THE PASSION HISTORY 
OF OUR 
LORD JESUS CHRIST

Evangelical Heritage VersionTM

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Preface

	This Passion History weaves together the Wartburg Project translations of the four divinely inspired Gospel accounts of St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John. It is patterned after a Lutheran arrangement that was printed in both the Lutheran Lectionary of the former Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America, and The Sufferings and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ by John C. Lawrenz (Northwestern Publishing House, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, © 1988). The precise chronological placement of all accounts is not certain because the inspired Evangelists did not always place everything in strict chronological order.

	Below is a version of the EHV Passion History in five lessons, for congregations that do not use the Passion History on Ash Wednesday or Good Friday.

Ash Wednesday	Appointed Scripture Lessons	
Midweek Lenten Service #2 	Passion History Lesson #1 	
Midweek Lenten Service #3	Passion History Lesson #2	
Midweek Lenten Service #4	Passion History Lesson #3	
Midweek Lenten Service #5	Passion History Lesson #4	
Midweek Lenten Service #6	Passion History Lesson #5	

	Following the unified Passion History account are arrangements for a Three Year Series of lessons based on the three Synoptic Gospels (page 18).

Year A	Year B	Year C	
Ash Wednesday lessons	Ash Wednesday lessons	Ash Wednesday lessons	
Matthew 26:1-35	Mark 14:1-26	Luke 22:1-38	
Matthew 26:36-56	Mark 14:27-42	Luke 22:39-54	
Matthew 26:57-75	Mark 14:43-65	Luke 22:54-71	
Matthew 27:1-26	Mark 14:66–15:15	Luke 23:1-25	
Matthew 27:27-66	Mark 15:16-47	Luke 23:26-56	

Week One: Ash Wednesday lessons are available at wartburgproject.org

THE PASSION HISTORY OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

LESSON ONE

The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. Jesus said to his disciples, “You know that after two days it will be the Passover, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas. They plotted together how to arrest Jesus in some deceitful way and kill him. But they said, “Not during the Festival, or else there might be a riot among the people.”
Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. He went away and spoke with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard about how he could betray Jesus to them. They were glad and agreed to give him money. He promised to do it and was looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them away from the crowd.
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and there a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house that the Teacher says, ‘Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
They went and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with the twelve apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 
A dispute arose among the disciples about which of them was considered to be greatest. But he told them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called Benefactors. But it is not to be that way with you. Instead, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. For who is greater, one who reclines at the table or one who serves? Isn’t it the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have remained with me in my trials. I am going to grant a kingdom to you, just as my Father granted to me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved those who were his own in the world, he loved them to the end.
By the time the supper took place, the Devil had already put the idea into the heart of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God. He got up from the supper and laid aside his outer garment. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus answered him, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but later you will understand.”
Peter told him, “You will never, ever, wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Lord, not just my feet,” Simon Peter replied, “but also my hands and my head!”
Jesus told him, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet, but his body is completely clean. And you are clean, but not all of you.” Indeed, he knew who was going to betray him. That is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
After Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer garment, he reclined at the table again. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me Teacher and Lord. You are right, because I am. Now if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. Yes, I have given you an example so that you also would do just as I have done for you. Amen, Amen, I tell you: A servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”
He took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves, for I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”	
While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Amen I tell you: One of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I, Lord?”
He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve, one who is dipping bread with me in the dish. Indeed, the Son of Man is going to go just as it has been written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
After saying this, Jesus was troubled in his spirit and testified, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: One of you will betray me.”
The disciples were looking at each other, uncertain which of them he meant.
One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. Simon Peter motioned to him to find out which one Jesus was talking about.
So leaning back against Jesus’ side, he asked, “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus replied, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread, after I have dipped it in the dish.” Then he dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do more quickly.”
None of those reclining at the table understood why Jesus said this to him. Because Judas kept the money box, some thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the Festival,” or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
After Judas left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify the Son in himself and will glorify him at once.”

