IntroductionI
must start with an apology. Normally my reflections lead with the Gospel lesson
first. This week, Palm Sunday, we begin with the account of Jesus riding into
Jerusalem to the shouts and praises of the people for their King and Savior.
The Gospel lesson concludes the week with the Passion Story. This account is at
the end of this reflection. I urge you to pause this week and read it. This
particular year the Passion Story is in Mark chapter 14 and 15. Read it.
This
week was a full week of study. Each day I read both chapters of Mark. I also
read through once the procession account for Palm Sunday, John 12:12-19, along
with Zechariah 9:9-12, Psalm 118:19-29 and finally Philippians 2:5-11. These
are all the readings for this Palm Sunday week.
But,
the reading of the Gospel each day and all of the research each day from
commentaries and various sources, totally absorbed me. It was a fascinating
experience to spend such time in prayer and devotion. I highly recommend such
practice to any serious disciple.
So,
on account of all this work; I ask you to bear with me this week. Next, I will
give you an outline of the Passion Story, followed by my reflection on a
particular topic that came to mind.
I
have always been intrigued by the small two verses in Mark of a man who ran off
naked at Jesus arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. These two small verses, as far as my study has
taken me, were always dismissed by the commentators and the exegetists.
This
causes me to pause. It always seems to me, when something is dismissed, there
is something more to it. So, I decided to make this reflection theme around
clothing, cloth, linen and the such, in hopes that I would discover meaning and
insight from God. Permit me this week to do a little bit of creative writing
and imagination, if you will.
So,
here is my outline of the Passion reading. Like I said, be sure to read the
full account at the end of this reflection.
Mark 14:1-15:47 (Outline)
·
Plot to kill Jesus
·
Anointing Jesus
·
Judas betrayal agreement
·
Passover – Upper Room
·
Lord’s Supper
·
Peter’s denial predicted
·
Praying in Gethsemane
·
Jesus’ betrayal and arrest
·
Jesus before the religious leaders
·
Peter’s denial
·
Jesus with Pilate
·
Pilate gives Jesus to crucifixion
·
Jesus mocked by soldiers
·
Jesus crucified
·
Jesus dies
·
Jesus buried
Torn
Luke 2:7 ESV
7 And she (Mary) gave birth
to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him
in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Yes, God sent His Son for us. Oh, how we need this little child.
This little child, born naked and then wrapped in cloths. We need Jesus, yet as
a little baby? How so?
We are trapped in this sinful world in which we too have
been born. Through man’s sinful act and desire to be like God, we have separated
ourselves. We can’t be like God through our own actions or desires. We are not
God. It just won’t work this way. But in our attempt to know good and evil, we
permitted evil into this life in which we live. This was NOT God’s intent. God
first placed us in Paradise to be His. But as men, we thought otherwise and
desired to be like God through our own actions and efforts. And our sin to make
ourselves idols and other “things” our focus, separated us from God. God help
us!
So, God, sent his Son into this world to save us from our
sinfulness. God sent his Son, to be One of us, to do what we could never do
ourselves. God became One with us. And this little naked baby, this God, was
wrapped in cloths. Cloths to protect him from the elements and to cover him.
Yes… cloths.
Later in Jesus life his clothes, his cloak, took on a deep
meaning for a woman wishing to be healed. How I relate to this woman, this
bleeding woman! Something a bit personal about myself, is that I have Crohn’s disease.
I too have and sometimes still suffer from uncontrolled bleeding. Bleeding that
doesn’t seem to stop like I wish. I can remember a time, perhaps twenty years
or so ago, that I too, after thinking about this woman, reached out to touch
the smock of a nurse, as I lay in a hospital bed bleeding. It was a fanciful
belief that perhaps the bleeding would cease. It’s just not that simple, and
besides, even though this nurse was perhaps doing the work of the Lord, she was
not the Lord. So, I look for healing from God. Healing that for sure is there
and will come. Real healing. Here is the account of the woman reaching to touch
Jesus’ cloak:
Luke 8:43-45 ESV
43 And there was a
woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she
had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by
anyone. 44 She came up behind him and
touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of
blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was
it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said,
“Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”
I think of all the people who desire to touch Jesus for
healing, yet the opposite seems to be the truth to me. Jesus reaches out and
touches each one of us. Jesus desires for all people to be healed, healed in a
much deeper sense. Jesus came into this world to heal all of us from sin, death
and the evil that we have taken upon ourselves. We all suffer an illness. Yes,
we all are guilty of the sin and need Jesus to touch our garments with his
salvation.
