Celebration of the Passion of Our Lord

First Reading

The Book of the Prophet Isaiah   52: 13-53: 12

52:13	Behold, my servant will understand; he will be exalted and lifted up, and he will be very sublime.
52:14	Just as they were stupefied over you, so will his countenance be without glory among men, and his appearance, among the sons of men.
52:15	He will sprinkle many nations; kings will close their mouth because of him. And those to whom he was not described, have seen. And those who have not heard, have considered.

Isaiah 53

53:1	Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
53:2	And he will rise up like a tender plant in his sight, and like a root from the thirsty ground. There is no beautiful or stately appearance in him. For we looked upon him, and there was no aspect, such that we would desire him.
53:3	He is despised and the least among men, a man of sorrows who knows infirmity. And his countenance was hidden and despised. Because of this, we did not esteem him.
53:4	Truly, he has taken away our weaknesses, and he himself has carried our sorrows. And we thought of him as if he were a leper, or as if he had been struck by God and humiliated.
53:5	But he himself was wounded because of our iniquities. He was bruised because of our wickedness. The discipline of our peace was upon him. And by his wounds, we are healed.
53:6	We have all gone astray like sheep; each one has turned aside to his own way. And the Lord has placed all our iniquity upon him.
53:7	He was offered up, because it was his own will. And he did not open his mouth. He will be led like a sheep to the slaughter. And he will be mute like a lamb before his shearer. For he will not open his mouth.
53:8	He was lifted up from anguish and judgment. Who will describe his life? For he has been cut off from the land of the living. Because of the wickedness of my people, I have struck him down.
53:9	And he will be given a place with the impious for his burial, and with the rich for his death, though he has done no iniquity, nor was deceit in his mouth.
53:10	But it was the will of the Lord to crush him with infirmity. If he lays down his life because of sin, he will see offspring with long lives, and the will of the Lord will be directed by his hand.
53:11	Because his soul has labored, he will see and be satisfied. By his knowledge, my just servant will himself justify many, and he himself will carry their iniquities.
53:12	Therefore, I will allot to him a great number. And he will divide the spoils of the strong. For he has handed over his life to death, and he was reputed among criminals. And he has taken away the sins of many, and he has prayed for the transgressors.

Second Reading

The Letter to the Hebrews   4: 14-16; 5: 7-9

4:14	Therefore, since we have a great High Priest, who has pierced the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, we should hold to our confession.
4:15	For we do not have a high priest who is unable to have compassion on our infirmities, but rather one who was tempted in all things, just as we are, yet without sin.
4:16	Therefore, let us go forth with confidence toward the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy, and find grace, in a helpful time.

Hebrews 5

5:7	It is Christ who, in the days of his flesh, with a strong cry and tears, offered prayers and supplications to the One who was able to save him from death, and who was heard because of his reverence.
5:8	And although, certainly, he is the Son of God, he learned obedience by the things that he suffered.
5:9	And having reached his consummation, he was made, for all who are obedient to him, the cause of eternal salvation,

Gospel

The Passion of our Lord According to John   18: 1-19: 42

18:1	When Jesus had said these things, he departed with his disciples across the Torrent of Kidron, where there was a garden, into which he entered with his disciples.
18:2	But Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus had frequently met with his disciples there.
18:3	Then Judas, when he had received a cohort from both the high priests and the attendants of the Pharisees, approached the place with lanterns and torches and weapons.
18:4	And so Jesus, knowing all that was about to happen to him, advanced and said to them, “Who are you seeking?”
18:5	They answered him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Now Judas, who betrayed him, was also standing with them.
18:6	Then, when he said to them, “I am he,” they moved back and fell to the ground.
18:7	Then again he questioned them: “Who are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.”
18:8	Jesus responded: “I told you that I am he. Therefore, if you are seeking me, permit these others to go away.”
18:9	This was so that the word might be fulfilled, which he said, “Of those whom you have given to me, I have not lost any of them.”
18:10	Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and he struck the servant of the high priest, and he cut off his right ear. Now the name of the servant was Malchus.
18:11	Therefore, Jesus said to Peter: “Set your sword into the scabbard. Should I not drink the chalice which my Father has given to me?”
18:12	Then the cohort, and the tribune, and the attendants of the Jews apprehended Jesus and bound him.
18:13	And they led him away, first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year.
18:14	Now Caiaphas was the one who had given counsel to the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die for the people.
18:15	And Simon Peter was following Jesus with another disciple. And that disciple was known to the high priest, and so he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest.
18:16	But Peter was standing outside at the entrance. Therefore, the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the woman who was the doorkeeper, and he led in Peter.
18:17	Therefore, the woman servant keeping the door said to Peter, “Are you not also among the disciples of this man?” He said, “I am not.”
18:18	Now the servants and attendants were standing before burning coals, for it was cold, and they were warming themselves. And Peter was standing with them also, warming himself.
18:19	Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine.
18:20	Jesus responded to him: “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews meet. And I have said nothing in secret.
18:21	Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said to them. Behold, they know these things that I have said.”
18:22	Then, when he had said this, one the attendants standing nearby struck Jesus, saying: “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”
18:23	Jesus answered him: “If I have spoken wrongly, offer testimony about the wrong. But if I have spoken correctly, then why do you strike me?”
18:24	And Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.
18:25	Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Then they said to him, “Are you not also one of his disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”
18:26	One of the servants of the high priest (a relative of him whose ear Peter had cut off) said to him, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”
18:27	Therefore, again, Peter denied it. And immediately the rooster crowed.
18:28	Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the praetorium. Now it was morning, and so they did not enter into the praetorium, so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.
18:29	Therefore, Pilate went outside to them, and he said, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”
18:30	They responded and said to him, “If he were not an evil-doer, we would not have handed him over you.”
18:31	Therefore, Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your own law.” Then the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to execute anyone.”
18:32	This was so that the word of Jesus would be fulfilled, which he spoke signifying what kind of death he would die.
18:33	Then Pilate entered the praetorium again, and he called Jesus and said to him, “You are the king of the Jews?”
18:34	Jesus responded, “Are you saying this of yourself, or have others spoken to you about me?”
18:35	Pilate responded: “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the high priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?”
18:36	Jesus responded: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my ministers would certainly strive so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not now from here.”
18:37	And so Pilate said to him, “You are a king, then?” Jesus answered, “You are saying that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world: so that I may offer testimony to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”
18:38	Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and he said to them, “I find no case against him.
18:39	But you have a custom, that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Therefore, do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”
18:40	Then they all cried out repeatedly, saying: “Not this one, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.

