Third Sunday of Easter, Year B
Two weeks after Easter Day Revised Common Lectionary, Year B, the year of Mark White and gold
Next read on .
The Gospel: Luke 24:36b–48
The risen Jesus appears to his frightened disciples, shows his hands and feet, eats fish, and opens their minds to understand the Scriptures.
What is going on
Two followers have just told the others how they met Jesus on the road to Emmaus. While they are still talking, Jesus himself is standing among them.
They are frightened and think he is a ghost. He shows them his hands and feet, tells them to touch him, and eats a piece of cooked fish in front of them.
Then he opens their minds to understand the Scriptures. He says that repentance and the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, starting from Jerusalem.
Luke 24:36b-48
Most churches stand for the Gospel, and sing or say a short response before and after it.
The passage
36 As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While they still didn’t believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 He took them, and ate in front of them. 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures. 46 He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Jesus Appears to the Disciples, scene by scene on Free Scripture
The other readings
In the order they are read on Sunday, before the Gospel.
Acts 3:12-19
After a lame man is healed, Peter tells the people it happened through faith in Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, and urges them to repent.
Read it here
12 When Peter saw it, he responded to the people, “You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses. 16 By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 “Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Psalm 4
An evening prayer asking God to hear, trusting in the LORD, and lying down to sleep in peace and safety.
Read it here
1 Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. 2 You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? Will you love vanity and seek after falsehood? 3 But know that the LORD has set apart for himself him who is godly: the LORD will hear when I call to him. 4 Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Put your trust in the LORD. 6 Many say, “Who will show us any good?” O LORD, let the light of your face shine on us. 7 You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and their new wine are increased. 8 In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, the LORD alone, make me live in safety.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
1 John 3:1-7
The first letter of John marvels that God’s great love makes believers his children, and says that when Christ appears they will be like him.
Read it here
1 See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God. It is not yet revealed what we will be; but we know that when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. 4 Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and no sin is in him. 6 Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him and doesn’t know him. 7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
A question to carry into the week
Jesus showed he was really there with something as ordinary as a meal. Where might you notice him in ordinary things this week?
For your newsletter or sermon notes
These readings are told as stories on our sister site, Free Scripture, one scene at a time in plain words. The lines below are ready to paste. The next eight Sundays, and every story.
Third Sunday of Easter · Revised Common Lectionary, Year B · the same Sunday at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Scripture text: World English Bible, public domain.
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org Used by permission.