Living in Dark Days | Visual Resources for Both Lectionaries This Week (Luke 23:33-43 and Isaiah 37)

This post offers visual resources for the week of November 20, 2022 in the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary. Jesus is crucified between two criminals in Luke 23:33-43 (RCL) and Jerusalem is beseiged by the Assyrian Empire in Isaiah 36-37 (NL).

Jump to Narrative Lectionary resources.

Revised Common Lectionary | Luke 23:33-43 | Jesus is Crucified between Two Criminals

This week we skip over Jesus’ Last Supper, betrayal, arrest and trial (these stories are illustrated on page 22 of A Cartoonist’s Guide to Luke) and jump right to the crucifixion. Jesus is crucified between two criminals. One condemns him, the other defends him and asks to follow him. Jesus promises that today they would be in paradise together. You can use the images and PowerPoint below to tell the story of the text as you teach and preach.

This image come from page 23 in A Cartoonist’s Guide to Luke.

Preview PowerPoint

Feel free to use any or all of these slides and images in your own preaching and teaching.

[slideshare id=243592925&doc=acartoonistsguidetoluke23-210301001918w=800&h=350]

This video offers a dramatic visualization of the crucifixion panel. Jump to 1:35 to hear the reading of the text.

Narrative Lectionary | Isaiah 36:1-3, 13-20; 37:1-7; then 2:1-4 | King Hezekiah is Confronted by the Assyrian Empire

This week the Narrative Lectionary moves us into Isaiah and the seige of Jerusalem by the Assyrian Empire. Last week we heard the words of the prophet Micah as the Assyrian army was destroying the Kingdom of Israel (along with multiple nations and their gods). Micah warned Jerusalem that their day was coming. Now we hear the words of the prophet Isaiah. Through his book we witness the story of the time when the Assyrian army beseiged Jerusalem and King Hezekiah.

You can read the full story in 2 Kings 18:1-19:37. Hezekiah is trapped. Egypt and Ethiopia are on his south. Assyria is on his north. He is surrounded. His water supply is cut off. All the other nations and their gods have fallen to the invading empires. What should he do?

At first he concedes and makes deals. Finally, he cries out to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and listens to the voice of the prophet Isaiah. In the midst of this dark time, Isaiah offers a vision of God’s peace and the end of war.

The following images are designed to help you frame the context of the story. Explore 2 Kings for even more resources.