Now, fast forward to Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
We like to call it Palm Sunday. Here are a couple accounts of this…
Matthew 21:6-9 ESV
6 The
disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They
brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on
them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks
on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the
road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and
that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of
David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in
the highest!”
Luke 19:35-40 ESV
35 And they brought it (the
colt) to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And
as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As
he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole
multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud
voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed
is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the
Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He
answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones
would cry out.”
Notice the cloaks. We place our cloaks before Jesus. We spread our cloaks
on the colt or donkey for Jesus to sit on. Out of honor, we spread our cloaks,
our clothes to pad the walk of the donkey into Jerusalem. With our clothing we
seek to honor our King. Yet, as we seek to honor our King, in just a little
while our King will turn out to be a King that we didn’t expect. Our King would
honor us. Our King, our Savior, would honor us by loving us to death and saving
us from the idol we have made of ourselves. Our King will come to us, humble
and be put to death, as a Servant. A loving Servant to take our place before
God. Our King, our God, our Savior, sitting on our clothes and walking to his
death upon what we think honors him.
Let’s proceed in this story of clothing and cloth and linens into the
Passion Account from Mark chapters 14 and 15.
Mark 14:13-14 ESV
13 And he (Jesus)
sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into
the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and
wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says,
Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’
What does this have to do with clothes, linen, or cloth? This
householder? First, let’s not just pass this servant of God by. Here is another
account of a person that can be lost in the account of scripture as
insignificant. God doesn’t make insignificant people. This man is gifted with a
Godly task. This man is gifted to provide a service. A towel would be present
in this large upper room. Surely this man provided a towel for Jesus washing
and serving the disciples.
John 13:3-5 ESV
3 Jesus, knowing that
the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from
God and was going back to God, 4 rose from
supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it
around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into
a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel
that was wrapped around him.
Yes! There are those garments again. Jesus laid aside his
garment. Jesus strips down to serve. Jesus takes a towel. Oh, how we all need
to serve one another. Naked in our sin, we need to serve each other. Jesus sets
the example for us to follow.
This man who has prepared the upper room for Jesus and his
disciples is a servant himself. He plays a vital role in this Passion Story of
Jesus for us. He is anonymous. He does not seem to care for any credit for the
actions he has taken. This special servant, this man with a water jar, makes a
special place for a special Sacrament. Yes, this anonymous man prepares a little
room with a towel. A little room with infinite space. Thank God for this man carrying
a water jar that prepared the Upper Room.
Now may we proceed to another mystery man. The man that led
me down this “rabbit hole” of cloth, clothes, linen.
Here is a young man that is following Jesus. He is
following Jesus to his betrayal. He is following Jesus as Jesus prayed in the
Garden of Gethsemane. While others flee Jesus, this young man follows. He
follows up to a point and then flees also.
At this, I have to stop and ponder another account of
clothing and also fleeing.
Genesis 39:11-12 ESV
11 But one day, when he
(Joseph) went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house
was there in the house, 12 she (Potiphar’s wife) caught
him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand
and fled and got out of the house.
Yes, another young man. Leaving his garment behind. Fleeing
the temptation of sin. A young man being seduced to sin.
And again… I’m reminded… of Amos prophecy against Israel’s
idolatry and sinfulness in turning away from God and towards themselves and
their own idol worship practices. Another fleeing takes place. A day when even
the most courageous of men flee away naked.
Amos 2:16 ESV
16 and he
who is stout of heart among the mighty
shall
flee away naked in that day,”
declares the Lord.
But here in our present
account of the Passion from Mark we have…
Mark 14:51-52 ESV
51 And a young man followed
him (Jesus), with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they (the
crowd with swords and clubs sent by the High Priest, scribes and elders) seized
him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away
naked.
Who is he? Some say Mark. Perhaps it was a young man that
ran out to see what was going on. Others say maybe it was the young man at the
tomb…
Mark 16:5 ESV
5 And entering the
tomb, they (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome) saw a young man sitting
on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were
alarmed.
Maybe he was a fanciful representation of baptism. His old
garment was stripped from him in the Garden of Gethsemane and he was clothed in
a new garment at the Resurrection of Jesus.