LESSON TWO

While they were eating, on the night when he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples. He said, “Take, eat, this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the new testament, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
“Dear children, I am going to be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you are to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!”
Jesus replied, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Simon, Simon, pay attention: Satan has asked to have you all, so that he may sift you as wheat. But I prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have returned to me, strengthen your brothers.”
Peter answered him, “Even if all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”
Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: Tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
Peter said to him, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the disciples said the same.
He said to them, “When I sent you out without money bag, traveler’s bag, and sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Nothing,” they said.
Then he told them, “But now, let the one who has a money bag take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’ Indeed, what is written about me is going to have its fulfillment.”
They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”
He said to them, “That is enough.”
Then Jesus said to them, “This night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
After they sang a hymn, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, to the Mount of Olives, where there was a garden called Gethsemane. He and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who was betraying him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. 
When he reached the place, Jesus told his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray. Keep praying that you may not enter into temptation.”
Then he took Peter, James, and John along with him and began to be troubled and distressed. He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, even to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.” 
He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.”
When he rose from prayer, he went to the disciples and found them sleeping as a result of sorrow.
He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not strong enough to keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to pass from me unless I drink it, may your will be done.” Again he returned and found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what they should answer him.
He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time. He said the same words as before.
An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. As he was in agony, he prayed more fervently. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground. 
Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise. Let us go. Look, my betrayer is near!” 
While Jesus was still speaking, suddenly Judas (one of the Twelve) arrived. With him was a large crowd with lanterns, torches, swords, and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Judas was leading them.
Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who are you looking for?”
“Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus told them.
Judas, the betrayer, was standing with them. When Jesus told them, “I am he,” they backed away and fell to the ground.
Then Jesus asked them again, “Who are you looking for?”
“Jesus the Nazarene,” they said.
“I told you that I am he,” Jesus replied. “So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the statement he had spoken: “I did not lose any of those you have given me.”
Now the betrayer had given them a sign: “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him.” Immediately he went to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 
Then they advanced, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, should we strike with a sword?” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 
But Jesus responded, “Stop! No more of this! Put your sword back into its place, because all who take the sword will die by the sword. Do you not realize that I could call on my Father, and at once he would provide me with more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him.
At that same time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs as if I were a robber? Day after day I was sitting in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
The company of soldiers, their commander, and the Jewish guards arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, because he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews, “It is better that one man die for the people.”

LESSON THREE

Simon Peter and another disciple kept following Jesus. That disciple was known to the high priest, so he went into the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. But Peter stood outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and talked to the girl watching the door and brought Peter in.
The servants and guards were standing around a fire of coals that they had made because it was cold. While they warmed themselves, Peter was standing with them, warming himself too.
One of the servant girls of the high priest came there. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked directly at him and said, “You were also with Jesus the Galilean.”
But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about. Woman, I do not know him.”
When Peter went out to the entryway, someone else saw him and said to those who were there, “This is one of them. This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
Again Peter denied it with an oath and said, “I do not know the man.”
After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, because even your accent gives you away. You are a Galilean!”
Then he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about! I do not know the man!”
At that very moment, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today you will deny me three times.” He went outside, broke down, and wept bitterly.
The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in a synagogue or at the temple, where all the Jews gather. I said nothing in secret. Why are you questioning me? Ask those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.”
When he said this, one of the guards standing there hit Jesus in the face. “Is that how you answer the high priest?” he demanded.
“If I said something wrong,” Jesus answered, “testify about what was wrong. But if I was right, why did you hit me?”
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. They found none, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” Yet even on this point, their testimony did not agree.
The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these men are testifying against you?” But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I place you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!”
Jesus said to him, “It is as you have said. But I tell you, soon you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? See, you have just heard the blasphemy! What do you think?”
They answered, “He is deserving of death!” Then some began to spit on him. They covered his face, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you?” The guards also took him and beat him. And they went on saying many other blasphemous things against him. 
As soon as it was day, the council of the elders of the people met together, both chief priests and experts in the law. They brought Jesus into their Sanhedrin and said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.”
But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer me or release me. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
They all said, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He said to them, “I am what you are saying.”
Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from his own mouth!” Then the chief priests with the elders and experts in the law, together with the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the governor. 
Then when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he felt remorse. He brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders and said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? That’s your problem.”
He threw the pieces of silver into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself. The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put these into the treasury, since it is blood money.” They reached a decision to buy the potter’s field with the money, as a burial place for foreigners. So that field has been called The Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price the sons of Israel had set for him, and they gave them for the potter’s field, just as the Lord commanded me.
Early in the morning, the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. They did not enter the Praetorium themselves, so that they would not become ceremonially unclean. (They wanted to be able to eat the Passover meal.) So Pilate went out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?”
They answered him, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.”
Pilate told them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.”
The Jews said, “It’s not legal for us to put anyone to death.” This happened so that the statement Jesus had spoken indicating what kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.
They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this fellow misleading our nation, forbidding the payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 
Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
“It is as you say,” Jesus replied.
The chief priests accused him of many things. When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
Pilate questioned him again, “Are you not going to answer anything? See how many charges they are bringing against you!”
But Jesus still did not answer anything, so Pilate was amazed.
Pilate went back into the Praetorium and summoned Jesus. He asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.”
“You are a king then?” Pilate asked.
Jesus answered, “I am, as you say, a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
“What is truth?” Pilate said to him.
After he said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against him.”
But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people, teaching all through Judea, beginning from Galilee all the way here.” 
When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.
When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad. For a long time he had wanted to see him, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle performed by him. He questioned him with many words, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the experts in the law stood there, vehemently accusing him. Herod, along with his soldiers, treated him with contempt and ridiculed him. Dressing him in bright clothing, Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends with each other on that day. Before this they had been enemies of each other.

