Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Christ rides into Jerusalem. The fig tree dries up. The buyers and sellers are cast out of the temple. The Pharisees question Christ.

11 And when they came near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany beside the Mount of Olives, he sent forth two of his disciples ² and said to them, Go your ways into the town that is in front of you. And as soon as you have entered into it, you will find a colt tied, on which no man ever sat. Untie him and bring him here. ³ And if anyone asks you why you are doing this, say that the Lord has need of him, and straightaway he will send him here.

⁴ And they went their way and found a colt tied by the door outside, in a place where two roads met, and they untied him. ⁵ And some of the people standing there said to them, What are you doing, untying the colt? ⁶ And they answered just as Jesus had instructed, and the people let them go. ⁷ And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on it, and he sat upon it. ⁸ And many spread their garments in the way. Others cut down branches of the trees and strew them in the way. ⁹ And those who went before, and those who followed, cried out, saying, Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord! ¹⁰ Blessed is the kingdom that comes in the name of him who is Lord of our father David: Hosanna in the highest!

¹¹ And the Lord entered into Jerusalem and into the temple. And when he had looked round about upon everything, and now that evening time was come, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

¹² On the next day, many people who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ took branches of palm trees and went and met him, and cried, Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel! ¹⁴ And Jesus got a young donkey and sat on it, according to that which was written: ¹⁵ Fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold, your king comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt.

¹⁶ These things his disciples did not understand at the first. But when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that such things were written of him, and that people had done such things to him.

⁵ Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be equal to God, ⁷ but made himself of no reputation, and took on him the form of a servant, and became like humankind, ⁸ and was found in his appearance as a man. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ For this God has exalted him, and given him a name above all names, ¹⁰ so that in the name of Jesus every knee will bow, both of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth, ¹¹ and so that all tongues will confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Mary Magdalene anoints Christ. The Passover lamb is eaten. Christ is taken. Peter denies him, with many other things that were demanded of Christ.

14 After two days followed Passover, and the days of sweet bread. And the high priests and the scribes were seeking means to apprehend Jesus by craft and put him to death. ² But, they said, not in the feast day, lest any uproar arise among the people.

³ When he was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, even as he sat at food, there came a woman having an alabaster jar of anointing oil called nard, which was pure and costly. And she broke the jar and poured it on his head. ⁴ And there were some who were displeased in themselves and said, Why this waste of oyntment? ⁵ For it could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor. And they grudged against her.

⁶ And Jesus said, Let her be in rest. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work on me. ⁷ For you will have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish, you may do them good. But me you will not have always. ⁸ She has done what she could: she came beforehand to anoint my body for the burial. ⁹ Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the whole world, this also that she has done will be told, in remembrance of her.

¹⁰ And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went away to the high priests, to betray him to them. ¹¹ When they heard that, they were glad, and promised that they would give him money. And he sought an opportune way to betray him.

¹² And the first day of sweet bread, when people offer the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, Where would you like us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover lamb? ¹³ And he sent forth two of his disciples and said to them, Go into the city, and there a man will meet you bearing a pitcher of water. Follow him. ¹⁴ And wherever he goes in, say to the head of the house, The Teacher asks, Where is the guest chamber where I may eat the Passover lamb with my disciples? ¹⁵ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

¹⁶ And his disciples went forth, and came to the city, and found things as he had said to them, and made ready the Passover lamb.

¹⁷ And in the evening, he came with the twelve. ¹⁸ And as they sat at the table and ate, Jesus said, Truly I say to you that one of you who eats with me will betray me. ¹⁹ And they began to mourn, and to say to him one by one, Is it I? And another said, Is it I?

²⁰ He answered and said to them, It is one of the twelve, and the same dips with me in the platter. ²¹ The Son of man goes as it is written of him. But woe is to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed. It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.

