The Season of Lent
Lutheran Service Book
3-Year Lectionary, Year C
Ash Wednesday
Old Testament / First Reading
Joel 2:12-19
12Even now, declares the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and grief.
13Tear your heart and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in mercy,
and he relents from sending disaster.
14Who knows?
He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.
15Blow the ram’s horn in Zion.
Set aside a day for fasting.
Call a solemn convocation.
16Gather the people.
Consecrate the assembly.
Bring together the elders.
Gather the children, even those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her chamber.
17Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,
weep between the temple porch and the altar.
Let them say:
Have compassion on your people, O Lord.
Do not subject the inheritance you have given us to the scorn of the nations.
Do not make us notorious among the nations as an object of ridicule.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’
18The Lord is zealous for his land,
and he will take pity on his people.
19The Lord will respond to them:
I am sending you grain, new wine, and fresh oil,
enough to satisfy you fully.
Never again will I subject you to scorn among the nations.
Epistle / Second Reading
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
We urge you, on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
6:1As fellow workers we also urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2For he says:
At a favorable time I listened to you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.
Look, now is the favorable time! See, now is the day of salvation!
3We are giving no one a reason to stumble in any way, so that our ministry will not be blamed. 4Rather, in every way we show ourselves to be God’s ministers: in great endurance, in troubles, in hardships, in difficulties, 5in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in hard work, in sleepless nights, in times of hunger; 6in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, 7in the word of truth, in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness on the right and on the left; 8through glory and dishonor, through bad report and good report; treated as deceivers yet being honest, 9treated as unknown and yet being well known; as dying, and yet look—we live; as punished yet not put to death; 10as grieving yet always rejoicing; as poor yet making many rich; as having nothing yet possessing everything.
Holy Gospel
Matthew 6:1–6, 16-21
“Be careful that you do not do your righteous works in front of people, so that they will notice. If you do, you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2So whenever you perform acts of mercy, do not sound a trumpet for yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be praised by people. Amen I tell you: They have received their reward. 3Instead, when you perform acts of mercy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4Then your acts of mercy will be in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
5“Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by people. Amen I tell you: They have received their reward. 6But whenever you pray, go into your private room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what others cannot see, will reward you.
16“Whenever you fast, do not make yourself look sad like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show everyone that they are fasting. Amen I tell you: They have received their reward. 17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18so that it is not apparent to people that you are fasting, but only to your Father who sees what is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
19“Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21Because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
The First Sunday in Lent
Old Testament / First Reading
Deuteronomy 26:1–11
When you enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you take possession of it and settle in it, 2take some of the first ripe produce that you harvest from the soil of the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Put it in a basket, and go to the place where the Lord your God will choose to establish his name. 3Go to the priest who is presiding at that time and say to him, “Today I declare before the Lord your God that I have come to the land that the Lord swore to our fathers to give to us.” 4The priest will take the basket from your hand and set it down in front of the altar of the Lord your God.
5Then you will respond and say in the presence of the Lord your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean. He went down to Egypt and lived there as an alien with just a few people, but there he became a great, strong, and populous nation. 6The Egyptians mistreated and afflicted us. They imposed hard labor on us. 7We cried out to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice, and he saw our affliction, our labor, and oppression. 8The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm and with great awe-inspiring acts and signs and wonders. 9He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10So now, look as I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you have given me, Lord.”
11Then you, as well as the Levite and the alien who resides among you, will rejoice in all the good things that the Lord your God has given to you and your household.
Epistle / Second Reading
Romans 10:8b–13
“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith that we are proclaiming. 9Certainly, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and it is with the mouth that a person confesses, resulting in salvation. 11For Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
12So there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord is Lord of all, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13Yes, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Holy Gospel
Luke 4:1–13
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. He did not eat anything during those days. When they came to an end, he was hungry. 3The Devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4Jesus answered him, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
5The Devil led him up to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6The Devil told him, “I will give you all this power and the glory of these kingdoms, because it has been entrusted to me, and I can give it to anyone I want. 7So, if you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8Jesus answered him, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
9The Devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here, 10because it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you.
11And,
they will lift you up with their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
12Jesus answered him, “It says: ‘You shall not test the Lord your God.’”
13When the Devil had finished every temptation, he left him until an opportune time.
