In these unprecedented times the comfort which comes from
God’s Word gives us a peace this world simply cannot give. As we prepare for
Holy Week the following schedule of readings carry you through the Passion of
our Lord Jesus.
We trust such reading will be beneficial as we anticipate
the feast which has no end with our Risen Lord and Savior.
Passion reading schedule for Thursday March 26
Mark 14:1-72
The Plot to Kill Jesus
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.”
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
3 And while he was at Bethany in
the house of Simon the leper,1 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 denarii2 and dgiven 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 gyou 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.”
Judas to Betray Jesus
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.
The Passover with the Disciples
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 zone 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.”
Institution of the Lord’s
Supper
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 the3 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.”
Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial
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.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
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 wwatch.”4 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.”
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
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.
A Young Man Flees
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.
Jesus Before the Council
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 council6 were seeking
testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 cFor 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?”7
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.
Peter Denies Jesus
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 gateway8 and the rooster crowed.9 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.
Footnotes:
Mark 14:3 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus
13
Mark 14:5 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
Mark 14:24 Some manuscripts insert new
Mark 14:34 Or keep awake; also verses 37, 38
Mark 14:47 Or bondservant
Mark 14:55 Greek Sanhedrin
Mark 14:60 Or Have you no answer to what these men testify against
you?
Mark 14:68 Or forecourt
Mark 14:68 Some manuscripts omit and the rooster crowed
Mark 14:72 Or And when he had thought about it, he wept
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text
Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
Schnorr Von
Carolsfeld woodcuts, ‘The Crucifixion’ copyright © WELS permission granted for
personal and congregational use
