SCRIPTURE FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 50:4-9a
The image of the servant of the Lord is one of the notable motifs in the book of Isaiah. Today’s reading describes the mission of the servant, whom early Christians associated with Jesus. Like Jesus, the servant does not strike back at his detractors but trusts in God’s steadfast love.
4The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. 9aIt is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?
GOSPEL: Luke 23:1-49 1Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. 2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” 3Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” 5But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.” 6When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. 9He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. 12That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
13Pilate then
called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14and
said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the
people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this
man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15Neither
has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve
death. 16I will
therefore have him flogged and release him.” 18Then they all
shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for
us!” 19(This was a man
who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the
city, and for murder.) 20Pilate, wanting
to release Jesus, addressed them again; 21but
they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22A third
time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no
ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then
release him.” 23But they kept
urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their
voices prevailed. 24So Pilate gave
his verdict that their demand should be granted. 25He
released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for
insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished. 26As they
led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the
country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind
Jesus. 27A great number
of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their
breasts and wailing for him. 28But Jesus turned
to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep
for yourselves and for your children. 29For the
days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the
wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30Then
they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover
us.’ 31For if they do
this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32Two
others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with
him. 33When they came
to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the
criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[ 34Then
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are
doing.”]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And the
people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He
saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen
one!” 36The soldiers
also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37and
saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38There
was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” 44It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. 47When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 48And when all the crowds who had
gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49But all his acquaintances, including the women
who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.