The Passion story as recorded by the four evangelists; together with psalms and prayers suitable for the services of Holy week

Front matter

Class"S3"^3_iL_

Book JQjL.

Copyright N°

Preface

" In the Cross of Christ I glory,

Towering o'er the wrecks of time; All the light of sacred story- Gathers round its head sublime."

It is encouraging to know that there is a demand among Christian people for a narrative of this kind, as it is an indication that there are those who never tire of reading and studying, in detail, the events connected with the passion of our Lord. It shows, too, a proper appreciation of the blessed results of the work of redemption effected by the Lord, who^ as Luther so beautifully expresses it, " has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, secured and delivered me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with silver and gold, but with his holy and precious blood, and with his innocent sufferings and death; in order that I might be his, live under him in his kingdom and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness ; even as he is risen from the dead, and lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true."

The services of Holy Week should be made as

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interesting and edifying as possible. In order to attain this desirable result the Story of the Passion of our Lord should be read as a whole, not merely in detached selections. While it may not be possible to read the entire history in connection with the daily services in the church — though I do not see any reason why this could not be done — it is possible and desirable that Christians should read the record of events for each day as presented by the inspired Evangelists. In this little book the aim is to furnish the reader with a connected and chronologically arranged history of the events of each day, carefully drawn from the inspired record and arranged in a continuous narrative. With this narrative before them, the worshipers in the sanctuary, during the services of Holy Week, cannot help but enter deeply and devoutly into the history, meaning and results of the sufferings of our Blessed Lord.

May the perusal of these pages be both delightful and profitable to all into whose hands they may fall. And to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be all the honor and praise, world without end. Amen.

S. E. O.

Allentown, Pa., Advent Season, 1907.

Table Of Contents

CHAPTEB PA&E

I. THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM. . II

H. THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE l8

Chapter II. The Cleansing Of The Temple

Matt. 2i: 18-22; Mark 11: 12-19; Luke 19: 45-48.— Jesus Returns to Jerusalem — The Barren Fig-tree — Jesus Cleanses the Temple — Returns to Bethany.

On the morrow, in the morning (of Monday), when they were come from Bethany, as he returned into the city, he was hungry. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, afar off, having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon; and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for the time of figs was not yet. Jesus said unto it, " No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever." And his disciples heard it. And presently the fig tree withered away.

They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus went into the Temple of God, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers and the seats of them that sold doves; and would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, 18

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saying unto them, " Is it not written, ' My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?' but ye have made it a den of thieves." And the scribes and chief priests heard it.

He taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought how they might destroy him, and could not find what they might do ; for they feared him, because the people were very attentive to hear him, and were astonished at his doctrine.

When even was come, he went out of the city.

CHAPTER III. Christ's authority questioned and his reply

Matt. 21: 23 — 22: 40; Mark 11: 20 — 12: 37; Luke 20: 1-44. — Jesus returns to Jerusalem — The Fig-tree again — Christ's Authority Questioned — His Answer — Parables of the Father and his two Sons— Vineyard let out to Husbandmen — Marriage Supper — Question concerning Tribute — The Question of the Resurrection — The Great Commandment — What think ye of Christ?

In the morning, as they passed by (on their way from Bethany to Jerusalem), they saw the fig tree had dried up from the roots. Peter calling to remembrance, saith unto him, " Master, behold the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away." Jesus answering said unto them, " Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, whosoever shall say unto this mountain, 6 Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea/ and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when 20

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ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive if ye have aught against any, that your Father which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."

And they came again to Jerusalem. It came to pass, that as he was walking in the temple, and taught the people and preached the Gospel, the chief priests, the scribes and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said unto him, " Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or, who is he that gave thee this authority?" Jesus answered and said unto them, " I will also ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I in like manner will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? answer me." They reasoned with themselves, saying, " If we shall say ' From heaven/ he will say, ' Why then did ye not believe him?' But if we shall say, ' Of men/ all the people will stone us." For all men counted John, that he was a prophet

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indeed. They answered and said unto Jesus, " We cannot tell whence it was." Jesus answering said unto them, " Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things."

" But what think ye, a certain man had two sons ; and he came to the first, and said, ' Son, go work to-day in my vineyard." He answered and said, ' I will not;' but afterward he repented, and went. He came to the second, and said likewise. He answered and said, ' I go, sir and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father ? " They say unto him, " The first." Jesus saith unto them, " Verily, I say unto you, the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him; and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him."

" Hear another parable : There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a wine-press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

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At the season, when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. But the husbandmen caught him and beat him and sent him away empty. Again he sent unto them another servant ; and at him they cast stones and wounded him in the head and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty. Again he sent a third, and him they killed and cast him out; and many others, beating some and killing some. Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, the lord of the vineyard said, ' What shall I do ? I will send my well-beloved son/ He sent him also last unto them, saying, ' It may be they will reverence my son, w T hen they see him/ But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 1 This is the heir ; come let us kill him and let us seize on his inheritance, that the inheritance may be ours.' So they took and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. When the lord, therefore, of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen ?" They say unto him, " He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their season/' When they heard it they said, " God forbid." He beheld them and said, " Did ye never read in the Scriptures, ' The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.' Therefore I say unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken ; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."

When the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them. But when they sought the same hour to lay hands on him, they feared the people, because they took him for a prophet ; for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them. And they left him and went their way.

