1
|
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, |
|
2
|
and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death; for they feared the people. |
|
3
|
Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. |
|
4
|
And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them. |
|
5
|
They were delighted and agreed to give him money. |
|
6
|
Judas consented, and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of a crowd. |
|
7
|
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. |
|
8
|
Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover.” |
|
9
|
“Where do You want us to prepare it?” they asked. |
|
10
|
He answered, “When you enter the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters, |
|
11
|
and say to the owner of that house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ |
|
12
|
And he will show you a large upper room, already furnished. Make preparations there.” |
|
13
|
So they went and found it just as Jesus had told them. And they prepared the Passover. |
|
14
|
When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles. |
|
15
|
And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering. |
|
16
|
For I tell you that I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” |
|
17
|
After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. |
|
18
|
For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” |
|
19
|
And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” |
|
20
|
In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you. |
|
21
|
Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table. |
|
22
|
Indeed, the Son of Man will go as it has been determined, but woe to that man who betrays Him.” |
|
23
|
Then they began to question among themselves which of them was going to do this. |
|
24
|
A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest. |
|
25
|
So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors. |
|
26
|
But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. |
|
27
|
For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves. |
|
28
|
You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials. |
|
29
|
And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me, |
|
30
|
so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. |
|
31
|
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. |
|
32
|
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” |
|
33
|
“Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.” |
|
34
|
But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.” |
|
35
|
Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. |
|
36
|
“Now, however,” He told them, “the one with a purse should take it, and likewise a bag; and the one without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. |
|
37
|
For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.” |
|
38
|
So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” He answered. |
|
39
|
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. |
|
40
|
When He came to the place, He told them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.” |
|
41
|
And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed, |
|
42
|
“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” |
|
43
|
Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. |
|
44
|
And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. |
|
45
|
When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. |
|
46
|
“Why are you sleeping?” He asked. “Get up and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.” |
|
47
|
While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him. |
|
48
|
But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” |
|
49
|
Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” |
|
50
|
And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. |
|
51
|
But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him. |
|
52
|
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against an outlaw? |
|
53
|
Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on Me. But this hour belongs to you and to the power of darkness.” |
|
54
|
Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance. |
|
55
|
When those present had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. |
|
56
|
A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. “This man also was with Him,” she said. |
|
57
|
But Peter denied it. “Woman, I do not know Him,” he said. |
|
58
|
A short time later, someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” |
|
59
|
About an hour later, another man insisted, “Certainly this man was with Him, for he too is a Galilean.” |
|
60
|
“Man, I do not know what you are talking about,” Peter replied. While he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. |
|
61
|
And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word that the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” |
|
62
|
And he went outside and wept bitterly. |
|
63
|
The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him. |
|
64
|
They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?” |
|
65
|
And they said many other blasphemous things against Him. |
|
66
|
At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together. They led Jesus into their Sanhedrin and said, |
|
67
|
“If You are the Christ, tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe. |
|
68
|
And if I ask you a question, you will not answer. |
|
69
|
But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” |
|
70
|
So they all asked, “Are You then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” |
|
71
|
“Why do we need any more testimony?” they declared. “We have heard it for ourselves from His own lips.” |
|