Our eyes were opened, all right. First thing we saw: we were naked. Sewed fig leaves together. That evening we heard the LORD God walking in the garden, and we hid in the trees. From God. And he called out, “Where are you?”
GENESIS 3:7–9 · BSB
And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?”
Told him I was scared because I was naked, so I hid. He asked if I’d eaten from the tree. And I blamed her. Said the woman he put here with me gave it to me. I said that. To God. About her.
GENESIS 3:10–12 · BSB
“I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” “Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Told the king a story. A rich man with huge flocks. A poor man with one little ewe lamb that slept in his arms like a daughter. A guest came, and the rich man took the poor man’s lamb.
2 SAMUEL 12:1–4 · BSB
Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food and drank from his cup; it slept in his arms and was like a daughter to him. Now a traveler came to the rich man, who refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.”
He was furious. Said the man who did this deserves to die. So I told him: you are the man.
2 SAMUEL 12:5–7 · BSB
David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.” Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
That was me. Right as I said it, he turned round and looked straight at me. It wasn't until he did that I remembered what he'd told me: before the rooster crows today, you'll say three times you don't know me. I'd said I'd go to prison with him. Die with him. I went outside and cried my heart out.
And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word that the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
A man has two sons. The younger asks for his share now and blows the lot in a far country. Ends up feeding pigs, starving. Then he comes to his senses: I'll go home and tell my father I don't deserve to be called his son.
LUKE 15:11–19 · BSB
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing. Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food, but here I am, starving to death! I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
Feeding pigs. For a Jewish boy, you can't sink lower than that. And he was hungry enough to want what they were eating.
LUKE 15:15–16 · BSB
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.
When I kept quiet about what I'd done, I wasted away. Groaning all day. Your hand heavy on me day and night.
Then I owned up. Stopped hiding it. And you forgave me. All of it.
PSALM 32:3–5 · BSB
When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was drained as in the summer heat. Selah Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
Nathan the prophet came to see me. After Bathsheba. I'm not going to dress this one up.
God, have mercy on me. I know what I've done. I can't stop seeing it. It's you I've sinned against. You, most of all.
PSALM 51:1–4 · BSB
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.
I told you a story about a rich man who took a poor man's only lamb. You were furious. Then I said it: you are the man.
2 SAMUEL 12:1–7 · BSB
Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food and drank from his cup; it slept in his arms and was like a daughter to him. Now a traveler came to the rich man, who refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.” David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.” Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
I fell at his knees and told him to get away from me. Lord, I'm a sinful man. He told me not to be afraid. From now on I'll be catching people.
LUKE 5:8–10 · BSB
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.” For he and his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.”
That was me. In chains in Babylon, I begged the LORD my God and humbled myself before the God of my ancestors. I prayed. He listened. He brought me back to Jerusalem, to my kingdom. Now I know the LORD is God.
And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition. So He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.
He throws the foreign gods and the idol out of the LORD’s house and dumps the altars outside the city. He restores the LORD’s altar, sacrifices thank offerings on it, and tells Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel.
2 CHRONICLES 33:15–16 · BSB
He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, along with all the altars he had built on the temple mount and in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city. Then he restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it, and he told Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel.
I'm crying out to you from the depths, LORD. If you kept a record of our wrongs, who could stand? But with you there's forgiveness.
PSALM 130:1; PSALM 130:3–4 · BSB
A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD! If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.
If we say we have no sin, we’re fooling ourselves. If we confess our sins, he’s faithful and fair, and he’ll forgive us and wash us clean of every wrong.
1 JOHN 1:8–9 · BSB
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
While he's still a long way off, his father sees him and runs. Throws his arms round him. Best robe, ring, sandals, the fattened calf. “This son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost, and he's found.”
LUKE 15:20–24 · BSB
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
No because the father doesn't even let him finish it. He gets as far as “I don't deserve to be called your son,” and the father's already shouting for the best robe.
LUKE 15:21–22 · BSB
The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Lose one sheep out of a hundred, and you'd leave the ninety-nine and go after it. There's more joy in heaven over one sinner who turns back to God than over ninety-nine who don't need to.
LUKE 15:4–7 · BSB
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
Ninety-nine sheep, and he goes after the one. We're the one, aren't we.
LUKE 15:1; LUKE 15:4 · BSB
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus. “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
Adam called me Eve. It means living, because I’d be the mother of everyone alive. And before we left, God made us clothes out of skins and dressed us himself.
