Good Friday- Isaiah 53, John 19

 Good Friday always seems like a time to read, hear, and meditate upon the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and to pray quietly and deeply. Let us briefly emphasize two of today's readings. Isaiah 53 is one of several passages which speaks of the Suffering Servant of God. This Messianic figure bears horrible sufferings innocently for the redemption of God's people. In the end, He also overcomes suffering and is honored by the Lord God. Jesus Himself alludes to such prophecies and applies them to Himself and  His work (Luke 24:26-27). Later, the Apostles (I Peter 2:22-25), Evangelists (Matthew 27: 12,29; John 12:38), and Christians down through the centuries have seen these prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

We see Isaiah's prophecy made personal and concrete in the Passion account from John 19. Jesus is holy and innocent. He deserves all honor, respect, and love. Yet, He humbly and quietly accepts rejection, insults, physical abuse, torture, and an excruciating and slow death to deliver people from sin, death, and the devil. He suffers for our transgressions. He lays down His life for His sheep. Jesus restores balance to a fallen creation. He overcomes the imbalance and disorder caused by sin. He does something that we humans could never do for ourselves. He atones for our sin; He graciously reconciles sinners with divine righteousness. Only through Christ's suffering and His perfect offering on the cross does divine goodness decidedly triumph. Because of His redeeming work, it is "Good Friday" after all. Thanks be to God!

Thursday before Easter, commonly called Maundy Thursday- I Corinthians 11:23ff

The Thursday in Holy Week has a rich history and several liturgical associations. These associations include preparing for baptism or confirmation, the blessing of holy oils, the washing of feet, and the stripping of altars. However, the chief theme of the day is the commemoration of the institution of the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, or Eucharist. 

The Prayer Book epistle for this day is from I Corinthians 11:23ff and contains St. Paul's version of the words of institution of the Lord's Supper. These simple words are at the heart of Christian worship. Theologians have often discussed and disputed the exact meaning of the words. But although sacramental theology is important, the significance of this holy meal goes beyond our explanations. In other words, obedience and faith are more important than human theories.

Several simple affirmations seem clear. First, Jesus Himself began and commanded His disciples to continue this sacred meal. Secondly, He related it to His self-sacrifice that was about to take place for human salvation. Thirdly, this commemoration of His death also points to His continuing presence as a living Lord and anticipates that He will come again in glory. 

So, as followers of Christ, the main issues are not abstract theories; the most important thing is an attitude of humble faith. The Eucharist is about what Christ has done and is doing for our salvation. Through the blessed bread and wine, our Lord offers us His continuing presence. He offers us His grace to continue the journey in faith.  And our response to His grace should be thanksgiving.

Wednesday before Easter- Luke 22

This Wednesday in Holy Week has sometimes been called "Spy Wednesday" because tradition has remembered this day as the time when Judas Iscariot agreed with the chief priests to betray Jesus (Luke 22:2-6, 47-48; Matthew 26:1-5,14-25). A variety of human characters opposed Jesus- the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem, the Roman rulers, the fickle crowds, and Judas the traitor. Even the other close disciples made the situation worse. They did not really listen to or understand Jesus, and Simon Peter, the spokesman for the Twelve, would lose courage and faith, and he would publicly deny Jesus.

This sad state of affairs reflects the fallen human predicament. All are sinners who contribute to Christ's suffering and death. Yet, He still loves us, dies for us, and offers us His love, grace, and forgiveness. The key is our response to Christ. Judas will later be sorrowful, but he doesn't have faith in Jesus' mercy and forgiveness. Peter and the others will truly repent and trust in Christ's saving grace. As we meditate on the suffering and death of Jesus, may we also trust in the love, grace, and pardon that He offers each one of us!

Holy Week Devotions- Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Since 1549, Anglican calendars and liturgies have provided Scripture readings and prayers for observing Holy Week, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter morning. Although every congregation is not able to offer public worship every day, all Books of Common Prayer have preserved many ancient catholic traditions and made them available for individual as well as corporate devotion.  Our Prayer Book heritage provides basic structures for our observances. There are the Church calendar and lectionaries, Morning and Evening Prayer, the Litany, the Lord's Supper, and family prayers. There are many readings and prayers from which to choose, and the Gospel accounts of Christ's Passion (Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, Luke 22-23, John 12-19) always remain central. Following this great worship heritage reduces the likelihood of weird, extravagant, or inappropriate observances. It also provides great spiritual nourishment as we contemplate Christ's great work to redeem our souls!