Jesus spake unto them again by parables, and said, " The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were

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bidden to the wedding ; and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, ' Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.' But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise; and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth; and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, ' The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the high-ways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage/ So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they foand, both bad and good; and the wedding was furnished with guests. When the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment ; and he saith unto him, ' Friend, how earnest thou in hither not having on a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then saith

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the king to the servants, ' Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness ; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

Then went the Pharisees and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. They watched him, and sent forth spies, certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, so that they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. When they were come, they say unto him, " Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man; for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what thinkest thou, is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give?" But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said, " Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Show me the tribute money; bring me a penny, that I may see it." They brought unto him a penny. Pie saith unto them, " Whose is this image and superscription ?" They say " Caesar's." Then saith he, " Render there-

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fore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things which are God's." They could not take hold of his words before the people. When they had heard these words, they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace, and left him, and went their way.

The same day came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection, and they asked him, saying, " Master, Moses wrote to us, 'If any man's brother die and leave his wife behind, and leave no children, that his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.' Now there were with us seven brethren; and the first, when he had married a wife, died, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother. The second took her to wife and he died childless. And the third took her, and in like manner the seven also, and they left no children and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her."

Jesus answering said unto them, " Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the Scriptures,

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neither the power of God? The children of this world marry and are given in marriage ; but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead, when they shall rise from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage, neither can they die any more; for they are equal unto the angels of God in heaven, and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. And as touching the dead that they rise, have ye not read in the book of Moses (Exodus), how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, ' 1 am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?' He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living, for all live unto him. Ye therefore do greatly err." When the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. Then certain of the scribes answering, said, " Master, thou hast well said." After that they durst not ask him anything.

But when the Pharisees heard, that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, and one of the scribes, which was a lawyer, came and having

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heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, " Master, which is the great commandment in the Law ? and which is the first commandment of all?" Jesus answered, " The first of all commandments is, 1 Hear, O Israel ; the Lord our God is one Lord y and, ' Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.' This is the first and great commandment. The second is like unto it, ' Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets. There is none other commandment greater than these." The scribe said unto him, " Well, Master, thou hast said the truth ; for there is none other but he ; and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, " Thou art not far from the kingdom of God."

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While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, " What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he?" They say unto him, " The son of David." He saith unto them, " How then doth David in spirit call him Lord? For David himself saith by the Holy Ghost, in the Book of Psalms, ' The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy foot-stool/ David therefore himself calleth him Lord, how is he then his son ?" No man was able to answer him a word. And the common people heard him gladly. Neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

CHAPTER IV. {Tuesday (Continues)* WOES PRONOUNCED ON THE PHARISEES

Matt. 23: 1-39; Mark 12: 38-44; Luke 20: 45 — 21: 4; John 12: 37-50. — Warnings — The Widow's Mite — Infidelity of the Jews — Woes Pronounced on the Pharisees.

Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, " Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long robes, and love salutations in the market places, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts ; which devour widows' houses and for a pretence make long prayers. These shall receive greater damnation.''

Jesus sat ever against the treasury, and looked up and saw the people casting their money into the treasury. Many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. He called unto him his disciples and saith unto them, " Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast

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into the treasury; for all they did cast in of their abundance, but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him ; that the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, " Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?'' Therefore they could not believe, because that Isaiah said again, " He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart ; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them." These things said Isaiah, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Jesus cried and said, " He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever

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S3 believeth on me should not abide in darkness. If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him ; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. I know that this commandment is life everlasting; whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."

Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, saying, " The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do ; but do not ye after their works, for they say and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders ; but they themselves will not touch them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen of men; they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief

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seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi ; for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. Call no man your father upon the earth; for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called master; for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased ; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers ; therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte ; and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, ' Whosoever shall swear by the temple,

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it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor !' Ye fools and blind; for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold ? And, ' Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty/ Ye fools and blind; for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. Whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith; these ye ought to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at (lit: out) a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind

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Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, and say, ' If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets/ Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of ydur fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

" Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes ; and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city ; that upon you may come all the

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righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, 1 Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord/ "

DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE AND THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN FORETOLD.

Matt. 24: 1-32; Mark 13: 1-27; Luke 21: 5-27. — Destruction of the Temple — The Sign of Desolation — Warnings — " When shall these Things be?"

Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and as he went out, his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. As some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, one of his disciples saith unto him, " Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here." Jesus answering said, " Seest thou these great buildings ? As for these things which ye behold, the days will come in which, verily I say unto you, there shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down."

As he sat on the Mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, saying, " Master, tell us, when shall these things be? What shall 38

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be the sign, when all these things shall be fulfilled ? And what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?" Jesus answered and said, " Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, ' I am Christ;' and the time draweth near, and they shall deceive many. Go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, see that ye be not troubled ; for all these things must first come to pass, but the end is not yet."

Then saith he unto them, " Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in divers places; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. All these are the beginning of sorrows. But take heed to yourselves; before all these, they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you, for they shall deliver you up to councils ; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten; and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them, and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake, and the Gospel

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must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate; but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye, for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. Then shall many be offended and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends. The brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son, and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not a hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a

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witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place; and when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies (whoso readeth, let him understand), then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let them which are in the midst of it depart out, and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto, and let him that is on the house-top not go down into the house, neither enter to take anything out of his house, and let him that is in the field not turn back again to take up his garment. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child and that give suck in those days. But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day; for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world, which God created, unto this time, neither shall be. And except the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved;