Lessons for April 1, 2007 – Palm Sunday

The first lesson 

Isaiah 50:4-9a
 
    The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know what to say to all these weary ones. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will. [5] The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I do not rebel or turn away. [6] I give my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pull out my beard. I do not hide from shame, for they mock me and spit in my face. 
    [7] Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be dismayed. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will triumph. [8] He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to oppose me now? Where are my enemies? Let them appear! [9] See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side! Who will declare me guilty?  (NLT)

Psalm 31:9-16
 
L.  Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress.
C.  My sight is blurred because of my tears.
L.  My body and soul are withering away. 
C.  I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness.
L.  Misery has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within. 
C.  I am scorned by all my enemies and despised by my neighbors—
L.  even my friends are afraid to come near me.
C.  When they see me on the street, they turn the other way. 
L.  I have been ignored as if I were dead, as if I were a broken pot. 
C.  I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror.
L.  My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life.
C.  But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, "You are my God!" 
L.  My future is in your hands.
C.  Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. 
L.  Let your favor shine on your servant.
C.  In your unfailing love, save me.  (NLT)

The second lesson

Philippians 2:5-11
 
    Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. [6] Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. [7] He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. [8] And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross. [9] Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (NLT)

The Gospel Lesson

Luke 22:14-23:56
 
    Then at the proper time Jesus and the twelve apostles sat down together at the table. [15] Jesus said, "I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. [16] For I tell you now that I won't eat it again until it comes to fulfillment in the Kingdom of God."  [17] Then he took a cup of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, "Take this and share it among yourselves. [18] For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come." 
[19] Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." [20] After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you—an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.  [21] "But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. [22] For I, the Son of Man, must die since it is part of God's plan. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer!" [23] Then the disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.  [24] And they began to argue among themselves as to who would be the greatest in the coming Kingdom. [25] Jesus told them, "In this world the kings and great men order their people around, and yet they are called 'friends of the people.' [26] But among you, those who are the greatest should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. [27] Normally the master sits at the table and is served by his servants. But not here! For I am your servant. [28] You have remained true to me in my time of trial. [29] And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right [30] to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [31] "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat. [32] But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers." [33] Peter said, "Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you."  [34] But Jesus said, "Peter, let me tell you something. The rooster will not crow tomorrow morning until you have denied three times that you even know me."  [35] Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler's bag, or extra clothing, did you lack anything?" "No," they replied.  [36] "But now," he said, "take your money and a traveler's bag. And if you don't have a sword, sell your clothes and buy one! [37] For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: 'He was counted among those who were rebels.' Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true."  [38] "Lord," they replied, "we have two swords among us." "That's enough," he said. [39] Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. [40] There he told them, "Pray that you will not be overcome by temptation."  [41] He walked away, about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, [42] "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine." [43] Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. [44] He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. [45] At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. [46] "Why are you sleeping?" he asked. "Get up and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you."
[47] But even as he said this, a mob approached, led by Judas, one of his twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus and greeted him with a kiss. [48] But Jesus said, "Judas, how can you betray me, the Son of Man, with a kiss?"  [49] When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, "Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!" [50] And one of them slashed at the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. [51] But Jesus said, "Don't resist anymore." And he touched the place where the man's ear had been and healed him. [52] Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard and the other leaders who headed the mob. "Am I some dangerous criminal," he asked, "that you have come armed with swords and clubs to arrest me? [53] Why didn't you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns." [54] So they arrested him and led him to the high priest's residence, and Peter was following far behind. [55] The guards lit a fire in the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. [56] A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, "This man was one of Jesus' followers!"  [57] Peter denied it. "Woman," he said, "I don't even know the man!"  [58] After a while someone else looked at him and said, "You must be one of them!" "No, man, I'm not!" Peter replied. [59] About an hour later someone else insisted, "This must be one of Jesus' disciples because he is a Galilean, too." [60] But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about." And as soon as he said these words, the rooster crowed. [61] At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, "Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny me three times." [62] And Peter left the courtyard, crying bitterly. 
[63] Now the guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him. [64] They blindfolded him; then they hit him and asked, "Who hit you that time, you prophet?" [65] And they threw all sorts of terrible insults at him. [66] At daybreak all the leaders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. Jesus was led before this high council, [67] and they said, "Tell us if you are the Messiah."
But he replied, "If I tell you, you won't believe me. [68] And if I ask you a question, you won't answer. [69] But the time is soon coming when I, the Son of Man, will be sitting at God's right hand in the place of power."  [70] They all shouted, "Then you claim you are the Son of God?" And he replied, "You are right in saying that I am."  [71] "What need do we have for other witnesses?" they shouted. "We ourselves heard him say it."
[23:1] Then the entire council took Jesus over to Pilate, the Roman governor. [2] They began at once to state their case: "This man has been leading our people to ruin by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is the Messiah, a king."  [3] So Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say."  [4] Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, "I find nothing wrong with this man!" [5] Then they became desperate. "But he is causing riots everywhere he goes, all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem!"  [6] "Oh, is he a Galilean?" Pilate asked. [7] When they answered that he was, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod's jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.  [8] Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle. [9] He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer. [10] Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations. [11] Now Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Then they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. [12] Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.  [13] Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, [14] and he announced his verdict. "You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. [15] Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. [16] So I will have him flogged, but then I will release him." [17] For it was necessary for him to release one prisoner for them during the feast.   
[18] Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, "Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!" [19] (Barabbas was in prison for murder and for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government.) [20] Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. [21] But they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" 
[22] For the third time he demanded, "Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. I will therefore flog him and let him go."  [23] But the crowd shouted louder and louder for Jesus' death, and their voices prevailed. [24] So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. [25] As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he delivered Jesus over to them to do as they wished. [26] As they led Jesus away, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country just then, was forced to follow Jesus and carry his cross. [27] Great crowds trailed along behind, including many grief-stricken women. [28] But Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. [29] For the days are coming when they will say, 'Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.' [30] People will beg the mountains to fall on them and the hills to bury them. [31] For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"  [32] Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. [33] Finally, they came to a place called The Skull. All three were crucified there—Jesus on the center cross, and the two criminals on either side.  
[34] Jesus said, "Father, forgive these people, because they don't know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.  [35] The crowd watched, and the leaders laughed and scoffed. "He saved others," they said, "let him save himself if he is really God's Chosen One, the Messiah." [36] The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. [37] They called out to him, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" [38] A signboard was nailed to the cross above him with these words: "This is the King of the Jews."  [39] One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, "So you're the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you're at it!"  [40] But the other criminal protested, "Don't you fear God even when you are dying? [41] We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn't done anything wrong." [42] Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom." [43] And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise."
 
[44] By this time it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. [45] The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the thick veil hanging in the Temple was torn apart. [46] Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" And with those words he breathed his last. [47] When the captain of the Roman soldiers handling the executions saw what had happened, he praised God and said, "Surely this man was innocent." [48] And when the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw all that had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. [49] But Jesus' friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching. [50] Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, [51] but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he had been waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. [52] He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. [53] Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. [54] This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation for the Sabbath.  [55] As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where they placed his body. [56] Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to embalm him. But by the time they were finished it was the Sabbath, so they rested all that day as required by the law.  (NLT)