Liturgy of the Passion

4Verse 4. The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. 5Verse 5. The Lord GOD has opened My ears, and I have not been rebellious, nor have I turned back. 6Verse 6. I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle. 7Verse 7. Because the Lord GOD helps Me, I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame. 8Verse 8. The One who vindicates Me is near. Who will dare to contend with Me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against Me? Let him approach Me! 9Verse 9. Surely the Lord GOD helps Me.

5Verse 5. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Verse 6. Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7Verse 7. but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8Verse 8. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross. 9Verse 9. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, 10Verse 10. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11Verse 11. and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

14Verse 14. Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15Verse 15. and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16Verse 16. So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus. 17Verse 17. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 18Verse 18. He answered, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him that the Teacher says, ‘My time is near. I will keep the Passover with My disciples at your house.’” 19Verse 19. So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20Verse 20. When evening came, Jesus was reclining with the twelve disciples. 21Verse 21. And while they were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.” 22Verse 22. They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23Verse 23. Jesus answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me. 24Verse 24. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 25Verse 25. Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.” 26Verse 26. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.” 27Verse 27. Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28Verse 28. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29Verse 29. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.” 30Verse 30. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31Verse 31. Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32Verse 32. But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33Verse 33. Peter said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.” 34Verse 34. “Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35Verse 35. Peter replied, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the other disciples said the same thing. 36Verse 36. Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37Verse 37. He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38Verse 38. Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” 39Verse 39. Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40Verse 40. Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter. 41Verse 41. “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 42Verse 42. A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.” 43Verse 43. And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44Verse 44. So He left them and went away once more and prayed a third time, saying the same thing. 45Verse 45. Then He returned to the disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Verse 46. Rise, let us go! See, My betrayer is approaching!” 47Verse 47. While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48Verse 48. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.” 49Verse 49. Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50Verse 50. “Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him. 51Verse 51. At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52Verse 52. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53Verse 53. Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54Verse 54. But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” 55Verse 55. At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me. 56Verse 56. But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled. 57Verse 57. Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered. 58Verse 58. But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. 59Verse 59. Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. 60Verse 60. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61Verse 61. and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 62Verse 62. So the high priest stood up and asked Him, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?” 63Verse 63. But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64Verse 64. “You have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65Verse 65. At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66Verse 66. What do you think?” “He deserves to die,” they answered. 67Verse 67. Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him 68Verse 68. and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?” 69Verse 69. Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said. 70Verse 70. But he denied it before them all: “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71Verse 71. When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72Verse 72. And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man!” 73Verse 73. After a little while, those standing nearby came up to Peter. “Surely you are one of them,” they said, “for your accent gives you away.” 74Verse 74. At that he began to curse and swear to them, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75Verse 75. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. 1Verse 1. When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death. 2Verse 2. They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor. 3Verse 3. When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. 4Verse 4. “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.” 5Verse 5. So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6Verse 6. The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, “It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7Verse 7. After conferring together, they used the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8Verse 8. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9Verse 9. Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel, 10Verse 10. and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord had commanded me.” 11Verse 11. Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 12Verse 12. And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. 13Verse 13. Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?” 14Verse 14. But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement. 15Verse 15. Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing. 16Verse 16. At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. 17Verse 17. So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18Verse 18. For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. 19Verse 19. While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.” 20Verse 20. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death. 21Verse 21. “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied. 22Verse 22. “What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!” 23Verse 23. “Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!” 24Verse 24. When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood, ” he said. “You bear the responsibility.” 25Verse 25. All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26Verse 26. So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified. 27Verse 27. Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him. 28Verse 28. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29Verse 29. And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30Verse 30. Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly. 31Verse 31. After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him. 32Verse 32. Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus. 33Verse 33. And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull, 34Verse 34. they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it. 35Verse 35. When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots. 36Verse 36. And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37Verse 37. Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38Verse 38. Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right and the other on His left. 39Verse 39. And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads 40Verse 40. and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” 41Verse 41. In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, 42Verse 42. “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43Verse 43. He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44Verse 44. In the same way, even the robbers who were crucified with Him berated Him. 45Verse 45. From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46Verse 46. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 47Verse 47. When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.” 48Verse 48. One of them quickly ran and brought a sponge. He filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed, and held it up for Jesus to drink. 49Verse 49. But the others said, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him.” 50Verse 50. When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit. 51Verse 51. At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split. 52Verse 52. The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53Verse 53. After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people. 54Verse 54. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.” 55Verse 55. And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him. 56Verse 56. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. 57Verse 57. When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus. 58Verse 58. He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Verse 59. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60Verse 60. and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61Verse 61. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. 62Verse 62. The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate. 63Verse 63. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64Verse 64. So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.” 65Verse 65. “You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66Verse 66. So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.

11Verse 11. Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 12Verse 12. And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. 13Verse 13. Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?” 14Verse 14. But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement. 15Verse 15. Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing. 16Verse 16. At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. 17Verse 17. So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18Verse 18. For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. 19Verse 19. While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.” 20Verse 20. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death. 21Verse 21. “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied. 22Verse 22. “What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!” 23Verse 23. “Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!” 24Verse 24. When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood, ” he said. “You bear the responsibility.” 25Verse 25. All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26Verse 26. So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified. 27Verse 27. Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him. 28Verse 28. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29Verse 29. And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30Verse 30. Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly. 31Verse 31. After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him. 32Verse 32. Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus. 33Verse 33. And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull, 34Verse 34. they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it. 35Verse 35. When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots. 36Verse 36. And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37Verse 37. Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38Verse 38. Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right and the other on His left. 39Verse 39. And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads 40Verse 40. and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” 41Verse 41. In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, 42Verse 42. “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43Verse 43. He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44Verse 44. In the same way, even the robbers who were crucified with Him berated Him. 45Verse 45. From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46Verse 46. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 47Verse 47. When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.” 48Verse 48. One of them quickly ran and brought a sponge. He filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed, and held it up for Jesus to drink. 49Verse 49. But the others said, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him.” 50Verse 50. When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit. 51Verse 51. At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split. 52Verse 52. The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53Verse 53. After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people. 54Verse 54. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”