LESSON FOUR

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who is misleading the people. Look, I have examined him in your presence. I have found in this man no basis for the charges you are bringing against him. Herod did not either, for he sent him back to us. See, he has done nothing worthy of death. So I will have him flogged and release him.”
At the time of the Festival the governor had a custom to release to the crowd any one prisoner they wanted. At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas, who had been thrown in prison for a rebellion in the city and for murder. The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
So when they were assembled, Pilate said to them, “Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you? Which one do you want me to release to you? Barabbas—or Jesus, who is called Christ?” For Pilate in fact knew that they had handed Jesus over to him because of envy.
While he was sitting on the judgment seat, Pilate’s wife sent him a message. “Have nothing to do with that righteous man,” she said, “since I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death. The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They all shouted together with one voice: “Take him away! Release Barabbas to us!”
Pilate said to them, “Then what do you want me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews? What should I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Crucify him!”
But the governor said, “Why? What has he done wrong?”
But they kept shouting even louder: “Crucify him!”
Pilate addressed them again, because he wanted to release Jesus. But they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found no grounds for sentencing him to death. So I will whip him and release him.” But they kept pressuring him with loud voices, demanding that he be crucified. And their voices were overwhelming.
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.
The governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole cohort of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. They twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand, knelt in front of him, and mocked him by saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spit on him, took the staff, and hit him repeatedly on his head. They also kept hitting him in the face.
Pilate went outside again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”
So Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”
When the chief priests and guards saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
Pilate told them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no basis for a charge against him.”
The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He went back inside the palace again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?”
But Jesus gave him no answer.
So Pilate asked him, “Are you not talking to me? Don’t you know that I have the authority to release you or to crucify you?”
Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over me at all if it had not been given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”
From then on Pilate tried to release Jesus. But the Jews shouted, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar! Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar!”
When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge’s seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, or Gabbatha in Aramaic. It was about the sixth hour on the Preparation Day for the Passover. Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your king!”
They shouted, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!”
Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”
“We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered.
When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing and that instead it was turning into a riot, he decided that what they demanded would be done. He took water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this righteous man’s blood. It is your responsibility.”
And all the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
Since he wanted to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them.
So then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.
After they had mocked him, the soldiers took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. Jesus was carrying his own cross.
As they were going out of the city, a certain man, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), was passing by on his way in from the country. They placed the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of the people was following him, including women who were mourning and wailing for him.
Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. Be sure of this: The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never gave birth, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things to the green wood, what will happen to the dry?” 

LESSON FIVE

Two other men, who were criminals, were led away with Jesus to be executed. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means, “The place of a skull.” They offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. They crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. 
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Now it was the third hour when they crucified him.
Pilate also had a notice written and fastened on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews.”
Many of the Jews read this notice, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.
So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that ‘this man said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”
Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier. They also took his tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it. Instead, let’s cast lots to see who gets it.” This was so that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:
They divided my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.
So the soldiers did these things. Then they sat down and were keeping watch over him there.
People who passed by kept insulting him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” 
Those who were crucified with him also insulted him. In the same way the chief priests, experts in the law, and elders kept mocking him. They said, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself. If he’s the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now, if he wants him, because he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
One of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same condemnation? We are punished justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.”
Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus’ mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene were standing near the cross.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother!” And from that time this disciple took her into his own home.
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun was darkened.
At the ninth hour Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah!”
After this, knowing that everything had now been finished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I thirst.”
A jar full of sour wine was sitting there. Immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, and soaked it with sour wine. Then he put it on a stick and gave him a drink.
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished!”
Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” When he had said this, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Suddenly the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and rocks were split. Tombs were opened, and many bodies of saints who had fallen asleep were raised to life. Those who came out of the tombs went into the holy city after Jesus’ resurrection and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those who were guarding Jesus with him saw the earthquake and how he cried out with a loud voice and breathed his last, they were terrified and began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous. Truly this was the Son of God.”
When all the groups of people who had gathered to see this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their chests. All those who knew Jesus, and many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and who had served him, were there, watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, Salome, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. 
Since it was the Preparation Day, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses over the Sabbath (because that Sabbath was a particularly important day). They asked Pilate to have the men’s legs broken and the bodies taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who was crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other man.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear. Immediately blood and water came out. The one who saw it has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. Indeed, these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, “Not one of his bones will be broken.” Again another Scripture says, “They will look at the one they pierced.” 
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews. Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent member of the council, was a good and righteous man. He had not agreed with their plan and action. He was looking forward to the kingdom of God. He boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
Pilate was surprised that Jesus was already dead. He summoned the centurion and asked him if Jesus had been dead for a long time. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he granted the body to Joseph. Joseph bought a linen cloth, came, and took Jesus’ body away. Nicodemus, who earlier had come to Jesus at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-two pounds.
They took Jesus’ body and bound it with linen strips along with the spices, in accord with Jewish burial customs.
There was a garden at the place where Jesus was crucified. And in the garden was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. So they laid Jesus there, because it was the Jewish Preparation Day, and the tomb was near. Joseph took the body and laid it in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock. He rolled a large stone over the tomb’s entrance and left.
The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed after Joseph, and they observed the tomb and how Jesus’ body was laid there. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where the body was laid. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
On the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered in the presence of Pilate and said, “Sir, we remembered what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give a command that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise his disciples might steal his body and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead.’ And this last deception will be worse than the first.”
Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and posting a guard.

