Luke 23:1-25; Genesis 41; Psalms 32

Luke 23:1-25

1 Then their whole assembly rose up and brought Him before Pilate.

2 They began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this man subverting our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is the Messiah, a King."

3 So Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" He answered him, "You have said it."

4 Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no grounds for charging this man."

5 But they kept insisting, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where He started even to here."

6 When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean.

7 Finding that He was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.

8 Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see Him, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by Him.

9 So he kept asking Him questions, but Jesus did not answer him.

10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing Him.

11 Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt, mocked Him, dressed Him in a brilliant robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.

12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends. Previously, they had been hostile toward each other.

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,

14 and said to them, "You have brought me this man as one who subverts the people. But in fact, after examining Him in your presence, I have found no grounds to charge this man with those things you accuse Him of

15 Neither has Herod, because he sent Him back to us. Clearly, He has done nothing to deserve death.

16 Therefore I will have Him whipped; to discipline or "teach a lesson"; 1 Kg 12:11 , 14 LXX; 2 Ch 10:11 , 14 ; perhaps a way of referring to the Roman scourging; Lat flagellatio and [then] release Him." [

17 For according to the festival he had to release someone to them.]

18 Then they all cried out together, "Take this man away! Release Barabbas to us!"

19 (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again,

21 but they kept shouting, "Crucify! Crucify Him!"

22 A third time he said to them, "Why? What has this man done wrong? I have found in Him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have Him whipped and [then] release Him."

23 But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And their voices won out.

24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand

25 and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.

Genesis 41

1 Two years later Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile,

2 when seven healthy-looking, well-fed cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds.

3 After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside those cows along the bank of the Nile.

4 The sickly, thin cows ate the healthy, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.

5 He fell asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, full and good, came up on one stalk.

6 After them, seven heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up.

7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven full, good ones. Then Pharaoh woke up, and it was only a dream.

8 When morning came, he was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I remember my faults.

10 Pharaoh had been angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard.

11 He and I had dreams on the same night; each dream had its own meaning.

12 Now a young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guards, was with us there. We told him our dreams, he interpreted our dreams for us, and each had its own interpretation.

13 It turned out just the way he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged."

14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they quickly brought him from the dungeon. He shaved, changed his clothes, and went to Pharaoh.

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it."

16 "I am not able to," Joseph answered Pharaoh. "It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."

17 So Pharaoh said to Joseph: "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,

18 when seven well-fed, healthy-looking cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds.

19 After them, seven other cows-ugly, very sickly, and thin-came up. I've never seen such ugly ones as these in all the land of Egypt.

20 Then the thin, ugly cows ate the first seven well-fed cows.

21 When they had devoured them, you could not tell that they had devoured them; their appearance was as bad as it had been before. Then I woke up.

22 In my dream I had also seen seven heads of grain, full and good, coming up on one stalk.

23 After them, seven heads of grain- withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind-sprouted up.

24 The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven full ones. I told this to the magicians, but no one can tell me what it means."

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's dreams mean the same thing. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.

26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years. The dreams mean the same thing.

27 The seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven worthless, scorched heads of grain are seven years of famine.

28 "It is just as I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.

29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt.

30 After them, seven years of famine will take place, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will devastate the land.

31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows it, for the famine will be very severe.

32 Because the dream was given twice to Pharaoh, it means that the matter has been determined by God, and He will soon carry it out.

33 "So now, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.

34 Let Pharaoh do this: Let him appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth [of the harvest] of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.

35 Let them gather all the [excess] food during these good years that are coming, store the grain under Pharaoh's authority as food in the cities, and preserve [it].

36 The food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine that will take place in the land of Egypt. Then the country will not be wiped out by the famine."

37 The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.

38 Then Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find anyone like this, a man who has the spirit of God in him?"

39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as intelligent and wise as you.

40 You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you."

41 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, "See, I am placing you over all the land of Egypt."

42 Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, clothed him with fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck.

43 He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, and [servants] called out before him, "Abrek!" So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.

44 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your permission no one will be able to raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."

45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah and gave him a wife, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph left Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt.

47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced outstanding harvests.

48 Joseph gathered all the [excess] food in the land of Egypt during the seven years and placed it in the cities. He placed the food in every city from the fields around it.

49 So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance-like the sand of the sea-that he stopped measuring it because it was beyond measure.

50 Two sons were born to Joseph before the years of famine arrived. Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On, bore [them] to him.

51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, meaning, "God has made me forget all my hardship in my father's house."

52 And the second son he named Ephraim, meaning, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."

53 Then the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end,

54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in every country, but throughout the land of Egypt there was food.

55 Extreme hunger came to all the land of Egypt, and the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh told all Egypt, "Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you."

56 Because the famine had spread across the whole country, Joseph opened up [all the storehouses] and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.

57 The whole world came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, for the famine was severe all over the earth.

Psalms 32

1 How happy is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!

2 How happy is the man the Lord does not charge with sin, and in whose spirit is no deceit!

3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night Your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer's heat. Selah

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and You took away the guilt of my sin. Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to You at a time that You may be found. When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him.

7 You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel.

9 Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle, or else it will not come near you.

10 Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the Lord will have faithful love surrounding him.

11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.