\nThen one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, \u2018What will you give me if I betray him to you?\u2019 They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.<\/p>\n
On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, \u2018Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?\u2019 He said, \u2018Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, \u201cThe Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.\u201d \u2019 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.<\/p>\n\n
When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, \u2018Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.\u2019 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, \u2018Surely not I, Lord?\u2019 He answered, \u2018The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 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.\u2019 Judas, who betrayed him, said, \u2018Surely not I, Rabbi?\u2019 He replied, \u2018You have said so.\u2019<\/p>\n
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, \u2018Take, eat; this is my body.\u2019 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, \u2018Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father\u2019s kingdom.\u2019<\/p>\n
When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.<\/p>\n
Then Jesus said to them, \u2018You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written,<\/p>\n
\u201cI will strike the shepherd,
\n and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.\u201d<\/p>\n
But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.\u2019 Peter said to him, \u2018Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.\u2019 Jesus said to him, \u2018Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.\u2019 Peter said to him, \u2018Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.\u2019 And so said all the disciples.<\/p>\n
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, \u2018Sit here while I go over there and pray.\u2019 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, \u2018I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.\u2019 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, \u2018My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.\u2019 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, \u2018So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.\u2019 Again he went away for the second time and prayed, \u2018My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.\u2019 Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, \u2018Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.\u2019<\/p>\n\n
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, \u2018The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.\u2019 At once he came up to Jesus and said, \u2018Greetings, Rabbi!\u2019 and kissed him. Jesus said to him, \u2018Friend, do what you are here to do.\u2019 Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, \u2018Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?\u2019 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, \u2018Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.\u2019 Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.<\/p>\n
Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, \u2018This fellow said, \u201cI am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.\u201d \u2019 The high priest stood up and said, \u2018Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?\u2019 But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, \u2018I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.\u2019 Jesus said to him, \u2018You have said so. But I tell you,<\/p>\n\n
From now on you will see the Son of Man
\n seated at the right hand of Power
\n and coming on the clouds of heaven.\u2019<\/p>\n
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, \u2018He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?\u2019 They answered, \u2018He deserves death.\u2019 Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, \u2018Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?\u2019<\/p>\n
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, \u2018You also were with Jesus the Galilean.\u2019 But he denied it before all of them, saying, \u2018I do not know what you are talking about.\u2019 When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, \u2018This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.\u2019 Again he denied it with an oath, \u2018I do not know the man.\u2019 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, \u2018Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.\u2019 Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, \u2018I do not know the man!\u2019 At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: \u2018Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.\u2019 And he went out and wept bitterly.<\/p>\n\n
When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.<\/p>\n
When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, \u2018I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.\u2019 But they said, \u2018What is that to us? See to it yourself.\u2019 Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, \u2018It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.\u2019 After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter\u2019s field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, \u2018And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter\u2019s field, as the Lord commanded me.\u2019<\/p>\n\n
Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, \u2018Are you the King of the Jews?\u2019 Jesus said, \u2018You say so.\u2019 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, \u2018Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?\u2019 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.<\/p>\n
Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, \u2018Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?\u2019 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgement seat, his wife sent word to him, \u2018Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.\u2019 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, \u2018Which of the two do you want me to release for you?\u2019 And they said, \u2018Barabbas.\u2019 Pilate said to them, \u2018Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?\u2019 All of them said, \u2018Let him be crucified!\u2019 Then he asked, \u2018Why, what evil has he done?\u2019 But they shouted all the more, \u2018Let him be crucified!\u2019<\/p>\n\n
So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, \u2018I am innocent of this man\u2019s blood; see to it yourselves.\u2019 Then the people as a whole answered, \u2018His blood be on us and on our children!\u2019 So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.<\/p>\n
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor\u2019s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, \u2018Hail, King of the Jews!\u2019 They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.<\/p>\n
As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, \u2018This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.\u2019<\/p>\n\n
Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, \u2018You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.\u2019 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, \u2018He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, \u201cI am God\u2019s Son.\u201d \u2019 The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.<\/p>\n
From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o\u2019clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, \u2018Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?\u2019 that is, \u2018My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?\u2019 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, \u2018This man is calling for Elijah.\u2019 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, \u2018Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.\u2019 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, \u2018Truly this man was God\u2019s Son!\u2019<\/p>\n\n
Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.<\/p>\n
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.<\/p>\n
The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, \u2018Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, \u201cAfter three days I will rise again.\u201d Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, \u201cHe has been raised from the dead\u201d, and the last deception would be worse than the first.\u2019 Pilate said to them, \u2018You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.\u2019 So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.<\/p>\nMatthew 26:14\u201327 the end<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\nSome Thoughts on the Reading<\/h4>\n
We are certainly on a strange journey today. One minute triumphantly shouting hosanna, waving our palms and throwing our coats into the road in a carnival atmosphere, the next seeing the face of the ‘triumphant king’ and wondering at the sadness there, wondering at the strange humility.<\/p>\n
And by the end of the ‘Passion Gospel’ as it’s called, we are finally faced with the fact that this man is God, but God totally emptied, totally humbled, totally human and afraid. For among the cheering masses he also saw hatred. He knew as no one else did the inevitable outcome of his very public arrival at the Passover feast.<\/p>\n
In recent days, not surprisingly, I have become aware again of a need, a message that needs to be given again, a comfort that is cried out for, a fear that needed to be addressed. And it is through this crucial and central story of Christianity that we can all find, and share with others, comfort.<\/p>\n
So many people, good people, faithful people, (and Church people!) seem to be living in fear and not just because of our current Health Crisis. They are \u2018God fearing\u2019 but their fear is about not being good enough for God and in particular not being good enough for heaven. They are fearful in life but even more fearful when facing the inevitability of death at some point (for most of us not yet we hope).<\/p>\n
As I’ve told you before I know, but it\u2019s worth repeating, this fear was summed up for me one day when I was on chaplaincy duty in Tewkesbury Abbey many years ago. A woman of mature years fearfully said, “I’m not as young as I used to be \u2013 I need to start earning some brownie points with God.”<\/p>\n
The discussion that followed, as we talked about the grace of God, the grace \u2013 the free gift \u2013 of God’s forgiveness caused such a change in her!<\/p>\n
The message was, of course, that God has paid the price of sin, hers and ours, and todays reading, The Passion Gospel, though it is a hard read, a painful read, tells the story of God’s sacrifice through his Son which, after Easter (the next thrilling instalment), brings us the reassurance that, when the time comes, and it may not be for a long time, we may enter heaven, forgiven, not through our own effort but through his.<\/p>\n
This should of course, have a knock on effect for us. As Christ paid the price of our salvation by obedience to God, the consequence for us here and now is that we should live our lives in thankfulness and amazement at his generous work. So let us all, as a thank you, live lives of obedience to him as far as is possible for us, dependent on his all saving sacrifice and knowing that he will forgive us and give us a new start every time we confess that we have fallen short.<\/p>\n\n
Prayers<\/h4>\n
We pray to the Lord for courage and to give ourselves to him this Lent.