Palm Sunday- Matthew 21; Matthew 26 & 27

 The last Sunday in Lent, or as the traditional Books of Common Prayer say, "The Sunday Next Before Easter," is commonly called Palm Sunday. This title is common even among some Christian groups that do not observe most of the Christian calendar. The triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem at the beginning of the first Holy Week has been observed publicly since the early fourth century in Palestine. There is a certain joy in the event, but there has always been a bit of irony about the observance and the events it recalls.

Certainly, the story of Christ's triumphal entrance (Matthew 21:1-11 and parallels) into Jerusalem should be remembered. The event was rich in symbolism. He came on a donkey as a peaceful king from the ancient East would come to be enthroned. And the children and humble people present that day welcomed and praised Him. He deserved the praise and recognition. He was the true king of God's people, the Messianic deliverer. Unfortunately, the crowds did not really understand Him. They did not accept His spiritual type of leadership. They were looking for a political deliverer, and when the crowds were disappointed, they would quickly turn on Jesus and accept His crucifixion. Thus, the Palm Gospel for the day naturally leads us to the Passion Gospel (Matthew 26 & 27), which is central for this day. 

In fact, the Passion accounts are at the heart of all our readings during this week. The events that we commemorate this week are key to the entire Christian message. The Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ are the greatest acts of God for our salvation. Without them, Jesus' birth and ministry lose significance. Without them, we have no hope of redemption from our sins, no hope of eternal life. A faithful response to the events of Holy Week and Easter is at the heart of what it means to be Christian. Therefore, let us take time all this week to listen, read, and meditate on these painful but mighty acts of God.

Good Friday- The Passion according to St. John

Good Friday is one of the most important and solemn observances of the Christian year. Christians have developed a variety of devotions appropriate for the day. One of my favorites is a timeline previously posted on this blog. Some timelines draw together the different Passion accounts, but several years ago, I developed the following one based on St. John chapters 18 and 19 which are used in the traditional readings for the day. This timeline along with traditional prayers has served as a good basis for reflection.

Friday morning just after midnight - Confrontation in Garden and Jesus' Arrest (John 18:1-12)

Friday early morning hours– Jesus is taken to the house of Annas, former High Priest; Peter's first denial; Jesus receives initial physical abuse (John 18:13-23);

Jesus sent to the High Priest Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin Court –Peter's second and third denials; Jesus bloodied by abuse (John 18:24-27).

Friday 6:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m. - Hearing before the Roman governor Pilate; Pilate tries to release Jesus but the Judean mob objects and prefers the release of Barabas (John 18:28-40).

Pilate has Jesus beaten.- Pilate's Roman soldiers take Jesus into the court ("Praetorium") and engage in mockery and torture, including a brutal crown of thorns (John 19:1-3).

Pilate hesitates but the mob still cries out against Jesus (John 19:4-15).

Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon - Pilate hands Jesus over for crucifixion. Weakened by interrogations, sleep deprivation, and beatings, Jesus is forced to carry his own cross to the place of execution; then He is crucified under the charge of being "King of the Jews" (John 19:16-22).

The soldiers cast lots for His garments (John 19:23-24).

Friday 12:00 noon - 3:00 p.m. - Jesus continues to suffer on the cross. His mother, other women followers, and one male disciple (usually identified as John) remain with Him. Jesus commends His mother into the disciple's care (John 19:25-29).

Friday 3:00 p.m. - Death: Jesus says, "It is finished" and expires. The soldiers do not even bother to break His legs, but one pierces His side with a spear (John 19:30-37).

Friday before sunset - Burial: With the Sabbath approaching, Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus make arrangements for a quick but respectful burial in a nearby rock tomb (John 19:38-42)

Sunday next before Easter, commonly called Palm Sunday- Phil. 2

Many people know this Sunday as Palm Sunday from the Gospel accounts of Jesus entering Jerusalem on this day.  Many also expect the long account of Christ's Passion from Matthew 27. Although the events are distinctive, these two readings from the Gospel tell us what happened this week. Jesus our Lord was glorified and then rejected and horribly killed.  As human beings, we may have some difficulty keeping these two aspects of Holy Week together in our thoughts.  Yet, they belong together, and in the Epistle from Philippians 2, the Apostle Paul ties the themes together in a beautiful way. 

Philippians 2: 5 -11 reads: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This passage from Philippians may be an early Christian creedal hymn, and the words can be applied to many commemorations of the Christian faith. As we look at them on Palm Sunday, the words are very appropriate at the beginning of Holy Week. Their devotional significance is to draw us closer to the "mind" or attitude of Christ (2:5). The divine and unique Son of God deserves praise as the King of Israel and the King of all creation. Yet, He comes in humility in order to redeem human beings.

