Wednesday in Advent

1Verse 1. Again the word of the LORD of Hosts came to me, saying: 2Verse 2. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I am jealous for Zion with great zeal; I am jealous for her with great fervor.” 3Verse 3. This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.” 4Verse 4. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Old men and old women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of great age. 5Verse 5. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing there.” 6Verse 6. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “If this is impossible in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be impossible in My eyes?” declares the LORD of Hosts. 7Verse 7. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. 8Verse 8. I will bring them back to dwell in Jerusalem, where they will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.” 9Verse 9. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were present when the foundations were laid to rebuild the temple, the house of the LORD of Hosts. 10Verse 10. For before those days neither man nor beast received wages, nor was there safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I had turned every man against his neighbor. 11Verse 11. But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as I did in the past,” declares the LORD of Hosts. 12Verse 12. “For the seed will be prosperous, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will yield its produce, and the skies will give their dew. To the remnant of this people I will give all these things as an inheritance. 13Verse 13. As you have been a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid; let your hands be strong.” 14Verse 14. For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Just as I resolved to bring disaster upon you when your fathers provoked Me to anger, and I did not relent,” says the LORD of Hosts, 15Verse 15. “so now I have resolved to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid. 16Verse 16. These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, render true and sound judgments in your gates, 17Verse 17. do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD.

14Verse 14. When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, He saw Peter’s mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever. 15Verse 15. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve Him. 16Verse 16. When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Jesus, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17Verse 17. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.” 28Verse 28. When Jesus arrived on the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, He was met by two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29Verse 29. “What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 30Verse 30. In the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31Verse 31. So the demons begged Jesus, “If You drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32Verse 32. “Go!” He told them. So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and died in the waters. 33Verse 33. Those tending the pigs ran off into the town and reported all this, including the account of the demon-possessed men. 34Verse 34. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.