18Alas, you who are longing for the day of the Lord,

For what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you?

It will be darkness and not light;

19As when a man flees from a lion

And a bear meets him,

Or goes home, leans his hand against the wall

And a snake bites him.

20Will not the day of the Lord be darkness instead of light,

Even gloom with no brightness in it?

21“I hate, I reject your festivals,

Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies.

22Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings.

23Take away from Me the noise of your songs;

I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.

24But let justice roll down like waters

And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

25“Did you present Me with sacrifices and grain offerings in the wilderness for forty years, O house of Israel? 26You also carried along Sikkuth your king and Kiyyun, your images, the star of your gods which you made for yourselves. 27Therefore, I will make you go into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.

Mary Anoints Jesus

1Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. 3Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, *said, 5“Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” 6Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. 7Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. 8For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

9The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. 10But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; 11because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.

Jesus Enters Jerusalem

12On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” 14Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15“Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. 17So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. 18For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. 19So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”

Greeks Seek Jesus

20Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22Philip *came and *told Andrew; Andrew and Philip *came and *told Jesus. 23And Jesus *answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 26If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Jesus Foretells His Death

27“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. 31Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” 33But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die. 34The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” 35So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.”

These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. 37But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. 38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40“He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.” 41These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him. 42Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

44And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. 47If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. 49For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. 50I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

1) How does Amos warn against desiring a day of darkness?

2) How does John contrast darkness with Messiah’s light?

3) How does trusting the Light change your next step?

PSALM 35

Prayer for Rescue from Enemies.

A Psalm of David.

1Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;

Fight against those who fight against me.

2Take hold of buckler and shield

And rise up for my help.

3Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me;

Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

4Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life;

Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me.

5Let them be like chaff before the wind,

With the angel of the Lord driving them on.

6Let their way be dark and slippery,

With the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

7For without cause they hid their net for me;

Without cause they dug a pit for my soul.

8Let destruction come upon him unawares,

And let the net which he hid catch himself;

Into that very destruction let him fall.

9And my soul shall rejoice in the Lord;

It shall exult in His salvation.

10All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You,

Who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him,

And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?”

11Malicious witnesses rise up;

They ask me of things that I do not know.

12They repay me evil for good,

To the bereavement of my soul.

13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth;

I humbled my soul with fasting,

And my prayer kept returning to my bosom.

14I went about as though it were my friend or brother;

I bowed down mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.

15But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered themselves together;

The smiters whom I did not know gathered together against me,

They slandered me without ceasing.

16Like godless jesters at a feast,

They gnashed at me with their teeth.

17Lord, how long will You look on?

Rescue my soul from their ravages,

My only life from the lions.

18I will give You thanks in the great congregation;

I will praise You among a mighty throng.

19Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me;

Nor let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously.

20For they do not speak peace,

But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

21They opened their mouth wide against me;

They said, “Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it!”

22You have seen it, O Lord, do not keep silent;

O Lord, do not be far from me.

23Stir up Yourself, and awake to my right

And to my cause, my God and my Lord.

24Judge me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness,

And do not let them rejoice over me.

25Do not let them say in their heart, “Aha, our desire!”

Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”

26Let those be ashamed and humiliated altogether who rejoice at my distress;

Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves over me.

27Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication;

And let them say continually, “The Lord be magnified,

Who delights in the prosperity of His servant.”

28And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness

And Your praise all day long.

Similitudes, Instructions

1These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.

2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,

But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

3As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,

So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4Take away the dross from the silver,

And there comes out a vessel for the smith;

5Take away the wicked before the king,

And his throne will be established in righteousness.

6Do not claim honor in the presence of the king,

And do not stand in the place of great men;

7For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”

Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,

Whom your eyes have seen.

8Do not go out hastily to argue your case;

Otherwise, what will you do in the end,

When your neighbor humiliates you?

9Argue your case with your neighbor,

And do not reveal the secret of another,

10Or he who hears it will reproach you,

And the evil report about you will not pass away.

11Like apples of gold in settings of silver

Is a word spoken in right circumstances.

12Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold

Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest

Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,

For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14Like clouds and wind without rain

Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.

15By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded,

And a soft tongue breaks the bone.

16Have you found honey? Eat only what you need,

That you not have it in excess and vomit it.

17Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,

Or he will become weary of you and hate you.

18Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow

Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

19Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot

Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

20Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda,

Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.

21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

22For you will heap burning coals on his head,

And the Lord will reward you.

23The north wind brings forth rain,

And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.

24It is better to live in a corner of the roof

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

25Like cold water to a weary soul,

So is good news from a distant land.

26Like a trampled spring and a polluted well

Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

27It is not good to eat much honey,

Nor is it glory to search out one’s own glory.

28Like a city that is broken into and without walls

Is a man who has no control over his spirit.

18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. 20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

The Promise Is Eternal Life

25This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.

26These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. 27As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

28Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. 29If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.