We see this humble acceptance of the human condition at His birth and throughout His earthly ministry, but it culminates in Holy Week and Good Friday: "He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (2:8). These words summarize the details of the Passion Gospels. Christ voluntarily humbled Himself. The divine Son became the servant so that He could accomplish the ultimate obedience to holy principles, obedience unto death which had no rightful dominion over Him. Furthermore, the death He accepted was not just any death but death upon the cross. He accepted crucifixion, one of the most degrading and horrifying means of torture and execution devised by cruel men.

The Cross of Christ should always be at the center of Christian preaching, doctrine, and devotion. It is at the heart of Christ's earthly ministry, and it is a basic element in understanding the profound meaning of divine love. Nevertheless, as central as the Cross is to our Christian faith and life, the words of Philippians 2:9-11 also teach us that believers should look beyond the Cross. The Cross is necessary and central to our faith, but Jesus Christ transforms the Cross. He suffers as a human being, but He is also God the Son who cannot be conquered in the end. His perfect obedience and sacrifice are accepted, and He is exalted. He receives "a name which is above every name."

This means that as believers, we see a deeper reality. The way of the Cross is the path toward Resurrection and true Life. So like our Lord, we walk the way of the Cross both figuratively and in the real trials of human existence because we trust that God uses the Cross for our redemption and true life.

Lent V- John 8:58

On some traditional Western liturgical calendars (including the 1928 BCP), the Fifth Sunday in Lent has been called Passion Sunday. The original meaning of the word passion is suffering, and we know that there are many aspects of Christ’s suffering.  There had been social, political, and religious opposition to Jesus since early in His ministry. Nevertheless, as His ministry approaches the end, the conflicts intensify. Something about Him makes His opponents even more determined to destroy Him.

Today’s Gospel from John 8 reflects this deeper conflict. The central issue is Jesus' identity and His character. He makes claims that some of His opponents find outrageous. He crosses the boundaries of acceptable eccentricity. Some of His sayings even frighten potential sympathizers. In  John 8, Christ implies that no one can convict Him of sin. He says that He can conquer death, and He implies that He is greater than the patriarch Abraham. Even more bluntly He says, “Before Abraham was, I am” (Jn. 8:58). In the Jewish context of Exodus 3:14, “I am” is a title for God that Jesus alludes to several times in John's Gospel. So Jesus implies that He shares the divine nature, and His listeners sense His claim.

This claim to share the divine nature is earth-shattering for first-century Jews. Christ’s Judean listeners confront a clear and radical choice regarding His identity. They can no longer ignore Jesus as a simple religious teacher from the backwoods of Galilee. This choice is what C.S. Lewis calls “the Shocking Alternative.” Either Jesus is telling the truth about His relationship with God the Father or He is a liar. There are three possibilities. Either Jesus shares the divine nature, or He is dangerously crazy, or He is a blasphemer who despises all that was sacred. Many of His hearers made a choice. They decided that He was guilty of blasphemy, the worst of sins. And given their assumptions, they felt bound to seek His death.

Most people in our time, whether Christian or non-Christian, fail to recognize the radical choice that Jesus Christ demands. Many contemporaries merely view religion as an expression of ethics. And they just think of Jesus as a nice guy who did some good deeds. So people in our time fail to see what He means.

However, Jesus knows what He is saying, and so do many of His opponents. Jesus asks for a radical choice- accept Him or reject Him: lukewarm admiration is not a real option. The biblical message still confronts each of us with the same choice. Jesus Christ asks us to have faith in Him as our divine Savior. The central point is whether people believe Christ’s claims.  If Jesus is who He says He is, then we are talking about the most basic human choice- to accept or reject God Himself. Every human soul that hears Jesus' claims must choose. We need to be in prayerful contemplation. We need to ask ourselves whether we have accepted Jesus in sincere faith. And if by grace we do have faith in Jesus Christ, we need to repent of our shortcomings each day and seek to grow in grace.

 

The Feast of the Annunciation (transferred)- Luke 1

 The 25th of March fell during Holy Week this year, and traditional liturgical practice confines Holy Week to commemorating the Passion and Easter Week to celebrating the Resurrection. Thus, the feast of the Annunciation is transferred to Monday,  April 8. This is indicated on the list of precedence in the Book of Common Prayer and on other calendars

The observance of the Annunciation is based on the story of Gabriel's visit to the Virgin Mary in the Gospel from St. Luke 1:26 ff. On this day, we are reminded of the connection between the Incarnation of Christ and His Passion and Resurrection. The complete story of Jesus Christ has a unified redemptive purpose, and the collect for the day sums up this unity in a beautiful way. Commemorating Christ's first coming is also a reminder to us that we should always live in expectation and preparation for His second coming in glory.

