The History of the Passion
A harmony of the four Evangelists in seven Parts · Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church (1917) · read here in Holy Week — 2031
One Part per day through Holy Week, beginning with the Vespers of Palm Sunday, as the CSB's first rubric directs. The seven Parts and their rubrics are those of the CSB; the text of each Part is the KJV the arrangement follows — tap any reference to read it, or see the CSB scan for the exact harmonized wording.
- The History of the Passion may be read as the Lesson at Matins or Vespers during Holy Week, beginning with the Vespers of Palm Sunday.
- Or it may be read during Lent, and repeated during Holy Week.
- Suitable hymns may be sung between the paragraphs of each Part of the History.
The Anointing at Bethany and the Entry into Jerusalem
“Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany…”
The supper at Bethany and Mary's anointing, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and the days of teaching in the temple.
Read (KJV): John 12:1-36Matthew 21:1-17Mark 11:1-26Luke 19:29-48
The Betrayal Plotted and the Last Supper
“Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh…”
The rulers' plot, Judas' bargain for thirty pieces of silver, the preparing of the Passover, and the Last Supper with the institution of the Lord's Supper.
Read (KJV): Matthew 26:1-35Mark 14:1-31Luke 22:1-38John 13:1-38
The High-Priestly Prayer and Gethsemane
“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven…”
Our Lord's high-priestly prayer, the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the betrayal and arrest.
Read (KJV): John 17:1-26John 18:1-11Matthew 26:36-56Mark 14:32-52Luke 22:39-53
Before the High Priest; Peter's Denial
“Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus…”
Jesus led to Annas and Caiaphas, the false witnesses and the high priest's adjuration, and Peter's threefold denial.
Read (KJV): John 18:12-27Matthew 26:57-75Mark 14:53-72Luke 22:54-71
The Trial before Pilate
“Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment…”
Jesus before Pilate and Herod, the end of Judas, Barabbas, the scourging and mocking, and the sentence of death.
Read (KJV): John 18:28-19:16Matthew 27:1-31Mark 15:1-20Luke 23:1-25
The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord
“And they took Jesus, and when they had mocked him…”
The way to Golgotha, the crucifixion between the two thieves, the seven words, and the death of Jesus.
Read (KJV): Matthew 27:31-50Mark 15:20-37Luke 23:26-46John 19:16-30
✠ At the words, "He bowed his head, and gave up the ghost," all may kneel and silently say the Lord's Prayer or other suitable prayers.
The Burial and the Sealing of the Tomb
“There were also women looking on afar off…”
The women who watched from afar, the piercing of Jesus' side, the burial by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, and the sealing and guarding of the sepulchre.
Read (KJV): Matthew 27:51-66Mark 15:38-47Luke 23:47-56John 19:31-42
Source: Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church (Philadelphia, 1917), "The History of the Passion of our Lord as Recorded by the Four Evangelists" (arr. John Caspar Mattes), pp. 250–262 — public domain. The daily-Mass alternative for the weekdays of Lent is the Historic Lenten Weekday Lectionary; on how the two relate, see Where these readings come from.