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John 19: 1-3 nrsv
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove
a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a
purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the
Jews!” and striking him on the face.
Look
Observe the visual qualities of the image: line, shape, movement, and
texture. How do the visual elements connect to the scripture text?
What emotions emerge for you as you observe the art?
Reflect
“I’m floored by the boldness of violence in this passage. To strike
someone across the face requires looking someone in the eyes
and marring the most recognizable and identifiable part of the
body. It requires facing the recipient of your rage and witnessing
the consequences and destruction of your actions first-hand. It is a
brazen and intimate act of violence.
Continuing to misunderstand and mock Jesus’ power, the soldiers
craft him a crown made out of pain—a crown made out of that which
protects the beauty of the bloom. In this case, however, the thorns
cannot protect the beauty they surround.”
—Artist Lauren Wright Pittman
Pray
May I recognize the ways I am complicit in the violence of this world
and take a stand against it. Amen.

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Mark 15: 1-5, 15 nrsv
As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with
the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led
him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him, “Are you
the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” Then the chief
priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, “Have
you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.” But
Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
Look
Observe the visual qualities of the image: line, shape, movement, and
texture. How do the visual elements connect to the scripture text?
What emotions emerge for you as you observe the art?
Reflect
“The crown represents the misunderstanding of Jesus’ power.
Many thought the Messiah was to be a strong, powerful, militaristic
rebellion commander. Kings and governors feared he would be a
threat to the crown; a menacing, dethroning force. But Jesus was a
servant leader. He spent his days with and serving the downtrodden,
the poor, and the meek. Jesus was condemned to death for a crown
he did not wear. Pilate’s hand points Jesus to his death, attempting to
silence the truth he spoke to power.” —Artist Lauren Wright Pittman
Pray
May I defy the attraction of earthly power, elevate the voices of the
marginalized, and speak truth to the powers that oppress. Amen.

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Matthew 26: 69-75 nrsv
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came
to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he
denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are
talking about.” When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl
saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus
of Nazareth.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the
man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter,
“Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.”
Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the
man!” At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered
what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three
times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Look
Observe the visual qualities of the image: line, shape, movement, and
texture. How do the visual elements connect to the scripture text?
What emotions emerge for you as you observe the art?
Reflect
“Jesus is denied three times. He is mocked by the number of the
Triune communion; he must feel as if the very holy community has
abandoned him. I imagine this feels like the holiest of rejections.
In the wake of Peter’s denial, the rooster cries out. The rooster’s
crowing reminds me of the image of God as a mother hen protecting
her young under her wing. I wonder if the rooster’s cry is a comfort
to Jesus. I wonder if the sound at once voices the cry of Jesus’ own
anguished heart and also reminds him that, though he is betrayed
and denied, he is not alone.” —Artist Lauren Wright Pittman
Pray
May I resist the urge to deny you and have the courage to identify
with you always. Amen.

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mark 14: 43-46 nrsv
Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve,
arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from
the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had
given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him
and lead him away under guard.” So when he came, he went up to
him at once and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. Then they laid hands
on him and arrested him.
Look
Observe the visual qualities of the image: line, shape, movement, and
texture. How do the visual elements connect to the scripture text?
What emotions emerge for you as you observe the art?
Reflect
“In the veil of night, Judas attempts to obscure the intentions of his
heart with the intimate and beautiful act of a kiss. This kiss images
the affection that once bound Jesus and Judas together. But this kiss
also unties trust and shatters relationship—it ushers in violence and
murders love. Although Judas thinks his intentions are safely hidden,
he wears the violence of his action like a shining crown.”
—Artist Lauren Wright Pittman
Pray
May the actions of my hands and the intentions of my heart be in
harmony with your own. Amen.

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Read
Matthew 26:36-41 nrsv
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Look
Observe the visual qualities of the image: line, shape, movement, and texture. How do the visual elements connect to the scripture text? What emotions emerge for you as you observe the art?
Reflect
“I can only imagine how profoundly alone Jesus feels in this moment. All he wants is for the disciples to stay awake with him in the midst of his despair, and they can’t even do that. Instead, Jesus shakes with grief and shivers as the sting of death draws close, while his friends drift far away in their dreams. Jesus cries out to God, but his request for the cup to pass from him is denied. He is utterly alone. I imagine he feels like the garden is closing in on him, with vines twisting and turning around his body and flowers stretching their petals toward his bloody tears. As he throws himself on the ground, I imagine he feels the damp soil against his face, between his toes, and under his fingertips, and shuttered knowing that the cold ground would soon be his dwelling place.” —Artist Lauren Wright Pittman
Pray
May I stay awake to the suffering in the world and responsive when you call me to be present with those in need. Amen.