Good Friday- John 18-19

The traditional Books of Common Prayer provide rich resources for Good (or Holy) Friday.  There are Morning and Evening Prayer, the Ante-Communion service of the Word, and the Litany. Of course, there are numerous Scripture readings, especially the Passion of our Lord according to John 18 and 19. 

Besides Scripture, some other resources have been particularly striking. For Anglicans, there are three traditional collects (here in the 1928 American form):

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 wicked men, 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.

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the  whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified; Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

O  Merciful God, who hast made all men, and hatest  nothing that thou hast made, nor desirest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live; Have mercy upon all who know thee not as thou art revealed in the Gospel of thy Son. Take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy fold, that they may be made one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy  Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Litany is always striking on solemn occasions, and the following words of the Litany apply with great strength on Good Friday:

By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion; by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension, and by the Coming of the Holy Ghost,
Good Lord, deliver us.
In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment,
Good Lord, deliver us. (1928 BCP, The Litany, p. 55)

Whatever forms we use, let us focus on what our Lord Jesus Christ does to redeem us!

Thursday before Easter, commonly called Maundy Thursday- I Corinthians 11

 The Thursday before Easter has several associations in the New Testament and has had other associations in church history. For most Christians, the central point is the institution of the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, or Eucharist. The Epistle from I Corinthians 11: 23-26 highlights the basic acts and meaning of this event. By sharing in this Holy Sacrament, we show forth the Lord's death till He comes again, and we share in His body and His blood given to save us. We commune with Christ and with fellow believers.

The 1928 Book of Common Prayer added a collect of the day based on phrases from Scripture and other parts of the Prayer Book:

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, did institute the Sacrament of his Body and Blood; Mercifully grant that we may thankfully receive the same in remembrance of him, who in these holy mysteries giveth us a pledge of life eternal; the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

This prayer is both a succinct reminder of the important nature of Holy Communion and a prayerful request that we may approach and receive the Sacrament with appropriate attitudes. This central act of Christian worship is more than a dead memory of a night long ago. It is a living participation in the Body and Blood of Christ (I Corinthians 10:16-17), and it is a foretaste of eternal life in His heavenly kingdom. We should be thoughtful and seek to appreciate the Sacrament with our best human understanding. Nevertheless, we should always be aware that these "holy mysteries" transcend particular human thoughts and theologies. Whatever our theories, it is the Lord Jesus who still comes to be with us and to offer us His grace. He does so in these mysteries that He established. He is the Savior who gave Himself for us long ago and who will come again in glory  Thanks be to God!

Wednesday before Easter- Hebrews 9:20

On this Wednesday in Holy Week, the collect in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer helps focus our thoughts as Holy Week progresses and enters a more serious phase. Although relatively new in the Prayer Book, this short prayer is based upon one from the medieval Sarum (Salisbury) liturgy.

Assist us mercifully with thy help, O Lord God of our salvation; that we may enter with joy upon the meditation of those mighty acts, whereby thou hast given unto us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The mighty acts upon which we mediate this week are obviously very serious and somber, but the collect also speaks of joy. The joyful aspect is rooted in God's redemptive work during the first Holy Week. As the Epistle from Hebrews emphasizes, Christ's work is both great and unique: "so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of man" (Hebrews 9:20). Let us meditate prayerfully on Christ's one offering of Himself for us. In the words of Isaiah 53:5, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Despite the sadness of  our Lord's rejection, betrayal, torture, and death, let us also remain aware of  the spiritual joy offered through Christ's saving work.

Tuesday before Easter- Isaiah 50; Mark 15

For the Tuesday before Easter (Tuesday in Holy Week), the Book of Common Prayer continues the Passion Gospel from Mark 15:1-39. It also provides a reading from Isaiah 50: 5-11 as a liturgical epistle. This Suffering Servant passage continues the theme of the way of the cross, and its wording is reflected in the 1928 collect of the day: "O Lord God, whose blessed Son, our Saviour, gave his back to the smiters and hid not his face from shame..."

