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Scripture Text (NRSV)

 

Matthew 27:11-54

 

27:11 Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so."

27:12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.

27:13 Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?"

27:14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

27:15 Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted.

27:16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas.

27:17 So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?"

27:18 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.

27:19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him."

27:20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed.

27:21 The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas."

27:22 Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" All of them said, "Let him be crucified!"

27:23 Then he asked, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!"

27:24 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, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves."

27:25 Then the people as a whole answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!"

27:26 So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him.

27:28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,

27:29 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, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

27:30 They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.

27:31 After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

27:32 As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross.

27:33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull),

27:34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.

27:35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots;

27:36 then they sat down there and kept watch over him.

27:37 Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."

27:38 Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

27:39 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads

27:40 and saying, "You 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."

27:41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying,

27:42 "He 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.

27:43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, 'I am God's Son.'"

27:44 The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.

27:45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

27:46 And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

27:47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "This man is calling for Elijah."

27:48 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.

27:49 But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him."

27:50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.

27:51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split.

27:52 The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.

27:53 After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many.

27:54 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, "Truly this man was God's Son!"

 

Comments:

 

Aren't we getting Jesus on the Cross a little too soon. What happened to the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. These scriptures will be good for maunday Thursday and Good Friday, I'm not supposed to be preaching this Snday thank goodness. I have a baptist minister in the congregation and He would like to bring the message this week. We are having dinner after church and at one dedication our new drive through which was built debt free.

Harold in Alabama


Harold asks, "Aren't we getting Jesus on the Cross a little too soon. What happened to the triumphal entry into Jerusalem."

This is a "package deal" this week, if you use the full liturgy of Palm/Passion Sunday. We begin with the Triumphal Entry, the blessing and distribution of palms, the singing of a hymn such as "All glory, laud and honor" or "Ride on, ride on in majesty" or Psalm 118. We march around the church and wave the palms and are just like the people of ancient Jerusalem when Jesus arrived. ...

Then a little later we read and participate in the Passion Narrative and we are, again, just like the people of ancient Jerusalem who first shouted "Hosanna to the Son of David!" and then shouted "Crucify him!"

For those (and there are many in our American society) who cannot attend the rest of Holy Week, this permits them (and the rest of us) to contemplate Christ's sacrifice.

Blessings, Eric in KS


rb in Canada

Check out the longer lection here. Someone named Metz has a similar comment.

JG in WI


Cann't find the book that I read years ago in seminary called Zorba the Greek by Nikoskazanokas (spelling of author incorrect but close). Any rate their is a sceen in that book I'd like to use as a sermon illustration for this week. Two leaders are arguing over which Jesus is the true Jesus... the one of the established church or the gypies.... if any of you could e-mail me that sceen in the book...I'd be mighty grateful. jbush42@earthlink.net Thanks...Preacher in Ks.


I'm working on an idea suggested by Pilate's question, "What then should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" (vs.22). Each one of the people (or groups) suggests a way of answering this question.

Pilate - wash my hands of him; Crowd at trial - rid us of his presence; Romans - mock him; Scribes & Pharisses - doubt him; Simon of Cyrene - bear the burden he does; Crowd at cross - wait and see; Centurion - recognize him.

I see each of these examples as one of the ways that we can respond to the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Does anyone else see some examples?

PaxChristi


Pax Christi....like your examples of the way people view God's revelation of Jesus Christ. How about...apathy? It seems to me that a lot of even "church" folks are apathetic to Jesus...we will take or leave Him at our convenience.

Hey...isn't anyone out there going to respond to my search for Zorba the Greek passage??? Preacher in Ks.


Preacher in Ks asked, "Hey...isn't anyone out there going to respond to my search for Zorba the Greek passage???"

Preacher, I'd love to ... but my copy of Zorba is in some box of books that hasn't been unpacked in 10 years (probably by now consumed by silverfish or somesuch)... so I can't.

Blessings, Eric (also) in KS


Eric In Ks.... I Love it! I Love it! You gave me the best laugh I've had all day. Hey...thanks for your response. Preacher In Ks.