Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke

– I am among you as one who serves

And a dispute also arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But you shall not do so. Instead, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is greater, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have continued with me in my trials, and just as my Father has appointed one for me, I appoint for you a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

– When you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. ’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death. ’ He answered him, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me. ’

– This Scripture must be fulfilled in me
Then he said to them, “When I sent you without purse, bag, and sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise whoever has a bag; and whoever has no sword, let him sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For everything about me is coming to completion.” They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” But he said, “That is enough.”

– And being in anguish, he prayed earnestly
He went out, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and his disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer, he came to his disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow. And he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

– Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?
While he was still speaking, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” When those who were with him saw what was coming, they said, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “Leave it alone! It has been enough!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the temple guards, and the elders who had come to him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? I was with you daily in the temple, and you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

– And when Peter had come out, he wept bitterly.
And when they had seized him, they led him away, and made him enter the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance. And they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard, and were sitting round it; and Peter sat down among them. And a certain maid saw him sitting in the fire, and looking intently at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” After a little while another saw him, and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” After about an hour another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying.” And immediately, while he was yet speaking, a rooster crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

– Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?
And the men who were holding Jesus mocked him and beat him. They blindfolded him and said to him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, insulting him.

– They led him away to their Sanhedrin.
When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together. They led him away to their Sanhedrin and said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” He answered them, “If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will sit at the right hand of the power of God.” Then they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” He answered them, “You say that I am.” They said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth.”

– I find no cause for condemnation in this man.
The whole assembly rose up, and they led him to Pilate, and began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king.” Pilate then asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He replied, “You say so.” Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no cause for condemnation in this man.” But they persisted, saying, “This man is stirring up the people by his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to here.” When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

– Herod and his soldiers insult Jesus
When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at many points, but he gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes were standing there, urging him on. Then Herod and his soldiers insulted him and made fun of him; and when they had dressed him in a splendid robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other, for before that they had been at enmity.

– Pilate abandons Jesus to their will
Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebel. Behold, I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of the charges you accuse him of; nor has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Behold, he has done nothing deserving of death. Therefore, after I have punished him, I will release him.” But they all shouted together, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!” This man had been thrown into prison for an insurrection that had started in the city, and for murder. Pilate addressed them again, wanting to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” And he said to them a third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in him nothing deserving of death. Therefore I will punish him and release him.” But they were urgent with loud cries, demanding that he should be crucified; and their shouting increased. So Pilate gave judgment as they demanded. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, whom they had asked for, and he handed Jesus over to them as they pleased.

– Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me
As they led him away, they seized a man named Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Now two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.

– Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

Then they divided his garments by casting lots.

– This is the King of the Jews
. The people stood by, watching; but the rulers mocked him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One.” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

– Today you will be with me in paradise
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He answered him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

– Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun’s eclipse had failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And when he had said this, he breathed his last.

–  Here we kneel and take a short break.

When the centurion saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” And all the crowds who had come out to see this spectacle, when they saw what had happened, went away beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

– Joseph places the body of Jesus in a tomb carved in the rock
Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the council, a good and righteous man. He had not agreed with the decision and action of the others. He was from Arimathea, a city of Judea, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. He took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb carved in the rock, where no one had yet been buried. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph; they saw the tomb and how the body of Jesus had been laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. On the Sabbath they rested as was prescribed.