²² And as they ate, Jesus took bread, blessed, and broke, and gave to them and said, Take, eat; this is my body. ²³ And he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank of it. ²⁴ And he said to them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. ²⁵ Truly I say to you, I will drink no more of this fruit of the vine until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

²⁶ And when they had sung praises, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ²⁷ And Jesus said to them, All of you will fall away because of me this night. For it is written: I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. ²⁸ But after I am risen up again, I will go into Galilee ahead of you. ²⁹ But Peter said to him, Even if all were to fall away, yet I would not. ³⁰ And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, this day – even this night, before the cock crows twice – you will deny me three times. ³¹ And Peter spoke more boldly: No; if I must die with you, I will not deny you. Likewise also said all the others.

³² And they came to a place named Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, Sit here, while I go apart and pray. ³³ And he took with him Peter, James, and John. And he began to be horrified, and to be in an agony, ³⁴ and said to them, My soul is very heavy, even to the death. You stay here and watch. ³⁵ And he went forward a little, and fell down on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to you; take away this cup from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will, be done.

³⁷ And he came and found them sleeping and said to Peter, Simon, are you sleeping? Could not you watch with me one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is ready, but the flesh is weak.

³⁹ And again he went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. ⁴⁰ And he returned and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; neither did they know what to answer him. ⁴¹ And he came the third time, and said to them, Sleep on now, and take your ease! It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of man will be delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Rise up, let us go. Lo, he who betrays me is at hand.

⁴³ And immediately, while he yet spoke, came Judas, one of the twelve. With him was a large band of people with swords and clubs, sent from the high priests and scribes and elders. ⁴⁴ And he who betrayed him had arranged a sign, saying, Whomever I kiss, he it is; take him and lead him away warily.

⁴⁵ And as soon as Judas had come, he went straightaway to Jesus and said to him, Master, Master! and kissed him. ⁴⁶ And they laid their hands on him and took him. ⁴⁷ And one of those who stood by drew out a sword and struck a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

⁴⁸ And Jesus spoke and said to them, You have come out as if to a thief, with swords and with clubs to capture me. ⁴⁹ I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not take me. But the scriptures must be fulfilled.

⁵⁰ And they all forsook him, and ran away. ⁵¹ And he had a follower, a certain young man clothed in linen upon the bare. And the young men caught him, ⁵² but he left his linen cloth and fled from them naked.

⁵³ And they led Jesus away to the highest priest of all, and to him came all the high priests and the elders and the scribes. ⁵⁴ And Peter followed him a great way off, right into the palace courtyard of the high priest, and sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.

⁵⁵ And the high priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus, to put him to death, and found none. ⁵⁶ Yet many bore false witness against him, but their testimonies did not agree together. ⁵⁷ And certain men arose and brought false witness against him, saying, ⁵⁸ We heard him say, I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. ⁵⁹ But their testimonies did not agree together.

⁶⁰ And the highest priest stood up amongst them and asked Jesus, saying, Do you answer nothing? How is it that these men bear witness against you? ⁶¹ And he held his peace and answered nothing. Again the highest priest asked him and said to him, Are you Christ, the Son of the Blessed? ⁶² And Jesus said, I am; and you will see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.

⁶³ Then the highest priest tore his clothes and said, Why do we need any further witnesses? ⁶⁴ You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?

And they all gave sentence that he was worthy of death. ⁶⁵ And some began to spit at him, and to cover his face, and to beat him with fists, and to say to him, Prophesy to us! And the servants struck him on the face.

⁶⁶ And as Peter was below in the interior courtyard, there came one of the servant girls of the highest priest. ⁶⁷ When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked on him and said, Were you not also with Jesus of Nazareth? ⁶⁸ And he denied it, saying, I do not know him, or understand what you are saying. And he went out into the porch, and the cock crew. ⁶⁹ And a maidservant saw him and again began to say to those who stood by, This is one of them. ⁷⁰ And he denied it again. And soon after, those standing by said again to Peter, Surely you are one of them, for you are from Galilee and your speech is the same. ⁷¹ And he began to curse and to swear, saying, I do not know this man of whom you speak. ⁷² And again the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him – Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times – and he began to weep.

