This week is Holy Week for Christians, the days that stretch between Palm Sunday and Easter, or Resurrection Sunday. This week we offer a look at the biblical passages dealing with traditional readings for Holy Week. Each day has up to four readings.

Today’s readings are from the writings of the prophet Isaiah, a psalm by King David, a letter written by Paul the Apostle and a book from one of Jesus’ own disciples, entitled “according to John.”

Isaiah 49:1-7

“I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” [verse 6].

Psalm 71:1-14

The psalmist declares he will praise God more and more, and always have hope, because the Lord is his refuge.

“Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go … you are my rock and my fortress … you are my strong refuge” [verses 3, 7].

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” [verse 18].

“God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” [verse 21].

“We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” [verses 23-24].

John 12:20-36

“Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip … with a request. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus’” [verses 20-21].

“‘Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be … Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this reason I came’” [verses 26-27].

“Then Jesus told them, ‘You are going to have the light just a little while longer … Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light’” [verses 35-36].

All passages have been reprinted from the New International Version of the Bible.