Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

His Chesed Endures Forever

Psalm 118

Ben-David Enters Jerusalem

11 Now as they draw near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, to the Mount of Olives, Yeshua sends two of His disciples ² and says to them, “Go into the village ahead of you. Right away as you enter it, you will find a colt tied up that no one has ever sat upon.^[a] Untie it and bring it. ³ If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Master needs it.’ And right away he will send it back here.”^[b]

⁴ They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a door. And they untied it. ⁵ Some people standing there began saying to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”

⁶ They answered just as Yeshua had told them, and the people let them go. ⁷ And they brought the colt to Yeshua and laid their cloaks on it, and He sat on it. ⁸ Many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread branches cut from the fields. ^{[c] 9} Those going before and those following kept shouting,

¹¹ And He entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around at everything, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve, since it was already late.

Israel’s King Has Come

¹² The next day, the huge crowd that had come up for the feast heard that Yeshua was coming to Jerusalem. ¹³ So they took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting,

¹⁴ Finding a young donkey, Yeshua sat on it, as it is written,

¹⁶ His disciples did not understand these things at first. But when Yeshua was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that the crowd had done these things for Him.

Third Servant Song: Face Like Flint

⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves, which also was in Messiah Yeshua,

Anointed for Burial

14 Now it was two days before Passover and the Feast of Matzah. The ruling kohanim and Torah scholars were searching for a way to grab Yeshua by stealth and kill Him. ² “But not during the festival,” they were saying, “so there won’t be a riot among the people.”

³ And while Yeshua was in Bethany at the house of Simon ha-Metzora, reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive oil of pure nard. Breaking open the jar, she poured it over His head. ⁴ But some got angry and said among themselves, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? ⁵ It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor!” And they kept scolding her.

⁶ But Yeshua said, “Leave her alone. Why do you cause trouble for her? She’s done Me a mitzvah. ⁷ For you always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want; but you won’t always have Me. ⁸ She did what she could—she came beforehand to anoint My body for burial. ⁹ Amen, I tell you, wherever the Good News is proclaimed in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

¹⁰ Then Judah from Kriot, one of the Twelve, went out to the ruling kohanim to betray Yeshua to them. ¹¹ They were delighted when they heard this and promised to give him money. And Judah began looking for a chance to hand Him over.

New Covenant at the Last Seder

¹² Now on the first day of matzah, when they were slaughtering the Passover lamb, Yeshua’s disciples say to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

¹³ He sends two of His disciples and tells them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, ¹⁴ and wherever he enters, tell the homeowner, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ ¹⁵ He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

¹⁶ The disciples went out, came to the city, and found just what Yeshua had told them. And they prepared the Passover. ¹⁷ When it was evening, He came with the Twelve. ¹⁸ As they were reclining and eating, Yeshua said, “Amen, I tell you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.”

¹⁹ They began to be sorrowful and to say to Him one by one, “I’m not the one, am I?”

²⁰ He said to them, “It’s one of the Twelve, one who dips with Me in the bowl. ^{[a] 21} For the Son of Man indeed goes, just as it is written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born!”

²² And while they were eating, He took matzah;^[b] and after He offered the bracha, He broke it and gave it to them and said, “Take; this is My body.” ²³ And He took a cup; and after giving thanks, He gave to them and they all drank from it. ²⁴ And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. ^{[c] 25} Amen, I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”

Denial Predicted

²⁶ After singing the Hallel,^[d] they went out to the Mount of Olives. ²⁷ And Yeshua said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written,

²⁸ But after I’m raised up, I will go before you to the Galilee.”

²⁹ Peter said to Him, “Even though all fall away, I won’t!”

³⁰ And Yeshua said to him, “Amen, I tell you, today—this very night—before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

³¹ But Peter kept insisting exceedingly, “Even if I must die with You, I’ll never deny You!” And they all were saying the same.

A Night of Painful Prayer

³² Then they come to a place whose name is Gethsemane; and Yeshua says to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ He takes with Him Peter, Jacob, and John; and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ³⁴ And He tells them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”

³⁵ Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and began praying that if possible this hour might pass Him by. ³⁶ And He was saying, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You! Take this cup from Me! Yet not what I will, but what You will.”

³⁷ Then He comes and finds them sleeping; and He tells Peter, “Simon, you’re asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Keep watching and praying, so that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ³⁹ Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰ And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy. They didn’t know what to answer Him. ⁴¹ And He comes the third time and says to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is being delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Get up, let’s go! Look, My betrayer is near.”

Betrayed and Abandoned

⁴³ Right away, while Yeshua was still speaking, Judah comes up, one of the Twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the ruling kohanim, Torah scholars, and elders. ⁴⁴ Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “The One I kiss, He’s the One! Seize Him and lead Him away under guard.”

⁴⁵ As soon as Judah came, he drew near^[f] to Yeshua and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him. ⁴⁶ Then they threw their hands on Yeshua and seized Him. ⁴⁷ But one of the bystanders, drawing his sword, struck the servant of the kohen gadol and cut off his ear.

⁴⁸ Yeshua said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, to capture Me as you would against a revolutionary? ⁴⁹ Every day I was with you in the Temple teaching, and you didn’t seize Me. But this is so that the Scriptures^[g] would be fulfilled.” ⁵⁰ And all fled, abandoning Him. ^{[h] 51} A certain young man was following Him, with nothing but a linen cloth around his body, and they grabbed him. ⁵² But he ran away naked, leaving behind the linen cloth.

Falsely Charged

⁵³ Then they led Yeshua away to the kohen gadol. And all the ruling kohanim, elders, and Torah scholars gathered. ⁵⁴ Peter had followed Him from a distance, right into the courtyard of the kohen gadol. He was sitting with the guards, warming himself by the fire.

⁵⁵ Now the ruling kohanim and all the Sanhedrin kept trying to get evidence against Yeshua so they could put Him to death, but they weren’t finding any. ⁵⁶ Many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony wasn’t consistent. ⁵⁷ Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, ⁵⁸ “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this Temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” ⁵⁹ Yet even then, their testimony didn’t agree.

⁶⁰ The kohen gadol stood up in the middle and questioned Yeshua, saying, “Do You have no answer? What is this they’re testifying against You?”

⁶¹ But keeping silent, Yeshua did not answer. Again the kohen gadol questioned Him, “Are you Mashiach, Son of the Blessed One?”^[i]

⁶² “I am,” said Yeshua, “and you shall see ‘the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Powerful One,’ and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven’!”^[j]

⁶³ Tearing his clothes, the kohen gadol says, “Why do we still need witnesses? ⁶⁴ You’ve heard the blasphemy. What seems right to you?”

Then all condemned Him as deserving death. ⁶⁵ Some began to spit on Him, to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, saying, “Prophesy!” Also the guards slapped Him around.

The Rooster Crows

⁶⁶ As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the kohen gadol comes by. ⁶⁷ Seeing Peter warming himself, she looked straight at him. “You also were with Yeshua of Natzeret,” she says.

⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about!” Then he went outside to the gateway, and a rooster crowed.

⁶⁹ Seeing him, the servant girl began again to tell the bystanders, “This is one of them.”

⁷⁰ But again he denied it. And a little while later, the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you’re one of them, for you’re also a Galilean.”

⁷¹ But he began to curse himself and to swear an oath: “I do not know this Man you’re talking about!” ⁷² Right then, a rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter called to mind the word Yeshua had said to him: “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and began to weep.

Handed Over to the Romans

15 Right at daybreak, the ruling kohanim held a meeting to consult with the elders and Torah scholars and the whole Sanhedrin. They tied up Yeshua, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate. ² Pilate interrogated Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

Yeshua answers him, “As you say.”

³ The ruling kohanim began to accuse Him of many things. ⁴ Again, Pilate asked Him, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many charges they’re bringing against You!” ⁵ But Yeshua did not answer, so Pilate was amazed.

⁶ Now during the feast, he used to release to them one prisoner, anyone they were asking for. ⁷ Now a man named Bar-Abba^[k] had been in jail with the rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion. ⁸ The crowd came up and began to request what he was accustomed to do for them. ⁹ But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰ For he knew that out of envy the ruling kohanim had handed Him over. ¹¹ But the ruling kohanim stirred up the crowd, so he would release Bar-Abba to them instead.

¹² Then answering again, Pilate said to them, “So what do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”

¹³ They shouted back, “Execute Him!”

¹⁴ Pilate responded, “Why? What evil has He done?”

But they shouted all the more, “Execute Him!”

¹⁵ Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Bar-Abba for them. And after he had Yeshua scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

¹⁶ The soldiers took Him away, into the palace, the governor’s mansion called the Praetorium. And they call together the cohort^[l] of soldiers. ¹⁷ They dress Him up in purple. After braiding a crown of thorns, they put it on Him. ¹⁸ And they began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ¹⁹ Over and over, they kept hitting Him on the head with a staff and spitting on Him; and kneeling down, they worshiped Him. ²⁰ When they finished mocking Him, they stripped the purple off Him and put His own clothes back on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.

Crucified as King of the Jews

²¹ Now Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was coming in from the countryside. The soldiers force this passerby to carry Yeshua’s cross-beam. ^{[m] 22} They bring Yeshua to the place called Golgotha (which is translated, Place of a Skull). ²³ They were offering Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He didn’t take it. ²⁴ Then they crucify Him and divide up His clothing among themselves, casting lots for them^[n] to see who should take what.

²⁵ Now it was the third hour^[o] when they nailed Him on the stake. ²⁶ And the inscription of the charge against Him was written above: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.” ²⁷ And with Him they execute two outlaws, one on His right and one on His left. (²⁸ )^[p]

²⁹ Those passing by were jeering at Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, ³⁰ save Yourself by coming down from the stake!”

³¹ Likewise the ruling kohanim, along with the Torah scholars, were also mocking Him among themselves. “He saved others,” they were saying, “but He can’t save Himself? ³² Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the stake, so we may see and believe!” Even those executed with Him were ridiculing Him.