Three Year Series of Lessons

Year A	Year B	Year C	
Ash Wednesday lessons	Ash Wednesday lessons	Ash Wednesday lessons	
Matthew 26:1-35	Mark 14:1-26	Luke 22:1-38	
Matthew 26:36-56	Mark 14:27-42	Luke 22:39-54	
Matthew 26:57-75	Mark 14:43-65	Luke 22:54-71	
Matthew 27:1-26	Mark 14:66–15:15	Luke 23:1-25	
Matthew 27:27-66	Mark 15:16-47	Luke 23:26-56	

YEAR A

Week One: Ash Wednesday lessons are available at wartburgproject.org

Week Two: Matthew 26:1-35

The Plot to Kill Jesus
(Mark 14:1-2; Luke 22:1-2; John 11:45-57)
When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2“You know that after two days it will be the Passover, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas. 4They plotted together how to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5But they said, “Not during the Festival, or else there might be a riot among the people.”
Mary Anoints Jesus
(Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8)
6When Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7a woman approached him holding an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She poured it on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8But when his disciples saw this, they were upset and said, “Why this waste? 9This perfume could have been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor.”
10Jesus was aware of this and said to them, “Why are you causing trouble for this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 11You are always going to have the poor with you, but you are not always going to have me. 12When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13Amen I tell you: Wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”
Judas Plans to Betray Jesus
(Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6)
14Then one of the Twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16From that time on Judas was looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
Jesus Celebrates the Passover
(Mark 14:12-17; Luke 22:7-17)
17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
18He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him the Teacher says, ‘My time is near. I will observe the Passover with my disciples at your house.’”
19The disciples did as Jesus commanded them and prepared the Passover. 20When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
One Will Betray Jesus
(Mark 14:18-21; Luke 22:21-23; John 13:21-30)
21As they were eating, he said, “Amen I tell you: One of you will betray me.”
22They were very sad and began to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I, Lord?”
23He replied, “The one who dipped his hand in the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man is going just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”
25Judas, who betrayed him, replied, “Surely, not I, Rabbi?”
He said to him, “Yes, you are the one.”
The Lord’s Supper
(Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25)
26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples. He said, “Take, eat, this is my body.” 27Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it all of you, 28for this is my blood of the new testament, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30After they sang a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
(Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-34; John 13:36-38)
31Then Jesus said to them, “This night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
33Peter answered him, “Even if all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”
34Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: Tonight before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.”
35Peter said to him, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the disciples said the same.

Week Three: Matthew 26:36-56

Gethsemane
(Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46)
36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane. He told his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and he began to be sorrowful and distressed. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to the point of death. Stay here, and keep watch with me.”
39He went a little farther, fell on his face, and prayed. He said, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “So, were you not able to stay awake with me for one hour? 41Watch and pray, so that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to pass from me unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43Again he returned and found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time. He said the same words as before. 45Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise. Let us go. Look, my betrayer is near.”
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
(Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-54; John 18:1-14)
47While Jesus was still speaking, suddenly Judas (one of the Twelve) arrived. With him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48Now the betrayer had given them a sign: “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him.” 49Immediately he went to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” 
Then they advanced, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. 51Suddenly, one of the men with Jesus reached out his hand, drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, because all who take the sword will die by the sword. 53Do you not realize that I could call on my Father, and at once he would provide me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”
55At that same time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs as if I were a robber? Day after day I was sitting in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. 