Holy Week is a special reminder that earthly life will always involve suffering. The pertinent question is not whether we human beings suffer but rather how we suffer. Do we merely try to avoid as much suffering as possible? Do we respond as pagan stoics? Or do we complain loudly when we suffer? For Christians, none of these responses is sufficient. Rather we look to our Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, our sufferings do not really compare to those of the holy and innocent Son of God. But we should seek divine grace to accept earthly suffering as a way to draw closer to Jesus Christ.  As we contemplate Christ's way of the cross, may we draw closer to Him and see all our human problems as opportunities to grow in grace!

Monday before Easter- Mark 14

This Monday before Easter (also known as the Monday in Holy Week) is an appropriate day to reflect on several matters. Since it is March 25 on the calendar, it is also the traditional date for the Annunciation of Christ's birth to the Virgin Mary. Because of Holy Week, most liturgical calendars postpone observing the Annunciation. Nevertheless, it is interesting to note how our Lord's Incarnation,  Passion, and Resurrection are related. This connection is beautifully expressed in the Collect for the Annunciation:

We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts; that, as we have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his cross and passion we may be brought into the glory of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Prayer Book Gospel assigned for today is the Passion account from Mark 14. This Scripture includes Mark 14:3-9, the story about the woman who anointed Jesus with costly fragrance. In typical human disagreeableness, some people murmur. Instead of honoring Jesus or respecting the woman who honors Him, some of those present feel compelled to criticize the woman and by implication, Jesus who accepts her gift. They try to make their criticism seem justifiable by using high-sounding phrases. They resort to moralistic words about helping the poor to mask their unbelief.

Of course, these critics are not really as pious as they pretend. Their words betray a condescending attitude toward the woman and a lack of appreciation for Jesus. They don't care about the suffering that awaits Him. They are really hypocrites using pious words in order to hide their own lack of faith and love.

Unfortunately, many people in the world continue to behave this way. Many acts of devotion or worship can be criticized as impractical wastes of time, energy, or resources. In fact, all Holy Week devotions might be attacked this way. After all, instead of praying and reading Scripture, one could be engaged in some "productive" or charitable activity. For many people, almost any mundane activity seems more valuable and practical than devotional reading or prayer.

Yet, Christians must not ignore the spiritual life.We must not always focus on the practical, and we must not even elevate concern for the poor above our devotion to God. Believers are called to honor God and His Christ above all. Such devotion is the reason that the Church observes this special week. God deserves this honor and praise, and such activity is also good for our own souls. We should not ignore the poor or others in need, but we must put our devotion to God first. 

Lent VI, commonly called Palm Sunday- Matthew 21: 1-11; Matthew 27: 1-54

On this Sunday next before Easter, many Anglicans and other Christians read two gospel accounts-  Matthew 21: 1-11 (or Mark 11:1-11) and Matthew  27:1-54. Most contemporary Christians, even those who do not go in for historical church ceremonies,  know the Sunday before Easter as Palm Sunday.  And the Gospel account of people praising Jesus and waving or strewing palm branches is lovely and meaningful.  As believers, we certainly think that Jesus was/is the Christ and deserved/deserves to be honored as the great king humbly coming in peace. So reading the Palm Gospel is appropriate, and there is nothing inherently wrong with having a few leaves of palms or other leaves in the church in commemoration.

Unfortunately, there are problems associated with "Palm Sunday" from the first century onward. The crowd that praised Jesus did not really understand or appreciate Him. Five days later, some of the same people may have been yelling, "Crucify him." This sinful fickleness still applies to many people.

Furthermore, from about the 8th century, the medieval church got carried away with the ceremony of the Palms. It became more and more elaborate, and in the popular consciousness overshadowed the more ancient emphasis on the Passion Gospel. So it should not be surprising that in 1549 Archbishop Cranmer tried to shift the emphasis to the Passion of Christ. The ceremony of the Palms was abolished, and from 1549 through 1662, Anglican Prayer Books simply called the day "The Sunday next before Easter." Even under ritualist pressure, the 1928 American Book of Common Prayer remained subdued in calling the day "The Sunday next before Easter, commonly called Palm Sunday."

With the passage of time, we seem to see a repeat of medieval extravagance. Ceremonies, palm leaves, music, and processions have become more and more widespread and elaborate. And in many Anglican and other churches, these cute rites have come to overshadow the ancient and Reformation emphasis on Christ's Passion. While I do not advocate the abolition of the observance of Palm Sunday, I can see why Cranmer and other reformers did so. If we do wish to focus on Christ's triumphal entry, we should avoid too much pageantry, and we should relate this day to our Lord's Passion.

