Third Hour- 9 AM: The painful torment of the Lamb
Third Hour- 9 AM: The painful torment of the Lamb
Now at that feast the governor [Pilate] was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. [Mt 27:15-21]
At the 3rd Hour a table is placed in front of the sanctuary (with closed curtains), and on it a picture of the Crucifixion, as well the Gospel Book, and lit candles, and around them the liturgical vessels, to signify that there is no Liturgy on that day. All the prayers are prayed outside the sanctuary because the Lord Jesus Christ suffered and was crucified on the Mount Calvary {Golgotha} outside Jerusalem and according to the Laws of Moses, the sacrifice of sin is burnt outside the city.To the right and left of the table on the ground are two processional Crosses. A kind of representation of the ‘body of Christ” is found lying in front of the sanctuary. In front of the picture a string is strung from wall to wall to hang a censer. From the 3rd to the 9th Hour, (at every hour), the censer will be agitated three times before the Gospel readings, by three different priests in turn, as symbol of Jesus being pulled and pushed by the Jews; the noise can bee seen as crying and lamentation of Christ, and the smoke as symbol of death. During Passion Week all the Psalms and certain prayers (Weddase Maryam, Melke’a Maryam, Melke’a Iyesus) are recited throughout the day, distributed in the church by a student or a debtera or a priest.The Gebra Hemâmât, or Acts of the Passion, is a |57 collection of lessons and homilies for the days of Holy Week from the Sunday of Hosannas (Palm Sunday) to Easter Eve] will be read the whole day. Its readings and order are described in a book (Gebre Hemamat).
After Pilate washes his hands, the soldiers took Him into the common hall, paraded around Him, stripped Him and divided his garments, and “put a scarlet robe on Him”. all this was prophesied in Psalm 22:17, “They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots”.
Him, Who clothes cherubim with garments of might, they clothed with a scarlet robe to mock Him. Him, Who clothes cherubim with garments of might, they clothed with a scarlet robe to mock Him. [the Anaphora of St. John Chrysostom]
Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. [Jn 19:16]
Then they put a crown of thorn on His head: “when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:29). Here is the symbolism- After Adam sinned, God cursed the soil and told Adam, “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you” [Gen. 3:17-18]. Jesus allowed a crown of thorn to be put in His head, as a sign that He was taking into Himself all the thorns that man endured during his life away from Him.
They knelt before him, mocking Him Whom the hosts of angels worship in great fear. Oh what humility is this! Him, Who crowns seraphim with a coronet, they crowned with a crown of thorns. [the Anaphora of St. John Chrysostom]
Then they flogged him 6,666 times. Pilate wanted to flog Christ and release him but the Jews wanted Him to suffer more. Mind you, flogging was done using a handle attached to several strips of leather, each of which was full of sharp pieces of metal. Each time that it hit His skin, hundreds of piece of metal would tear the skin and deep to the bone. Because of us, we who have been uncovered because of sin, the God of Glory. Eusebius [about 300 A.D.] described Jesus, was stripped of His clothes, was tied to the post and was whipped with ropes and rods in which there was a chain of bones… until this innocent body is scattered and its flesh dispersed in compensation; and His blood is shed to protect our wounds and to cure them. May we praise Him, for it is He who has killed death by death with His Crown of thorns! [St. Ephram the Syrian].
For what act do you wish, O Jews, to Crucify Christ? Is it because He raised you from dead as from sleep [Mt. 9:18-19, 23-26; Mk. 5:22-24, 35-43; Lk 7:11; Jn 11:1-46] ; Or healed the woman with an issue of blood [Mt 9; Mk 5; Lk 8] and showed mercy upon the canaanite woman [Mt 15:22-28]. For what act, O Jews, desire Christ’s death? But you shall behold Him whom you have flogged, and know that He is Christ. O! God’s people, What has He done to you? Where did He harm you? He has given a sight to the blind [Mt 9:227; Mk 8:22; Lk 18:35; Jn 9], He cleanse the lepers [Mt. 8:2; Mk 1:40; Lk 5:12;] and He raised the paralytic man.
Him, Who crowns seraphim with a coronet, they crowned with a crown of thorns. Him, Who clothes cherubim with garments of might, they clothed with a scarlet robe to mock Him. They knelt before him, mocking Him Whom the hosts of angels worship in great fear. Oh what humility is this! Oh what patience is this! Oh what a silence is this! Oh what a kindness is this! [the Anaphora of St. John Chrysostom]
This is the day of pain, the day of sorrows. It is the commandment for us, “not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake [Phil. 1:29]. By actively participating in the Holy Passion Week, through fasting, prayer, repenting and bowing, we experience a micro-fraction of “His suffering”
Priest : Plead my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me.[Psalm 35:1-3]
Deacon: For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. [Psalm 22:16]
He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed….the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.[Isa. 53:6]
O ! Israel, what has He done to you and what have you rewarded Him? Instead of manna [Ex 16:4-21], gall and in place of water [Ex17:5], vinegar; and instead of loving Christ, you nail Him at the Cross. When has He angered you? Where did He caused you sorrow? Has He not filled Judea with miracles? Has He not raised the dead with His Word? Has He not healed the sickness and disease? How have you respond to His love? Instead of goodness, evil, in place of healing, you inflict wound to Him.