The document provides the Bible readings for Wednesday, March 31, 2010 during Lent, including passages from Isaiah, Psalms, Hebrews, and John. It contains the Old Testament reading of Isaiah speaking as a prophet, the Psalm asking God for help and deliverance, the New Testament reading urging readers to keep their eyes on Jesus and endure hardship as he did, and the Gospel reading describing Jesus foretelling his betrayal by Judas.

1. Wednesday, March 31, 2010 | Lent
Old Testament Isaiah 50:4–9a
Psalm Psalm 70
New Testament Hebrews 12:1–3
Gospel John 13:21–32
Old Testament
Isaiah 50:4–9a
50:4
The sovereign Lord has given me the capacity to be his spokesman,
so that I know how to help the weary.
He wakes me up every morning;
he makes me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do.
50:5
The sovereign Lord has spoken to me clearly;
I have not rebelled,
I have not turned back.
50:6
I offered my back to those who attacked,
my jaws to those who tore out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from insults and spitting.
50:7
But the sovereign Lord helps me,
so I am not humiliated.
For that reason I am steadfastly resolved;
I know I will not be put to shame.
50:8
The one who vindicates me is close by.
Who dares to argue with me? Let us confront each other!
Who is my accuser? Let him challenge me!
Psalm
Psalm 70
For the music director; by David; written to get God’s attention.
O God, please be willing to rescue me!
70:1
O Lord, hurry and help me!
May those who are trying to take my life
70:2
be embarrassed and ashamed!
May those who want to harm me
be turned back and ashamed!
May those who say, “Aha! Aha!”
70:3
be driven back and disgraced!
May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you!
70:4
May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually,
“May God be praised!”
I am oppressed and needy!
70:5
O God, hurry to me!
You are my helper and my deliverer!
O Lord, do not delay!
New Testament
Hebrews 12:1–3

2. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every
12:1
weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our
12:2
eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the
cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Think of
12:3
him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your
souls and give up.
Gospel
John 13:21–32
When he had said these things, Jesus was greatly distressed in spirit, and testified, “I tell you the
13:21
solemn truth, one of you will betray me.” The disciples began to look at one another, worried and
13:22
perplexed to know which of them he was talking about. One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved,
13:23
was at the table to the right of Jesus in a place of honor. So Simon Peter gestured to this disciple to
13:24
ask Jesus who it was he was referring to. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved leaned back against
13:25
Jesus’ chest and asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus replied, “It is the one to whom I will give this
13:26
piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish.” Then he dipped the piece of bread in the dish and gave
it to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son. And after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him.
13:27
Jesus said to him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” (Now none of those present at the table
13:28
understood why Jesus said this to Judas. Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus
13:29
was telling him to buy whatever they needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.) Judas
13:30
took the piece of bread and went out immediately. (Now it was night.)
When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him.
13:31
If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him right away.
13:32