Week Four: Matthew 26:57-75

Jesus’ First Trial in the Sanhedrin
(Mark 14:53-65)
57Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the experts in the law and the elders were assembled. 58Peter was following him at a distance and went as far as the courtyard of the high priest. He went inside and sat down with the guards to see how it would turn out.
59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60They found none, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
62The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these men are testifying against you?” 63But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I place you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!”
64Jesus said to him, “It is as you have said. But I tell you, soon you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? See, you have just heard the blasphemy! 66What do you think?”
They answered, “He is deserving of death!” 67Then they spit in his face and punched him. Some slapped him 68and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you?”
Peter Denies Jesus
(Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-18,25-27)
69Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came to him and said, “You were also with Jesus the Galilean.”
70But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
71When Peter went out to the entryway, someone else saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72Again Peter denied it with an oath and said, “I do not know the man.”
73After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them because even your accent gives you away.”
74Then he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man!” Just then the rooster crowed. 75And Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Week Five: Matthew 27:1-26

Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people reached the decision to put Jesus to death. 2They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
The End of Judas
3Then when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he felt remorse. He brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders 4and said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? That’s your problem.”
5He threw the pieces of silver into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself. 6The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put these into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7They reached a decision to buy the potter’s field with the money, as a burial place for foreigners. 8So that field has been called The Field of Blood to this day. 9Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price the sons of Israel had set for him, 10and they gave them for the potter’s field, just as the Lord commanded me.
Jesus’ Trial in Pilate’s Court
(Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-4; John 18:28-38)
11When Jesus stood in the presence of the governor, the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”
12When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many things they are testifying against you?”
14But he did not answer him—not even one word, so that the governor was very surprised.
Barabbas or Jesus?
(Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:17-25; John 18:39-40)
15At the time of the Festival the governor had a custom to release to the crowd any one prisoner they wanted. 16At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. 17So when they were assembled, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you want me to release to you? Barabbas—or Jesus, who is called Christ?” 18For Pilate knew that they had handed Jesus over to him because of envy.
19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, Pilate’s wife sent him a message. “Have nothing to do with that righteous man,” she said, “since I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.” 20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death. 21The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
“Barabbas!” they said.
22Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Crucify him!”
23But the governor said, “Why? What has he done wrong?”
But they kept shouting even louder: “Crucify him!”
24When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing and that instead it was turning into a riot, he took water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this righteous man’s blood. It is your responsibility.”
25And all the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
26Then he released Barabbas to them, but he had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.

Week Six: Matthew 27:27-66

Soldiers Mock Jesus
(Mark 15:16-19; John 19:1-3)
27Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole cohort of soldiers around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29They twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand, knelt in front of him, and mocked him by saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30They spit on him, took the staff, and hit him repeatedly on his head.
The Crucifixion
(Mark 15:20-32; Luke 23:26-43; John 19:16-27)
31After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
32As they were going out of the city, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon. They forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 33They came to a place called Golgotha, which means, “The place of the skull.” 34They offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35After they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among themselves by casting lots. 36Then they sat down and were keeping watch over him there. 37Above his head they posted the written charge against him: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
38At the same time two criminals were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39People who passed by kept insulting him, shaking their heads 40and saying, “You who were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
41In the same way the chief priests, experts in the law, and elders kept mocking him. They said, 42“He saved others, but he cannot save himself. If he’s the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now, if he wants him, because he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with him kept insulting him.
Jesus’ Death
(Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49; John 19:28-37)
45From the sixth hour until the ninth hour, there was darkness over all the land. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “This fellow is calling for Elijah.”
48Immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, and soaked it with sour wine. Then he put it on a stick and gave him a drink. 49The rest said, “Leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50After Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51Suddenly, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and rocks were split. 52Tombs were opened, and many bodies of saints who had fallen asleep were raised to life. 53Those who came out of the tombs went into the holy city after Jesus’ resurrection and appeared to many people. 54When the centurion and those who were guarding Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
55Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and who had served him were there, watching from a distance. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Jesus’ Burial
(Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)
57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and laid it in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock. He rolled a large stone over the tomb’s entrance and left. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there sitting opposite the tomb.
The Guard
62On the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered in the presence of Pilate 63and said, “Sir, we remembered what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64So give a command that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise his disciples might steal his body and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead.’ And this last deception will be worse than the first.”
65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you know how.” 66So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and posting a guard.

Three Year Series of lessons
Year A	Year B	Year C	
Ash Wednesday lessons	Ash Wednesday lessons	Ash Wednesday lessons	
Matthew 26:1-35	Mark 14:1-26	Luke 22:1-38	
Matthew 26:36-56	Mark 14:27-42	Luke 22:39-54	
Matthew 26:57-75	Mark 14:43-65	Luke 22:54-71	
Matthew 27:1-26	Mark 14:66–15:15	Luke 23:1-25	
Matthew 27:27-66	Mark 15:16-47	Luke 23:26-56	

YEAR B

Week One: Ash Wednesday lessons are available at wartburgproject.org

Week Two: Mark 14:1-26

The Plot to Kill Jesus
(Matthew 26:1-5; Luke 22:1-2; John 11:45-57)
It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the experts in the law were looking for some deceptive way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2“Certainly not during the Festival,” they said, “or there will be a riot among the people.”

