Visual Resources for the Lectionaries

This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for May 3, 2026. Use this chart for quick links to the texts and the resource pages on cartoonistbible.com.

Easter 5

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Revised Common Lectionary Resources

Gospel Reading – John 14:1-14

This image is from page 16 in A Cartoonist’s Guide to John

Food for thought

Do not let your hearts be troubled. That’s what Jesus said to his disciples on the night that he was betrayed and arrested. How could he say that? Their world was about to be torn apart. The readings this week are troubling. The first reading tells the story of Stephen being unjustly accused, dragged outside the city and beaten to death with rocks. Peter is writing to a group of people who were being severely persecuted. The Psalmist cries out to God in a time of trial.

There are two key truths that this week’s readings remind me of:

First, life is hard. The domination systems of the world operate through fear, intimidation and violence. Standing up for truth, justice and righteousness will almost always bring persecution. That’s a tough pill to swallow.

Second, the LORD is our refuge. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He went to the extremes of persecution, forgave his executioners, buried our sin and shame in the tomb, and rose to new life. There are many dwelling places in the house of God. The grace, love, and power of God are expansive.

Children of God, remember this. You are a royal priesthood, called to be the love of God in the world. God’s got you. Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Narrative Lectionary Resources

Acts 17:16-31

This image is from page 29 in A Cartoonist’s Guide to Acts

Food for thought

The Narrative Lectionary moves from Paul and Silas in a Philippian jail last week to Paul preaching on Mars Hill in Athens this week. The story in between offers a good set up for the text this week. Paul left Philippi and went to Amphipolis, Apollonia and ended up in Thessalonica. There he preached in the synagogue and many followed Jesus. However, a mob was rallied in the streets and Paul ran for his life. He ran to Berea where he discussed the scriptures and Jesus with the people in the synagogue there.

In both cities Paul demonstrated his default method. He always went to the synagogue first and reasoned with the Jews about how Jesus is the Messiah that the scriptures were anticipating.

This week Paul enters the city of Athens. It is the epicenter of Greek culture. There is no synagogue. Paul is invited to talk about Jesus to a purely Greek audience. Notice the contrast in Paul’s message on Mars Hill with his previous messages in synagogues.

Paul demonstrates an important missional principle. Listen to the context. Always be aware of the culture in which you are talking about Jesus. In Athens, he started with Greek culture, reasoned with Greek logic, and brought the audience to the resurrection of Jesus without going through the Hebrew scriptures.

How might we contextualize the Good News of God-made-flesh, executed, and risen from the dead for the sake of world in our own context this week?

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