WERE YOU THERE?
A Harmony of Christ’s Passion compiled topically from the Gospel Accounts (NKJV) to follow those who were present in the Lord’s Passion
I.
(excerpts from) JESUS’ FINAL SERMON TO THE DISCIPLESJohn 13:1-2, 31-16:33
Maundy Thursday evening
Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended…when [Judas] had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. . .Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. . . "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. . .
"A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world? " Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
"These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid…
<<Choir/Hymn>>
Continuing the Sermon
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. . ..This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. . .
"
If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. . ."
These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. . . these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.. . ."Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. . I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
. . ."Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."__________________________
II. JESUS’ PRAYERS TO THE HEAVENLY FATHER
Matthew 22:36-47, Mk 14:32-52, John 13:1-2, 17:1-26
Maundy Thursday Evening
Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him. . .
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
<<Choir/Hymn>>
Later the same evening
Then Jesus came with [His disciples] to the Mount of Olives, to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples,
"Pray that you may not enter into temptation. Sit here while I go and pray over there." And He took with Him Peter, James, and John and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me."He went a little farther from them (about a stone’s throw) and fell on His face to the ground, and prayed, saying,
"Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, and found them asleep, He said to Peter,
"Why do you sleep? What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done. And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy and they did not know what to answer Him. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand."And immediately while He was still speaking, behold! Judas, one of the twelve, and a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.
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III. JUDAS
Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16, 24-25, 47-56 ; 27:3-10; Mark 14:1-2,10-11, 43-52; Luke 22:1-6, 47-53
Tuesday of Holy Week
Jesus. . .said to His disciples,
"You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him, for they feared the people. But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people."
Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" They were glad and agreed to give him money counting out to him thirty pieces of silver. So he promised, and from that time he sought opportunity to conveniently betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.
On the Thursday evening when Jesus celebrated the Passover…He said,
"I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. . .When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said,
"Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me." Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him one by one, "Lord, is it I?"Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered,
"It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born." And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Rabbi, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said it."Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him,
"What you do, do quickly." But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, "Buy those things we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.<<Choir/Hymn>>
Later in the same evening,
Jesus…went out [from the upper room] with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons—a great multitude.
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them,
"Whom are you seeking?" They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground. Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way," that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely " As soon as Judas had come, he immediately drew near to Jesus to kiss Him, said, "Greetings, Rabbi! And kissed Him But Jesus said to him,
"Friend, why have you come? Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.On Good Friday
Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood." And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me."
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IV. PETER
Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75; Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-34, 54-62; John 13:33,36-38; 18:10-11, 15-18
Maundy Thursday Evening
Then Jesus said to them,
"Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer…Where I am going you cannot come….Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward." Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake." Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for My sake?Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."
Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
But [Peter] said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." Then Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." But Peter spoke more vehemently, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples.
In the Garden of Gethsemane at Jesus’ arrest
[The multitude] came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" Then suddenly, Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
So Jesus said to Peter,
"Put your sword into the sheath. for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus? Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" Then Jesus answered said, "Permit even this." And He touched his ear and healed him.Jesus said to the multitudes,
"Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But this is your hour and the power of darkness. All this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled. Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.
<<Choir/Hymn>>
Continuing after Jesus’ arrest
And Simon Peter followed Jesus at a distance, and so did another disciple [John]. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter into the courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself. Then the servant girl who kept the door when she saw Peter warming himself looked intently at him and said "This man was also with Him." She said to Peter, "You also were with Jesus of Nazareth. You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not. Woman, I do not know Him." He denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying." [Then Peter] went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.
And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth." But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!"
Then after about an hour had passed, those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?" Another confidently affirmed saying, "Surely you also are one of them, for you are a Galilean-- your speech betrays you." He denied it and said, "I am not!" One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" Then he began to curse and swear, ""I do not know the Man!" I do not know this Man of whom you speak!"
Immediately, while he was still speaking a rooster crowed a second time, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him,
"Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And when he thought about it, Peter went out and wept bitterly.____________________
V. Jews
Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:63-71; John 18:12-14,19-24
After the arrest on Thursday
Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
The high priest [Annas] asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him,
"I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said." And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do You answer the high priest like that?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?" Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.They led [Jesus] to Caiaphas, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, "We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’’ But not even then did their testimony agree"
[Then] the high priest arose in the midst and asked Jesus saying, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?" But Jesus kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of the Blessed God!" Jesus said to him,
"It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! "What do you think?" They answered and condemned Him saying, "He is deserving of death."
