Liturgy of the Passion Matthew 26: 14 – 56, 69 - end
14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, ‘What will you give me if I betray him to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
The Passover with the Disciples
17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ 18 He said, ‘Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, “The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’ 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
20 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve;[c] 21 and while they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ 22 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, ‘Surely not I, Lord?’ 23 He answered, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.’ 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, ‘Surely not I, Rabbi?’ He replied, ‘You have said so.’
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’
30 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Peter’s Denial Foretold
31 Then Jesus said to them, ‘You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written,
“I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”
32 But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.’ 33 Peter said to him, ‘Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.’ 34 Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.’ 35 Peter said to him, ‘Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.’ And so said all the disciples.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. 38 Then he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.’ 39 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.’ 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ 42 Again he went away for the second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’ 43 Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.’
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.’ 49 At once he came up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, do what you are here to do.’ Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 51 Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?’ 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus the Galilean.’ 70 But he denied it before all of them, saying, ‘I do not know what you are talking about.’ 71 When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ 72 Again he denied it with an oath, ‘I do not know the man.’ 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, ‘Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.’ 74 Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, ‘I do not know the man!’ At that moment the cock crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: ‘Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Passover with the Disciples
17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ 18 He said, ‘Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, “The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’ 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
20 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve;[c] 21 and while they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ 22 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, ‘Surely not I, Lord?’ 23 He answered, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.’ 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, ‘Surely not I, Rabbi?’ He replied, ‘You have said so.’
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’
30 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Peter’s Denial Foretold
31 Then Jesus said to them, ‘You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written,
“I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”
32 But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.’ 33 Peter said to him, ‘Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.’ 34 Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.’ 35 Peter said to him, ‘Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.’ And so said all the disciples.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. 38 Then he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.’ 39 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.’ 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ 42 Again he went away for the second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’ 43 Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.’
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.’ 49 At once he came up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, do what you are here to do.’ Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 51 Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?’ 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus the Galilean.’ 70 But he denied it before all of them, saying, ‘I do not know what you are talking about.’ 71 When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ 72 Again he denied it with an oath, ‘I do not know the man.’ 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, ‘Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.’ 74 Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, ‘I do not know the man!’ At that moment the cock crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: ‘Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Reflection on Passion Readings from Revd Trish
Stephen Cottrell in his book “The Things He Carried” (2008, SPCK) suggests that as well as carrying the hopes of God and the sins of the world, Jesus carried the disappointment of his followers. He also carried the heavy burden of the betrayal of his closest disciples.
In the first part of Matthew’s passion narrative we see Judas Iscariot – a byword for betrayal – plan that betrayal with the chief priests. We don’t know why Judas betrayed the man whom he had followed closely for three years. Was it – as many suggest – that he was disappointed in Jesus? Did he expect him to be a warrior Messiah who would overthrow the occupying forces and restore Israel’s fortune? Did he gradually realise that Jesus was a very different sort of Messiah? Did he long for a fighting King of Israel but begin to see that that, in fact, Jesus was a servant King? Whatever the reason, Judas betrayed the purpose of Jesus, betrayed all that Jesus had taught and embodied throughout his ministry.
And then in Gethsemane that close inner circle of disciples – Peter, James and John also betrayed Jesus. They betrayed his desperate need of them in his most difficult hour. At this pivotal moment they simply fell asleep – not such a big betrayal perhaps but in his hour of need for the support of close friends, they weren’t there for him. Imagine you are unburdening you heart to a friend, sharing your deepest emotions, most intimate concerns and you look up to find them yawning or looking at their phone. They just aren’t there for you when you need it. You know how it feels?
And then Peter – big-hearted, bird-brained Peter – discovers his weakness. “I will never desert you” turns to “I do not know the man”. Peter betrayed the love of Jesus.
As well as betraying Jesus they also betrayed themselves and all that the last three years had meant.
BUT
James, according to tradition, went on to spread the gospel to Spain. He is the patron saint of Spain and his symbol – the shell - is still frequently used during baptisms. After his martyrdom his remains were transferred to Santiago de Compestela and still today thousands of Christians still follow his pilgrimage – the Way of St James.
John became a pillar of the newly emerging church that would come to be known as the Christian church. His teachings were responsible for one of the four gospels, three letters and the final book in the New Testament – the Book of Revelation.
And Peter became the one to whom the resurrected Jesus imparted the responsibility of feeding and tending his flock (John 21: 15 – 17).
Peter the betrayer became Peter the Rock on which Jesus built his church, James became a missionary and martyr and John became an evangelist and writer.
Each one came to accept themselves and their need for forgiveness and through God’s transforming love helped to establish the Christian faith and church.
But what of Judas? He couldn’t forgive himself or live with himself. He couldn’t believe that God could forgive such a dreadful sin as betrayal – he didn’t realise how big God’s grace and forgiveness are.
As you travel through Holy Week, consider what your weakness and sins are, accept God’s forgiveness and open your heart to the transforming love of God.
Let us pray:
Holy Father, as Christ entered Jerusalem, let him enter our lives that he might rule in our hearts and that we may offer our love and our lives to him; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord who offered his life for us and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen
Perhaps you would like to hear or join in with the hymn “My song is love unknown”
You can find a version here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMart4wXsI0
It is followed by “Abide with me” so press stop if you don’t want to listen to that hymn.
In the first part of Matthew’s passion narrative we see Judas Iscariot – a byword for betrayal – plan that betrayal with the chief priests. We don’t know why Judas betrayed the man whom he had followed closely for three years. Was it – as many suggest – that he was disappointed in Jesus? Did he expect him to be a warrior Messiah who would overthrow the occupying forces and restore Israel’s fortune? Did he gradually realise that Jesus was a very different sort of Messiah? Did he long for a fighting King of Israel but begin to see that that, in fact, Jesus was a servant King? Whatever the reason, Judas betrayed the purpose of Jesus, betrayed all that Jesus had taught and embodied throughout his ministry.
And then in Gethsemane that close inner circle of disciples – Peter, James and John also betrayed Jesus. They betrayed his desperate need of them in his most difficult hour. At this pivotal moment they simply fell asleep – not such a big betrayal perhaps but in his hour of need for the support of close friends, they weren’t there for him. Imagine you are unburdening you heart to a friend, sharing your deepest emotions, most intimate concerns and you look up to find them yawning or looking at their phone. They just aren’t there for you when you need it. You know how it feels?
And then Peter – big-hearted, bird-brained Peter – discovers his weakness. “I will never desert you” turns to “I do not know the man”. Peter betrayed the love of Jesus.
As well as betraying Jesus they also betrayed themselves and all that the last three years had meant.
BUT
James, according to tradition, went on to spread the gospel to Spain. He is the patron saint of Spain and his symbol – the shell - is still frequently used during baptisms. After his martyrdom his remains were transferred to Santiago de Compestela and still today thousands of Christians still follow his pilgrimage – the Way of St James.
John became a pillar of the newly emerging church that would come to be known as the Christian church. His teachings were responsible for one of the four gospels, three letters and the final book in the New Testament – the Book of Revelation.
And Peter became the one to whom the resurrected Jesus imparted the responsibility of feeding and tending his flock (John 21: 15 – 17).
Peter the betrayer became Peter the Rock on which Jesus built his church, James became a missionary and martyr and John became an evangelist and writer.
Each one came to accept themselves and their need for forgiveness and through God’s transforming love helped to establish the Christian faith and church.
But what of Judas? He couldn’t forgive himself or live with himself. He couldn’t believe that God could forgive such a dreadful sin as betrayal – he didn’t realise how big God’s grace and forgiveness are.
As you travel through Holy Week, consider what your weakness and sins are, accept God’s forgiveness and open your heart to the transforming love of God.
Let us pray:
Holy Father, as Christ entered Jerusalem, let him enter our lives that he might rule in our hearts and that we may offer our love and our lives to him; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord who offered his life for us and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen
Perhaps you would like to hear or join in with the hymn “My song is love unknown”
You can find a version here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMart4wXsI0
It is followed by “Abide with me” so press stop if you don’t want to listen to that hymn.