The Second Sunday in Lent
Old Testament / First Reading
Jeremiah 26:8-15
8When Jeremiah had finished saying everything the Lord had commanded him to say to all the people, then the priests, the prophets, and all the people seized him and said, “You must die! 9Why do you prophesy in the name of the Lord that this house will be like Shiloh and that this city will be desolate with no one living here?” All the people crowded around Jeremiah in the House of the Lord.
10When the officials of Judah heard about these things, they came up from the king’s house to the House of the Lord and sat in the entrance of the New Gate of the Lord’s house.
11Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, “This man deserves the sentence of death because he has been prophesying against this city, as you heard with your own ears.”
12Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and to all the people, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the things that you have heard. 13Now reform your ways and your actions, and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring about the disaster he has pronounced against you. 14But as for me, look, I am in your hands. Do with me whatever seems good and right in your eyes. 15But you can be certain of this. If you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live here, for it is true that the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”
Epistle / Second Reading
Philippians 3:17–4:1
17Brothers, join together in imitating me and in paying attention to those who are walking according to the pattern we gave you. 18To be sure, many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. I told you about them often, and now I am saying it while weeping. 19Their end is destruction, their god is their appetite, and their glory is in their shame. They are thinking only about earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. We are eagerly waiting for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21By the power that enables him to subject all things to himself, he will transform our humble bodies to be like his glorious body.
4:1So then, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way keep standing firm in the Lord, my dear friends.
Holy Gospel
Luke 13:31–35
31In that very hour, some Pharisees came to him and said, “Leave, and go away from here, because Herod wants to kill you.”
32He said to them, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I am going to drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal. 33Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, because it cannot be that a prophet would be killed outside Jerusalem!’
34“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I have wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 35Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you will say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
The Third Sunday in Lent
Old Testament / First Reading
Ezekiel 33:7-20
7But I have appointed you, son of man, to be a watchman for the house of Israel. So whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you are to warn them from me. 8When I say to a wicked man, “Wicked man, you shall surely die,” if you do not speak to warn the wicked man against his way, that wicked man will die because of his guilt, but I will also hold you responsible for his blood. 9But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he will die because of his guilt, but you will have saved your life.
10So you, son of man, say the following to the house of Israel.
This is what you people are saying: “Certainly our rebellion and our sins weigh us down, and because of them we are rotting away. How then can we live?” 11Say to them, “As I live, declares the Lord God, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from their way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why should you die, O house of Israel?”
12So you, son of man, also say this to your countrymen.
The righteousness of a righteous man will not save him on the day that he rebels, and the wickedness of a wicked man will not cause him to stumble on the day that he turns away from his wickedness. Likewise, a righteous man will not be able to live by his righteousness on the day that he sins.
13When I say about the righteous man, “He will surely live,” but he then trusts in his own righteousness and does unrighteous things, all of his righteous acts will no longer be remembered, and he will die because of the unrighteous things he does.
14Or when I say to the wicked man, “You will surely die,” and he turns from his sin and practices justice and righteousness— 15if that wicked man returns the collateral paid to him for a loan, returns what he has stolen, walks in the laws that lead to life, and so avoids doing unrighteous things—he will surely live. He will not die. 16All of the evil acts he committed will not be remembered against him. Since he has practiced justice and righteousness, he will certainly live.
17Yet, your countrymen are saying, “The Lord’s way is not fair,” although it is actually their way that is not fair. 18When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and does unrighteous things, he will die in them. 19But when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and practices justice and righteousness, he will live through them. 20So, even though you say, “The Lord’s way is not fair,” I will judge each one of you according to his own ways, O house of Israel.
Epistle / Second Reading
1 Corinthians 10:1–13
For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, 2and they were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them—and that rock was Christ! 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them. He had them die in the wilderness.
6Now these things took place as examples to warn us not to desire evil things the way they did. 7Do not become idolaters like some of them—as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to celebrate wildly.” 8And let us not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. 9Let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and so were being destroyed by the serpents. 10And do not grumble, as some of them grumbled, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11All these things that were happening to them had meaning as examples, and they were written down to warn us, to whom the end of the ages has come.
12So let him who thinks he stands be careful that he does not fall. 13No testing has overtaken you except ordinary testing. But God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tested beyond your ability, but when he tests you, he will also bring about the outcome that you are able to bear it.
Holy Gospel
Luke 13:1–9
At that time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2He answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things? 3I tell you, no. But unless you repent, you will all perish too. 4Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse sinners than all the people living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no. But unless you repent, you will all perish too.”
6He told them this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it, but he did not find any. 7So he said to the gardener, ‘Look, for three years now I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and I have found none. Cut it down. Why even let it use up the soil?’ 8But the gardener replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put fertilizer on it. 9If it produces fruit next year, fine. But if not, then cut it down.’”
The Fourth Sunday in Lent
Old Testament / First Reading
Isaiah 12:1-6
In that day you will say:
I will give thanks to you, Lord,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away,
and you comfort me.
2Surely God is my salvation.
I will trust him and will not be afraid,
because Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song,
and he has become my salvation.
3Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
4In that day you will say:
Give thanks to the Lord! Proclaim his name.
Declare among the peoples what he has done.
Proclaim that his name is exalted!
5Sing to the Lord, for he has done amazing things!
Let this be known in all the earth!
6Shout aloud and sing for joy, daughter of Zion,
for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!
Epistle / Second Reading
2 Corinthians 5:16–21
16As a result, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we knew Christ according to the flesh, we no longer know him that way. 17So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. The new has come! 18And all these things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 19That is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them. And he has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, inasmuch as God is making an appeal through us. We urge you, on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Holy Gospel
Luke 15:1–3, 11–32
All the tax collectors and sinners were coming to Jesus to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3He told them this parable:
11Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all that he had and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted his wealth with reckless living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. 15He went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16He would have liked to fill his stomach with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, and I am dying from hunger! 18I will get up, go to my father, and tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20“He got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, hugged his son, and kissed him. 21The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick, bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate, 24because this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
25“His older son was in the field. As he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26He called one of the servants and asked what was going on. 27The servant told him, ‘Your brother is here! Your father killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28The older brother was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.
29He answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I’ve been serving you, and I never disobeyed your command, but you never gave me even a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours arrived after wasting your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
31“The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’”
The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Old Testament / First Reading
Isaiah 43:16-21
16This is what the Lord says,
who makes a road through the sea
and a path through mighty waters,
17who brings out the chariot and the horses,
the army and the strong warrior.
They will all lie down together.
They will not get up.
They are extinguished.
Like a wick they go out.
18Do not remember the former things.
Do not keep thinking about ancient things.
19Watch, I am about to do a new thing.
Now it will spring up. Don’t you know about it?
Indeed I will make a road in the wilderness.
In the wasteland I will make rivers.
20The wild animals, the jackals and ostriches, will honor me,
because I am providing water in the wilderness,
rivers in a parched wasteland,
to provide water for my chosen people to drink.
21This people that I formed for myself will declare my praise.
Epistle / Second Reading
Philippians 3:(4b-7) 8–14
If anyone else thinks that he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6in regard to zeal, persecuting the church; in regard to the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.
7But, whatever things were a profit for me, these things I have come to consider a loss because of Christ.
8But even more than that, I consider everything to be a loss because of what is worth far more: knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have lost all things and consider them rubbish, so that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, which comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God by faith. 10I do this so that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11in the hope that in some way I may arrive at the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus also took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it yet, but there is one thing I do: Forgetting the things that are behind and straining toward the things that are ahead, 14I press on toward the goal, for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Holy Gospel
Luke 20:9–19
9He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to some tenant farmers, and went away on a journey for a long time. 10When it was the right time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenant farmers beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed. 11The man went ahead and sent yet another servant, but they also beat him, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12He then sent yet a third. They also wounded him and threw him out. 13The owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my son, whom I love. Perhaps they will respect him.’
14“But when the tenant farmers saw him, they talked it over with one another. They said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.’ 15They threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. So what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and destroy those tenant farmers and give the vineyard to others.”
When they heard this, they said, “May it never be!”
17But he looked at them and said, “Then what about this that is written:
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone?
18“Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush the one on whom it falls.”
19That very hour the chief priests and the experts in the law began looking for a way to lay hands on him, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
The Sixth Sunday in Lent—Palm Sunday Procession, Sunday of the Passion
Old Testament / First Reading
Deuteronomy 32:36–39
36Yes, the Lord will judge his people,
but he will change his course of action toward his servants
when he sees that their strength is exhausted,
and that there are none left, either as prisoners or still free.
37Then he will say:
Where are their gods,
the rock in which they sought refuge,
38the gods that ate the fat of their sacrifices,
and drank the wine of their drink offerings?
