GOOD FRIDAY

When it was morning, all the chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin of the people, took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, deeply regretted what he had done. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? Look to it yourself.” Flinging the money into the temple, he departed and went off and hanged himself. The chief priests gathered up the money, but said, “It is not lawful to deposit this in the temple treasury, for it is the price of blood.” After consultation, they used it to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why that field even today is called the Field of Blood. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: ''“So they weighed out my wages: the thirty shekels of silver. Yahweh said to me, “Throw it to the smelter, this princely sum at which they have valued me!” Taking the thirty shekels of silver, I threw them into the Temple of Yahweh, for the smelter.”'' (Zechariah 11:12-13) Then the whole assembly of them arose. They bound Jesus, led him away to the praetorium, and brought him before Pilate, the governor. They themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. Therefore, Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?” They answered and said to him, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” At this, Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” The Jews answered him, “We do not have the right to execute anyone,” in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die. They brought charges against him, saying, “We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Messiah, a king.” When the chief priests and elders accused him, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Have you no answer? Do you not see how many things they accuse you of or hear how many things they are testifying against you?” However, Jesus did not answer him one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Pilate went back into the praetorium, summoned Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this, I was born and for this, I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he again went out to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find this man not guilty.” However, they were adamant and said, “He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here.” On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time. Return