Lessons for October 22, 2006 – Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

The first lesson

Isaiah 53:4-12
 
    Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! 5 But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! 6 All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. 7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins—that he was suffering their punishment? 9 He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave. 10 But it was the Lord's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord's plan will prosper in his hands.11When he
sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. 12 I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.  (NLT)

Psalm 91:9-16
 
L.  If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 
C.  no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. 
L.  For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. 
C.  They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone. 
L.  You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes;
C.  you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
L.  The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 
C.  When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.
L.  I will rescue them and honor them. 
C.  I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation."  (NLT)

The second lesson

Hebrews 5:1-10
 
    Now a high priest is a man chosen to represent other human beings in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers their sacrifices for sins. 2 And because he is human, he is able to deal gently with the people, though they are ignorant and wayward. For he is subject to the same weaknesses they have. 3 That is why he has to offer sacrifices, both for their sins and for his own sins. 4 And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He has to be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was. 5 That is why Christ did not exalt himself to become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him,

    "You are my Son.
        Today I have become your Father."
 
6 And in another passage God said to him,

    "You are a priest forever
        in the line of Melchizedek."
 
7 While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could deliver him out of death. And God heard his prayers because of his reverence for God. 8 So even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. 9 In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. 10 And God designated him to be a High Priest in the line of Melchizedek.  (NLT)

The Gospel Lesson

Mark 10:35-45
 
    Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do us a favor." 36"What is it?" he asked. 37 "In your glorious Kingdom, we want to sit in places of honor next to you," they said, "one at your right and the other at your left." 38 But Jesus answered, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of sorrow I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?" 39 "Oh yes," they said, "we are able!" And Jesus said, "You will indeed drink from my cup and be baptized with my baptism, 40 but I have no right to say who will sit on the thrones next to mine. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen." 41 When the ten other disciples discovered what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 42 So Jesus called them together and said, "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. 43 But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. 45 For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."  (NLT)