Prayers

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Lessons

Lessons appointed for use for this day from the Revised Common Lectionary (Episcopal version).

Isaiah 52:13—53:12 (NRSV)

See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. Just as there were many who were astonished at him—so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals—so he shall startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate. Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By a perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have imagined his future? For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people. They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper. Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Psalm 22 (BCP)

Deus, Deus meus

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? *
    and are so far from my cry and from the words of my distress?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; *
    by night as well, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are the Holy One, *
    enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4 Our forefathers put their trust in you; *
    they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 They cried out to you and were delivered; *
    they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
6 But as for me, I am a worm and no man, *
    scorned by all and despised by the people.
7 All who see me laugh me to scorn; *
    they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
8 “He trusted in the Lord; let him deliver him; *
    let him rescue him, if he delights in him.”
9 Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, *
    and kept me safe upon my mother’s breast.
10 I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; *
    you were my God when I was still in my mother’s womb.
11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, *
    and there is none to help.
12 Many young bulls encircle me; *
    strong bulls of Bashan surround me.
13 They open wide their jaws at me, *
    like a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint; *
    my heart within my breast is melting wax.
15 My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; *
    and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.
16 Packs of dogs close me in, and gangs of evildoers circle around me; *
    they pierce my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones.
17 They stare and gloat over me; *
    they divide my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing.
18 Be not far away, O Lord; *
    you are my strength; hasten to help me.
19 Save me from the sword, *
    my life from the power of the dog.
20 Save me from the lion’s mouth, *
    my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.
21 I will declare your Name to my brethren; *
    in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.
22 Praise the Lord, you that fear him; *
    stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel; all you of Jacob’s line, give glory.
23 For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither does he hide his face from them; *
    but when they cry to him he hears them.
24 My praise is of him in the great assembly; *
    I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.
25 The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: *
     “May your heart live for ever!”
26 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, *
    and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.
27 For kingship belongs to the Lord; *
    he rules over the nations.
28 To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; *
    all who go down to the dust fall before him.
29 My soul shall live for him; my descendants shall serve him; *
    they shall be known as the Lord’s for ever.
30 They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn *
    the saving deeds that he has done.

Hebrews 10:16-25 (NRSV)

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,” he also adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

John 18:1—19:42 (NRSV)

Narrator	Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them,
Jesus	Whom are you looking for?
Narrator	They answered,
Soldier	Jesus of Nazareth.
Narrator	Jesus replied,
Jesus	I am he.
Narrator	Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. Again Jesus asked them,
Jesus	Whom are you looking for?
Narrator	And they said,
Soldier	Jesus of Nazareth.
Narrator	Jesus answered,
Jesus	I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.
Narrator	This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken,
Jesus	I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.
Narrator	Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter,
Jesus	Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?
Narrator	So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter,
Guard	You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?
Narrator	Peter said,
Peter	I am not.
Narrator	Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered,
Jesus	I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.
Narrator	When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying,
Police	Is that how you answer the high priest?
Narrator	Jesus answered,
Jesus	If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?
Narrator	Then Annas sent Jesus bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Those who were standing near the fire asked him,
Guard	You are not also one of Jesus’ disciples, are you?
Narrator	Peter denied it and said,
Peter	I am not.
Narrator	One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked,
Slave	Did I not see you in the garden with Jesus?
Narrator	Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed. Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said,
Pilate	What accusation do you bring against this man?
Narrator	They answered,
Elder 1	If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.
Narrator	Pilate said to them,
Pilate	Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.
Narrator	The Jews replied,
Elder 2	We are not permitted to put anyone to death.
Narrator	(This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him,
Pilate	Are you the King of the Jews?
Narrator	Jesus answered,
Jesus	Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?
Narrator	Pilate replied,
Pilate	I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?
Narrator	Jesus answered,
Jesus	My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.
Narrator	Pilate asked him,
Pilate	So you are a king?
Narrator	Jesus answered,
Jesus	You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.
Narrator	Pilate asked him,
Pilate	What is truth?
Narrator	After Pilate had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them,
Pilate	I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?
Narrator	They shouted in reply,
Priest	Not this man, but Barabbas!
Narrator	Now Barabbas was a bandit. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying,
Soldier	Hail, King of the Jews!
Narrator	and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to the Jews,
Pilate	Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.
Narrator	So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them,
Pilate	Here is the man!
Narrator	When the chief priests and the police saw Jesus, they shouted,
Priest	Crucify him!
Police	Crucify him!
Narrator	Pilate said to them,
Pilate	Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.
Narrator	The Jews answered him,
Police	We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die
Priest	because he has claimed to be the Son of God.
Narrator	Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus,
Pilate	Where are you from?
Narrator	But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him,
Pilate	Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?
Narrator	Jesus answered him,
Jesus	You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.
Narrator	From then on Pilate tried to release Jesus, but the Jews cried out,
Priest	If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor.
Police	Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.
Narrator	When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. Pilate said to the Jews,
Pilate	Here is your King!
Narrator	They cried out,
Priest	Away with him!
Police	Away with him!
Priest	Crucify him!
Narrator	Pilate asked them,
Pilate	Shall I crucify your King?
Narrator	The chief priests answered,
Priest	We have no king but the emperor.
Narrator	Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. ¶ All stand. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate,
Priest	Do not write, “The King of the Jews,” but, “This man said, I am King of the Jews.”
Narrator	Pilate answered,
Pilate	What I have written I have written.
Narrator	When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another,
Soldier	Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.
Narrator	This was to fulfill what the scripture says, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.” And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother,
Jesus	Woman, here is your son.
Narrator	Then he said to the disciple,
Jesus	Here is your mother.
Narrator	And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture),
Jesus	I am thirsty.
Narrator	A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said,
Jesus	It is finished.
Narrator	Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. ¶ Silence may be kept. Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.” After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

---

The Old Testament, New Testament and Gospel readings are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Psalm is from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.