Mary Anoints Jesus
(Matthew 26:6-13; John 12:1-8)
3While Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made from pure nard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it over his head. 4But there were some who were indignant and said to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? 5Certainly this perfume could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor!” And they began to scold her.
6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 7In fact, you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you are not always going to have me. 8She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9Amen I tell you: Wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman did will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas Plans to Betray Jesus
(Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:3-6)
10Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them. 11When they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

Jesus Celebrates the Passover
(Matthew 26:17-20; Luke 22:7-17)
12On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and there a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house that the Teacher says, ‘Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
16His disciples left and went into the city and found things just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
17When it was evening, he arrived with the Twelve.

One Will Betray Jesus
(Matthew 26:21-25; Luke 22:21-23; John 13:21-30)
18While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Amen I tell you: One of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”
19They began to be sorrowful and said to him one by one, “Surely not I?”
20He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve, one who is dipping bread with me in the dish. 21Indeed, the Son of Man is going to go just as it has been written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
The Lord’s Supper
(Matthew 26:26-30; Luke 22:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25)
22While they were eating, Jesus took bread. When he had blessed it, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “Take it. This is my body.”
23Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them. They all drank from it. 24He said to them, “This is my blood of the new testament, which is poured out for many. 25Amen I tell you: I will certainly not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.” 26After they sang a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Week Three: Mark 14:27-42

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
(Matthew 26:31-35; Luke 22:31-34; John 13:36-38)
27Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
29But Peter said to him, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
30Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: Today—this very night—before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
31But Peter kept saying emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And they all said the same thing.
Gethsemane
(Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46)
32They went to a place named Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33Then he took Peter, James, and John along with him and began to be troubled and distressed. 34He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, even to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”
35Going forward a little, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36He also said, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
37When he returned to the disciples, he found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not strong enough to keep watch for one hour? 38Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
39Again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing. 40When he returned, he found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. They did not know what they should answer him. 41He returned the third time and said to them, “Are you going to continue sleeping and resting? It is enough. The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42Rise, let us go. Look, my betrayer is near.”

Week Four: Mark 14:43-65

Jesus’ Arrest
(Matthew 26:47-56; Luke 22:47-54; John 18:1-14)
43Just then, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A crowd was with him, armed with swords and clubs. They were from the chief priests, the experts in the law, and the elders. 44Now his betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45He went right to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46They laid hands on him and arrested him. 47But one of those who stood nearby drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
48Jesus responded by saying to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to capture me as you would a criminal? 49Day after day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But this happened so that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.” 50Then the disciples all left him and fled.
51A certain young man was following him, wearing just a linen cloth over his naked body. They seized him, 52but he left behind the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

Jesus’ First Trial in the Sanhedrin
(Matthew 26:57-68)
53They led Jesus away to the high priest. All the chief priests, the elders, and the experts in the law gathered together. 54Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. He was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.
55The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they did not find any. 56Many testified falsely against him, but their testimonies did not agree. 57Some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” 59Yet even on this point, their testimony did not agree.
60The high priest stepped forward and questioned Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is this they are testifying against you?”
61But Jesus was silent and did not answer anything.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62“I am,” Jesus said. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
63The high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we need any more witnesses? 64You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?”
They all condemned him as being worthy of death. 65Then some began to spit on him. They covered his face and struck him with their fists, saying, “Prophesy!” The guards also took him and beat him.

Week Five: Mark 14:66 – 15:15

Peter Denies Jesus
(Matthew 26:69-75; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-18, 25-27)
66While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the servant girls of the high priest came there. 67When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked directly at him and said, “You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus!”
68But he denied it, saying, “I don’t know or understand what you are saying,” and he went out to the entryway. Then a rooster crowed.
69When the servant girl saw him, once more she began to tell those standing there, “This is one of them.”
70But again he denied it. After a little while those who were standing there said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, because you are a Galilean.”
71But he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!” 72Just then, the rooster crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Jesus’ Trial in Pilate’s Court
(Matthew 27:11-14; Luke 23:1-4; John 18:28-38)
As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, along with the elders, the experts in the law, and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 2Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
He answered him, “It is as you say.”
3The chief priests accused him of many things. 4Pilate questioned him again, “Are you not going to answer anything? See how many charges they are bringing against you!”
5But Jesus still did not answer anything, so Pilate was amazed.

