Second Sunday in Lent

1Verse 1. After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” 2Verse 2. But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3Verse 3. Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4Verse 4. Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5Verse 5. And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6Verse 6. Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness. 7Verse 7. The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” 8Verse 8. But Abram replied, “Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?” 9Verse 9. And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.” 10Verse 10. So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half. 11Verse 11. And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12Verse 12. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him. 17Verse 17. When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses. 18Verse 18. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land — from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates —

Text not available in the Berean Standard Bible.

31Verse 31. At that very hour, some Pharisees came to Jesus and told Him, “Leave this place and get away, because Herod wants to kill You.” 32Verse 32. But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’ 33Verse 33. Nevertheless, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day, for it is not admissible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem. 34Verse 34. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! 35Verse 35. Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”

28Verse 28. About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took with Him Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray. 29Verse 29. And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became radiantly white. 30Verse 30. Suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Jesus. 31Verse 31. They appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32Verse 32. Meanwhile Peter and his companions were overcome by sleep, but when they awoke, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with Him. 33Verse 33. As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ( vvv He did not know what he was saying.) 34Verse 34. While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35Verse 35. And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!” 36Verse 36. After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was present with them. The disciples kept this to themselves, and in those days they did not tell anyone what they had seen.