Death and Burial

³³ When the sixth hour had come, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. ^{[q] 34} At the ninth hour Yeshua cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”^[r] which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?”^[s]

³⁵ When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Look, He’s calling for Elijah.” ³⁶ Then someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He put it on a stick and was offering it to Yeshua to drink, saying, “Wait, let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down.” ³⁷ But letting out a loud cry, Yeshua breathed His last.

³⁸ Then the curtain^[t] of the Temple was split in two, from top to bottom. ³⁹ When the centurion, who was standing in front of Him, saw the way Yeshua breathed His last, he said, “This Man really was the Son of God!”

⁴⁰ There were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Miriam from Magdala, Miriam the mother of Jacob the younger and of Joses,^[u] and Salome. ⁴¹ They would follow Him and serve Him when He was in the Galilee. Many other women who had gone up together with Him to Jerusalem were there also.

⁴² Now evening had already come. Since it was the Day of Preparation, that is, the day before Shabbat, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, a respected council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Yeshua’s body.

⁴⁴ Pilate was surprised that He was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him whether Yeshua had been dead for long. ⁴⁵ When Pilate learned this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶ Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. ⁴⁷ Miriam from Magdala and Miriam the mother of Joses were watching where Yeshua’s body was placed.

Handed Over to the Romans

15 Right at daybreak, the ruling kohanim held a meeting to consult with the elders and Torah scholars and the whole Sanhedrin. They tied up Yeshua, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate. ² Pilate interrogated Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

Yeshua answers him, “As you say.”

³ The ruling kohanim began to accuse Him of many things. ⁴ Again, Pilate asked Him, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many charges they’re bringing against You!” ⁵ But Yeshua did not answer, so Pilate was amazed.

⁶ Now during the feast, he used to release to them one prisoner, anyone they were asking for. ⁷ Now a man named Bar-Abba^[a] had been in jail with the rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion. ⁸ The crowd came up and began to request what he was accustomed to do for them. ⁹ But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰ For he knew that out of envy the ruling kohanim had handed Him over. ¹¹ But the ruling kohanim stirred up the crowd, so he would release Bar-Abba to them instead.

¹² Then answering again, Pilate said to them, “So what do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”

¹³ They shouted back, “Execute Him!”

¹⁴ Pilate responded, “Why? What evil has He done?”

But they shouted all the more, “Execute Him!”

¹⁵ Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Bar-Abba for them. And after he had Yeshua scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

¹⁶ The soldiers took Him away, into the palace, the governor’s mansion called the Praetorium. And they call together the cohort^[b] of soldiers. ¹⁷ They dress Him up in purple. After braiding a crown of thorns, they put it on Him. ¹⁸ And they began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ¹⁹ Over and over, they kept hitting Him on the head with a staff and spitting on Him; and kneeling down, they worshiped Him. ²⁰ When they finished mocking Him, they stripped the purple off Him and put His own clothes back on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.

Crucified as King of the Jews

²¹ Now Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was coming in from the countryside. The soldiers force this passerby to carry Yeshua’s cross-beam. ^{[c] 22} They bring Yeshua to the place called Golgotha (which is translated, Place of a Skull). ²³ They were offering Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He didn’t take it. ²⁴ Then they crucify Him and divide up His clothing among themselves, casting lots for them^[d] to see who should take what.

²⁵ Now it was the third hour^[e] when they nailed Him on the stake. ²⁶ And the inscription of the charge against Him was written above: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.” ²⁷ And with Him they execute two outlaws, one on His right and one on His left. (²⁸ )^[f]

²⁹ Those passing by were jeering at Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, ³⁰ save Yourself by coming down from the stake!”

³¹ Likewise the ruling kohanim, along with the Torah scholars, were also mocking Him among themselves. “He saved others,” they were saying, “but He can’t save Himself? ³² Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the stake, so we may see and believe!” Even those executed with Him were ridiculing Him.

Death and Burial

³³ When the sixth hour had come, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. ^{[g] 34} At the ninth hour Yeshua cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”^[h] which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?”^[i]

³⁵ When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Look, He’s calling for Elijah.” ³⁶ Then someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He put it on a stick and was offering it to Yeshua to drink, saying, “Wait, let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down.” ³⁷ But letting out a loud cry, Yeshua breathed His last.

³⁸ Then the curtain^[j] of the Temple was split in two, from top to bottom. ³⁹ When the centurion, who was standing in front of Him, saw the way Yeshua breathed His last, he said, “This Man really was the Son of God!”

⁴⁰ There were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Miriam from Magdala, Miriam the mother of Jacob the younger and of Joses,^[a] and Salome. ⁴¹ They would follow Him and serve Him when He was in the Galilee. Many other women who had gone up together with Him to Jerusalem were there also.

⁴² Now evening had already come. Since it was the Day of Preparation, that is, the day before Shabbat, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, a respected council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Yeshua’s body.

⁴⁴ Pilate was surprised that He was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him whether Yeshua had been dead for long. ⁴⁵ When Pilate learned this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶ Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. ⁴⁷ Miriam from Magdala and Miriam the mother of Joses were watching where Yeshua’s body was placed.