Then some began to spit on Him, they spat in His face and beat Him. and others blindfolded Him and struck Him with the palms of their hands on the face and asked Him saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?" And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.
<<Choir/Hymn>>
The second Jewish trial, very early Friday morning
Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They came together and led Him into their council, saying,
"If You are the Christ, tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe. And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God." Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?" So He said to them, "You rightly say that I am." And they said, "What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth." And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.__________________
VI. Pilate
Matthew 27:1-2, 15-31; Mark 15:1-20; Luke 23:1-25
Early Friday morning
When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
[When] they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, it was early morning, but they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.
Pilate then went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?" They answered and said to him, "If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you." Then Pilate said to them, "You take Him and judge Him according to your law." Therefore, the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death," that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."
Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered him,
"Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "It is as you say. You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?"And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all. And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!" But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.
But [the Jews] were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place." When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.
<<Choir/Hymn>>
Continuing Friday morning
Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; No, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him."
Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner, whomever they requested. And at that time there was a notorious prisoner named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.
Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. (While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.")
But the chief priests and elders stirred up the crowd, and persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas! Not this Man, but Barabbas!" Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? Him whom you call the King of the Jews" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!" Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"
When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it." And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children." Then wanting to gratify the crowd he released Barabbas to them.
So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a purple robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they began to salute Him and bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with their hands.
Pilate then went out again, and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him." Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, "Behold the Man!"
Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God." Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?"11 Jesus answered,
"You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."From then on Pilate sought to release Him,, but the Jews cried out, saying, "If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar." When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. And he said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!" Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away.
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VII.
(Maundy Thursday) Passover/Lord’s SupperMatthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7—30; John 13:1-17
Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread (when they killed the Passover lamb), the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?" And He sent Peter and John out and said to them,
"Go into the city and behold! a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water, follow him and wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, "My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples. Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples.’ Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us." So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. Then He said to them,
"With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer for I say to you. . .And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said,
"Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. "But assuredly I say to you, I will no longer drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom."Now there was also a dispute among [the disciples] as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them,
"The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves...Now supper being ended, the Devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him,
"What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean."So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them,
"Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them________________
VIII. GOOD FRIDAY
Matthew 27:32-66; Mark 15:21-47; Luke 23:26—56; John 19:17-30
Now as they led Jesus away (to be crucified), they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian—the father of Alexander and Rufus—who was coming from the country and passing by. On him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.
And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said,
"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?" There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to deathAnd when they had come to a place called Golgotha, which is translated, "Place of a Skull" they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall and myrrh to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink. Then they crucified Him, there. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Then the two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left and Jesus in the center. So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with the transgressors."
Now Pilate wrote a title and the writing was: THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS written in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. [The soldiers] sitting down kept watch over Him there and put up over His head the accusation written against Him. Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city.. Therefore, the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, "I am the King of the Jews." Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."
Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: "They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." Therefore, the soldiers did these things." Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him and the people stood looking on.
And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"
Likewise even the chief priests also, sneered, mocking among themselves with the scribes and elders, saying, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the Christ, the King of Israel, the Chosen of God, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ "
The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself. Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.
Then, one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him,
"Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying,
"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, Look! this Man is calling for Elijah!" Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. The rest said, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down and save Him."Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus, therefore, saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother,
"Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said,
"I thirst!" Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He cried out with a loud voice saying, "It is finished!"Then He said,
"Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit. Having said this, He yielded up His spirit. bowed His head, and breathed His last. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.So when the centurion who stood opposite Him saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he glorified God saying, "Certainly this was a righteous man. Truly this Man was the Son of God!"
And [when] those with [the centurion] who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned.
And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, stood at a distance, watching these things, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome, the mother of Zebedee’s sons, who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Burial
Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."
Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea—a good and just man, a rich man and prominent council member, [who] had not consented to their decision and deed, who himself had also become a disciples of Jesus but secretly, for fear of the Jews and whoo was waiting for the kingdom of God—took courage and coming went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. So when he found out from the centurion, he commanded the body to be given to Joseph.
Then [Joseph] bought fine linen and Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus down and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb which had been hewn out of the rock in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby. They rolled a stone against the door of the tomb and departed.
And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were there sitting opposite the tomb. They observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then the women who had come with Him from Galillee returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
Saturday
On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said,
‘After three days I will rise.’ "Therefore, command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.