The Plot to Kill Jesus
1The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, was approaching. 2The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death, because they were afraid of the people.
3Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve. 4He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police how he could hand him over to them. 5They were glad and agreed to give him silver. 6So he accepted the offer and started looking for a good opportunity to betray him to them when the crowd was not present.
Preparation for Passover
7Then the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”
9“Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.
10“Listen,” he said to them, “when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. 11Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs. Make the preparations there.”
13So they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
The First Lord’s Supper
14When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
20In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21But look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me. 22For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”
23So they began to argue among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do it.
The Dispute over Greatness
24Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. 25But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called ‘Benefactors.’ 26It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving. 27For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. 28You are those who stood by me in my trials. 29I bestow on you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one on me, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Peter’s Denial Predicted
31“Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. 32But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33“Lord,” he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”
34“I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”
Be Ready for Trouble
35He also said to them, “When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Not a thing,” they said.
36Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one. 37For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me: And he was counted among the lawless. Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfillment.”
38“Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.”
“That is enough!” he told them.
The Prayer in the Garden
39He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40When he reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” 41Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, 42“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me — nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
43Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. 46“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation.”
Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus
47While he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him, 48but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” 50Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.
51But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, he healed him. 52Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal? 53Every day while I was with you in the temple, you never laid a hand on me. But this is your hour — and the dominion of darkness.”
Peter Denies His Lord
54They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter was following at a distance. 55They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. 56When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.”
57But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.”
58After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter said.
59About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.”
60But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Jesus Mocked and Beaten
63The men who were holding Jesus started mocking and beating him. 64After blindfolding him, they kept asking, “Prophesy! Who was it that hit you?” 65And they were saying many other blasphemous things to him.
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
66When daylight came, the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the scribes, convened and brought him before their Sanhedrin. 67They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.”
But he said to them, “If I do tell you, you will not believe. 68And if I ask you, you will not answer. 69But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
70They all asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?”
And he said to them, “You say that I am.”
71“Why do we need any more testimony,” they said, “since we’ve heard it ourselves from his mouth?”