Let them rise up and help you.
Let them be a shelter over you.”
39Now see that I, only I, am he,
and there is not a god comparable to me.
I put to death and I make alive.
I wound and I heal.
There is no one who can deliver out of my hand.
Epistle / Second Reading
Philippians 2:5-11
5Indeed, let this attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. 6Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed, 7but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. 9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Holy Gospel
John 12:12-19
12The next day, the large crowd that had come for the Festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13Taking palm branches, they went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!”
14Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written:
15Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look! Your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.
16At first, his disciples did not understand these things. But when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him, and that they did these things for him.
17The crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead kept telling what they had seen. 18This is another reason a crowd met him: They heard he had done this miraculous sign.
19So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You are accomplishing nothing. Look! The world has gone after him.”
or
Luke 22:1–23:56
The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. 2The chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find some way to put Jesus to death, because they were afraid of the people. 3Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. 4He went away and spoke with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard about how he could betray Jesus to them. 5They were glad and agreed to give him money. 6He promised to do it and was looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them away from the crowd.
7The day of Unleavened Bread arrived, when it was necessary to sacrifice the Passover lamb. 8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.”
9They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”
10He told them, “Just as you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters. 11Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12He will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there.” 13They went and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
14When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with the twelve apostles. 15He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 16for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17He took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves, 18for I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20In the same way, he took the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is being poured out for you.
21“But look, the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22The Son of Man is going to go as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”
23They began to discuss with one another which of them it was who was going to do this.
24A dispute arose among the disciples about which of them was considered to be greatest. 25But he told them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called Benefactors. 26But it is not to be that way with you. Instead, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. 27For who is greater, one who reclines at the table or one who serves? Isn’t it the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28You are those who have remained with me in my trials. 29I am going to grant a kingdom to you, just as my Father granted to me, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
31The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, pay attention: Satan has asked to have you all, so that he may sift you as wheat. 32But I prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have returned to me, strengthen your brothers.”
33He said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”
34But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”
35He said to them, “When I sent you out without money bag, traveler’s bag, and sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Nothing,” they said.
36Then he told them, “But now, let the one who has a money bag take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’ Indeed, what is written about me is going to have its fulfillment.”
38They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”
He said to them, “That is enough.”
39Jesus left and went out to the Mount of Olives, as was his custom. His disciples followed him. 40When he reached the place, he told them, “Keep praying that you may not enter into temptation.”
41He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.”
43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44As he was in agony, he prayed more fervently. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.
45When he rose from prayer, he went to the disciples and found them sleeping as a result of sorrow. 46He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and keep praying so that you may not enter into temptation.”
47While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd appeared, and the man called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him. 48But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, should we strike with a sword?” 50Then one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
51But Jesus responded, “Stop! No more of this!” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. 52Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as you would against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour—when darkness rules.”
54Then they seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house.
Peter followed at a distance. 55When they had lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56A servant girl saw him sitting near the light. She looked closely at him and said, “This man also was with him.”
57But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.”
58After a little while someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them!”
But Peter answered, “Man, I am not!”
59After about one hour had passed, someone else was firmly insisting, “Truly this man was with him too, because he is a Galilean!”
60But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” At that very moment, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today you will deny me three times.” 62He went outside and wept bitterly.
63The men who were holding Jesus in custody mocked him while they were beating him. 64They blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65And they went on saying many other blasphemous things against him.
66As soon as it was day, the council of the elders of the people met together, both the chief priests and experts in the law. They brought him into their Sanhedrin and said, 67“If you are the Christ, tell us.”
But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68and if I ask you, you will not answer me or release me. 69But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
70They all said, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He said to them, “I am what you are saying.”
71Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from his own mouth!”
23:1The whole group of them got up and brought him before Pilate. 2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this fellow misleading our nation, forbidding the payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”
3Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
“It is as you say,” Jesus replied.
4Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
5But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people, teaching all through Judea, beginning from Galilee all the way here.”
6When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.
8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad. For a long time, he had wanted to see him, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle performed by him. 9He questioned him with many words, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the experts in the law stood there, vehemently accusing him. 11Herod, along with his soldiers, treated him with contempt and ridiculed him. Dressing him in bright clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12Herod and Pilate became friends with each other on that day. Before this they had been enemies of each other.
13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who is misleading the people. Look, I have examined him in your presence. I have found in this man no basis for the charges you are bringing against him. 15Herod did not either, for he sent him back to us. See, he has done nothing worthy of death. 16So I will have him flogged and release him.”
17Pilate needed to release one prisoner to them at the Festival. 18But they all shouted together with one voice: “Take him away! Release Barabbas to us!” 19Barabbas had been thrown in prison for a rebellion in the city and for murder.
20Pilate addressed them again, because he wanted to release Jesus. 21But they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
22He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found no grounds for sentencing him to death. So I will whip him and release him.” 23But they kept pressuring him with loud voices, demanding that he be crucified. And their voices were overwhelming. 24So Pilate decided that what they demanded would be done. 25He released the one they had asked for, who had been thrown in prison for rebellion and murder, but he handed Jesus over to their will.
26As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country. They placed the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large crowd of people was following him, including women who were mourning and wailing for him. 28Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29Be sure of this: The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never gave birth, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31For if they do these things to the green wood, what will happen to the dry?”
32Two other men, who were criminals, were led away with Jesus to be executed.
33When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left.
34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
They cast lots to divide his garments among them. 35The people stood watching. The rulers were ridiculing him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, the Chosen One!”
36The soldiers also made fun of him. Coming up to him, they offered him sour wine, 37saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
38There was also an inscription written above him: “This is the King of the Jews.”
39One of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same condemnation? 41We are punished justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.”
43Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: Today you will be with me in paradise.”
44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45while the sun was darkened. Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47When the centurion saw what had happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous.” 48When all the groups of people who had gathered to see this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their chests. 49All those who knew Jesus, and the women who followed with him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
50Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man. 51He had not agreed with their plan and action. He was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 52This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53He took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb that was cut out of rock, where no one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed after Joseph, and they observed the tomb and how his body was laid there. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
or
Luke 23:1–56
The whole group of them got up and brought him before Pilate. 2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this fellow misleading our nation, forbidding the payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”
3Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
“It is as you say,” Jesus replied.
4Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
5But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people, teaching all through Judea, beginning from Galilee all the way here.”
6When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.
8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad. For a long time, he had wanted to see him, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle performed by him. 9He questioned him with many words, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the experts in the law stood there, vehemently accusing him. 11Herod, along with his soldiers, treated him with contempt and ridiculed him. Dressing him in bright clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12Herod and Pilate became friends with each other on that day. Before this they had been enemies of each other.
13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who is misleading the people. Look, I have examined him in your presence. I have found in this man no basis for the charges you are bringing against him. 15Herod did not either, for he sent him back to us. See, he has done nothing worthy of death. 16So I will have him flogged and release him.”
17Pilate needed to release one prisoner to them at the Festival. 18But they all shouted together with one voice: “Take him away! Release Barabbas to us!” 19Barabbas had been thrown in prison for a rebellion in the city and for murder.
20Pilate addressed them again, because he wanted to release Jesus. 21But they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
22He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found no grounds for sentencing him to death. So I will whip him and release him.” 23But they kept pressuring him with loud voices, demanding that he be crucified. And their voices were overwhelming. 24So Pilate decided that what they demanded would be done. 25He released the one they had asked for, who had been thrown in prison for rebellion and murder, but he handed Jesus over to their will.
26As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country. They placed the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large crowd of people was following him, including women who were mourning and wailing for him. 28Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29Be sure of this: The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never gave birth, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31For if they do these things to the green wood, what will happen to the dry?”
32Two other men, who were criminals, were led away with Jesus to be executed.
33When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left.
34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
They cast lots to divide his garments among them. 35The people stood watching. The rulers were ridiculing him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, the Chosen One!”
36The soldiers also made fun of him. Coming up to him, they offered him sour wine, 37saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
38There was also an inscription written above him: “This is the King of the Jews.”
39One of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same condemnation? 41We are punished justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.”
43Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: Today you will be with me in paradise.”
44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45while the sun was darkened. Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47When the centurion saw what had happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous.” 48When all the groups of people who had gathered to see this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their chests. 49All those who knew Jesus, and the women who followed with him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
50Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man. 51He had not agreed with their plan and action. He was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 52This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53He took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb that was cut out of rock, where no one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed after Joseph, and they observed the tomb and how his body was laid there. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
or
John 12:20–43
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Festival. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22Philip went to tell Andrew. Andrew came with Philip and told Jesus.
