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The Lord’s Suffering Servant

13 See, my servant will prosper;
    he will be highly exalted.
14 But many were amazed when they saw him.[a]
    His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human,
    and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.
15 And he will startle[b] many nations.
    Kings will stand speechless in his presence.
For they will see what they had not been told;
    they will understand what they had not heard about.[c]

53 Who has believed our message?
    To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?
My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot,
    like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
    nothing to attract us to him.
He was despised and rejected—
    a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
    He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    it was our sorrows[d] that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
    a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
    the sins of us all.

He was oppressed and treated harshly,
    yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
    And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
    he did not open his mouth.
Unjustly condemned,
    he was led away.[e]
No one cared that he died without descendants,
    that his life was cut short in midstream.[f]
But he was struck down
    for the rebellion of my people.
He had done no wrong
    and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
    he was put in a rich man’s grave.

10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
    and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
    he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
    and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
    he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
    my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
    for he will bear all their sins.
12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,
    because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels.
    He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

Footnotes

  1. 52:14 As in Syriac version; Hebrew reads you.
  2. 52:15a Or cleanse.
  3. 52:15b Greek version reads Those who have never been told about him will see, / and those who have never heard of him will understand. Compare Rom 15:21.
  4. 53:4 Or Yet it was our sicknesses he carried; / it was our diseases.
  5. 53:8a Greek version reads He was humiliated and received no justice. Compare Acts 8:33.
  6. 53:8b Or As for his contemporaries, / who cared that his life was cut short in midstream? Greek version reads Who can speak of his descendants? / For his life was taken from the earth. Compare Acts 8:33.

He Was Pierced for Our Transgressions

13 Behold, (A)my servant shall act wisely;[a]
    he shall be high and lifted up,
    and shall be exalted.
14 As many were astonished at you—
    (B)his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
    and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
15 so (C)shall he sprinkle[b] many nations.
    (D)Kings shall shut their mouths because of him,
(E)for that which has not been told them they see,
    and that which they have not heard they understand.
53 (F)Who has believed what he has heard from us?[c]
    And to whom has (G)the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
    (H)and like a root out of dry ground;
(I)he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
    and no beauty that we should desire him.
(J)He was despised and rejected[d] by men,
    a man of sorrows[e] and acquainted with[f] grief;[g]
and as one from whom men hide their faces[h]
    he was despised, and (K)we esteemed him not.

(L)Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    (M)smitten by God, and afflicted.
(N)But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    (O)and with his wounds we are healed.
(P)All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way;
(Q)and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
    (R)yet he opened not his mouth;
(S)like a (T)lamb that is led to the slaughter,
    and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
    so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
    and as for his generation, (U)who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
    stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
    (V)and with a rich man in his death,
although (W)he had done no violence,
    and there was no deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet (X)it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
    he has put him to grief;[i]
(Y)when his soul makes[j] an offering for guilt,
    he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
(Z)the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see[k] and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall (AA)the righteous one, my servant,
    (AB)make many to be accounted righteous,
    (AC)and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 (AD)Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,[l]
    (AE)and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,[m]
because he poured out his soul to death
    and was numbered with the transgressors;
(AF)yet he bore the sin of many,
    and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 52:13 Or shall prosper
  2. Isaiah 52:15 Or startle
  3. Isaiah 53:1 Or Who has believed what we have heard?
  4. Isaiah 53:3 Or forsaken
  5. Isaiah 53:3 Or pains; also verse 4
  6. Isaiah 53:3 Or and knowing
  7. Isaiah 53:3 Or sickness; also verse 4
  8. Isaiah 53:3 Or as one who hides his face from us
  9. Isaiah 53:10 Or he has made him sick
  10. Isaiah 53:10 Or when you make his soul
  11. Isaiah 53:11 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scroll he shall see light
  12. Isaiah 53:12 Or with the great
  13. Isaiah 53:12 Or with the numerous

Psalm 22

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Doe of the Dawn.”

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
    Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
    Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.

Yet you are holy,
    enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Our ancestors trusted in you,
    and you rescued them.
They cried out to you and were saved.
    They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

But I am a worm and not a man.
    I am scorned and despised by all!
Everyone who sees me mocks me.
    They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
“Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
    Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
    let the Lord rescue him!”

Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
    and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
10 I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
    You have been my God from the moment I was born.

11 Do not stay so far from me,
    for trouble is near,
    and no one else can help me.
12 My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls;
    fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
13 Like lions they open their jaws against me,
    roaring and tearing into their prey.
14 My life is poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
    melting within me.
15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
    My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
    You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
    an evil gang closes in on me.
    They have pierced[a] my hands and feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
    My enemies stare at me and gloat.
18 They divide my garments among themselves
    and throw dice[b] for my clothing.

19 O Lord, do not stay far away!
    You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
20 Save me from the sword;
    spare my precious life from these dogs.
21 Snatch me from the lion’s jaws
    and from the horns of these wild oxen.

22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.[c]
    I will praise you among your assembled people.
23 Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!
    Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!
    Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
    He has not turned his back on them,
    but has listened to their cries for help.

25 I will praise you in the great assembly.
    I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied.
    All who seek the Lord will praise him.
    Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
27 The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.
    All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
28 For royal power belongs to the Lord.
    He rules all the nations.

29 Let the rich of the earth feast and worship.
    Bow before him, all who are mortal,
    all whose lives will end as dust.
30 Our children will also serve him.
    Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
    They will hear about everything he has done.

Footnotes

  1. 22:16 As in some Hebrew manuscripts and Greek and Syriac versions; most Hebrew manuscripts read They are like a lion at.
  2. 22:18 Hebrew cast lots.
  3. 22:22 Hebrew my brothers.

Why Have You Forsaken Me?

To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.

22 (A)My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so (B)far from saving me, from the words of my (C)groaning?
O my God, I cry by (D)day, but you do not answer,
    and by night, but I find no rest.

Yet you are (E)holy,
    (F)enthroned on (G)the praises[a] of Israel.
In you our fathers trusted;
    they trusted, and you delivered them.
To you they (H)cried and were rescued;
    in you they (I)trusted and were not put to shame.

But I am (J)a worm and not a man,
    (K)scorned by mankind and (L)despised by the people.
All who see me (M)mock me;
    they make mouths at me; they (N)wag their heads;
(O)“He trusts in the Lord; let him (P)deliver him;
    let him rescue him, for he (Q)delights in him!”

Yet you are he who (R)took me from the womb;
    you made me trust you at my mother's breasts.
10 On you was I cast from my birth,
    and from (S)my mother's womb you have been my God.
11 Be not (T)far from me,
    for trouble is near,
    and there is (U)none to help.

12 Many bulls encompass me;
    (V)strong bulls of (W)Bashan surround me;
13 they (X)open wide their mouths at me,
    like a ravening and roaring lion.

14 I am (Y)poured out like water,
    and all my bones are (Z)out of joint;
my (AA)heart is like (AB)wax;
    it is melted within my breast;
15 my strength is (AC)dried up like a potsherd,
    and my (AD)tongue sticks to my jaws;
    you lay me in the dust of death.

16 For (AE)dogs encompass me;
    a company of evildoers (AF)encircles me;
they have (AG)pierced my hands and feet[b]
17 I can count all my bones—
they (AH)stare and gloat over me;
18 (AI)they divide my garments among them,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.

19 But you, O Lord, (AJ)do not be far off!
    O you my help, (AK)come quickly to my aid!
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
    my precious life from the power of (AL)the dog!
21     Save me from (AM)the mouth of the lion!
You have rescued[c] me from the horns of (AN)the wild oxen!

22 (AO)I will tell of your name to my (AP)brothers;
    in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23 You who (AQ)fear the Lord, praise him!
    All you offspring of Jacob, (AR)glorify him,
    and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or abhorred
    the affliction of (AS)the afflicted,
and he has not (AT)hidden his face from him,
    but has heard, when he (AU)cried to him.

25 From you comes my praise in the great (AV)congregation;
    my (AW)vows I will (AX)perform before those who fear him.
26 (AY)The afflicted[d] shall (AZ)eat and be satisfied;
    those who seek him shall praise the Lord!
    May your hearts (BA)live forever!

27 All (BB)the ends of the earth shall remember
    and turn to the Lord,
and all (BC)the families of the nations
    shall worship before you.
28 For (BD)kingship belongs to the Lord,
    and he rules over the nations.

