come.
Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.
For you have given him authority over everyone.
He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.
And this is the way to have eternal life—
to know you, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
I brought glory to you here on earth
by completing the work you gave me to do.
Jesus asked,
“Do you finally believe?
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.
But take heart,
because I have overcome the world.”
So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again;
then you will rejoice,
and no one can rob you of that joy.
You haven’t done this before.
Ask, using my name, and you will receive,
and you will have abundant joy.
The Spirit of the sovereign LORD is upon me,
for the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the broken hearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
—–
The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.
The animal you select must be a one-year-old male,
either a sheep or a goat,
with no defects.
——
Just think how much more the blood of Christ
will purify our consciences from sinful deeds
so that we can worship the living God.
For by the power of the eternal Spirit,
Christ offered himself to God
as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.
But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow own own.
Yet the LORD laid on him
the sins of us all.