23Jesus answered them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Amen, Amen, I tell you: Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it continues to be one kernel. But if it dies, it produces much grain. 25Anyone who loves his life destroys it. And the one who hates his life in this world will hold on to it for eternal life. 26If anyone serves me, let him follow me. And where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
27“Now my soul is troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, this is the reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!”
A voice came from heaven: “I have glorified my name, and I will glorify it again.”
29The crowd standing there heard it and said it thundered. Others said an angel talked to him. 30Jesus answered, “This voice was not for my sake but for yours.
31“Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be thrown out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33He said this to indicate what kind of death he was going to die.
34The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Scriptures that the Christ will remain forever. So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
35Then Jesus told them, “The light will be with you just a little while longer. Keep on walking while you have the light, so that darkness does not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.”
Jesus spoke these words, and then went away and was hidden from them.
37Even though Jesus had done so many miraculous signs in their presence, they still did not believe in him. 38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet, who said:
Lord, who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39For this reason they could not believe, because Isaiah also said:
40He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
so that they would not see with their eyes,
or understand with their heart,
or turn—and I would heal them.
41Isaiah said these things when he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42Nevertheless, even many of the rulers believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing him, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue. 43For they loved praise from people more than praise from God.
Holy Thursday
Old Testament / First Reading
Jeremiah 31:31-34
31Yes, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
32It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers,
when I took them by the hand
and led them out of the land of Egypt.
They broke that covenant of mine,
although I was a husband to them, declares the Lord.
33But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days,
declares the Lord.
I will put my law in their minds,
and I will write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34No longer will each one teach his neighbor,
or each one teach his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,”
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord,
for I will forgive their guilt,
and I will remember their sins no more.
or
Exodus 12:1-14
The Lord told Moses and Aaron this in the land of Egypt:
2This month is to be the beginning of your calendar. It is to be the first month of the year for you. 3Tell the entire Israelite community that on the tenth day of this month, they are to take a lamb or a kid goat for themselves, according to their fathers’ households, one lamb per household. 4But if the household is too small for a whole lamb, then that person and his neighbor next door to him must select one, based on the number of people. Determine what size lamb is needed according to how much each person will eat.
5Your lamb must be unblemished, a year-old male. You may take it from the sheep or the goats. 6You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of this month. Then the whole assembly of the Israelite community is to slaughter the lambs at sunset. 7They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where they eat the lamb. 8That night they shall eat the meat that has been roasted over a fire, along with unleavened bread. They shall eat it with bitter herbs. 9Do not eat it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over a fire—with its head, its legs, and its internal organs. 10You shall not leave any of it until the morning. Whatever remains until the morning, you shall burn in the fire. 11This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt ready for travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.
12For on that night I will pass through the land of Egypt. I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both people and animals. Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. I am the Lord. 13The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. There will be no plague among you to destroy you, when I strike down the land of Egypt.
14This day shall be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a festival to the Lord. Throughout your generations you must celebrate it as a permanent regulation.
Epistle / Second Reading
Hebrews 10:15–25
15The Holy Spirit also testifies in Scripture to us, for first he said:
16This is the covenant I will make with them
after those days, says the Lord.
I will put my laws on their hearts
and I will write them on their mind.
17Then he adds:
And I will not remember their sins and their lawlessness any longer.
18Now where these sins are forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
19Brothers, we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place through the blood of Jesus. 20It is a new and living way he opened for us through the curtain, that is, his flesh. 21We also have a great priest over the house of God. 22So let us approach with a sincere heart, in the full confidence of faith, because our hearts have been sprinkled to take away a bad conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23Let us hold on firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.
24Let us also consider carefully how to spur each other on to love and good works. 25Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have the habit of doing. Rather, let us encourage each other, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
or
1 Corinthians 11:23–32
23For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after the meal, he also took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the Lord’s body and blood. 28Instead, let a person examine himself and after doing so, let him eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29For if anyone eats and drinks in an unworthy way because he does not recognize the Lord’s body, he eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30Because of this, many among you are weak and sick, and quite a few have fallen asleep. 31But if we judged ourselves, we would not be undergoing judgment. 32However, when we undergo judgment, we are being disciplined by the Lord so that we may not be condemned with the world.