29 All (BE)the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;
    before him shall (BF)bow all who go down to the dust,
    even the one who could not (BG)keep himself alive.
30 Posterity shall serve him;
    it shall be told of the Lord to the coming (BH)generation;
31 they shall (BI)come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet (BJ)unborn,
    that he has done it.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 22:3 Or dwelling in the praises
  2. Psalm 22:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts like a lion [they are at] my hands and feet
  3. Psalm 22:21 Hebrew answered
  4. Psalm 22:26 Or The meek

16 “This is the new covenant I will make
    with my people on that day,[a] says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds.”[b]

17 Then he says,

“I will never again remember
    their sins and lawless deeds.”[c]

18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

A Call to Persevere

19 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[d] we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death,[e] Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

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Footnotes

  1. 10:16a Greek after those days.
  2. 10:16b Jer 31:33a.
  3. 10:17 Jer 31:34b.
  4. 10:19 Greek brothers.
  5. 10:20 Greek Through his flesh.

16 (A)“This is the covenant that I will make with them
    after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
    and write them on their minds,”

17 then he adds,

(B)“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

The Full Assurance of Faith

19 (C)Therefore, brothers,[a] since we have confidence to enter (D)the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by (E)the new and living way that he opened for us through (F)the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have (G)a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts (H)sprinkled clean (I)from an evil conscience and our bodies (J)washed with pure water. 23 (K)Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for (L)he who promised is faithful. 24 And (M)let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 (N)not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and (O)all the more as you see (P)the Day drawing near.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:19 Or brothers and sisters

Christ Is Our High Priest

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

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Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Since then we have (A)a great high priest (B)who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, (C)let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest (D)who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been (E)tempted as we are, (F)yet without sin. 16 (G)Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.

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In the days of his flesh, (A)Jesus[a] offered up prayers and supplications, (B)with loud cries and tears, to him (C)who was able to save him from death, and (D)he was heard because of his reverence. Although (E)he was a son, (F)he learned obedience through what he suffered. And (G)being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 5:7 Greek he

Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested

18 After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove.

Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.

“Jesus the Nazarene,”[a] they replied.

I am he,”[b] Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said I am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?”

And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

“I told you that I am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.” He did this to fulfill his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.”[c]

10 Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. 11 But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”

Jesus at the High Priest’s House

12 So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13 First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time.[d] 14 Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.”

Peter’s First Denial

15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. 16 Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. 17 The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?”

“No,” he said, “I am not.”

18 Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

19 Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. 20 Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people[e] gather. I have not spoken in secret. 21 Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.”

22 Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded.

23 Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?”

24 Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials

25 Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”

26 But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” 27 Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.

Jesus’ Trial before Pilate

28 Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor.[f] His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover. 29 So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?”

30 “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted.

31 “Then take him away and judge him by your own law,” Pilate told them.

“Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied. 32 (This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way he would die.[g])

33 Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.

34 Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”

36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?”

Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. 39 But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?”

40 But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)

Jesus Sentenced to Death

19 Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.

Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.” Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man!”

When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

“Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”

The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”

When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. He took Jesus back into the headquarters[h] again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. 10 “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?”

11 Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

12 Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’[i] Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”

13 When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). 14 It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people,[j] “Look, here is your king!”

15 “Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!”

“What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.

16 Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

So they took Jesus away. 17 Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). 18 There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19 And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth,[k] the King of the Jews.” 20 The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.

21 Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”

22 Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.”

23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice[l] for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.”[m] So that is what they did.

25 Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”[n] 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

31 It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. 34 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe.[o]) 36 These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,”[p] 37 and “They will look on the one they pierced.”[q]

The Burial of Jesus

38 Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. 39 With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds[r] of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. 40 Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. 41 The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. 42 And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover[s] and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Footnotes

  1. 18:5a Or Jesus of Nazareth; also in 18:7.
  2. 18:5b Or “The ‘I am’ is here”; or “I am the Lord”; Greek reads I am; also in 18:6, 8. See Exod 3:14.
  3. 18:9 See John 6:39 and 17:12.
  4. 18:13 Greek that year.
  5. 18:20 Greek Jewish people; also in 18:38.
  6. 18:28 Greek to the Praetorium; also in 18:33.
  7. 18:32 See John 12:32-33.
  8. 19:9 Greek the Praetorium.
  9. 19:12 “Friend of Caesar” is a technical term that refers to an ally of the emperor.
  10. 19:14 Greek Jewish people; also in 19:20.
  11. 19:19 Or Jesus the Nazarene.
  12. 19:24a Greek cast lots.
  13. 19:24b Ps 22:18.
  14. 19:28 See Pss 22:15; 69:21.
  15. 19:35 Some manuscripts read that you also may believe.
  16. 19:36 Exod 12:46; Num 9:12; Ps 34:20.
  17. 19:37 Zech 12:10.
  18. 19:39 Greek 100 litras [32.7 kilograms].
  19. 19:42 Greek because of the Jewish day of preparation.

