Sermon for Good Friday - Jn 18:1-19:42

                                                                                                Good Friday

                                                                                                Jn 18:1-19:42

                                                                                                4/3/15

            So do you think the St. Louis Blues will ever drink from the Cup?  The Blues are of course the National Hockey League team in St. Louis.  Founded in 1967, they have never won the NHL championship. They have never won the Stanley Cup.

            The Stanley Cup is certainly the most unique of all of the professional sports league trophies.  There are in fact three Stanley Cups. There is the original bowl of the "Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup", the authenticated "Presentation Cup", and the "Replica Cup" at the Hall of Fame. Strangely, while the NHL has control over both the trophy itself and its associated trademarks, the league does not actually own the trophy, but instead uses it by agreement with the two Trustees of the Cup.

            The current Stanley Cup is topped with a copy of the original bowl.  It is unique among sports trophies in that a team doesn’t get to keep it.  Instead, they possess if for as long as they are champion.  It is also unique in that the names of the winning players, coaches and club staff are engraved on the cup.   The bottom of the cup has five bands, each of which can hold the names from thirteen winning teams.  Since the practice of adding names would eventually expand the cup up to a size that is impossible to manage, the bottom of the cup is limited to five bands, and when all of them are full, the oldest band is removed and placed in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and a new blank band is added to the bottom.

            Over the years, different traditions have become attached to the Stanley Cup.  It has become a tradition for each member of the winning team to take a lap around the rink with the Cup hoisted above his head.  Players and staff gather at centre ice after winning for a picture with the Cup.           

            However, the oldest tradition is that of drinking champagne from the Stanley Cup.  Since 1896 when the Winnipeg Victorias did it, the winning team drinks champagne from the top bowl after victory.  In hockey, “to drink from the Cup” is the ultimate sign of victory and success.  Having never won the Stanley Cup, St. Louis Blues fans long for the day when their team will finally the get chance to do it.

            In the Passion of our Lord as it is found in the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks of his need to “drink the cup.”  Yet here, to drink from the cup has completely different associations – associations that are deeply rooted in the Old Testament.  The fact that Jesus describes his mission as drinking from the cup that the Father has given him, helps us understand what Jesus Christ did for us on this day.

            The Gospel lesson for Good Friday is the Passion of our Lord as it is found in the Gospel of John.  Tonight we will focus upon two verses which say:       “Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”’”

            Last night in the First Service of the Triduum we heard John’s account of the Last Supper in chapter thirteen. There, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet in a demonstration of humble service.  Chapters fourteen through seventeen then include what is often called Jesus’ “Farewell Discourse” – a long discussion by Jesus about his mission.  Our text begins in chapter eighteen as the group arrives at the Garden of Gethsemane which was located on the other side of the Kidron Valley, opposite Jerusalem.

            Upon arrival, Jesus is confronted by a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees who came with lanterns and torches and weapons. They were led by Judas who is identified as the betrayer.  We are told that he led them there because he knew that Jesus often went there.  A garden on the other side of a valley, away from Jerusalem, and at night – it was the perfect place and time to arrest Jesus.

            Faced with this group that had come to arrest Jesus and take him away, true to form, Peter sprung into action. We learn that he had a sword. He drew it and swung to defend Jesus.  Yet this fisherman was no soldier and his blow cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant.  In response, Jesus said, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”  Our Lord told Peter to put his sword away as he asked a question for which the Greek assumes a positive answer.

            Jesus describes the moment and what it is leading to as drinking “the cup that the Father has given to me.” For anyone who has read the Psalms and the Prophets in the Old Testament, the cup reference is chilling and clear.  For example, Isaiah writes, “Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem,

you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering.” Drinking from the cup is a metaphor for receiving God’s wrath and judgment.  As the Psalmist says, “For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed,

and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.”  People and nations must drink all of the cup – down to the very bottom. The results are not pretty, for as Jeremiah writes, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ’Drink, be drunk and vomit, fall and rise no more, because of the sword that I am sending among you.’”

            In the Old Testament it is Yahweh who gives the cup of wrath for he is the one who executes judgment.  He gives it to the nation of Israel when it is disobedient and unfaithful.  He gives it to the wicked and the pagan nations.  But here, Jesus the Son of God says that the Father has given him the cup. The Father gives the cup of wrath to the Son.

            That is what tonight is about.  Jesus goes to the cross in order to drink the cup of God’s wrath.  He goes knowing what will happen.  He goes because this is the role that the Father has given to him.  In John’s Gospel Jesus is absolutely clear about what is going to happen and why.  Earlier, Jesus said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.”

            Jesus had received from the Father the command to lay down his life. And on the night when was betrayed our Lord made it clear that his love for the Father was demonstrated by doing the Father’s will.  He said, “but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.”

