Thursday in the Thirty-Fifth Week after Pentecost

The Lesson of the Epistle of the Holy Apostle John.
I Saint John §74b (4:20-5:21).
Dearly beloved: If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother; he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, Whom he seeth not? And this commandment we have from God, that he, who loveth God, love also his brother. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And every one that loveth Him who begot, loveth Him also who is born of Him. In this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the charity of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not heavy. For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ: not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth, that Christ is the truth. And there are three who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one. And there are three that give testimony on earth: the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three are one. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony of God, which is greater, because He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth in the Son of God, hath the testimony of God in himself. He that believeth not the Son, maketh Him a liar: because he believeth not in the testimony which God hath testified of His Son. And this is the testimony, that God hath given to us eternal life. And this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son, hath life. He that hath not the Son, hath not life. These things I write to you, that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence which we have towards Him: that, whatsoever we shall ask according to His will, He heareth us. And we know that He heareth us whatsoever we ask: we know that we have the petitions which we request of Him. He that knoweth his brother to sin a sin which is not to death, let him ask, and life shall be given to him, who sinneth not to death. There is a sin unto death: for that I say not that any man ask. All iniquity is sin. And there is a sin unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God, sinneth not: but the generation of God preserveth him, and the wicked one toucheth him not. We know that we are of God, and the whole world is seated in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come: and He hath given us understanding that we may know the true God, and may be in His true Son. This is the true God and life eternal. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark.
Saint Mark §66 (15:1-1-15).
At that time: The chief priests holding a consultation with the ancients and the scribes and the whole council, binding Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. And Pilate asked Him: “Art Thou the King of the Jews?” But He answering, saith to him: “Thou sayest it.” And the chief priests accused Him in many things. And Pilate again asked Him, saying: “Answerest Thou nothing? Behold in how many things they accuse Thee.” But Jesus still answered nothing; so that Pilate wondered. Now on the festival day he was wont to release unto them one of the prisoners, whomsoever they demanded. And there was one called Barabbas, who was put in prison with some seditious men, who in the sedition had committed murder. And when the multitude was come up, they began to desire that he would do, as he had ever done unto them. And Pilate answered them, and said: “Will you that I release to you the King of the Jews?” For he knew that the chief priests had delivered Him up out of envy. But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas to them. And Pilate again answering, saith to them: “What will you then that I do to the King of the Jews?” But they again cried out: “Crucify Him.” And Pilate saith to them: “Why, what evil hath He done?” But they cried out the more: “Crucify Him.” And so Pilate being willing to satisfy the people, released to them Barabbas, and delivered up Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified.