Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B
Between the Baptism of Our Lord and Transfiguration Revised Common Lectionary, Year B, the year of Mark Green
Next read on .
The Gospel: Mark 1:14–20
Jesus begins preaching in Galilee and calls the fishermen Simon, Andrew, James, and John, who leave their nets to follow him.
What is going on
John the Baptist has been arrested. Jesus goes to Galilee and announces that the time has come and God’s kingdom is near: turn around, and believe the good news.
Walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he sees two brothers, Simon and Andrew, throwing a fishing net. He tells them to follow him, and says he will make them fish for people.
They leave their nets at once. A little further on, two more brothers, James and John, leave their father Zebedee in the boat and follow him too.
Mark 1:14-20
Most churches stand for the Gospel, and sing or say a short response before and after it.
The passage
14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.” 16 Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets, and followed him. 19 Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
The other readings
In the order they are read on Sunday, before the Gospel.
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Jonah warns Nineveh that it will be overthrown in forty days, the people believe God and fast, and God spares the city.
Read it here
1 The LORD’s word came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give you.” 3 So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD’s word. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey across. 4 Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried out, and said, “In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!” 5 The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least.
10 God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn’t do it.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Psalm 62:5-12
A song of quiet trust in God alone as rock and refuge, urging all to pour out their hearts to him.
Read it here
5 My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor is with God. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. 9 Surely men of low degree are just a breath, and men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath. 10 Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them. 11 God has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God. 12 Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness, for you reward every man according to his work.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Paul tells the Corinthians the time is short and urges them to hold loosely to marriage, grief, joy, and possessions, since this world is passing away.
Read it here
29 But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none; 30 and those who weep, as though they didn’t weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn’t rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn’t possess; 31 and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.
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
What would you have to put down to follow Jesus 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 after the Epiphany · 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.