Christ Carrying the Cross as portrayed by El Greco
Lectionary: 37/38
Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples. He said, "Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you,'Why are you untying it?' you will answer, 'The Master has need of it.'" So those who had been sent went off and found everything just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying this colt?" They answered,"The Master has need of it."So they brought it to Jesus,threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount. As he rode along,the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciplesbegan to praise God aloud with joyfor all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed:"Blessed is the king who comesin the name of the Lord. Peace in heavenand glory in the highest." Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him,"Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He said in reply,"I tell you, if they keep silent,the stones will cry out!"
The Lord GOD has given mea well-trained tongue,that I might know how to speak to the wearya word that will rouse them. Morning after morninghe opens my ear that I may hear;and I have not rebelled,have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me,my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help,therefore I am not disgraced;I have set my face like flint,knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
R. (2a) My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
All who see me scoff at me;
they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads:
"He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him,
let him rescue him, if he loves him."
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Indeed, many dogs surround me,
a pack of evildoers closes in upon me;
They have pierced my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
They divide my garments among them,
and for my vesture they cast lots.
But you, O LORD, be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me.
and for my vesture they cast lots.
But you, O LORD, be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
I will proclaim your name to my brethren;
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you:
"You who fear the LORD, praise him;
all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him;
revere him, all you descendants of Israel!"
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,did not regard equality with Godsomething to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,taking the form of a slave,coming in human likeness;and found human in appearance,he humbled himself,becoming obedient to the point of death,even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted himand bestowed on him the namewhich is above every name,that at the name of Jesusevery knee should bend,of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue confess thatJesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.
Rather, he emptied himself,taking the form of a slave,coming in human likeness;and found human in appearance,he humbled himself,becoming obedient to the point of death,even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted himand bestowed on him the namewhich is above every name,that at the name of Jesusevery knee should bend,of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue confess thatJesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.
Christ became obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.
even death on a cross.
because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.
Gospel LUKE 23:1-49
Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate. They brought charges against him, saying, "We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Christ, a king." Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You say so." Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds, "I find this man not guilty." But they were adamant and said, "He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here."
On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; and upon learning that he was under Herod's jurisdiction,he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very glad to see Jesus;
he had been wanting to see him for a long time,for he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at length,but he gave him no answer. The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile,stood by accusing him harshly. Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him,and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly.Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them, "You brought this man to meand accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him."
But all together they shouted out, "Away with this man!Release Barabbas to us." — Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder. —Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus,but they continued their shouting,"Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate addressed them a third time,"What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him." With loud shouts, however,they persisted in calling for his crucifixion,and their voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the man who had been imprisonedfor rebellion and murder, for whom they asked,and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.
As they led him awaythey took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country;
and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said,
"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren,the wombs that never boreand the breasts that never nursed.' At that time people will say to the mountains,'Fall upon us!'and to the hills, 'Cover us!'for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?"
On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; and upon learning that he was under Herod's jurisdiction,he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very glad to see Jesus;
he had been wanting to see him for a long time,for he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at length,but he gave him no answer. The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile,stood by accusing him harshly. Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him,and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly.Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them, "You brought this man to meand accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him."
But all together they shouted out, "Away with this man!Release Barabbas to us." — Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder. —Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus,but they continued their shouting,"Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate addressed them a third time,"What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him." With loud shouts, however,they persisted in calling for his crucifixion,and their voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the man who had been imprisonedfor rebellion and murder, for whom they asked,and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.
As they led him awaythey took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country;
and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said,
"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren,the wombs that never boreand the breasts that never nursed.' At that time people will say to the mountains,'Fall upon us!'and to the hills, 'Cover us!'for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?"
Now two others, both criminals,were led away with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said,"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." They divided his garments by casting lots.
The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God." Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out,"If you are King of the Jews, save yourself." Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews."
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,"Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us." The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,"Have you no fear of God,for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly,for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said,"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him,"Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole landuntil three in the afternoonbecause of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit"; and when he had said this he breathed his last.
Here all kneel and pause for a short time.
The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said,"This man was innocent beyond doubt. "When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened,they returned home beating their breasts;but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events.
JP Christ Carrying the Cross
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