Barabbas or Jesus?
(Matthew 27:15-26; Luke 23:17-25; John 18:39-40)
6At each Festival, Pilate used to release to the people one prisoner whom they requested. 7There was one named Barabbas, who was imprisoned with the rebels and had committed murder in the rebellion. 8The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
9Pilate replied, “Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?” 10In fact, he knew that it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed him over.
11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.
12Again, Pilate replied to them, “Then what do you want me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”
13“Crucify him!” they shouted back.
14But Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?”
But they shouted even louder, “Crucify him!”
15Since he wanted to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. After he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

Week Six: Mark 15:16-47

Soldiers Mock Jesus
(Matthew 27:27-30; John 19:1-3)
16The soldiers led him away inside the palace, which is the Praetorium, and called together the whole cohort of soldiers. 17They put a purple robe on him, twisted together a crown of thorns, and put it on him. 18The soldiers began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19They kept hitting him on the head with a reed and spitting on him. They also kneeled down to pay homage to him.
The Crucifixion
(Matthew 27:31-44; Luke 23:26-43; John 19:16-27)
20When they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothing on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
21A certain man, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), was passing by on his way in from the country. They forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 22They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means, “The place of a skull.” 23They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24They crucified him. And they divided his garments, casting lots for them to decide what each of them would take.
25Now it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26The superscription stating the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27They also crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and one on his left.
29Those who passed by ridiculed him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30save yourself! Come down from the cross!”
31In the same way the chief priests along with the experts in the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said. “He cannot save himself. 32Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross so that we may see and believe!”
Those who were crucified with him also insulted him.

Jesus’ Death
(Matthew 27:45-56; Luke 23:44-49; John 19:28-40)
33When it was the sixth hour, darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34At the ninth hour Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
35When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah!”
36Someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. They said, “Leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”
37Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed his last. 38The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he cried out and breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
40There were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41When he was in Galilee, they followed him and served him. Many other women also came up with him to Jerusalem.

Jesus’ Burial
(Matthew 27:57-61; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)
42It was already evening, and since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 43Joseph from Arimathaea, a prominent member of the council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. He summoned the centurion and asked him if Jesus had been dead for a long time. 45When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he granted the body to Joseph. 46Joseph bought a linen cloth, took him down, and wrapped him in the linen cloth. He laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of rock, and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where the body was laid.

Three Year Series of lessons

Year A	Year B	Year C	
Ash Wednesday lessons	Ash Wednesday lessons	Ash Wednesday lessons	
Matthew 26:1-35	Mark 14:1-26	Luke 22:1-38	
Matthew 26:36-56	Mark 14:27-42	Luke 22:39-54	
Matthew 26:57-75	Mark 14:43-65	Luke 22:54-71	
Matthew 27:1-26	Mark 14:66–15:15	Luke 23:1-25	
Matthew 27:27-66	Mark 15:16-47	Luke 23:26-56	

YEAR C

Week One: Ash Wednesday lessons are available at wartburgproject.org

Week Two: Luke 22:1-38

The Plot to Kill Jesus
(Matthew 26:1-5; Mark 14:1-2; John 11:45-57)
The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. 2The chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find some way to put Jesus to death, because they were afraid of the people. 3Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. 4He went away and spoke with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard about how he could betray Jesus to them. 5They were glad and agreed to give him money. 6He promised to do it and was looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them away from the crowd.
Jesus Celebrates the Passover
(Matthew 26:17-20; Mark 14:12-17)
7The day of Unleavened Bread arrived, when it was necessary to sacrifice the Passover lamb. 8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.”
9They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”
10He told them, “Just as you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters. 11Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12He will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there.” 13They went and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
14When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with the twelve apostles. 15He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 16for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17He took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves, 18for I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
The Lord’s Supper
(Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25)
19He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20In the same way, he took the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is being poured out for you.
One Will Betray Jesus
(Matthew 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-21; John 13:21-30)
21“But look, the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22The Son of Man is going to go as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”
23They began to discuss with one another which of them it was who was going to do this.
Who Is Greatest?
24A dispute arose among the disciples about which of them was considered to be greatest. 25But he told them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called Benefactors. 26But it is not to be that way with you. Instead, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. 27For who is greater, one who reclines at the table or one who serves? Isn’t it the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28You are those who have remained with me in my trials. 29I am going to grant a kingdom to you, just as my Father granted to me, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
(Matthew 26:31-35; Mark 14:27-31; John 13:36-38)
31The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, pay attention: Satan has asked to have you all, so that he may sift you as wheat. 32But I prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have returned to me, strengthen your brothers.”
33He said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”
34But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”
35He said to them, “When I sent you out without money bag, traveler’s bag, and sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Nothing,” they said.
36Then he told them, “But now, let the one who has a money bag take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’ Indeed, what is written about me is going to have its fulfillment.”
38They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”
He said to them, “That is enough.”