GENESIS 3:20–21 · BSB
And Adam named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all the living. And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.
Early morning in the temple courts, everyone sitting round him while he teaches. Then the teachers of the law and the Pharisees shove a woman into the middle of us all. Caught in adultery, they say. Moses says stone her. So what does he say?
JOHN 8:2–5 · BSB
Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them. The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?”
He asked me if no one had condemned me. No one, I said. Then neither do I, he said. Go, and don't sin any more.
JOHN 8:10–11 · BSB
Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”
Come on, let’s talk this through, the LORD says. Your sins are scarlet? They can be white as snow. Red as crimson? They’ll be like wool.
ISAIAH 1:18 · BSB
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.
Jesus is coming through Jericho and the whole town's out on the street. Chief tax collector, rich, and short, so I can't see a thing over the crowd. So I've run on ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig.
LUKE 19:1–4 · BSB
Then Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who was very wealthy. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Him, since Jesus was about to pass that way.
He stopped right under the tree. Looked up and called me by name. Zacchaeus, hurry down, I have to stay at your house today. I hurried down. So glad to have him.
LUKE 19:5–6 · BSB
When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today.” So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully.
I heard you. Here's what I told him: half of everything I own is going to the poor. And if I've cheated anyone out of anything, I'll pay them back four times over.
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”
The other one hanging here keeps shouting at him. Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself, and us. I told him: aren’t you even afraid of God? We deserve this. He’s done nothing wrong.
LUKE 23:39–41 · BSB
One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!” But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
He said to me, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at the table started muttering: who is this, who even forgives sins? And he told me my faith has saved me, and sent me home in peace.
LUKE 7:48–50 · BSB
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
5Putting it right with people
Some of the hardest part is facing the people you hurt, or the person who hurt you.
You asked what all the animals were for. Said you had plenty, and I should keep them. I made you take them. Seeing your face was like seeing the face of God, you welcomed me so kindly.
GENESIS 33:8–11 · BSB
“What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau. “To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered. “I already have plenty, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what belongs to you.” But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably. Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.
Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!” So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.
Am I in God’s place? You meant it for harm, but God meant it for good, to save a lot of lives. Don’t be afraid. I’ll look after you and your little ones.
But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.
The Lord just spoke to me in a vision. Said my name. I said, here I am, Lord. He told me to go to Judas’s house on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus called Saul. He’s praying. He’s seen a vision of me coming in and putting my hands on him so he can see again.
ACTS 9:10–12 · BSB
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered. “Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
Put my hands on him. Brother Saul, I said. The Lord Jesus, the one who appeared to you on the road, has sent me. So you can see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
ACTS 9:17 · BSB
So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
The LORD told me a second time. Get up, go to Nineveh, say what I tell you. Fine. I'm going.
JONAH 3:1–3 · BSB
Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message that I give you.” This time Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, in accordance with the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, requiring a three-day journey.
After breakfast he asked me: Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? Yes, Lord, you know I love you. Feed my lambs. Then again. Then a third time, and that one hurt. Lord, you know everything. You know I love you. Feed my sheep, he said.
When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
Three times that night by the fire. Three times by this one.
JOHN 21:9; JOHN 21:17; JOHN 18:18 · BSB
When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Because it was cold, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had made to keep warm. And Peter was also standing with them, warming himself.
Seven weeks ago, by a fire in the high priest’s courtyard, I swore I didn’t know him. Today I stood up in front of thousands of people and told them God has made him Lord and Messiah.
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words. Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!” But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak!”
I’m the one who got him into that courtyard. Today I was standing right next to him.
ACTS 2:14; JOHN 18:16 · BSB
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words. But Peter stood outside at the door. Then the disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.
I’m the one who has seen it. He’s driven me into the dark. My strength is gone, and so is my hope from the LORD.
LAMENTATIONS 3:1–2; LAMENTATIONS 3:18 · BSB
I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath. He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness instead of light. So I say, “My strength has perished, along with my hope from the LORD.”
Not that I’ve arrived. But one thing I do: forgetting what’s behind and straining towards what’s ahead, I keep running for the finish line, for the prize God is calling me up to in Christ Jesus.
PHILIPPIANS 3:12–14 · BSB
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
He'll pay us back for the years the locusts ate. That's what the LORD said.
JOEL 2:25 · BSB
I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you.
I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you.
The books of Chronicles
A teacher of the law on the road to Jerusalem
Someone in the crowd at Jericho
Jacob
Mark