19:1	Therefore, Pilate then took Jesus into custody and scourged him.
19:2	And the soldiers, plaiting a crown of thorns, imposed it on his head. And they put a purple garment around him.
19:3	And they were approaching him and saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly.
19:4	Then Pilate went outside again, and he said to them: “Behold, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may realize that I find no case against him.”
19:5	(Then Jesus went out, bearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment.) And he said to them, “Behold the man.”
19:6	Therefore, when the high priests and the attendants had seen him, they cried out, saying: “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them: “Take him yourselves and crucify him. For I find no case against him.”
19:7	The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to the law, he ought to die, for he has made himself the Son of God.”
19:8	Therefore, when Pilate had heard this word, he was more fearful.
19:9	And he entered into the praetorium again. And he said to Jesus. “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no response.
19:10	Therefore, Pilate said to him: “Will you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to crucify you, and I have authority to release you?”
19:11	Jesus responded, “You would not have any authority over me, unless it were given to you from above. For this reason, he who has handed me over to you has the greater sin.”
19:12	And from then on, Pilate was seeking to release him. But the Jews were crying out, saying: “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. For anyone who makes himself a king contradicts Caesar.”
19:13	Now when Pilate had heard these words, he brought Jesus outside, and he sat down in the seat of judgment, in a place which is called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, it is called the Elevation.
19:14	Now it was the preparation day of the Passover, about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your king.”
19:15	But they were crying out: “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The high priests responded, “We have no king except Caesar.”
19:16	Therefore, he then handed him over to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led him away.
19:17	And carrying his own cross, he went forth to the place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew it is called the Place of the Skull.
19:18	There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.
19:19	Then Pilate also wrote a title, and he set it above the cross. And it was written: JESUS THE NAZARENE, KING OF THE JEWS.
19:20	Therefore, many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was close to the city. And it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin.
19:21	Then the high priests of the Jews said to Pilate: Do not write, ‘King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’
19:22	Pilate responded, “What I have written, I have written.”
19:23	Then the soldiers, when they had crucified him, took his garments, and they made four parts, one part to each soldier, and the tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven from above throughout the whole.
19:24	Then they said to one another, “Let us not cut it, but instead let us cast lots over it, to see whose it will be.” This was so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, saying: “They have distributed my garments among themselves, and for my vesture they have cast lots.” And indeed, the soldiers did these things.
19:25	And standing beside the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, and Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
19:26	Therefore, when Jesus had seen his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son.”
19:27	Next, he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother.” And from that hour, the disciple accepted her as his own.
19:28	After this, Jesus knew that all had been accomplished, so in order that the Scripture might be completed, he said, “I thirst.”
19:29	And there was a container placed there, full of vinegar. Then, placing a sponge full of vinegar around hyssop, they brought it to his mouth.
19:30	Then Jesus, when he had received the vinegar, said: “It is consummated.” And bowing down his head, he surrendered his spirit.
19:31	Then the Jews, because it was the preparation day, so that the bodies would not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a great day), they petitioned Pilate in order that their legs might be broken, and they might be taken away.
19:32	Therefore, the soldiers approached, and, indeed, they broke the legs of the first one, and of the other who was crucified with him.
19:33	But after they had approached Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
19:34	Instead, one of the soldiers opened his side with a lance, and immediately there went out blood and water.
19:35	And he who saw this has offered testimony, and his testimony is true. And he knows that he speaks the truth, so that you also may believe.
19:36	For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “You shall not break a bone of him.”
19:37	And again, another Scripture says: “They shall look upon him, whom they have pierced.”
19:38	Then, after these things, Joseph from Arimathea, (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews) petitioned Pilate so that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave permission. Therefore, he went and took away the body of Jesus.
19:39	Now Nicodemus also arrived, (who had gone to Jesus at first by night) bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloe, weighing about seventy pounds.
19:40	Therefore, they took the body of Jesus, and they bound it with linen cloths and the aromatic spices, just as it is the manner of the Jews to bury.
19:41	Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden there was a new tomb, in which no one had yet been laid.
19:42	Therefore, because of the preparation day of the Jews, since the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus there.