Week Three: Luke 22:39-54

Gethsemane
(Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42)
39Jesus left and went out to the Mount of Olives, as was his custom. His disciples followed him. 40When he reached the place, he told them, “Keep praying that you may not enter into temptation.”
41He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.”
43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44As he was in agony, he prayed more fervently. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.
45When he rose from prayer, he went to the disciples and found them sleeping as a result of sorrow. 46He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and keep praying so that you may not enter into temptation.”
Jesus’ Arrest
(Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; John 18:1-14)
47While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd appeared, and the man called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him. 48But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, should we strike with a sword?” 50Then one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
51But Jesus responded, “Stop! No more of this!” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. 52Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as you would against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour—when darkness rules.”
54Then they seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house.

Week Four: Luke 22:54-71

Peter Denies Jesus
(Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; John 18:15-18,25-27)
Peter followed at a distance. 55When they had lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56A servant girl saw him sitting near the light. She looked closely at him and said, “This man also was with him.”
57But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.”
58After a little while someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them!”
But Peter answered, “Man, I am not!”
59After about one hour had passed, someone else was firmly insisting, “Truly this man was with him too, because he is a Galilean!”
60But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” At that very moment, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today you will deny me three times.” 62He went outside and wept bitterly.
The Guards Mock Jesus
63The men who were holding Jesus in custody mocked him while they were beating him. 64They blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65And they went on saying many other blasphemous things against him.
Jewish Court
66As soon as it was day, the council of the elders of the people met together, both the chief priests and experts in the law. They brought him into their Sanhedrin and said, 67“If you are the Christ, tell us.”
But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68and if I ask you, you will not answer me or release me. 69But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
70They all said, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He said to them, “I am what you are saying.”
71Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from his own mouth!”

Week Five: Luke 23:1-25

Jesus’ Trial in Pilate’s Court
(Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:1-5; John 18:28-38)
The whole group of them got up and brought him before Pilate. 2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this fellow misleading our nation, forbidding the payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”
3Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
“It is as you say,” Jesus replied.
4Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
5But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people, teaching all through Judea, beginning from Galilee all the way here.”
Pilate Sends Jesus to Herod
6When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.
8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad. For a long time, he had wanted to see him, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle performed by him. 9He questioned him with many words, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the experts in the law stood there, vehemently accusing him. 11Herod, along with his soldiers, treated him with contempt and ridiculed him. Dressing him in bright clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12Herod and Pilate became friends with each other on that day. Before this they had been enemies of each other.
13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who is misleading the people. Look, I have examined him in your presence. I have found in this man no basis for the charges you are bringing against him. 15Herod did not either, for he sent him back to us. See, he has done nothing worthy of death. 16So I will have him flogged and release him.”
Barabbas or Jesus?
(Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; John 18:39-40)
17Pilate needed to release one prisoner to them at the Festival. 18But they all shouted together with one voice: “Take him away! Release Barabbas to us!” 19Barabbas had been thrown in prison for a rebellion in the city and for murder.
20Pilate addressed them again, because he wanted to release Jesus. 21But they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
22He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found no grounds for sentencing him to death. So I will whip him and release him.” 23But they kept pressuring him with loud voices, demanding that he be crucified. And their voices were overwhelming. 24So Pilate decided that what they demanded would be done. 25He released the one they had asked for, who had been thrown in prison for rebellion and murder, but he handed Jesus over to their will.

Week Six: Luke 23:26-56

The Crucifixion
(Matthew 27:31-44; Mark 15:20-32; John 19:16-27)
26As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country. They placed the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large crowd of people was following him, including women who were mourning and wailing for him. 28Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29Be sure of this: The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never gave birth, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31For if they do these things to the green wood, what will happen to the dry?”
32Two other men, who were criminals, were led away with Jesus to be executed.
33When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left.
34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
They cast lots to divide his garments among them. 35The people stood watching. The rulers were ridiculing him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, the Chosen One!”
36The soldiers also made fun of him. Coming up to him, they offered him sour wine, 37saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
38There was also an inscription written above him: “This is the King of the Jews.”
39One of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same condemnation? 41We are punished justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.”
43Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus’ Death
(Matthew 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; John 19:28-37)
44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45while the sun was darkened. Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47When the centurion saw what had happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous.” 48When all the groups of people who had gathered to see this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their chests. 49All those who knew Jesus, and the women who followed with him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Jesus’ Burial
(Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; John 19:38-42)
50Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man. 51He had not agreed with their plan and action. He was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 52This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53He took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb that was cut out of rock, where no one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed after Joseph, and they observed the tomb and how his body was laid there. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.