Scripture Readings

John 18:28-19:37 (9th Hour, Gospel)

28

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.

29

Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

30

They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”

31

Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,”

32

that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.

33

Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

34

Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”

35

Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”

36

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

37

Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

38

Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

39

But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

40

Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

1

So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.

2

And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe.

3

Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.

4

Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

5

Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

6

Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

7

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”

8

Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid,

9

and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

10

Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”

11

Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

12

From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

13

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

14

Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

15

But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

16

Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away.

17

And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,

18

where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.

19

Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

20

Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

21

Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”

22

Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

23

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece.

24

They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did this.

25

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

26

When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”

27

Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

28

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”

29

Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.

30

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

31

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

32

Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him.

33

But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

34

But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

35

And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.

36

For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”

37

And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”