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<DIV>The following are the readings for the Good Friday, March 25 (second part),
according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic,
Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All
readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible.
Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, Canadian and C of E lectionaries are
identical to the RCL for this day.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>NEW TESTAMENT: Hebrews 10: 16 - 25 (RCL)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Hebr 10:1 (NRSV) Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come
and not the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices
that are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who approach. 2
Otherwise, would they not have ceased being offered, since the worshipers,
cleansed once for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sin? 3 But in
these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year. 4 For it is
impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Consequently,
when Christ came into the world, he said, </DIV>
<DIV>"Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, </DIV>
<DIV>but a body you have prepared for me; </DIV>
<DIV>6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings </DIV>
<DIV>you have taken no pleasure. </DIV>
<DIV>7 Then I said, "See, God, I have come to do your will, O God' </DIV>
<DIV>(in the scroll of the book it is written of me)." </DIV>
<DIV>8 When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in
sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are
offered according to the law), 9 then he added, "See, I have come to do your
will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. 10 And it is by
God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of
Jesus Christ once for all. </DIV>
<DIV>11 And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and
again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had
offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand
of God," 13 and since then has been waiting "until his enemies would be made a
footstool for his feet." 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all
time those who are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for
after saying, </DIV>
<DIV>16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them </DIV>
<DIV>after those days, says the Lord: </DIV>
<DIV>I will put my laws in their hearts, </DIV>
<DIV>and I will write them on their minds," </DIV>
<DIV>17 he also adds, </DIV>
<DIV>"I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." </DIV>
<DIV>18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for
sin. </DIV>
<DIV>19 Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary
by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us
through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), 21 and since we have a great
priest over the house of God, 22 let us approach with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and
our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our
hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. 24 And let us
consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to
meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the
more as you see the Day approaching. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Hebrews 4: 14 - 16, 5: 7 - 9 (Roman Catholic, alt. for
RCL)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Hebr 4:14 (NRSV) Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed
through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet
without sin. 16 Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>5:7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications,
with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and
he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a Son, he
learned obedience through what he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he
became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>GOSPEL: John 18: 1 - 19: 42 (all)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>John 18:1 (NRSV) After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his
disciples across the Kid'ron valley to a place where there was a garden, which
he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the
place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas brought a
detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the
Phar'isees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then
Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, "Whom
are you looking for?" 5 They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus replied, "I am
he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them,
"I am he," they stepped back and fell to the ground. 7 Again he asked them,
"Whom are you looking for?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 Jesus
answered, "I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men
go." 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, "I did not lose a single
one of those whom you gave me." 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it,
struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was
Mal'chus. 11 Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not
to drink the cup that the Father has given me?" </DIV>
<DIV>12 So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and
bound him. 13 First they took him to An'nas, who was the father-in-law of
Ca'iaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Ca'iaphas was the one who had advised
the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. </DIV>
<DIV>15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was
known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high
priest, 16 but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple,
who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the
gate, and brought Peter in. 17 The woman said to Peter, "You are not also one of
this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." 18 Now the slaves and the
police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing
around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming
himself. </DIV>
<DIV>19 Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his
teaching. 20 Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always
taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have
said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to
them; they know what I said." 22 When he had said this, one of the police
standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, "Is that how you answer the
high priest?" 23 Jesus answered, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the
wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" 24 Then An'nas sent
him bound to Ca'iaphas the high priest. </DIV>
<DIV>25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, "You
are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not."
26 One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter
had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" 27 Again Peter
denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed. </DIV>
<DIV>28 Then they took Jesus from Ca'iaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was
early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to
avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went
out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" 30 They
answered, "If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to
you." 31 Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him according to
your law." The Jews replied, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death." 32
(This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he
was to die.) </DIV>
<DIV>33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked
him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your
own, or did others tell you about me?" 35 Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you
done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were
from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed
over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." 37 Pilate asked
him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I
was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone
who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." 38 Pilate asked him, "What is
truth?" </DIV>
<DIV>After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I
find no case against him. 39 But you have a custom that I release someone for
you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" 40
They shouted in reply, "Not this man, but Barab'bas!" Now Barab'bas was a
bandit. 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 And the soldiers wove
a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe.
3 They kept coming up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and striking him
on the face. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, "Look, I am bringing him
out to you to let you know that I find no case against him." 5 So Jesus came
out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here
is the man!" 6 When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted,
"Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and
crucify him; I find no case against him." 7 The Jews answered him, "We have a
law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the
Son of God." </DIV>
<DIV>8 Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. 9 He entered
his headquarters again and asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him
no answer. 10 Pilate therefore said to him, "Do you refuse to speak to me? Do
you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" 11
Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given
you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a
greater sin." 12 From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried
out, "If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who
claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor." </DIV>
<DIV>13 When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the
judge's bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gab'batha. 14
Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He
said to the Jews, "Here is your King!" 15 They cried out, "Away with him! Away
with him! Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The
chief priests answered, "We have no king but the emperor." 16 Then he handed him
over to them to be crucified. </DIV>
<DIV>So they took Jesus; 17 and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to
what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Gol'gotha. 18
There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with
Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the
cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." 20 Many of the Jews
read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the
city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 Then the chief
priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, "The King of the Jews,' but,
"This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" 22 Pilate answered, "What I have
written I have written." 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his
clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took
his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So
they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who
will get it." This was to fulfill what the scripture says, </DIV>
<DIV>"They divided my clothes among themselves, </DIV>
<DIV>and for my clothing they cast lots." </DIV>
<DIV>25 And that is what the soldiers did. </DIV>
<DIV>Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his
mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clo'pas, and Mary Mag'dalene. 26 When Jesus
saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to
his mother, "Woman, here is your son." 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Here is
your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. </DIV>
<DIV>28 After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order
to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty." 29 A jar full of sour wine was
standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and
held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is
finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. </DIV>
<DIV>31 Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies
left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day
of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men
broken and the bodies removed. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of
the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they
came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood
and water came out. 35 (He who saw this has testified so that you also may
believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) 36 These
things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, "None of his bones
shall be broken." 37 And again another passage of scripture says, "They will
look on the one whom they have pierced." </DIV>
<DIV>38 After these things, Joseph of Arimathe'a, who was a disciple of Jesus,
though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him
take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed
his body. 39 Nicode'mus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came,
bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. 40 They
took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according
to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now there was a garden in the place where
he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had
ever been laid. 42 And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the
tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Chad
Wohlers<BR>Woodbury, VT
USA<BR>chadwohl@satucket.com<BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>