In this unprecedented time of crisis, give your Church the courage to give up her preoccupation with herself and to give time to your mission in the world. Lord, meet us in the silence, give us strength and hear our prayer.<\/p>\n
May the blood and water flowing from the side of Jesus bring forgiveness to your people and help us to face the cost of proclaiming salvation as we work together and apart in your damaged world. Lord, meet us in the silence, give us strength and hear our prayer.<\/p>\n
Give your world the courage to give up war, bitterness and hatred, and to seek peace and healing for each other. Lord, meet us in the silence, give us strength and hear our prayer.<\/p>\n
May the shoulders of the risen Jesus, once scourged by soldiers, bear the burden of our times. Lord, meet us in the silence, give us strength and hear our prayer.<\/p>\n
Give us the courage to give up quarrels, strife and jealousy in our families, neighbourhoods and communities. Lord, meet us in the silence, give us strength and hear our prayer.<\/p>\n
May the presence of the risen Jesus, his body once broken and now made whole, bring peace and direction as we live with one another. Give us the courage to give up our selfishness as we live for others, and to give time, care and comfort to the sick in ways that are safe for them and for us. Lord, meet us in the silence, give us strength and hear our prayer.<\/p>\n
May the wounded hands of Jesus bring his healing touch to all who suffer, and the light of his presence fill their hearts and homes. Lord, meet us in the silence, give us strength and hear our prayer.<\/p>\n
Give us the courage to give up our fear of death and to rejoice with those who have died in faith. May the feet of the risen Lord Jesus, once nailed to the cross, walk alongside the dying and bereaved in their agony, and walk with us and all your Church through death to the gate of glory. Lord, meet us in the silence, give us strength and hear our prayer here and in eternity.
Amen<\/strong><\/p>\nWe pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us<\/p>\n
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.<\/strong>
Amen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\nA Home Communion<\/h4>\n
Take bread and wine or juice and pray<\/em><\/p>\nBlessed are you O God
For you have brought forth bread from the earth
Blessed are you O God
For you have created the fruit of the vine
Here at your table
You offer us light, bread and wine for the journey
To nourish us as sons and daughters<\/p>\n
Jesus took bread, and having blessed it
He broke it and gave it to his disciples saying
Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you<\/p>\n
In the same way after supper, he took the cup of wine
\nAnd gave you thanks,
he gave it to them saying
Drink this all of you,
this is my blood of the new covenant
Which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.<\/p>\n
So now, following Jesus\u2019 example
We take this bread and this wine and pray<\/p>\n
Lord Jesus Christ, present with us now
Breathe your Spirit upon us and upon this bread and wine
That they may be heaven’s food for us
Renewing, sustaining and making us whole
That we may be your body on earth
Loving and caring in the world<\/p>\n \n
Look \u2013 The bread of heaven \u2013 The light of the world
Here is Christ, coming to us in bread and wine
The gift of God for the people of the world<\/p>\n\n
The table of bread and wine is now made ready
It is the table of company with Jesus
So, come to this table, you who have much faith
And you who would like to have more
You who have been to this sacrament often
And you who have not been for a long time
You who have tried to follow Jesus
And you who have failed<\/p>\n
Come \u2013 it is Christ himself who invites us to meet him here<\/p>\n\n
Eat your bread and sip you drink and take a moment of quiet before praying<\/em><\/p>\n\nConcluding Prayer <\/h4>\n
Holy God, we have seen with our eyes
And touched with our hands the bread of life the light of the world
Strengthen our faith
That we may grow in love for you and for each other
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen<\/strong><\/p>\n\nAnd may the blessing of God Almighty the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with us all, those we love and those we pray for. Amen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Worshipping Together \u2013 Apart Dear All, Here is the first of a new section of our magazine (it will also be available on our Church Website). Whilst we are unable to worship together in church we can still worship together \u2013 apart!! Below then is a version of one of our Informal Family Services, some … <\/p>\n
Continue reading “Palm Sunday”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heuristika.co.uk\/lfgdiscussion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heuristika.co.uk\/lfgdiscussion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heuristika.co.uk\/lfgdiscussion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heuristika.co.uk\/lfgdiscussion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heuristika.co.uk\/lfgdiscussion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.heuristika.co.uk\/lfgdiscussion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":188,"href":"https:\/\/www.heuristika.co.uk\/lfgdiscussion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176\/revisions\/188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heuristika.co.uk\/lfgdiscussion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heuristika.co.uk\/lfgdiscussion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heuristika.co.uk\/lfgdiscussion\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}