Romans 6:1-5 ESV
6 What shall we say
then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By
no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do
you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried
therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ
was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk
in newness of life.
5 For if we have been
united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him
in a resurrection like his.
Galatians 3:27 ESV
27 For as many of you
as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Ephesians 4:20-24 ESV
20 But that is not the way
you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you
have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put
off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is
corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to
be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to
put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true
righteousness and holiness.
Colossians 3:9-10 ESV
9 Do not lie to one another,
seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have
put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after
the image of its creator.
Some say that naked does not mean without clothing, but
only in his underwear, like a loin cloth. For me, it sure seems to mean naked.
When I’m naked I feel exposed. I can see fleeing in the
presence of Jesus betrayal. Fleeing exposed to my sin before God. Running away
from God because I know God sees right through me. God sees my sinfulness and I
am naked in his presence, without any excuse for myself. I am fully convicted
of my sin before God, before Jesus.
Is this it? I don’t know. And like others, I have to leave
it at that. I really don’t know. In any case, here is another piece of clothing
in this Passion account.
The next garment we encounter is the mantle of the High
Priest. Jesus is before the High Priest and Jesus is being accused by witnesses
with various accusations.
Mark 14:60-63 ESV
60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and
asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify
against you?” 61 But he remained silent and made no
answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son
of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of
Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of
heaven.” 63 And the high
priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need?
The high priest took this
comment from Jesus to be blasphemy and tore his garments as a show of disgust.
Interesting enough, even
this act of the high priest was forbidden by law…
Leviticus 21:10 ESV
10 “The priest who is chief
among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil is poured and who has been
consecrated to wear the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang
loose nor tear his clothes.
Next in our journey of clothing…
As Jesus was before Pilate and the crowd desired Barabbas
to be released and Jesus to be crucified. Pilate had Jesus whipped and mocked.
Mark 15:16-17 ESV
16 And the soldiers led him
away inside the palace (that is, the governor's
headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And
they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of
thorns, they put it on him.
Wow! The whole battalion! That’s maybe 600 men! Some
believe the garment may have been a soldier’s faded robe that looked like
purple. In any case, they dressed Jesus in false clothes. They made a costume
for Jesus that was not fitting for who he was. These soldiers made Jesus unrecognizable.
They dressed Jesus like a soldier. All of this was just the opposite of what
Jesus taught. It now appears that Jesus is no longer the friend of sinners or
the lover of all. Finally, after all this mocking and ridicule; they put Jesus
own clothes on him.
Mark 15:20 ESV
20 And when they
had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own
clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.
Next, is garments and no garments. Jesus was led naked to
the cross. Jesus’ clothes were the spoils of the soldiers.
Mark 15:24 ESV
24 And they crucified him
and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what
each should take.
Psalm 22:18 ESV
18 they
divide my garments among them,
and for
my clothing they cast lots.
For Jesus’ garments there
is dice and game at the foot of the cross. Yes, gambling at the cross. All
these soldiers see in Jesus is his clothes! Is that all we see too?
Mark 15:27 ESV
27 And with him they
crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.
Naked, Jesus dies with two sinners. One sinner to the left
of him and another sinner to his right. Yes, here we have “the friend of
sinners” found to be with sinners at his death, as he breathes his last.
Jesus is naked among us sinners. Jesus hangs naked in our
presence to save us from our own sin. Do you see Jesus as a Savior? Or… do you
revile Jesus as he hangs in your midst?
Next in our story of cloth… The curtain of the temple. Some
say it was made of purple, crimson and white thread, woven together. It may
have had cherubim embroidered on it, and it was really thick. The scene is at
Jesus death.
Mark 15:38 ESV
38 And the curtain of
the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
In this tearing of the curtain of the temple, some believe,
God opens a new and living way for each of us. I’ve heard before that God opens
himself to us. OK, sure, but I tend to think of it a little in reverse to
myself going to God. Yes, I can go to God in prayer. But, for me, I too,
realize that now, in Jesus’ death, God breaks forth from this hidden Holy of
Holies to be with us. God, once again comes to us. God comes to us as that baby
in the manger and God breaks forth from the physical temple to be with me and
with you through the new Temple of Jesus.
As I conclude this pathway of linen, clothing, cloth and
coverings; we now consider Jesus once again wrapped in cloth and laid in a
tomb.