Holy Gospel
Luke 22:7–20
7The day of Unleavened Bread arrived, when it was necessary to sacrifice the Passover lamb. 8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.”
9They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”
10He told them, “Just as you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters. 11Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12He will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there.” 13They went and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
14When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with the twelve apostles. 15He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 16for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17He took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves, 18for I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20In the same way, he took the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is being poured out for you.
or
John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved those who were his own in the world, he loved them to the end.
2By the time the supper took place, the Devil had already put the idea into the heart of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
3Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God. 4He got up from the supper and laid aside his outer garment. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7Jesus answered him, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but later you will understand.”
8Peter told him, “You will never, ever, wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.”
9“Lord, not just my feet,” Simon Peter replied, “but also my hands and my head!”
10Jesus told him, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet, but his body is completely clean. And you are clean, but not all of you.” 11Indeed, he knew who was going to betray him. That is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12After Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer garment, he reclined at the table again. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13“You call me Teacher and Lord. You are right, because I am. 14Now if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15Yes, I have given you an example so that you also would do just as I have done for you. 16Amen, Amen, I tell you: A servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
31bJesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify the Son in himself and will glorify him at once.”
33“Dear children, I am going to be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
34“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you are to love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Good Friday
Old Testament / First Reading
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
13Look, my servant will succeed.
He will rise. He will be lifted up. He will be highly exalted.
14Just as many were appalled at him—
his appearance was so disfigured that he did not look like a man,
and his form was disfigured more than any other person—
15so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him,
because they will see something they had never been told before,
and they will understand something they had never heard before.
53:1Who has believed our report,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2He grew up before him like a tender shoot
and like a root from dry ground.
He had no attractiveness and no majesty.
When we saw him, nothing about his appearance made us desire him.
3He was despised and rejected by men,
a man who knew grief,
who was well acquainted with suffering.
Like someone whom people cannot bear to look at,
he was despised,
and we thought nothing of him.
4Surely he was taking up our weaknesses,
and he was carrying our sufferings.
We thought it was because of God
that he was stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
5but it was because of our rebellion that he was pierced.
He was crushed for the guilt our sins deserved.
The punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6We all have gone astray like sheep.
Each of us has turned to his own way,
but the Lord has charged all our guilt to him.
7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth.
Like a lamb he was led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that is silent in front of its shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
8He was taken away without a fair trial and without justice,
and of his generation, who even cared?
So, he was cut off from the land of the living.
He was struck because of the rebellion of my people.
9They would have assigned him a grave with the wicked,
but he was given a grave with the rich in his death,
because he had done no violence,
and no deceit was in his mouth.
10Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him
and allow him to suffer.
Because you made his life a guilt offering, he will see offspring.
He will prolong his days,
and the Lord’s gracious plan will succeed in his hand.
11After his soul experiences anguish, he will see the light of life.
He will provide satisfaction.
Through their knowledge of him, my just servant will justify the many,
for he himself carried their guilt.
12Therefore I will give him an allotment among the great,
and with the strong he will share plunder,
because he poured out his life to death,
and he let himself be counted with rebellious sinners.
He himself carried the sin of many,
and he intercedes for the rebels.
Epistle / Second Reading
Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9
14Therefore, since we have a great high priest, who has gone through the heavens, namely, Jesus the Son of God, let us continue to hold on to our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin. 16So let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
5:7In the days of his flesh, he offered prayers and pleas with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. 9After he was brought to his goal, he became the source of eternal salvation for everyone who obeys him.
Holy Gospel
John 18:1-19:42
After saying these things, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden. He and his disciples went into it.
2Now Judas, who was betraying him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas took the company of soldiers and some guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
4Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who are you looking for?”
5“Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus told them.
Judas, the betrayer, was standing with them. 6When Jesus told them, “I am he,” they backed away and fell to the ground.
7Then Jesus asked them again, “Who are you looking for?”
“Jesus the Nazarene,” they said.
8“I told you that I am he,” Jesus replied. “So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” 9This was to fulfill the statement he had spoken: “I did not lose any of those you have given me.”
10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath. Shall I not drink the cup my Father has given me?”
12Then the company of soldiers, their commander, and the Jewish guards arrested Jesus and bound him. 13First they led him to Annas, because he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. 14Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews, “It is better that one man die for the people.”
15Simon Peter and another disciple kept following Jesus. That disciple was known to the high priest, so he went into the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. 16But Peter stood outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and talked to the girl watching the door and brought Peter in.