            Jesus Christ shows that he loves the Father by keeping the Father’s command to drink the cup of wrath. And he does this because often you don’t love the Father.  There are so many things, that at one time or another, you love more.  You love money, status, sports, hobbies, and pleasure more.  You can try to rationalize it in your mind.  You can try to ignore this reality.  But that doesn’t change the fact that it is true. 

            Jesus Christ shows that he loves the Father by keeping the Father’s command to drink the cup of wrath. And he does this because often you don’t keep the Father’s command.  In his first epistle John wrote,             “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”  You talk a good game about loving God, but loving your brother is a different matter altogether.  You would rather put yourself first and you brother second. You would rather speak about things that put your brother in a bad light, than to speak up for your brother.

            This is the sin present in your life.  It is the sin that merits the cup of Gods’s wrath.  You deserve to drink that cup down to its dregs.  But because the Father loves you, in his unfathomable love he sent his Son into world as the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  He sent Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world by his death in your place.

            As Jesus spoke with Nicodemus in chapter three he said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”  Jesus was lifted up on the cross on Good Friday in order to receive God’s wrath against your sin.  He drank the cup of God’s wrath against sin for your sake. 

            John says that God loved the world – loved you – in this way “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”  God sent the Son into the world in order to condemn the Son, not the world.  He sent the Son into the world in order to condemn the Son, not you.  And so now as you believe in Jesus Christ you are saved – you have eternal life.

            Tonight we hear Jesus cry “It is finished!” as he is about to die on the cross.  He declares that he has kept the Father’s commandment. The cup has been emptied.  God’s wrath against sin no longer brings you judgment.  Instead you are forgiven.  You have been saved through him.  You have life because “It is finished” is not the end.  Drinking the cup was not the Father’s only command to the Son, for Jesus said of his life, “I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.”

           

           

           

           

Sermon for Maundy Thursday - Ex. 12:1-14

                                                                                                         Maundy Thursday

                                                                                                         Ex. 12:1-14

                                                                                                         4/2/15

          I mentioned in a sermon recently that Amy and I lived in Alexandria, VA during my vicarage – the 1997 to 1998 school year.  During that time we saw and did everything in Washington, D.C. that we wanted to do.  Since then our life has taken us on to St. Louis, Dallas, Chicago and now Marion. 

     We haven’t been back to Washington, D.C. in almost twenty years.  That will probably change in the next couple of years.  We have been waiting for our children to get old enough to appreciate the history and significance of Washington before going there.  Now that Michael is in first grade and Timothy is in eighth grade, we are entering into the window of time when we will want to go.

     When we go to Washington, it will be fun to share with our kids all of sights there as they experience them for the first time.  There is, however, one sight that I am looking forward to seeing for the first time, and that is the National World War II Memorial.

     The World War II Memorial didn’t exist when Amy and I lived in Alexandria.  The Vietnam War Memorial existed because it had been completed in 1982. The Korean War Memorial existed because it had been completed in 1992.  But the World War II Memorial didn’t exist because it was not completed until 2004.

     When you stop and think about it, this is really stunning.  After all this was an event of tremendous national sacrifice.  Four hundred thousand Americans died in the war.  Six hundred thousand Americans were wounded.  Fighting and winning World War II in Europe and the Pacific was the greatest undertaking in the history of our nation. 

     World War II ended in 1945.  And so in response to the sacrifice and significance of this event, the nation built a National Memorial in Washington, D.C. … in 2004.  Fifty-nine years after the war ended the nation finally built a memorial. The United States waited so long, that ultimately one of the driving forces for getting it built was the fact that the veterans of the war were rapidly beginning to die because of age. 

     In the Old Testament lesson for Maundy Thursday we hear that Israel is supposed to do something as a memorial. They are to celebrate a Passover meal as a memorial – as a reminder – of how God had rescued them from slavery in Egypt. Yet there was to be no long delay before this memorial took place.  Instead, they were to undertake this memorial one year from the event – and then at the same time every year in the future as they remembered God’s rescue.

     In our text we hear about Yahweh’s instructions to Moses for the Passover.  Jacob and his family had gone down to Egypt in order to join his son Joseph who was now second in charge of the country and was able to provide for the family in the midst of a famine.  The nation of Israel grew and prospered during the time in Egypt.  However the beginning of the book of Exodus tells us that eventually, “there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” This king saw in the foreigners a potential threat to Egypt, and so he acted. He enslaved Israel and used them as forced labor.

     The people suffered and cried out to God for help.  And Exodus tells us, “Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.” 

     Yahweh knew his people’s suffering and so he acted to rescue them and fulfill the promise he had made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob about giving the land of Canaan to their descendants. He raised up Moses and sent him to Pharaoh with the message: “Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, ‘Let my son go that he may serve me.’ If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.”