The passion of Christ. Of his death and burial.

15 And early in the dawning, the high priests consulted with the elders and the scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus and led him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

² And Pilate asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? And he answered and said to him, It is as you say. ³ And the high priests accused him of many things. ⁴ So Pilate asked him again, saying, Do you answer nothing? Look how many things they lay to your charge. ⁵ But Jesus still answered never a word, so that Pilate marvelled.

⁶ At that feast it was Pilate’s custom to release to the people, at their pleasure, a prisoner – whomever they desired. ⁷ And there was one named Barabbas, who lay bound with those who had made insurrection, and in the insurrection had committed murder. ⁸ And the people called to Pilate and began to ask that he do as usual for them. ⁹ Pilate answered them and said, Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews? ¹⁰ For he knew that the high priests had delivered him out of envy. ¹¹ But the high priests had moved the people to have Barabbas released to them instead.

¹² And Pilate answered again and said to them, What will you have me do then with him whom you call the king of the Jews? ¹³ And they cried again, Crucify him! ¹⁴ Pilate said to them, What evil has he done? And they cried the more fervently, Crucify him!

¹⁵ And so Pilate, choosing to appease the people, released Barabbas to them, and delivered Jesus, when had scourged him, to be crucified.

¹⁶ And the soldiers led him away into the common hall, and called together the whole company. ¹⁷ And they clothed him with purple, and they plaited a crown of thorns and crowned him with it, ¹⁸ and began to pay mock homage to him: Hail, King of the Jews! ¹⁹ And they struck him on the head with a reed, and spat upon him, and kneeled down and worshipped him.

²⁰ And when they had mocked him, they took the purple off him and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. ²¹ And they compelled a man who was passing by, called Simon of Cyrene (who was coming out of the field, and was the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear his cross. ²² And they brought him to a place named Golgotha (which translated is, the place of dead men’s skulls). ²³ And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but he would not receive it.

²⁴ And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots for them, what every man should have. ²⁵ And it was about the third hour, and they crucified him. ²⁶ And the notice of his accusation was written: the king of the jews. ²⁷ And they crucified with him two thieves, one on the right hand and the other on his left. ²⁸ And the scripture was fulfilled which says, He was counted among the wicked.

²⁹ And people who were going by railed on him, wagging their heads and saying, Ah, wretch, who destroys the temple and builds it in three days! ³⁰ Save yourself, and come down from the cross!

³¹ Likewise also the high priests mocked him among themselves with the scribes, and said, He saved other men; himself he cannot save. ³² Let Christ the King of Israel now descend from the cross, so that we may see and believe.

And those who were crucified with him reviled him also.

³³ And when the sixth hour was come, darkness arose over all the earth until the ninth hour. ³⁴ And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, if it be translated, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

³⁵ And some of the people who were standing by, when they heard that, said, Look, he is calling for Elijah. ³⁶ And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed and gave him to drink, saying, Let him alone. Let’s see if Elijah will come and take him down.

³⁷ But Jesus cried out with a loud voice and gave up the spirit. ³⁸ And the veil of the temple did tear in two pieces, from the top to the bottom. ³⁹ And when the centurion who stood before Jesus saw that he so cried out and gave up the spirit, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

⁴⁰ There were also women a good way off beholding him, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Little and of Joses, and Mary Salome, ⁴¹ who also, when he was in Galilee, had followed him and ministered to him, and many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

⁴² And now when night was come (because it was the Preparation, the day before the Sabbath), ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea came, a noble councillor, who also looked for the kingdom of God. He went in bravely to Pilate and requested the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴ And Pilate marvelled that he was already dead, and called for the centurion, and asked him if Jesus was already dead. ⁴⁵ And when he knew the truth from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

⁴⁶ And Joseph bought a linen cloth, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone to the opening of the sepulchre. ⁴⁷ And Mary Magdalene and Mary Joses saw where he was laid.