Mark 15:46 ESV
46 And
Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the
linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the
rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
So, there you have it. Our journey of clothing, cloth,
garments, linen, towels and curtains. Jesus coming to us naked and sinless.
Jesus taking our place for our sinfulness naked and exposed in our sin. Jesus
from manger to tomb, once again wrapped in linen cloths.
Thanks be to God. I so look forward to being clothed in
Jesus’ clothing. To be healed by the touch of his garments. To worship him in
his eternal Kingly robes… today… tomorrow… and forever!
Thanks be to God for the gift of washing my robes in your
blood and your salvation.
Since this has been such a long reflection, I leave you
with my favorite hymn and a contemporary song for you to enjoy and worship with
this Palm Sunday. God bless all of you this week and always.
"There in God's Garden"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFGne7VGpMY
"Jesus"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEbQswNB6Wc
Jesus comes to you. Believe it!
Be sure to take time to read the entire account of the
Passion.
Mark 14:1-15:47 ESV
14 It was now two days
before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief
priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill
him, 2 for they said, “Not during the
feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.”
3 And while he was
at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at
table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very
costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There
were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like
that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for
more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And
they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her
alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you
always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for
them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has
done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly,
I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what
she has done will be told in memory of her.”
10 Then Judas Iscariot,
who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray
him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were
glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity
to betray him.
12 And on the first day
of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples
said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the
Passover?” 13 And he sent two of his disciples
and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying
a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and
wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says,
Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he
will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for
us.” 16 And the disciples set out
and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared
the Passover.
17 And when it was evening,
he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were
reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I
say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They
began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He
said to them, “It is one of the
twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the
Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom
the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he
had not been born.”
22 And as they were eating,
he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and
said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And
he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they
all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is
my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I
say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when
I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
26 And when they had sung a
hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And
Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for
it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be
scattered.’ 28 But after
I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter
said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus
said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the
rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he
said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all
said the same.
32 And they went to a
place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here
while I pray.” 33 And he took with
him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and
troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul
is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35 And
going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were
possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And
he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you.
Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And
he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon,
are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch
and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And
again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And
again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy,
and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And
he came the third time and said to them, “Are you
still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has
come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let
us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
43 And immediately, while he
was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd
with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now
the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man.
Seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45 And
when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And
he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him
and seized him. 47 But one of those who stood by
drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off
his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you
come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Day after
day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.
But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” 50 And
they all left him and fled.
51 And a young man followed
him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, 52 but
he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.
53 And they led Jesus to
the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came
together. 54 And Peter had followed him at a
distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was
sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. 55 Now
the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against
Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For
many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And
some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 58 “We
heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands,
and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet
even about this their testimony did not agree. 60 And
the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to
make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 61 But he
remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are
you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And
Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at
the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And
the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we
need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is
your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And
some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him,
saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.
66 And as Peter was below in
the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and
seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were
with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it,
saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the
gateway and the rooster crowed. 69 And
the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is
one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And after
a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of
them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to
invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you
speak.” 72 And immediately the rooster
crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to
him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me
three times.” And he broke down and wept.
15 And as soon as it was
morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes
and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away
and delivered him over to Pilate. 2 And
Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered
him, “You have said so.” 3 And
the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 And
Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges
they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus made no
further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.
6 Now at the feast he used
to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And
among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the
insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And
the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And
he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the
Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of
envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But
the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas
instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then
what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And
they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate
said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more,
“Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the
crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he
delivered him to be crucified.
16 And the soldiers led him
away inside the palace (that is, the governor's
headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And
they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of
thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to
salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And
they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him
and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And
when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and
put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.
21 And they compelled a
passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of
Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 And
they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). 23 And
they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And
they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for
them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it
was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And
the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And
with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his
left. 29 And those who passed by derided
him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy
the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save
yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also
the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He
saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the
Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we
may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled
him.
33 And when the sixth
hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth
hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried
with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which
means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And
some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And
someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and
gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to
take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud
cry and breathed his last. 38 And the
curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And
when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed
his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
40 There were also women
looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary
the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When
he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were
also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
42 And when evening had come,
since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph
of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself
looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for
the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear
that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he
asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when
he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to
Joseph. 46 And Joseph bought a linen
shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him
in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone
against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene
and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
