This reading is part of a year-long journey through the Bible in chronological order, harmonizing events and narratives to follow the historical flow of God's unfolding plan.
Genesis 48:1 - 50:26
- Jacob, nearing death, adopts Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh as his own, blessing the younger Ephraim with the greater blessing over the firstborn Manasseh, crossing his hands in faith despite Joseph's objection.
- Jacob prophesies over his twelve sons, instructs burial in Canaan, dies, is mourned and embalmed; Joseph forgives his brothers' past wrongs, reassures them, and dies at 110, requesting his bones be taken to the promised land.
Matthew 11:2-19
- While imprisoned, John the Baptist sends disciples to ask Jesus if he is the expected Messiah; Jesus points to his miracles and preaching to the poor as fulfillment of prophecy, blessing those not offended by him.
- Jesus praises John as more than a prophet and the greatest born of women, yet the least in the kingdom is greater; he rebukes the generation for rejecting both John's asceticism and his own ministry of grace, declaring wisdom justified by her deeds.
