Wednesday Before Easter

THE EPISTLE. Hebr. ix. 16.

Where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of
the testator: for a testament is of force after men are dead; other
wise it is of no strength at all whilst the testator liveth.
Whereupon, neither the first testament was dedicated without
blood: for when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people,
according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats,
with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book
and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament,
which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover, he sprinkled with
blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. And
almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without
shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that
the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with
these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices
than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made
with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven
itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor yet that
he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into
the holy place every year with blood of others: for then must he
often have suffered since the foundation of the world; but now once
in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the
sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die,
but after this the judgement: so Christ was once offered to bear
the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear
the second time without sin unto salvation.

THE GOSPEL. St Luke xxii. 1.

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the
Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might
kill him; for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas
surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went
his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he
might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to
give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray
him unto them in the absence of the multitude. Then came the day of
unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. And he sent
Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may
eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And
he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there
shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into
the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the good-man of
the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest-chamber,
where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew
you a large upper-room furnished; there make ready. And they went,
and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the
passover. And when the hour was come he sat down, and the twelve
Apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have
desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: for I say
unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled
in the Kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and
said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I say unto
you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom
of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake
it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body, which is given for
you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after
supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is
shed for you. But behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with
me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goeth as it was determined;
but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed. And they began to
inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this
thing. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should
be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the
Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and they that exercise
authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so:
but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and
he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he
that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at
meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have
continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a
kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and
drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold,
Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but
I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art
converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord,
I am ready to go with thee both into prison and to death. And he
said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before
that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. And he said unto
them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked
ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But
now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip:
and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For
I say unto you, That this that is written must yet be accomplished
in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things
concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two
swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. And he came out, and
went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives, and his disciples also
followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them,
Pray, that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn
from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down and prayed,
saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me:
nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared
an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an
agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great
drops of blood falling-down to the ground. And when he rose up
from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping
for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest
ye enter into temptation. And while he yet spake, behold, a
multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went
before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said
unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss? When
they who were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him,
Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the
servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus
answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and
healed him. Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains
of the temple, and the elders who were come to him, Be ye come out
as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with
you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but
this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Then took they him,
and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house: and
Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the
midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among
them. But a certain maid beheld him, as he sat by the fire, and
earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a
little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them.
And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour
after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this
fellow also was with him; for he is a Galilean. And Peter said,
Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet
spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter;
and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto
him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter
went out, and wept bitterly. And the men that held Jesus mocked
him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they
struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is
it that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake
they against him. And as soon as it was day, the elders of the
people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and
led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us.
And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if
I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter
shall the Son of Man sit on the right hand of the power of God.
Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto
them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further
witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.