Jesus, then, is the High Priest that meets our needs. He is holy; he has no fault or sin in him; he has been set apart from sinners and raised above the heavens.

Surely you won't kill the innocent with the guilty. That's impossible! You can't do that. If you did, the innocent would be punished along with the guilty. That is impossible. The judge of all the earth has to act justly."

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!"

Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory?"

and said to them, "This is what is written: the Messiah must suffer and must rise from death three days later,

God offered him, so that by his blood he should become the means by which people's sins are forgiven through their faith in him. God did this in order to demonstrate that he is righteous. In the past he was patient and overlooked people's sins; but in the present time he deals with their sins, in order to demonstrate his righteousness. In this way God shows that he himself is righteous and that he puts right everyone who believes in Jesus.

(SEE 3:25)

Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son!

which he gave to us in such large measure! In all his wisdom and insight

He did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary greatness of his grace in the love he showed us in Christ Jesus.

in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms.

God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things which even the angels would like to understand.

Everything the LORD has made has its destiny; and the destiny of the wicked is destruction.

They are the people I made for myself, and they will sing my praises!"

For all things were created by him, and all things exist through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Amen.

yet there is for us only one God, the Father, who is the Creator of all things and for whom we live; and there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created and through whom we live.

All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also.

For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him.

Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place.

"Our Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. For you created all things, and by your will they were given existence and life."

But now I am going to gather them together and punish them. Soon they will writhe in pain when the emperor of Assyria oppresses them.

and not only for them, but also to bring together into one body all the scattered people of God.

Those who are led by God's Spirit are God's children.

God's Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God's children.

I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

This is what he says in the book of Hosea: "The people who were not mine I will call 'My People.' The nation that I did not love I will call 'My Beloved.'

And in the very place where they were told, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called the children of the living God."

I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

It is through faith that all of you are God's children in union with Christ Jesus.

God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children---this was his pleasure and purpose.

See how much the Father has loved us! His love is so great that we are called God's children---and so, in fact, we are. This is why the world does not know us: it has not known God.

My dear friends, we are now God's children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is.

After this I looked, and there was an enormous crowd---no one could count all the people! They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood in front of the throne and of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

And he also wanted to reveal his abundant glory, which was poured out on us who are the objects of his mercy, those of us whom he has prepared to receive his glory.

The wisdom I proclaim is God's secret wisdom, which is hidden from human beings, but which he had already chosen for our glory even before the world was made.

All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory.

And this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble.

Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory!

and so I endure everything for the sake of God's chosen people, in order that they too may obtain the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus and brings eternal glory.

I, who am an elder myself, appeal to the church elders among you. I am a witness of Christ's sufferings, and I will share in the glory that will be revealed. I appeal to you

But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation.

On our behalf Jesus has gone in there before us and has become a high priest forever, in the priestly order of Melchizedek.

Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God's throne.

"Neither," the man answered. "I am here as the commander of the LORD's army." Joshua threw himself on the ground in worship and said, "I am your servant, sir. What do you want me to do?"

And the commander of the LORD's army told him, "Take your sandals off; you are standing on holy ground." And Joshua did as he was told.

I made him a leader and commander of nations, and through him I showed them my power.

God will open the way for them and lead them out of exile. They will break out of the city gates and go free. Their king, the LORD himself, will lead them out.

You killed the one who leads to life, but God raised him from death---and we are witnesses to this.

God raised him to his right side as Leader and Savior, to give the people of Israel the opportunity to repent and have their sins forgiven.

But even though he was God's Son, he learned through his sufferings to be obedient.

When he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him,

Jesus answered them, "Go and tell that fox: 'I am driving out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I shall finish my work.'

Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory?"

and said to them, "This is what is written: the Messiah must suffer and must rise from death three days later,

Jesus drank the wine and said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.