The passion of Christ. Of his death and burial.

15 And early in the dawning, the high priests consulted with the elders and the scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus and led him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

² And Pilate asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? And he answered and said to him, It is as you say. ³ And the high priests accused him of many things. ⁴ So Pilate asked him again, saying, Do you answer nothing? Look how many things they lay to your charge. ⁵ But Jesus still answered never a word, so that Pilate marvelled.

⁶ At that feast it was Pilate’s custom to release to the people, at their pleasure, a prisoner – whomever they desired. ⁷ And there was one named Barabbas, who lay bound with those who had made insurrection, and in the insurrection had committed murder. ⁸ And the people called to Pilate and began to ask that he do as usual for them. ⁹ Pilate answered them and said, Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews? ¹⁰ For he knew that the high priests had delivered him out of envy. ¹¹ But the high priests had moved the people to have Barabbas released to them instead.

¹² And Pilate answered again and said to them, What will you have me do then with him whom you call the king of the Jews? ¹³ And they cried again, Crucify him! ¹⁴ Pilate said to them, What evil has he done? And they cried the more fervently, Crucify him!

¹⁵ And so Pilate, choosing to appease the people, released Barabbas to them, and delivered Jesus, when had scourged him, to be crucified.

¹⁶ And the soldiers led him away into the common hall, and called together the whole company. ¹⁷ And they clothed him with purple, and they plaited a crown of thorns and crowned him with it, ¹⁸ and began to pay mock homage to him: Hail, King of the Jews! ¹⁹ And they struck him on the head with a reed, and spat upon him, and kneeled down and worshipped him.

²⁰ And when they had mocked him, they took the purple off him and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. ²¹ And they compelled a man who was passing by, called Simon of Cyrene (who was coming out of the field, and was the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear his cross. ²² And they brought him to a place named Golgotha (which translated is, the place of dead men’s skulls). ²³ And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but he would not receive it.

²⁴ And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots for them, what every man should have. ²⁵ And it was about the third hour, and they crucified him. ²⁶ And the notice of his accusation was written: the king of the jews. ²⁷ And they crucified with him two thieves, one on the right hand and the other on his left. ²⁸ And the scripture was fulfilled which says, He was counted among the wicked.

²⁹ And people who were going by railed on him, wagging their heads and saying, Ah, wretch, who destroys the temple and builds it in three days! ³⁰ Save yourself, and come down from the cross!

³¹ Likewise also the high priests mocked him among themselves with the scribes, and said, He saved other men; himself he cannot save. ³² Let Christ the King of Israel now descend from the cross, so that we may see and believe.

And those who were crucified with him reviled him also.

³³ And when the sixth hour was come, darkness arose over all the earth until the ninth hour. ³⁴ And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, if it be translated, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

³⁵ And some of the people who were standing by, when they heard that, said, Look, he is calling for Elijah. ³⁶ And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed and gave him to drink, saying, Let him alone. Let’s see if Elijah will come and take him down.

³⁷ But Jesus cried out with a loud voice and gave up the spirit. ³⁸ And the veil of the temple did tear in two pieces, from the top to the bottom. ³⁹ And when the centurion who stood before Jesus saw that he so cried out and gave up the spirit, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

⁴⁰ There were also women a good way off beholding him, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Little and of Joses, and Mary Salome, ⁴¹ who also, when he was in Galilee, had followed him and ministered to him, and many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

⁴² And now when night was come (because it was the Preparation, the day before the Sabbath), ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea came, a noble councillor, who also looked for the kingdom of God. He went in bravely to Pilate and requested the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴ And Pilate marvelled that he was already dead, and called for the centurion, and asked him if Jesus was already dead. ⁴⁵ And when he knew the truth from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

⁴⁶ And Joseph bought a linen cloth, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone to the opening of the sepulchre. ⁴⁷ And Mary Magdalene and Mary Joses saw where he was laid.