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Good Friday |
Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for
which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into
the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth and
reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end.
Amen.
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Lesson -
Isaiah 52:13--53:12 or Genesis 22:1-18 or Wisdom 2:1,12-24 |
The Suffering Servant
Behold, my servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and
shall be very high. As many were astonished at him -- his appearance was so
marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men
-- so shall he startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because
of him; for that which has not been told them they shall see, and that which
they have not heard they shall understand.
Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the LORD
been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root
out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by
men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men
hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has
borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he
was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us
whole, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone
astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on
him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he
opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a
sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. By
oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, 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 and
with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there
was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to bruise him;
he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall
see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall
prosper in his hand; he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and
be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make
many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide
the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was
numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors.
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The Command to Sacrifice Isaac
After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he
said, "Here am I." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you
love, and go to the land of Mori'ah, and offer him there as a burnt offering
upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." So Abraham rose early
in the morning, saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and
his son Isaac; and he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and
went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted
up his eyes and saw the place afar off. Then Abraham said to his young men,
"Stay here with the ass; I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come
again to you." And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it
on Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they
went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My
father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and
the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God
will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went
both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told
him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound
Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. Then Abraham put
forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the
LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said,
"Here am I." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to
him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your
son, your only son, from me." And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and
behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham
went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his
son. So Abraham called the name of that place The LORD will provide; as it
is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." And
the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said,
"By myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this, and have
not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will
multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on
the seashore. And your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies,
and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves,
because you have obeyed my voice."
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For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, "Short and sorrowful is
our life, and there is no remedy when a man comes to his end, and no one has
been known to return from Hades. "Let us lie in wait for the righteous man,
because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us
for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training. He
professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord.
He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden
to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are
strange. We are considered by him as something base, and he avoids our ways
as unclean; he calls the last end of the righteous happy, and boasts that
God is his father. Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what
will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is God's son,
he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let
us test him with insult and torture, that we may find out how gentle he is,
and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death,
for, according to what he says, he will be protected." Thus they reasoned,
but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, and they did
not know the secret purposes of God, nor hope for the wages of holiness, nor
discern the prize for blameless souls; for God created man for incorruption,
and made him in the image of his own eternity, but through the devil's envy
death entered the world, and those who belong to his party experience it.
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Epistle - Hebrews 10:1-25 |
Christ's Sacrifice Once for All
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the
true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices which are
continually offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near.
Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? If the worshipers had
once been cleansed, they would no longer have any consciousness of sin. But
in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year. For it is
impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and
offerings thou hast not desired, but a body hast thou prepared for me; in
burnt offerings and sin offerings thou hast taken no pleasure. Then I said,
`Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God,' as it is written of me in the roll
of the book." When he said above, "Thou hast neither desired nor taken
pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings"
(these are offered according to the law), then he added, "Lo, I have come to
do thy will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And
by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of
Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service,
offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But
when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat
down at the right hand of God, then to wait until his enemies should be made
a stool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time
those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for
after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those
days, says the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on
their minds," then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their misdeeds
no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any
offering for sin.
A Call to Persevere
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the
blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the
curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over
the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of
faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our
bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope
without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; and let us consider how
to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet
together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the
more as you see the Day drawing near.
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Gospel - John (18:1-40)
19:1-37 |
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples across
the Kidron valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples
entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place; for Jesus often
met there with his disciples. So Judas, procuring a band of soldiers and
some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with
lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to befall
him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered him,
"Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him,
was standing with them. When he said to them, "I am he," they drew back and
fell to the ground. Again he asked them, "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." This was to fulfil the word which he had spoken,
"Of those whom thou gavest me I lost not one." Then Simon Peter, having a
sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear.
The slave's name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its
sheath; shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?"
Jesus Before the High Priests
So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews
seized Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas; for he was the
father-in-law of Ca'iaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Ca'iaphas
who had given counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should
die for the people.
Peter Denies Jesus
Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. As this disciple
was known to the high priest, he entered the court of the high priest along
with Jesus, while Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple,
who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the maid who kept
the door, and brought Peter in. The maid who kept the door said to Peter,
"Are not you also one of this man's disciples?" He said, "I am not." Now the
servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and
they were standing and warming themselves; Peter also was with them,
standing and warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught
in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together; I have said
nothing secretly. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me, what I
said to them; they know what I said." When he had said this, one of the
officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you
answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear
witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?"
Annas then sent him bound to Ca'iaphas the high priest.
Peter Denies Jesus Again
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, "Are not
you also one of his disciples?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of
the servants of the high priest, a kinsman of the man whose ear Peter had
cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Peter again
denied it; and at once the cock crowed.
Jesus Before Pilate
Then they led Jesus from the house of Ca'iaphas to the praetorium. It was
early. They themselves did not enter the praetorium, so that they might not
be defiled, but might eat the passover. So Pilate went out to them and said,
"What accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered him, "If this
man were not an evildoer, we would not have handed him over." Pilate said to
them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to
him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death." This was to fulfil
the word which Jesus had spoken to show by what death he was to die.
Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to him, "Are
you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own
accord, or did others say it to you about me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew?
Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have
you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship
were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over
to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." Pilate said to him, "So
you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was
born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth.
Every one who is of the truth hears my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is
truth?" After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again, and told
them, "I find no crime in him.
Jesus Sentenced to Death
But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover;
will you have me release for you the King of the Jews?" They cried out
again, "Not this man, but Barab'bas!" Now Barab'bas was a robber.
Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. And the soldiers plaited 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 I find no crime in him." So Jesus came out,
wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them,
"Behold the man!" When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they
cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him
yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him." The Jews answered
him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has made
himself the Son of God." When Pilate heard these words, he was the more
afraid; he entered the praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are you
from?" But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, "You will not
speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to
crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it
had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the
greater sin."
Upon this Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you
release this man, you are not Caesar's friend; every one who makes himself a
king sets himself against Caesar." When Pilate heard these words, he brought
Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement,
and in Hebrew, Gab'batha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover;
it was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They
cried out, "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." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place
called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Gol'gotha. There they
crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus
between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read,
"Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this title,
for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was
written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. The chief priests of the Jews
then said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man
said, I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written I have
written."
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made four
parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was without seam,
woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it,
but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfill the
scripture, "They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they
cast lots."
So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his
mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary
Mag'dalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved
standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he
said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple
took her to his own home.
After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the
scripture), "I thirst." A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a
sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus
had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished"; and he bowed his head
and gave up his spirit.
Jesus' Side is Pierced
Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from
remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), the
Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be
taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the
other who had been crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus and saw
that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the
soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and
water. He who saw it has borne witness -- his testimony is true, and he
knows that he tells the truth -- that you also may believe. For these things
took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, "Not a bone of him shall
be broken." And again another scripture says, "They shall look on him whom
they have pierced."
The Burial of Jesus
After this Joseph of Arimathe'a, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly,
for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of
Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his body.
Nicode'mus also, who had at first come to him by night, came bringing a
mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds' weight. They took the
body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the
burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was
a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid. So
because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand,
they laid Jesus there.
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