Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
19 Open for me the gates of the just king’s temple.[a]
I will enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the Lord’s gate—
the godly enter through it.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me,
and have become my deliverer.
22 The stone that the builders discarded[b]
has become the cornerstone.[c]
23 This is the Lord’s work.
We consider it amazing![d]
24 This is the day the Lord has brought about.[e]
We will be happy and rejoice in it.
25 Please, Lord, deliver!
Please, Lord, grant us success![f]
26 May the one who comes in the name of the Lord[g] be blessed.
We will pronounce blessings on you[h] in the Lord’s temple.[i]
27 The Lord is God, and he has delivered us.[j]
Tie the offering[k] with ropes
to the horns of the altar.[l]
28 You are my[m] God, and I will give you thanks.
You are my God and I will praise you.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
and his loyal love endures.[n]
The Triumphal Entry
21 Now[a] when they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage,[b] at the Mount of Olives,[c] Jesus sent two disciples, 2 telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you.[d] Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them,’[e] and he will send them at once.” 4 This[f] took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:[g]
5 “Tell the people of Zion,[h]
‘Look, your king is coming to you,
unassuming and seated on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”[i]
6 So[j] the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks[k] on them, and he sat on them. 8 A[l] very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those following kept shouting,[m] “Hosanna[n] to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord![o] Hosanna in the highest!” 10 As he entered Jerusalem the whole city was thrown into an uproar,[p] saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”
The Servant Perseveres
4 The Sovereign Lord has given me the capacity to be his spokesman,[a]
so that I know how to help the weary.[b]
He wakes me up every morning;
he makes me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do.[c]
5 The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me clearly;[d]
I have not rebelled,
I have not turned back.
6 I offered my back to those who attacked,[e]
my jaws to those who tore out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from insults and spitting.
7 But the Sovereign Lord helps me,
so I am not humiliated.
For that reason I am steadfastly resolved;[f]
I know I will not be put to shame.
8 The one who vindicates me is close by.
Who dares to argue with me? Let us confront each other![g]
Who is my accuser?[h] Let him challenge me![i]
9 Look, the Sovereign Lord helps me.
Who dares to condemn me?
Look, all of them will wear out like clothes;
a moth will eat away at them.
9 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress!
My eyes grow dim[a] from suffering.[b]
I have lost my strength.[c]
10 For my life nears its end in pain;
my years draw to a close as I groan.[d]
My strength fails me because of[e] my sin,
and my bones become brittle.[f]
11 Because of all my enemies, people disdain me;[g]
my neighbors are appalled by my suffering[h]—
those who know me are horrified by my condition;[i]
those who see me in the street run away from me.
12 I am forgotten, like a dead man no one thinks about;[j]
I am regarded as worthless, like a broken jar.[k]
13 For I hear what so many are saying,[l]
the terrifying news that comes from every direction.[m]
When they plot together against me,
they figure out how they can take my life.
14 But I trust in you, O Lord!
I declare, “You are my God!”
15 You determine my destiny.[n]
Rescue me from the power of my enemies and those who chase me.
16 Smile[o] on your servant.
Deliver me because of your faithfulness.
5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,[a]
6 [b] who though he existed in the form of God[c]
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself
by taking on the form of a slave,[d]
by looking like other men,[e]
and by sharing in human nature.[f]
8 He humbled himself,
by becoming obedient to the point of death
—even death on a cross!
9 As a result God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow
—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—
11 and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father.
The Plan to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me to betray him into your hands?”[a] So they set out thirty silver coins for him. 16 From that time[b] on, Judas[c] began looking for an opportunity to betray him.
The Passover
17 Now on the first day of the feast of[d] Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and said,[e] “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”[f] 18 He[g] said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I will observe the Passover with my disciples at your house.”’” 19 So[h] the disciples did as Jesus had instructed them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 When[i] it was evening, he took his place at the table[j] with the twelve.[k] 21 And while they were eating he said, “I tell you the truth,[l] one of you will betray me.”[m] 22 They[n] became greatly distressed[o] and each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 He[p] answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me[q] will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.” 25 Then[r] Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus[s] replied, “You have said it yourself.”
The Lord’s Supper
26 While[t] they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat, this is my body.” 27 And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood, the blood[u] of the covenant,[v] that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I[w] tell you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit[x] of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 After[y] singing a hymn,[z] they went out to the Mount of Olives.
The Prediction of Peter’s Denial
31 Then Jesus said to them, “This night you will all fall away because of me, for it is written:
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’[aa]
32 But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter[ab] said to him, “If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!” 34 Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth,[ac] on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the disciples said the same thing.
Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and became anguished and distressed. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed,[ad] “My Father, if possible,[ae] let this cup[af] pass from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He[ag] said to Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed,[ah] “My Father, if this cup[ai] cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will must be done.” 43 He came again and found them sleeping; they could not keep their eyes open.[aj] 44 So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is approaching, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer[ak] is approaching!”
Betrayal and Arrest
47 While he was still speaking, Judas,[al] one of the twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 (Now the betrayer[am] had given them a sign, saying, “The one I kiss is the man.[an] Arrest him!”)[ao] 49 Immediately[ap] he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed him.[aq] 50 Jesus[ar] said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and took hold[as] of Jesus and arrested him. 51 But[at] one of those with Jesus grabbed[au] his sword, drew it out, and struck the high priest’s slave,[av] cutting off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place![aw] For all who take hold of the sword will die by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and that he would send me more than twelve legions[ax] of angels right now? 54 How then would the scriptures that say it must happen this way be fulfilled?” 55 At that moment Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw?[ay] Day after day I sat teaching in the temple courts, yet[az] you did not arrest me. 56 But this has happened so that the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Condemned by the Sanhedrin
57 Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house[ba] the experts in the law[bb] and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest’s courtyard. After[bc] going in, he sat with the guards[bd] to see the outcome. 59 The[be] chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally[bf] two came forward 61 and declared, “This man[bg] said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 62 So[bh] the high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. The[bi] high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ,[bj] the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand[bk] of the Power[bl] and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[bm] 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared,[bn] “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now[bo] you have heard the blasphemy! 66 What is your verdict?”[bp] They[bq] answered, “He is guilty and deserves[br] death.” 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy for us, you Christ![bs] Who hit you?”[bt]
Peter’s Denials
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A[bu] slave girl[bv] came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it in front of them all:[bw] “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” 71 When[bx] he went out to the gateway, another slave girl[by] saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” 72 He denied it again with an oath, “I do not know the man!” 73 After[bz] a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, “You really are one of them too—even your accent[ca] gives you away!” 74 At that he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment a rooster crowed.[cb] 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.[cc]
Jesus Brought Before Pilate
27 When[cd] it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him. 2 They[ce] tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate[cf] the governor.[cg]
Judas’ Suicide
3 Now when[ch] Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus[ci] had been condemned, he regretted what he had done and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!” But they said, “What is that to us? You take care of it yourself!” 5 So[cj] Judas threw the silver coins into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself. 6 The[ck] chief priests took the silver and said, “It is not lawful to put this into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 After[cl] consulting together they bought the Potter’s Field with it, as a burial place for foreigners. 8 For this reason that field has been called the “Field of Blood” to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah[cm] the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price of the one whose price had been set by the people of Israel,[cn] 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”[co]
Jesus and Pilate
11 Then[cp] Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him,[cq] “Are you the king[cr] of the Jews?” Jesus[cs] said, “You say so.”[ct] 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he did not respond. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many charges they are bringing against you?” 14 But he did not answer even one accusation, so that the governor was quite amazed.
15 During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd,[cu] whomever they wanted. 16 At that time they had in custody a notorious prisoner named Jesus[cv] Barabbas. 17 So after they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus[cw] Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?”[cx] 18 (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.)[cy] 19 As[cz] he was sitting on the judgment seat,[da] his wife sent a message[db] to him:[dc] “Have nothing to do with that innocent man;[dd] I have suffered greatly as a result of a dream[de] about him today.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The[df] governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?”[dg] They all said, “Crucify him!”[dh] 23 He asked, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they shouted more insistently, “Crucify him!”
Jesus is Condemned and Mocked
24 When[di] Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but that instead a riot was starting, he took some water, washed his hands before the crowd and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. You take care of it yourselves!”[dj] 25 In[dk] reply all the people said, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them. But after he had Jesus flogged,[dl] he handed him over[dm] to be crucified.[dn] 27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence[do] and gathered the whole cohort[dp] around him. 28 They[dq] stripped him and put a scarlet robe[dr] around him, 29 and after braiding[ds] a crown of thorns,[dt] they put it on his head. They[du] put a staff[dv] in his right hand, and kneeling down before him, they mocked him:[dw] “Hail, king of the Jews!”[dx] 30 They[dy] spat on him and took the staff[dz] and struck him repeatedly[ea] on the head. 31 When[eb] they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then[ec] they led him away to crucify him.
The Crucifixion
32 As[ed] they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced[ee] to carry his cross.[ef] 33 They[eg] came to a place called Golgotha[eh] (which means “Place of the Skull”)[ei] 34 and offered Jesus[ej] wine mixed with gall to drink.[ek] But after tasting it, he would not drink it. 35 When[el] they had crucified[em] him, they divided his clothes by throwing dice.[en] 36 Then they sat down and kept guard over him there. 37 Above[eo] his head they put the charge against him,[ep] which read:[eq] “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” 38 Then two outlaws were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those[er] who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself![es] If you are God’s Son, come down[et] from the cross!” 41 In[eu] the same way even the chief priests—together with the experts in the law[ev] and elders[ew]—were mocking him:[ex] 42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down[ey] now from the cross, we will believe in him! 43 He trusts in God—let God, if he wants to, deliver him now[ez] because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’!” 44 The[fa] robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.[fb]
Jesus’ Death
45 Now from noon until three,[fc] darkness came over all the land.[fd] 46 At[fe] about three o’clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice,[ff] “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”[fg] 47 When[fh] some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 Immediately[fi] one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine,[fj] put it on a stick,[fk] and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the rest said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah will come to save him.”[fl] 50 Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. 51 Just then[fm] the temple curtain[fn] was torn in two, from top to bottom. The[fo] earth shook and the rocks were split apart. 52 And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died[fp] were raised. 53 (They[fq] came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.) 54 Now when the centurion[fr] and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and what took place, they were extremely terrified and said, “Truly this one was God’s Son!” 55 Many[fs] women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and given him support[ft] were also there, watching from a distance. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Jesus’ Burial
57 Now when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.[fu] 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.[fv] Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph[fw] took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,[fx] 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock.[fy] Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance[fz] of the tomb and went away. 61 (Now Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there, opposite the tomb.)
The Guard at the Tomb
62 The[ga] next day (which is after the day of preparation) the chief priests and the Pharisees[gb] assembled before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give orders to secure the tomb until the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal his body[gc] and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “Take[gd] a guard of soldiers. Go and make it as secure as you can.” 66 So[ge] they went with the soldiers[gf] of the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
Jesus and Pilate
11 Then[a] Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him,[b] “Are you the king[c] of the Jews?” Jesus[d] said, “You say so.”[e] 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he did not respond. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many charges they are bringing against you?” 14 But he did not answer even one accusation, so that the governor was quite amazed.
15 During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd,[f] whomever they wanted. 16 At that time they had in custody a notorious prisoner named Jesus[g] Barabbas. 17 So after they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus[h] Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?”[i] 18 (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.)[j] 19 As[k] he was sitting on the judgment seat,[l] his wife sent a message[m] to him:[n] “Have nothing to do with that innocent man;[o] I have suffered greatly as a result of a dream[p] about him today.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The[q] governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?”[r] They all said, “Crucify him!”[s] 23 He asked, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they shouted more insistently, “Crucify him!”
Jesus is Condemned and Mocked
24 When[t] Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but that instead a riot was starting, he took some water, washed his hands before the crowd and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. You take care of it yourselves!”[u] 25 In[v] reply all the people said, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them. But after he had Jesus flogged,[w] he handed him over[x] to be crucified.[y] 27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence[z] and gathered the whole cohort[aa] around him. 28 They[ab] stripped him and put a scarlet robe[ac] around him, 29 and after braiding[ad] a crown of thorns,[ae] they put it on his head. They[af] put a staff[ag] in his right hand, and kneeling down before him, they mocked him:[ah] “Hail, king of the Jews!”[ai] 30 They[aj] spat on him and took the staff[ak] and struck him repeatedly[al] on the head. 31 When[am] they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then[an] they led him away to crucify him.
The Crucifixion
32 As[ao] they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced[ap] to carry his cross.[aq] 33 They[ar] came to a place called Golgotha[as] (which means “Place of the Skull”)[at] 34 and offered Jesus[au] wine mixed with gall to drink.[av] But after tasting it, he would not drink it. 35 When[aw] they had crucified[ax] him, they divided his clothes by throwing dice.[ay] 36 Then they sat down and kept guard over him there. 37 Above[az] his head they put the charge against him,[ba] which read:[bb] “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” 38 Then two outlaws were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those[bc] who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself![bd] If you are God’s Son, come down[be] from the cross!” 41 In[bf] the same way even the chief priests—together with the experts in the law[bg] and elders[bh]—were mocking him:[bi] 42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down[bj] now from the cross, we will believe in him! 43 He trusts in God—let God, if he wants to, deliver him now[bk] because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’!” 44 The[bl] robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.[bm]
Jesus’ Death
45 Now from noon until three,[bn] darkness came over all the land.[bo] 46 At[bp] about three o’clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice,[bq] “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”[br] 47 When[bs] some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 Immediately[bt] one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine,[bu] put it on a stick,[bv] and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the rest said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah will come to save him.”[bw] 50 Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. 51 Just then[bx] the temple curtain[by] was torn in two, from top to bottom. The[bz] earth shook and the rocks were split apart. 52 And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died[ca] were raised. 53 (They[cb] came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.) 54 Now when the centurion[cc] and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and what took place, they were extremely terrified and said, “Truly this one was God’s Son!”
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