Lent V- Passion Sunday- Hebrews 9: 11-15

For Lent V. the theme of Christ's Passion is related to both the traditional Epistle (Hebrews 9:11-15) and Gospel (St. John 8:46-59). This time, let us focus on the selection from Hebrews. The Epistle from Hebrews 9 stresses the great and unique sacrifice of Christ. Jesus was and is the great high priest who offered Himself as a pure sacrifice for human sin. Other sacrifices were mere foreshadowings of His perfect sacrifice. Such sacrifices were of minimal and temporary symbolic value, but Jesus became the mediator of a new and everlasting covenant. By offering Himself, Jesus Christ purified believers, and thereby through Him, they/we are enabled to offer living works to God's praise and glory. And eventually, those who remain faithful will "receive the promise of eternal inheritance."

Good Friday- Isaiah 53:6

How can this day be called Good Friday? Crucifixion in itself was one of the more cruel and shameful forms of execution ever devised. Furthermore, Jesus of Nazareth was the holiest man and the pure Son of God falsely accused and plotted against by evil. Yet, it is a good day because it shows the love of God reaching out to fallen and corrupt human beings. The Crucified One is the Lamb of God who takes away our sins, and the apparent defeat of goodness on this day will be turned into an eternal cosmic victory over sin, death, and the devil.

In the words of Isaiah 53:6, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Holy Week, the Passion Gospels

 Since the first Book of Common Prayer in 1549, Anglicans have continued the ancient Christian tradition of reading large portions of the Gospel Passion narratives during Holy Week. Indeed, such readings may go back to the earliest years of the Church when the Passion and Resurrection narratives were probably the first parts of the Gospels to be written and read in worship. Some lectionaries since the 1970s have modified the selections, but the sequence from 1549 through 1962 remained basically the same in all versions of the Prayer Book.

So during this Holy Week, whether one can attend services where the Passion narratives are read aloud or one must simply read at home, I would encourage the following readings along with any other services or devotions.

Palm Sunday- Matthew 27

Monday- Mark 14

Tuesday- Mark 15

Wednesday- Luke 22

Maundy Thursday- Luke 23

Good Friday- John (18 and) 19

Good Friday- The Passion according to St. John 18 and 19

Good Friday is one of the most important observances of the Christian year. Over the centuries, Christians have developed a variety of devotions appropriate for the day. One resource used by some Christians has been a timeline to guide meditations throughout the day. Some such timelines have tried to draw together the different Passion accounts, but ten years ago, I developed the following one based on St. John chapters 18 and 19 which are used in the traditional readings for the day.

Friday morning just after midnight - Confrontation in Garden and Jesus' Arrest (John 18:1-12)

Friday early morning hours– Jesus is taken to the house of Annas, former High Priest; Peter's first denial; Jesus receives initial physical abuse (John 18:13-23);

Jesus sent to the High Priest Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin Court –Peter's second and third denials; Jesus bloodied by abuse (John 18:24-27).

Friday 6:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m. - Hearing before the Roman governor Pilate; Pilate tries to release Jesus but the Judean mob objects and prefers the release of Barabas (John 18:28-40).

Pilate has Jesus beaten.- Pilate's Roman soldiers take Jesus into the court ("Praetorium") and engage in mockery and torture, including a brutal crown of thorns (John 19:1-3) .

Pilate hesitates but the mob still cries out against Jesus (John 19:4-15).

Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon - Pilate hands Jesus over for crucifixion. Weakened by interrogations, sleep deprivation, and beatings, Jesus is forced to carry his own cross to the place of execution; then He is crucified under the charge of being "King of the Jews" (John 19:16-22).

The soldiers cast lots for His garments (John 19:23-24).

Friday 12:00 noon - 3:00 p.m. - Jesus continues to suffer on the cross. His mother, other women followers, and one male disciple (usually identified as John) remain with Him. Jesus commends His mother into the disciple's care (John 19:25-29).

Friday 3:00 p.m. - Death: Jesus says, "It is finished" and expires. The soldiers do not even bother to break His legs, but one pierces His side with a spear (John 19:30-37).

Friday before sunset - Burial: With the Sabbath approaching, Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus make arrangements for a quick but respectful burial in a nearby rock tomb (John 19:38-42)

Good Friday

"Then delivered he [Pilate] him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews. " (John 19:16-19)

In the words of the Prayer Book Litany, we pray-

By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion; by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension, and by the Coming of the Holy Ghost,
Good Lord, deliver us.
In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment,
Good Lord, deliver us.