Palm Sunday

4The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught,

that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary.

He awakens morning by morning,

he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.

5The Lord GOD has opened my ear.

I was not rebellious.

I have not turned back.

6I gave my back to those who beat me,

and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair.

I didn’t hide my face from shame and spitting.

7For the Lord GOD will help me.

Therefore I have not been confounded.

Therefore I have set my face like a flint,

and I know that I won’t be disappointed.

7All those who see me mock me.

They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying,

8“He trusts in the LORD.

Let him deliver him.

Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.”

…

16For dogs have surrounded me.

A company of evildoers have enclosed me.

They have pierced my hands and feet.

17I can count all of my bones.

They look and stare at me.

18They divide my garments among them.

They cast lots for my clothing.

19But don’t be far off, LORD.

You are my help. Hurry to help me!

…

22I will declare your name to my brothers.

Among the assembly, I will praise you.

23You who fear the LORD, praise him!

All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him!

Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel!

6who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

26:14Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?” So they weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16From that time he sought opportunity to betray him. 17Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’” 19The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover. 20Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.” 22They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?” 23He answered, “He who dipped his hand with me in the dish will betray me. 24The Son of Man goes even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.” 25Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You said it.” 26As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it, 28for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins. 29But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” 30When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.” 33But Peter answered him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.” 34Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” All of the disciples also said likewise. 36Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and pray.” 37He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled. 38Then Jesus said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.” 39He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.” 40He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour? 41Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42Again, a second time he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.” 43He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. 45Then 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 betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Arise, let’s be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.” 47While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.” 49Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. 51Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword. 53Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?” 55In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. 56But all this has happened that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. 57Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58But Peter followed him from a distance to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end. 59Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death, 60and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward 61and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’” 62The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?” 63But Jesus stayed silent. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64Jesus said to him, “You have said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.” 65Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy. 66What do you think?” They answered, “He is worthy of death!” 67Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him, 68saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?” 69Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, “You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!” 70But he denied it before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” 71When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him and said to those who were there, “This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72Again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man.” 73After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.” 74Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed. 75Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Then he went out and wept bitterly.

27:1Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2They bound him, led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor. 3Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.” 5He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary and departed. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It’s not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.” 7They took counsel, and bought the potter’s field with them to bury strangers in. 8Therefore that field has been called “The Field of Blood” to this day.

9Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,

“They took the thirty pieces of silver,

the price of him upon whom a price had been set,

whom some of the children of Israel priced,

10and they gave them for the potter’s field,

as the Lord commanded me.”

11Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, saying, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “So you say.” 12When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many things they testify against you?” 14He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. 15Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner whom they desired. 16They had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas. 17When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up. 19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.” 20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” 22Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!” 23But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!” 24So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.” 25All the people answered, “May his blood be on us and on our children!” 26Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified. 27Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31When they had mocked him, they took the robe off him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross. 33When they came to a place called “Golgotha”, that is to say, “The place of a skull,” 34they gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink. 35When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots, 36and they sat and watched him there. 37They set up over his head the accusation against him written, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 38Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left. 39Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads 40and saying, “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!” 41Likewise the chief priests also mocking with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, said, 42“He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach. 45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him a drink. 49The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.” 50Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. 51Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. 52The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many. 54Now the centurion and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were done, were terrified, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” 55Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. 57When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple, came. 58This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up. 59Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 61Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb. 62Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate, 63saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.