Holy Cross — Open Word

FIRST READING

Numbers 21:4b-9

Verse 4. But the people grew impatient on the journey Verse 5. and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!” Verse 6. So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died. Verse 7. Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people. Verse 8. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” Verse 9. So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.

PSALM

Psalm 98:1-5

A Psalm. Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done wonders; His right hand and holy arm have gained Him the victory.

The LORD has proclaimed His salvation and revealed His righteousness to the nations.

He has remembered His love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth — let your cry ring out, and sing praises!

Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, in melodious song with the harp.

PSALM

Psalm 78:1-2, 34-38

A Maskil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my instruction; listen to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning,

When He slew them, they would seek Him; they repented and searched for God.

And they remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.

But they deceived Him with their mouths, and lied to Him with their tongues.

Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant.

And yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger and did not unleash His full wrath.

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:18-24

Verse 18. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Verse 19. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Verse 20. Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? Verse 21. For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Verse 22. Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom, Verse 23. but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, Verse 24. but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

GOSPEL

John 3:13-17

Verse 13. No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven— the Son of Man. Verse 14. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, Verse 15. that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. Verse 16. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Verse 17. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.