     Pharaoh refused.  And so Yahweh began a series of nine plagues upon the land of Egypt, while at the same time sparing the Israelites.  Yet Pharaoh refused to allow Israel to leave.

     Finally, the moment arrived when in the tenth plague Yahweh was going to deliver the decisive blow that would free Israel.  In our text we hear how he commanded Israel to prepare a lamb for a meal.  They were to roast it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.  They were to eat it, ready to go – with belt fastened, sandals on feet and staff in hand.

     And in addition to the meal itself, they were to do one very unique thing.  They were to take the blood of the lamb and put it on the two door posts and the lintel of their houses.  They were to do this because as God says in our text, “It is the LORD's Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.”

     God was going to rescue them and the Passover meal was part of this rescue.  Yet the meal itself was not to be a one-time thing.  Instead we learn in our text, “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.”  Israel was to do this every year in order to remember God’s rescue. And it would serve another function as well.  It would teach the generations to come.  Just after our text Moses says, “And when you come to the land that the LORD will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the LORD's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’”

     God remembered his covenant.  He rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt. He gave Canaan to Israel – the promised land. But God had also promised Abraham, “and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  God had promised that through Abraham’s offspring he would provide blessing to all people.  He promised a Savior – the offspring of Eve who would crush the serpent’s head.

     At Christmas we celebrated how this One entered into the world. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary he was true God and true man.  As true man, he was a faithful Jew who kept the Law – God’s Torah.  But Jesus Christ had come to do more than just keep the law.  He had come to fulfill it.  He had come to bring all of God’s promises to their saving conclusion.

     God had used the death of the Passover lambs as the means to mark his people and spare them.  Their blood shed caused God’s wrath to pass over the Israelites.  Yet that had prepared the way for and pointed forward to something even greater that God was going to do.  Jesus Christ had come as the Lamb who would shed his blood to cause God’s wrath to pass over not just Israel, but all people of all times. As St. Paul told the Corinthians: “Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.”

     At that last supper with his disciples, Jesus took the Passover meal and transformed it into something far more.  He made it his own meal.  He transformed it into a meal in which he gives his true body and blood, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.

     Like the Passover, it is still a meal that causes God’s people to remember.  Twice in our epistle lesson we learn that Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”  In the celebration of the Sacrament of the Altar Jesus gives us his body and blood, and in receiving this gift we remember that Jesus died on the cross for us and rose from the dead.

     Jesus says, “Do this in remembrance of me.”  “Do this,” as Martin Luther notes in the Large Catechism is a command.  It is a command that you need for two reasons. First, the old Adam in you is inclined stray from receiving this gift.  You are distracted by other things and you forget to focus your life upon Jesus.  You lose sight of how much you need this gift and so, it becomes easy to think little of not being here to receive it.

     And second, you need it because Satan works very hard to convince you that Christ’s forgiveness can’t possibly really be for you.  After all, you have done awful things.  You have used pornography.  You have spoken terrible words to a family member or friend.  You have acted in ways that hurt others.

     Jesus Christ calls you back to his Sacrament again and again because it is his true body and blood given and shed for you.  He leaves no doubt.  He gives you the very price he paid to win you forgiveness – his body nailed to the cross and his blood poured out.  And he puts it into your mouth.  It is his true body and blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.

     And so you are able to go in peace.  You can leave this place forgiven for what the old Adam has prompted you to do, and with the new man in you nourished by God’s grace to take up again the struggle against sin.  You can leave forgiven and refreshed.  It is something Jesus wants you to do - indeed, he commands you to do.  He says “Do this in remembrance of me” so that you will never cease to hear the words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”

    

    

    

Wednesday in Holy Week

Today is Wednesday in Holy Week as we prepare to observe our Lord’s death and resurrection for us.  The season of Lent will conclude tomorrow on Maundy Thursday as the Triduum begins – the one service that runs over the course of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.  On Wednesday in Holy Week, the Gospel reading is the Passion of Our Lord according to St. Luke (Luke 22:1-23:56).

Scripture reading:

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.

            Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.

            Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

            And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.

            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 exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

            “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

            “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 when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

            And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”

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

            While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall 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, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

            Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

            Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

            When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to 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 shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

            Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

            When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

            Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.”

            But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”—a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

            And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus 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?”

            Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at 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 sour wine 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.”

            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 indeed 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.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

            It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

            Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.

            On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

           

Collect of the Day:

Merciful and everlasting God, You did not spare Your only Son but delivered Him up for us all to bear our sins on the cross. Grant that our hearts may be so fixed with steadfast faith in Him that we fear not the power of sin, death, and the devil; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.