Wondrous Love...

The Crucifixion, by John August Swanson

Mark 15:21-39

The Crucifixion of Jesus

 They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.

 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, ‘The King of the Jews.’ And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!’ In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.’ Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.

The Death of Jesus

 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’ Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’
        

Today....

Canterbury@ULM will not meet today. It is Maundy Thursday, and Maundy Thursday services begin at St. Thomas' and at St. Alban's at 6 p.m. I will be at St. Alban's and need to leave campus at 5 p.m.

The Maundy Thursday service is a very special commemoration of the institution of the Lord's Supper on the eve of his crucifixion. The service incorporates foot washing, a sign of the servant ministry of Jesus the Christ. All are welcome to participate in foot washing but none are obligated.

After Holy Eucharist, the service ends with stripping the altar bare in recognition of the devastating events of Good Friday. The reserve sacrament is carried to an altar of repose elsewhere in the church, and the tabernacle doors will be left wide open, foreshadowing the empty tomb we will celebrate at the Easter Vigil Saturday night.

This is a solemn and moving moment in the life of the church. I hope you will attend a Maundy Thursday service.

The study materials about Jesus' crucifixion we would have used today will be posted on the blog tomorrow for your Good Friday meditation.

        

Tenebrae

Join us at St. Alban's tomorrow night, Wednesday in Holy Week, for Tenebrae. The liturgy begins at 6:00 p.m. The name Tenebrae is from the Latin word for “darkness” or “shadows.” The service symbolizes the growing darkness as we move toward Good Friday and the return of the light at Easter. 

 

Today....

Kiss of Judas, by John August Swanson, 2013

Or....

Kiss of Judas, by Giotto di Bondone, 1305

and...

Blop post: Judas did not betray Jesus

Tuesday at Grace....

Fr. Bill Easterling of Redeemer in Ruston will lead the meditation at tomorrow's final Lenten Lunch of the season. Grace Episcopal on North 4th St. at noon.
   

Wondrous Love IV: Thursday, 5 pm, Stu Ctr 163

The Last Supper

The Last Supper, by John August Swanson

Matthew 26:17-30

 On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ He said, ‘Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, “The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.” ’ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, ‘Surely not I, Lord?’ He answered, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.’ Judas, who betrayed him, said, ‘Surely not I, Rabbi?’ He replied, ‘You have said so.’

 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’

 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Wondrous Love III

Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet

Washing of the Feet II, by John August Swanson

This was lesson three of our Wondrous Love Lenten study. We discussed it week before last, but I hadn't been able to post the painting. Posting it tonight, I realized that Swanson painted the scene twice and this is the second version. That made me curious enough to find the first version.

Washing of the Feet, by John August Swanson

So... what differences do you see? And what do you make of them?