From Ashes to Alleluia: Daily Scripture Readings in Lent

John 13:1-17, 31-35

Thank you for listening, and for making this journey from ashes to alleluia together. If this daily time in Scripture has been a gift to you, I would be grateful to hear from you. You’re welcome to reach out to me by email pastorroger@zionclarencecenter.com or leave a note wherever you’re listening. And as this season comes to its close, may the Word you have heard continue to dwell richly in you in the days ahead. John 13:1-17, 31b-35 1 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already decided that Judas son of Simon Iscariot would betray Jesus. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from supper, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”   12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had reclined again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, slaves are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”   31b “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:21-32

John 13:21-32 21 Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining close to his heart; 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28 Now no one knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.   31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.”

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 18 The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,  “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,   and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of the proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews ask for signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.   26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to abolish things that are, 29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30 In contrast, God is why you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Isaiah 42:1-9

Ashes to Alleluia: Daily Scripture for Lent is a brief daily podcast offering the simple gift of God’s Word during the season of Lent. Each episode begins with a quiet invitation to pause and take one deep breath, followed by the reading of Scripture appointed for the day, and concludes with a short blessing. There is no commentary- only space to listen, receive, as we walk together from repentance toward resurrection through these forty days. Isaiah 42:1-9  1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold,   my chosen, in whom my soul delights;  I have put my spirit upon him;   he will bring forth justice to the nations.  2 He will not cry out or lift up his voice   or make it heard in the street;  3 a bruised reed he will not break,   and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;   he will faithfully bring forth justice.  4 He will not grow faint or be crushed   until he has established justice in the earth,   and the coastlands wait for his teaching.  5 Thus says God, the Lord,   who created the heavens and stretched them out,   who spread out the earth and what comes from it,  who gives breath to the people upon it   and spirit to those who walk in it:  6 I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;   I have taken you by the hand and kept you;  I have given you as a covenant to the people,   a light to the nations,   7 to open the eyes that are blind,  to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,   from the prison those who sit in darkness.  8 I am the Lord; that is my name;   my glory I give to no other,   nor my praise to idols.  9 See, the former things have come to pass,   and new things I now declare;  before they spring forth,   I tell you of them.

Matt 21:1-11

Ashes to Alleluia: Daily Scripture for Lent is a brief daily podcast offering the simple gift of God’s Word during the season of Lent. Each episode begins with a quiet invitation to pause and take one deep breath, followed by the reading of Scripture appointed for the day, and concludes with a short blessing. There is no commentary- only space to listen, receive, as we walk together from repentance toward resurrection through these forty days.