a thread opens
(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
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.
Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counselor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly to Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
from Luke 23:51
And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise to the Lord, and spoke of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
from Mark 15:43 · a strong link
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he has visited and redeemed his people,
from Luke 2:38
He sent redemption to his people: he has commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
from Luke 1:68
And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
from Psalms 111:9
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.
Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, and he that formed you from the womb, I am the LORD that makes all things; that stretches forth the heavens alone; that spreads abroad the earth by myself;
from I Corinthians 8:4
Thus says God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which comes out of it; he that gives breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk in it:
from Isaiah 44:24 · a strong link
A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’s, and its fullness; the world, and they that dwell in it.
from Isaiah 42:5
Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure to me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
from Psalms 24:1
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 from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
from I John 3:16 · a strong link
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.
I saw in the night visions, and one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
from Matthew 28:18 · a strong link
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.
For we have not followed cleverly devised myths, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
from I John 2:27
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
from II Peter 1:16
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, who is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
from I John 1:1
Saying, We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who are, and were, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned.
from Revelation of John 1:8 · a strong link
John to the seven churches in Asia: Grace be to you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits before his throne;
For who has despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run back and forth through the whole earth.
from Revelation of John 1:4 · a strong link
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
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and honor such people:
from I Timothy 5:17 · a strong link
And we beg you, brothers, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
from Philippians 2:29
Remember your leaders, who have spoken to you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conduct.
from I Thessalonians 5:12
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
from Hebrews 13:7
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.
But the LORD said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.
from I Chronicles 29:17
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weighs the spirits.
from I Samuel 16:7 · a strong link
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their obscenity.
from Proverbs 16:2 · a strong link
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
from Proverbs 30:12 · a strong link
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:
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
from I Corinthians 5:7
But cursed be the deceiver, which has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the pagans.
from Exodus 12:5
He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.
from Malachi 1:14
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Luke 23:51 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