17“You are not one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter.
“I am not!” he said.
18The servants and guards were standing around a fire of coals that they had made because it was cold. While they warmed themselves, Peter was standing with them, warming himself too.
19The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
20Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in a synagogue or at the temple, where all the Jews gather. I said nothing in secret. 21Why are you questioning me? Ask those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.”
22When he said this, one of the guards standing there hit Jesus in the face. “Is that how you answer the high priest?” he demanded.
23“If I said something wrong,” Jesus answered, “testify about what was wrong. But if I was right, why did you hit me?”
24Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
25Simon Peter continued to stand there warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not one of his disciples too, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “I am not!”
26One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”
27Peter denied it again, and just then a rooster crowed.
28Early in the morning, the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. They did not enter the Praetorium themselves, so that they would not become ceremonially unclean. (They wanted to be able to eat the Passover meal.) 29So Pilate went out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?”
30They answered him, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.”
31Pilate told them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.”
The Jews said, “It’s not legal for us to put anyone to death.” 32This happened so that the statement Jesus had spoken indicating what kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.
33Pilate went back into the Praetorium and summoned Jesus. He asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
34Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”
35Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
36Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.”
37“You are a king then?” Pilate asked.
Jesus answered, “I am, as you say, a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
38“What is truth?” Pilate said to him.
After he said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So do you want me to release the King of the Jews for you?”
40Then they shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was a rebel.)
19:1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2The soldiers also twisted together a crown of thorns and placed it on his head. Then they threw a purple robe around him. 3They kept coming to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they kept hitting him in the face.
4Pilate went outside again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”
5So Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”
6When the chief priests and guards saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
Pilate told them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no basis for a charge against him.”
7The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
8When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9He went back inside the palace again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?”
But Jesus gave him no answer.
10So Pilate asked him, “Are you not talking to me? Don’t you know that I have the authority to release you or to crucify you?”
11Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over me at all if it had not been given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”
12From then on Pilate tried to release Jesus. But the Jews shouted, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar! Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar!”
13When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge’s seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, or Gabbatha in Aramaic. 14It was about the sixth hour on the Preparation Day for the Passover. Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your king!”
15They shouted, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!”
Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”
“We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered.
16So then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.
So they took Jesus away. 17Carrying his own cross, he went out to what is called the Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18There they crucified him with two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the middle.
19Pilate also had a notice written and fastened on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.”
20Many of the Jews read this notice, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.
21So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that ‘this man said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”
22Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier. They also took his tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it. Instead, let’s cast lots to see who gets it.” This was so that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:
They divided my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.
So the soldiers did these things.
25Jesus’ mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene were standing near the cross.
26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son!” 27Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother!” And from that time this disciple took her into his own home.
28After this, knowing that everything had now been finished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I thirst.”
29A jar full of sour wine was sitting there. So they put a sponge soaked in sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.
30When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished!” Then, bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.
31Since it was the Preparation Day, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses over the Sabbath (because that Sabbath was a particularly important day). They asked Pilate to have the men’s legs broken and the bodies taken away. 32So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who was crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other man.
33But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear. Immediately blood and water came out. 35The one who saw it has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36Indeed, these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37Again another Scripture says, “They will look at the one they pierced.”
38After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him remove Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave him permission, he came and took Jesus’ body away. 39Nicodemus, who earlier had come to Jesus at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-two pounds.
40They took Jesus’ body and bound it with linen strips along with the spices, in accord with Jewish burial customs.
41There was a garden at the place where Jesus was crucified. And in the garden was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. 42So they laid Jesus there, because it was the Jewish Preparation Day, and the tomb was near.
or
John 19:17-30
17Carrying his own cross, he went out to what is called the Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18There they crucified him with two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the middle.
19Pilate also had a notice written and fastened on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.”
20Many of the Jews read this notice, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.
21So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that ‘this man said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”
22Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier. They also took his tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it. Instead, let’s cast lots to see who gets it.” This was so that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:
They divided my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.
So the soldiers did these things.
25Jesus’ mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene were standing near the cross.
26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son!” 27Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother!” And from that time this disciple took her into his own home.
28After this, knowing that everything had now been finished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I thirst.”
29A jar full of sour wine was sitting there. So they put a sponge soaked in sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.
30When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished!” Then, bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.