April 13 2025: Palm Sunday Passion Bible Discussion

John Bellaimey and Vestry

PALM SUNDAY

APRIL 13, 2025

PASSION HOMILY-BIBLE STUDY

VESTRY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

THE REVEREND JOHN BELLAIMEY

 

 

 

 

Rex:    The Passion of Jesus according to Luke

All:      Glory to you, O Christ.

John: Instead of a typical sermon, today, with the help of members of the Vestry, we will do a little Bible study. I’ve asked pairs or trios of them to read a section of the Passion aloud for us and then answer some questions.

The Vestry is the leadership group of the Parish. The name comes originally from the room outside the worshipping space where people would change into vestments or robes. That room is way too small at our church, so our Vestry meets in the Library. Their job is to make sure the church is actually following our mission; they choose and hire the rector and support her in organizing the parish; and they make sure the finances are sound. They serve overlapping 3 year terms, and are led by Heidi Weaver, the senior warden, and Kari Rusch-Curl, the junior warden, who is right now teaching Sunday School. By the way, wardens? They have no prison duties: “warden” is a word which, in Britain, can apply to many kinds of custodians or caretakers. Sonia and Shelagh can back me up.

John: Our first three Vestry member readers are Sonia, Rachel, and Linda. After they read their portion of the Passion, I have a few questions.

Part I, read by Sonia, Rachel, & Linda (in unison or one after another, in turns)

“The assembly of the elders of the people rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Judeans?” He answered, “You say so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began, even to this place.”

When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.

Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.

John: Okay, here are some questions for Linda, Sonia, or Rachel. Take turns or consult together. (I may ask them with slightly different wording)

Who are these characters, from what you know? What do you think of them?

What’s the difference between Galilee and Judea, and why would Pilate care?

What do you think of the accusation that Jesus tried to forbid people paying taxes to the Emperor?

(for Linda) Why do you think Pilate and Herod became friends that day?

 

 

John: Our next two Vestry members are Sara and Mary Beth. (in unison or one after another, in turns)

Sara and Mary Beth: “Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.” Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.”

John: Okay, here are some questions for Sara and Mary Beth. Take turns or consult together. (I may ask them with slightly different wording)

This year’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke and unlike the other three Gospels, it doesn’t explain why the people suggest releasing Barabbas instead of Jesus. Why do you think they would they rather have a murderer go free than Jesus?

Pilate doesn’t want to execute Jesus. Why? And why don’t the Judean authorities just execute Jesus on their own?

John: Our next two Vestry members are Caron and Jennifer (in unison or one after another, in turns)

Caron and Jennifer: “As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.

But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

John: Okay, here are some questions for Caron and Jennifer. Take turns or consult together. (I may ask them with slightly different wording)

Simon comes from Cyrene. Where is that? And why might he be coming into Jerusalem from the countryside?

What do you make of Jesus’ scary speech to the women who are wailing for him?

If the entire crowd at Pilate’s palace unanimously wanted Jesus crucified, why aren’t these women scared of the crowd?

John: Our next two Vestry members are Heidi and Lois. (in unison or one after another, in turns)

Heidi and Lois: “Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Judeans, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Judeans.”

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

John: Okay, here are some questions for Heidi and Lois. Take turns or consult together. (I may ask them with slightly different wording)

What do you know about the Place of the Skull? Is it still there?

Apparently, “casting lots to divide his clothes” is a quotation from the Psalms. Why would Luke include it, and do you think the soldiers knew they were doing something that had been predicted years ago?

Psalm 22 is full of complaints that describe just the situation Jesus is in. Feel free to grab a prayer book and look at it. (p. 610). What else do you notice in that Psalm?

In other Gospels, people complain about the inscription over Jesus’ head. Why? Do you think the two other guys got inscriptions? Why or why not?

John: Our final Vestry members are Erik, Roger, and Mike (who will bring his trumpet for an answer) (in unison or one after another, in turns)

Erik, Roger, and Mike: “It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.”

And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

John: Okay, here are some questions for Erik, Mike, and Roger. Take turns or consult together. (I may ask them with slightly different wording)

What was the curtain in the Temple, and why is it significant that it was torn in two. What caused the this?

“Into your hands I commend my spirit” is a quotation from Psalm 31. (p. 623, BCP). Anything else in that psalm that speaks to Jesus’ situation there, hanging on the cross?

What’s a centurion, and why is his remark worth quoting?

Why does the author refer to “acquaintances” and women? Were all his friends male? And why are they following at a distance?

(for Mike) Please play a line or two on your trumpet that would be fitting in a soundtrack for today’s reading.

10am Service