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, (A)he went out with his disciples across (B)the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew (C)the place, for (D)Jesus often met there with his disciples. (E)So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, (F)knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, (G)“Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.”[a] Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. (H)When Jesus[b] said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, (I)“Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” (J)This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, (K)having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant[c] and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; (L)shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas

12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews[d] arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they (M)led him to (N)Annas, for he was the father-in-law of (O)Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews (P)that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

15 (Q)Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 (R)but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 (S)The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants[e] and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. (T)Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

19 (U)The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken (V)openly (W)to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. (X)I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, (Y)“Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 (Z)Annas then sent him bound to (AA)Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

25 (AB)Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of (AC)the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you (AD)in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and (AE)at once a rooster crowed.

Jesus Before Pilate

28 (AF)Then they led Jesus (AG)from the house of Caiaphas to (AH)the governor's headquarters.[f] It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, (AI)so that they would not be defiled, (AJ)but could eat the Passover. 29 (AK)So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, (AL)“Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 (AM)This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken (AN)to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

33 (AO)So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, (AP)“Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, (AQ)“My kingdom (AR)is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, (AS)my servants would have been fighting, that (AT)I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, (AU)“You say that I am a king. (AV)For this purpose I was born and for this purpose (AW)I have come into the world—(AX)to bear witness to the truth. (AY)Everyone who is (AZ)of the truth (BA)listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, (BB)he went back outside to the Jews and told them, (BC)“I find no guilt in him. 39 (BD)But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, (BE)“Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.[g]

Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and (BF)flogged him. (BG)And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that (BH)I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing (BI)the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, (BJ)“Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, (BK)“Take him yourselves and crucify him, for (BL)I find no guilt in him.” The Jews[h] answered him, “We have a law, and (BM)according to that law he ought to die because (BN)he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, (BO)he was even more afraid. (BP)He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, (BQ)“Where are you from?” But (BR)Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, (BS)“You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore (BT)he who delivered me over to you (BU)has the greater sin.”

12 From then on (BV)Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. (BW)Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on (BX)the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic[i] Gabbatha. 14 Now it was (BY)the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour.[j] He said to the Jews, (BZ)“Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, (CA)“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.” 16 (CB)So he (CC)delivered him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

So they took Jesus, 17 and (CD)he went out, (CE)bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 (CF)There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate (CG)also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for (CH)the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, (CI)“What I have written I have written.”

23 (CJ)When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic.[k] But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” (CK)This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

(CL)“They divided my garments among them,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did these things, 25 (CM)but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and (CN)the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, (CO)“Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to (CP)his own home.

The Death of Jesus

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now (CQ)finished, said ((CR)to fulfill the Scripture), (CS)“I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, (CT)so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, (CU)“It is finished,” and he bowed his head and (CV)gave up his spirit.

Jesus' Side Is Pierced

31 Since it was (CW)the day of Preparation, and (CX)so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was (CY)a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other (CZ)who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out (DA)blood and water. 35 (DB)He who saw it has borne witness—(DC)his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—(DD)that you also may believe. 36 (DE)For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: (DF)“Not one of his bones (DG)will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, (DH)“They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Jesus Is Buried

38 (DI)After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly (DJ)for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 (DK)Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus[l] by night, came (DL)bringing a mixture of (DM)myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds[m] in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and (DN)bound it in (DO)linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a (DP)garden, and (DQ)in the garden a new tomb (DR)in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish (DS)day of Preparation, (DT)since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Footnotes

  1. John 18:5 Greek I am; also verses 6, 8
  2. John 18:6 Greek he
  3. John 18:10 Or bondservant; twice in this verse
  4. John 18:12 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 14, 31, 36, 38
  5. John 18:18 Or bondservants; also verse 26
  6. John 18:28 Greek the praetorium
  7. John 18:40 Or an insurrectionist
  8. John 19:7 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 12, 14, 31, 38
  9. John 19:13 Or Hebrew; also verses 17, 20
  10. John 19:14 That is, about noon
  11. John 19:23 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
  12. John 19:39 Greek him
  13. John 19:39 Greek one hundred litras; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams