14:1 It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread.
The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and
kill him;
14:2 for they said, "Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the
people."
14:3 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a
woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the
jar and poured the ointment on his head.
14:4 But some were there who said to one another in anger, "Why was the ointment
wasted in this way?
14:5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and
the money given to the poor." And they scolded her.
14:6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a
good service for me.
14:7 For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever
you wish; but you will not always have me.
14:8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.
14:9 Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what
she has done will be told in remembrance of her."
14:10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in
order to betray him to them.
14:11 When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So
he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
14:12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his
disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you
to eat the Passover?"
14:13 So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go into the city, and a
man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him,
14:14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks, Where
is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'
14:15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations
for us there."
14:16 So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had
told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
14:17 When it was evening, he came with the twelve.
14:18 And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, "Truly I
tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me."
14:19 They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, "Surely,
not I?"
14:20 He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the
bowl with me.
14:21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the
Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been
born."
14:22 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke
it, gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body."
14:23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them
drank from it.
14:24 He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for
many.
14:25 Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that
day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
14:26 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
14:27 And Jesus said to them, "You will all become deserters; for it is written,
'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
14:28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."
14:29 Peter said to him, "Even though all become deserters, I will not."
14:30 Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the
cock crows twice, you will deny me three times."
14:31 But he said vehemently, "Even though I must die with you, I will not deny
you." And all of them said the same.
14:32 They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit
here while I pray."
14:33 He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and
agitated.
14:34 And said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep
awake."
14:35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it
were possible, the hour might pass from him.
14:36 He said, "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup
from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want."
14:37 He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you
asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour?
14:38 Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
14:39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.
14:40 And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy;
and they did not know what to say to him.
14:41 He came a third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking
your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of
sinners.
14:42 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand."
14:43 Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and
with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and
the elders.
14:44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the
man; arrest him and lead him away under guard."
14:45 So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, "Rabbi!" and
kissed him.
14:46 Then they laid hands on him and arrested him.
14:47 But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high
priest, cutting off his ear.
14:48 Then Jesus said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest
me as though I were a bandit?
14:49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me.
But let the scriptures be fulfilled."
14:50 All of them deserted him and fled.
14:51 A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They
caught hold of him,
14:52 but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.
14:53 They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and
the scribes were assembled.
14:54 Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high
priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire.
14:55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against
Jesus to put him to death; but they found none.
14:56 For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree.
14:57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,
14:58 "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and
in three days I will build another, not made with hands.'"
14:59 But even on this point their testimony did not agree.
14:60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Have you no
answer? What is it that they testify against you?"
14:61 But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are
you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"
14:62 Jesus said, "I am; and 'you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand
of the Power,' and 'coming with the clouds of heaven.'"
14:63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "Why do we still need
witnesses?
14:64 You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?" All of them condemned
him as deserving death.
14:65 Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him,
"Prophesy!" The guards also took him over and beat him.
14:66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high
priest came by.
14:67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, "You also
were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth."
14:68 But he denied it, saying, "I do not know or understand what you are talking
about." And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed.
14:69 And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders,
"This man is one of them."
14:70 But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to
Peter, "Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean."
14:71 But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, "I do not know this man you are
talking about."
14:72 At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that
Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three
times." And he broke down and wept.
15:1 As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders
and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to
Pilate.
15:2 Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" He answered him,
"You say so."
15:3 Then the chief priests accused him of many things.
15:4 Pilate asked him again, "Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring
against you."
15:5 But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
15:6 Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they
asked.
15:7 Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder
during the insurrection.
15:8 So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom.
15:9 Then he answered them, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the
Jews?"
15:10 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him
over.
15:11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them
instead.
15:12 Pilate spoke to them again, "Then what do you wish me to do with the man you
call the King of the Jews?"
15:13 They shouted back, "Crucify him!"
15:14 Pilate asked them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all
the more, "Crucify him!"
15:15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after
flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
15:16 Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the
governor's headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort.
15:17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a
crown, they put it on him.
15:18 And they began saluting him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
15:19 They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him.
15:20 After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes
on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
15:21 They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his
cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
15:22 Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a
skull).
15:23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it.
15:24 And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to
decide what each should take.
15:25 It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him.
15:26 The inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews."
15:27 And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left.
15:29 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha! You
who would destroy the temple and build it in three days,
15:30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!"
15:31 In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him
among themselves and saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself.
15:32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may
see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.
15:33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
15:34 At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema
sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
15:35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "Listen, he is calling for
Elijah."
15:36 And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it
to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him
down."
15:37 Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.
15:38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
15:39 Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed
his last, he said, "Truly this man was God's Son!"
15:40 There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene,
and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.
15:41 These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there
were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.
15:42 When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day
before the sabbath,
15:43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself
waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body
of Jesus.
15:44 Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he
asked him whether he had been dead for some time.
15:45 When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to
Joseph.
15:46 Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the
linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a
stone against the door of the tomb.
15:47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.
I am preaching following the Gospel at the Blessing of the Palm Branches and leaving space following the Dramatic Reading of the Passion for quiet reflection.
Tom in GA
I am always overwhelmed when I begin to consider the sermon for Palm Sunday. There's too much to consider. I am always tempted to forego preaching and allow the scripture to speak without any other voice. I like Tom's decision, but I don't think this is the year for me to try it. I'll be checking in as the week goes on. This is the 1st time I've joined the conversation. Sorry I have nothing of value to contribute at the moment!
Blessings...Sherry in Va.
The last few years, I've done a sort of 'lessons and carols' type thing. Allows the scripture story to speak for itself, yet breaks it up with hymns. We start out with a Palm parade, then move to the reading of the scriptures. Usually two of us read. This year I am adding the stripping of the altar at the end of the passion liturgy. Too many people like to skip from Palm Sunday to Easter . . . Will let you know how it works out.
RevJan
I'll be preaching on the "palms & hosannas" this Sunday. I think as we move from Lent to Easter we are confronted by stark contrasts: the solemness & reflectiveness of Lent changes to the excitement and expectation as the (anticipatedly) victorious king enters the capital, then we move to the passion narrative with its disillusionment, despair, hopelessness and the utteremost of human sin (which contrasts with God's hope and victory and Christ's obedience) of Good Friday, and then the triumph and joy of the resurrection on Easter. I want to try and 'capture" this as it really is a microcosm of life. Perhaps we all experience this for ourselves as preachers as the busyness of Easter catches up with us, and then reaches its climax on Easter Sunday. I feel this pressure more this year as late rain has left me 1 ˝ months behind with bush work and as well as preparing Easter services I need to be out of town for ˝ of each of this week and next. Yet there is also the excitement of Easter and the extra opportunities this give us to preach not only to the converted but to the "nominals" who come along at this time of year.
Outback Aussie
I have been doing a series on Blessing during lent and have chosen this scripture to focus on because of the story of the annointing. Touch is such a valuable way to bless someone whether it's a pat on the back or an extraordinary event like this. Can you imagine how gutsy this woman was? The sadest thing is the criticism of the disciples. What did they think such comments would do after the fact? God pours out such a surplus on us, why should we not respond in kind. Of course, the poor are always with us and Jesus clearing states that we are to care for them. Does God sometimes break us open to pour us on a dying world? Was the woman as annointing prophet something new? Give me some help with this text, please. I've done the same heavy readings too many times and need a fresh approach. Thanks and God bless you, too. Fisherfolk in OH
I usually focus on one or two lines from the Passion account as a way to give people time to reflect on certain points of the narrative. I agree there is so much material that it would be very hard to preach and give justice to it all. Often we pay lip service to the poor "why has there been this waste of perfumed oil? It could have been sold ...and the money given to the poor." Do we do more than pay lip service to the needs of the poor around us? Peter remembered the "word that Jesus spoke to him ...he broke down and wept." What are the ways that we deny Jesus in our own lives? By several questions I invite the congregation to reflect on the Passion account. Blessings! Howard
I have chosen "Being in Jerusalem" as a sermon title. Will looking at what
it must be like to have been there as a follower of Jesus that fateful week.
And then what is it like for us today. How do we relate to this Jesus, who
goes from the King to the Cross, to the Christ? We too have our ups and downs
in our faithfulness. Where are we this year? How do we deal with our denials of the
Christ? Questions that we need to ask as we prepare for Easter Morning. We
need to come to Easter having been in "Jerusalem all week lone", not just coming
from Mall. Still working on the details and stories. REVJCB in Nebraska
I have allowed the Scripture to speak for itself in past years, and it has been really effective. Since our Maundy Thursday service is well-attended, and I plan to do the Passion narrative there, I plan this week to focus on the Marcan Sandwich that includes the chief priests and Judas, and the story of the woman with the alabaster jar. The expensive nature of the perfume and the jar, the distant location that it came from, and the fact that the jar had to be broken to spend something incredibly valuable carry a strong symbolism for me, and stand in great contrast with the disregard for Jesus' life, on the part of his enemies. It's a powerful way to transition from Lent into the Passion! That's what speaks to me this year.
MTSOfan
Dear MTSOfan. I do am looking at Mary at Bethany and the breaking of the alabaster jar. There is a really neat quote that I found a while back that I feel might be useful to anyone else preaching on the text. It is a C.S. Lewis quote. "...the allegorical sense of Mary's great action dawned on me the other day. The precious alabaster box which one must break over the Holy Feet is one's heart. Easier said than done. And the contents become perfume only when it is broken. While they are safe inside, they are more like sewage."
Hope someone can use this. Peace to you all.
Jude in Wash
Like Howard, I have been, for the past few years, lifting up a portion of the Passion narrative for preaching and reflection. This year, I'm using Mark 14:26-31, Peter's rash vow of steadfastness and Jesus' prophecy of his denial. The them is the futility of standing in one's own strength & resolve and the need to depend upon God's strength. However, if your church doesn't do a Tenebrae Service (Tenebrae = "darkness"), either after Communion on Maundy Thursday or on Good Friday, presenting the Passion narrative, letting it stand on its own, would be a powerful testimony to your congregation, especially juxtaposed with the Palms gospel. Too, often in the past, our members (particularly if they are customary "Sundays-only" members) jump from the "Hosannas" of Palm Sunday to the "Alleluias" of Easter without a sense of the depth of the darkness of suffering and loss that intervenes. This is an essential part of Jesus', and our story. Go for it! Ken in WV.
I think what I'm going to do with the Passion story this year is read the whole thing with three voices, adding some dramatic interest; and interspersed with selected verses of Passion hymns; then offer a VERY brief homily/meditation after offering a reflection on the events of that week from several perspectives: the unnamed woman with the flask of oil, Peter, Pilate, centurion, women disciples standing at a distance (maybe four sentences for each). I'm going to use the Children's Sermon to reflect on the Palm Sunday reading.
JGC in MA
I have always combined the two themes - triumphant entry and the passion - done all the different things you have shared. Sometimes I preach a bit, sometimes not. This time we are starting outside with an anthem with children and choir, the triumphant entry scripture and then congo. processional. The readers for the passion narrative will stand around the sanctuary - for a surround sound effect.
preaching - James W. Moore's The Cross Walk - chapter on Pontius Pilate would work - adapted. But I am also moved this time - even before I logged on with the alabaster theme - thanks for the breaking heart image.
I'll watch for more ideas.
Caroline from CT/USA
What verse draws me in this text is the first the
statement that Jesus makes about how someone in
the upper room will betray Jesus... and then the
disciples response. They do not point the finger
at Judas and say, "Ah, yes, I knew it would be you!"
But rather the question comes up, "Is it I, Lord?"
All the disciples know that deep down, in their
hearts of hearts they possibly are capable of this
horrible act of betrayal. They all have the burning
question, wondering if they are the ones to fall.
I think it is telling, as we in the church,
sometimes point the finger at the "other" and
forget that we are standing in the midst of a
community that needs God's grace just as much as the
"church next door." Like the disciples, during
lent we examine our own questions, and like
the disciples sometimes feel alone at the end.
But like the disciples, (not to jump to the end to
quuickly), we see the son rise and split our
darkness wide open.
RevStevens in Oregon
I wrote this hymn for Good Friday...please feel free to use it.
Recall my name on kingdom day,
Dear Lord, to you I pray.
I long to stand beside you then,
To follow in your way.
Beside the cross of Jesus find
Two broken souls to bind.
I find myself in either place;
The choice is only mine.
On one side only anger knows,
And only hatred grows.
The other in his heart confessed,
To him God's mercy flows.
Recall my name on kingdom day,
Dear Lord, to you I pray.
I long to stand beside you then,
To follow in your way.
Suggested Tune: St. Anne 8686
Words©1995 Michael Jacob Kooiman
(michael@simcoeisland.com)
For those preaching the woman annointing Jesus, Jennifer Knapp has a wonderful song telling this story. It's on her Kansas album and called, "Hold Me Now."
John near Pitts.
Here's a devotional I wrote for our church newsletter concerning the woman annointing Jesus.
“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?”
He can tell by their expressions that they are both shocked and disgusted at the same time. They’ve got that “How dare you!” look about them but he doesn’t turn to see who just walked into the room. He can tell by their reaction that it’s someone who needs him. He’s pretty much accustomed to these kinds of interruptions but he knows that she must make the first move. So he simply continues to recline at the table, leaning on his right elbow, feet tucked behind him. He picks up a piece of bread and then he hears her.
Finding no words to dismiss the embarrassing silence she just begins to sob. The guests roll their eyes while she just stands there, staring through her watery vision at Jesus’ feet. Tears drop on the dirt and darken the floor like raindrops on a dry path. And little does she know that it is her own path of salvation that she is preparing. When she notices that her tears have also been falling on his feet, shamefully she kneels down and begins to wipe them dry with her hair. Her heart is in control of this moment and not her head, and her heart is confessing: “I thought I was strong. I thought I didn’t need anyone. I tried to convince myself that they weren’t using me, that I was using them. I know that what I have been doing is wrong. I’m so tired. I’m so weary. Jesus, I’m so broken, but I’m yours.” When his feet are dry she pours expensive perfume on them, wipes her cheeks with the sleeve of her dress and sits there quietly crying.
Jesus breaks the silence and speaks to his host, “Simon, I know who this woman is and I know what she does, but is she too dirty to touch God? Can’t you hear her heart? Don’t her tears tell you anything? I tell you, her many sins are forgiven – for she loves much. But whoever has been forgiven little, loves little.”
Finally, turning around he cradles her face in his hands and looks her in the eyes. Smiling at her he speaks the absolution: “Woman, your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” She touches his hands touching her face and begins to smile as she gets up to leave. Releasing his hands she turns toward the door and notices that it’s still open. She walks into the street and turns back to close the door behind her but something deep within her speaks: “Leave it open.”
Joyfully in Christ,
John near Pitts.
((For a musical version of this New Testament story you may want to listen to the song: “Hold Me Now” on Jennifer Knapp’s, Kansas compact disk.)
For those preaching the woman anointing Jesus here's a quote from Joanne Carlson Brown, "The Unnamed Voice", a sermon preached in Cannon Chapel, Emory University, November 1990 Quoted in Sacred Journeys by Jan L. Richardson: "This God whodoes not leave us alone, who strengthens us, knows us, loves, and claimsus as God's own, this God guidesus to places where our alabaster jar must be broken, where we do what we can do. She (the woman who anoints Jesus) has done what she could. Ont he surface this seems like very tepid tribute. Why praise a personfor doing what she could? Becuase often that is the very thing that is denied. Doing what we can these daysdemands courage and a sense of freedom. It demands taht we go with a God who has searched us and know us into a world that knows us not." PL in RI
I'm going to focus on the cup. Jesus asked that it be taken away, but, in the most profound act of surrender to the sovereignty of God, he drank it anyway -- drank it to the dregs. What was in the cup that was so repugnant to Jesus? His own death, of course, but much more than that. It held all our sin -- all of the little things, all of the vilest things, everything we humans do to each other, to the church, to our relationships with God. He drank it to the dregs. That can easily be over played, so I'm going to do a lot of scripture readings to convey the passion story, and use the cup as the unifying thread.
RevBill
I like Revstevens of Oregons comments. I, too, have kept my reflections short and challenging on Palm Sunday using the liturgy of the palms, and the longer dramatic reading to bring the message to a large congregation. (Easter is usually smaller)
Here is what I have so far.... a series of questions... which may be shortened further.
.......
That is the story - Our Christian story - Cruel and horrible isn’t it?
Judas, one of the twelve disciples........... betrayed Jesus to the leaders of the temple........
Judas.............. the keeper of the treasury........... a trusted disciple......... betrayed Jesus to the keepers of the tradition...... The elders ........... the Pharisees.
Jesus.......... was denied........ betrayed........ forsaken............. Even by those who said they loved him ........ his closest disciples............
I leave you with something to think about during Holy Week......
Who are the Pharisees in your life...... in your church............... in your faith
Who or what do you betray Jesus for.......
susp in Qu
Dear All,
With others, for several years now I have been letting the drama of the reading of the Passion speak for itself. I follow that with silence, and then the Litany of Penitence. The only thing which I do differently is that I ask the people to read the petitions of the Litany, and I read the responses. Folk tell me that the Litany of Penitence has more meaning for them that way, and that it makes a very effective follow on to the Passion narrative.
For non-Episcopalians, the Litany of Penitence is available in the Book of Common Prayer.
Peace to all,
Jim
