Our Lord Jesus Christ worth celebrating

Pls no animal sacrifices, just celebration.

The Gospel of Matthew: Christ’s Sufferings

1. When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.

2. And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

3. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4. Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

5. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

6. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

7. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.

8. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

9. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

10. And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.

Jesus Before Pilate and Crucifixion

11. And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

12. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

13. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

14. And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

15. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

16. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

17. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

18. For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

19. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

20. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

21. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

22. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

23. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

24. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

25. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

26. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Mocking and Crucifixion

27. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

28. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

29. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

30. And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

31. After mocking him, they took the robe off from him, put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

32. As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

33. When they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

34. They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

35. They crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

36. And sitting down they watched him there;

37. And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38. Two thieves were crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

39. They that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

40. Saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

41. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

42. He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

43. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

44. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

45. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

46. About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

47. Some that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

48. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

49. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

50. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

51. Behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.

52. The graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

53. And came out of the graves after his resurrection, went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

54. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

55. Many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

56. Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

57. When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple.

58. He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

59. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

60. Laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock, and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

61. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sat over against the sepulchre.

62. Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

63. Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

64. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

65. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

66. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

The Gospel of John

Jesus’ Arrest

1. When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, to a garden, where he entered with his disciples.

2. Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place, for Jesus often resorted there with his disciples.

3. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

4. Jesus, knowing all things that would come upon him, went forth and asked, “Whom seek ye?”

5. They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, stood with them.

6. As soon as he said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

7. He asked again, “Whom seek ye?” They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

8. Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am he; if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way,”

9. That the saying might be fulfilled: “Of them whom thou gavest me, I have lost none.”

Peter’s Defense and Jesus Bound
10. Then Simon Peter drew a sword and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11. Jesus said to Peter, “Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”
12. The band, the captain, and the officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound him,
13. And led him first to Annas, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, the high priest that year.
14. Now Caiaphas had counselled that it was expedient for one man to die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus
15. Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another disciple, who was known to the high priest and entered with Jesus into the palace.
16. Peter stood at the door without. That other disciple went out, spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.
17. The doorkeeper asked Peter, “Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples?” He said, “I am not.”
18. The servants and officers, making a fire because it was cold, warmed themselves, and Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

Jesus Before Annas and Caiaphas
19. The high priest asked Jesus of his disciples and of his doctrine.
20. Jesus answered, “I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue and the temple, and in secret I said nothing.”
21. “Why askest thou me? Ask them which heard me what I said; they know what I said.”
22. One officer struck Jesus, saying, “Answerest thou the high priest so?”
23. Jesus answered, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me?”
24. Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
25. Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They asked, “Art not thou also one of his disciples?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
26. One of the high priest’s servants, whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did not I see thee in the garden with him?”
27. Peter denied again, and immediately the cock crew.

Jesus Before Pilate
28. They led Jesus from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment early, and they themselves did not enter, so they could eat the Passover.
29. Pilate asked, “What accusation bring ye against this man?”
30. They answered, “If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up to thee.”
31. Pilate said, “Take ye him, and judge according to your law.” The Jews said, “It is not lawful for us to put any man to death,”
32. That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, signifying what death he should die.
33. Pilate entered the judgment hall again and called Jesus: “Art thou the King of the Jews?”
34. Jesus asked, “Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?”
35. Pilate said, “Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee to me. What hast thou done?”
36. Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, my servants would fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from hence.”
37. Pilate: “Art thou a king then?” Jesus: “Thou sayest that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is of the truth hears my voice.”
38. Pilate: “What is truth?” Then he went out to the Jews and said, “I find no fault in him.”
39. “But ye have a custom, that I should release one at the Passover; will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?”
40. They cried, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

The Scourging and Mockery

1. Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him.

2. The soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and a purple robe on him,

3. And said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and smote him with their hands.

4. Pilate went forth and said, “Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know I find no fault in him.”

5. Jesus came forth wearing the crown of thorns and purple robe. Pilate: “Behold the man!”

6. The chief priests and officers cried, “Crucify him!” Pilate: “Take him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him.”

7. The Jews: “By our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”

8. Pilate heard and was more afraid;

9. Entering the hall again, he asked Jesus, “Whence art thou?” Jesus gave no answer.

10. Pilate: “Knowest thou not I have power to crucify thee or release thee?”

11. Jesus: “Thou couldest have no power against me except it were given thee from above; he that delivered me has the greater sin.”

12. Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried, “If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend. Whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.”

13. Pilate brought Jesus forth and sat on the judgment seat in a place called Pavement, Hebrew Gabbatha.

14. It was the preparation of the Passover, about the sixth hour: “Behold your King!”

15. They cried, “Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate: “Shall I crucify your King?” Chief priests: “We have no king but Caesar.”

16. Then he delivered him to be crucified.

The Crucifixion
17. Jesus, bearing his cross, went to Golgotha, the place of a skull,
18. Where they crucified him and two others, one on either side, Jesus in the midst.
19. Pilate wrote a title: “JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS,”
20. Which many of the Jews read, for the place was near the city, written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
21. The chief priests said to Pilate, “Write not, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’”
22. Pilate: “What I have written, I have written.”
23. The soldiers crucified Jesus, took his garments, and divided them into four parts, also his seamless coat.
24. They said among themselves, “Let us not rend it, but cast lots,” fulfilling scripture: “They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots.”
25. Standing by the cross were Jesus’ mother, her sister Mary, Mary wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved: “Woman, behold thy son!”
27. “Behold thy mother!” From that hour the disciple took her unto his own home.
28. Jesus, knowing all things were accomplished: “I thirst.”
29. They filled a sponge with vinegar, put it on hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
30. Jesus received the vinegar: “It is finished.” He bowed his head and gave up the ghost.

After the Crucifixion
31. The Jews, because it was the preparation and high Sabbath, asked Pilate that their legs be broken so bodies might be taken away.
32. The soldiers broke the legs of the first and the other crucified with him.
33. Seeing Jesus was already dead, they did not break his legs.
34. One soldier pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water came out.
35. He who saw it bore witness, and his testimony is true, that ye might believe.
36. These things