a thread opens
And the child grew, and grew strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
The Vigil
Today’s scroll, one verse at a time — each linked to the last by the cross-references rather than by any model of you. The same vigil for everyone, and a different one tomorrow.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
from Luke 2:40
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
from John 1:14 · a strong link
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
from I John 4:9
Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
from Romans 8:32
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
from I Corinthians 3:21
a thread opens
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
from I Corinthians 8:4
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
from Ephesians 4:6 · a strong link
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunder, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.
from Romans 11:36
And his feet like to fine bronze, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
a thread opens
By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a fragrant offering.
from I John 3:16 · a strong link
For even to this were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, so that you should follow his steps:
from Ephesians 5:2
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
from I Peter 2:21
a thread opens
But the anointing which you have received of him remains in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall remain in him.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
from I John 2:27
To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they did minister the things, which are now reported to you by them that have preached the gospel to you with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
from I Corinthians 2:13
And I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
from I Peter 1:12
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like to crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.
And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes around, even the wheels that they four had.
And the four living creatures had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
from Ezekiel 10:12
a thread opens
And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, varieties of tongues.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.
from I Corinthians 12:28
Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
from I Timothy 5:17 · a strong link
But you shall open your hand wide to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wants.
from Romans 12:8
Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not you away.
from Deuteronomy 15:8
A good man shows favor, and lends: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
from Matthew 5:42
a thread opens
I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, who are present here, to offer willingly to you.
For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart.
from I Chronicles 29:17
Is not my word like as a fire? says the LORD; and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
from Hebrews 4:12 · a strong link
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
from Jeremiah 23:29
And Elijah answered the captain of fifty, If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume you and your fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
a thread opens
Clean out therefore the old leaven, so that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
And I saw, and, look, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
from I Corinthians 5:7
And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he said, Look, the Lamb of God!
from Revelation of John 5:6 · a strong link
The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
from John 1:36 · a strong link
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Luke 2:40 along this chain. Today’s own vigil is laid separately.
Each verse follows the one before it along the chain a study Bible draws — a century old, public, and compiled by people arguing about Scripture rather than about how long you stay. Every card says which verse it came from and opens the chapter it belongs to. Today’s vigil is the same for every reader and is worked out from the date alone, so there is no account, no counter, and nothing stored in your browser or ours.
The text is the Lantern Modern Standard. The links are openbible.info’s cross-reference set (CC BY), the same apparatus behind the reader’s Echoes drawer. Read a whole book · Today’s table