A Plot To Kill Jesus

(Matthew 26.1-5,14,16; Mark 14.1,2,10,11; John 11.45-53)

1 The Festival of Thin Bread, also called Passover, was near. 2The chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus, because they were afraid of what the people might do. 3Then Satan entered the heart of Judas Iscariot,+ who was one of the twelve apostles.

4Judas went to talk with the chief priests and the officers of the temple police about how he could help them arrest Jesus. 5They were very pleased and offered to pay Judas some money. 6He agreed and started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus when the crowds were not around.

Jesus Eats with His Disciples

(Matthew 26.17-25; Mark 14.12-21; John 13.21-30)

7The day had come for the Festival of Thin Bread, and it was time to kill the Passover lambs. 8So Jesus said to Peter and John, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us to eat.”

9But they asked, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”

10Jesus told them, “As you go into the city, you will meet a man carrying a jar of water.+ Follow him into the house 11and say to the owner, ‘Our teacher wants to know where he can eat the Passover meal with his disciples.’ 12The owner will take you upstairs and show you a large room ready for you to use. Prepare the meal there.”

13Peter and John left. They found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

The Lord's Supper

(Matthew 26.26-30; Mark 14.22-26; 1 Corinthians 11.23-25)

14When the time came for Jesus and the apostles to eat, 15he said to them, “I have very much wanted to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer. 16I tell you I will not eat another Passover meal until it is finally eaten in God's kingdom.”

17Jesus took a cup of wine in his hands and gave thanks to God. Then he told the apostles, “Take this wine and share it with each other. 18I tell you that I will not drink any more wine until God's kingdom comes.”

19Jesus took some bread in his hands and gave thanks for it. He broke the bread and handed it to his apostles. Then he said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this as a way of remembering me!”

20 After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, “This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement. 21 The one who will betray me is here at the table with me! 22The Son of Man will die in the way that has been decided for him, but it will be terrible for the one who betrays him!”

23Then the apostles started arguing about who would ever do such a thing.

An Argument about Greatness

24 The apostles got into an argument about which one of them was the greatest. 25 So Jesus told them:

Foreign kings order their people around, and powerful rulers call themselves everyone's friends.+ 26 But don't be like them. The most important one of you should be like the least important, and your leader should be like a servant. 27 Who do people think is the greatest, a person who is served or one who serves? Isn't it the one who is served? But I have been with you as a servant.

28You have stayed with me in all my troubles. 29So I will give you the right to rule as kings, just as my Father has given me the right to rule as a king. 30 You will eat and drink with me in my kingdom, and you will each sit on a throne to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jesus' Disciples Will Be Tested

(Matthew 26.31-35; Mark 14.27-31; John 13.36-38)

31Jesus said, “Simon, listen to me! Satan has demanded the right to test each one of you, as a farmer does when he separates wheat from the husks.+ 32But Simon, I have prayed that your faith will be strong. And when you have come back to me, help the others.”

33Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to jail and even to die with you.”

34Jesus replied, “Peter, I tell you that before a rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will say three times that you don't know me.”

Moneybags, Traveling Bags, and Swords

35 Jesus asked his disciples, “When I sent you out without a moneybag or a traveling bag or sandals, did you need anything?”

“No!” they answered.

36Jesus told them, “But now, if you have a moneybag, take it with you. Also take a traveling bag, and if you don't have a sword,+ sell some of your clothes and buy one. 37 Do this because the Scriptures say, ‘He was considered a criminal.’ This was written about me, and it will soon come true.”

38The disciples said, “Lord, here are two swords!”

“Enough of that!” Jesus replied.

Jesus Prays

(Matthew 26.36-46; Mark 14.32-42)

39Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives, as he often did, and his disciples went with him. 40When they got there, he told them, “Pray that you won't be tested.”

41Jesus walked on a little way before he knelt down and prayed, 42“Father, if you will, please don't make me suffer by drinking from this cup.+ But do what you want, and not what I want.”

43Then an angel from heaven came to help him. 44Jesus was in great pain and prayed so sincerely that his sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood.+

45Jesus got up from praying and went over to his disciples. They were asleep and worn out from being so sad. 46He said to them, “Why are you asleep? Wake up and pray that you won't be tested.”

Jesus Is Arrested

(Matthew 26.47-56; Mark 14.43-50; John 18.3-11)

47While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd came up. It was led by Judas, one of the twelve apostles. He went over to Jesus and greeted him with a kiss.+

48Jesus asked Judas, “Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49When Jesus' disciples saw what was about to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we attack them with a sword?” 50One of the disciples even struck at the high priest's servant with his sword and cut off the servant's right ear.

51“Enough of that!” Jesus said. Then he touched the servant's ear and healed it.

52Jesus spoke to the chief priests, the temple police, and the leaders who had come to arrest him. He said, “Why do you come out with swords and clubs and treat me like a criminal? 53 I was with you every day in the temple, and you didn't arrest me. But this is your time, and darkness+ is in control.”

Peter Says He Doesn't Know Jesus

(Matthew 26.57,58,67-75; Mark 14.53,54,66-72; John 18.12-18,25-27)

54Jesus was arrested and led away to the house of the high priest, while Peter followed at a distance. 55Some people built a fire in the middle of the courtyard and were sitting around it. Peter sat there with them, 56and a servant girl saw him. Then after she had looked at him carefully, she said, “This man was with Jesus!”

57Peter said, “Woman, I don't even know that man!”

58A little later someone else saw Peter and said, “You are one of them!”

“No, I'm not!” Peter replied.

59About an hour later another man insisted, “This man must have been with Jesus. They both come from Galilee.”

60Peter replied, “I don't know what you are talking about!” Right then, while Peter was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

61The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered that the Lord had said, “Before a rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will say three times that you don't know me.” 62Then Peter went out and cried bitterly.

63The men who were guarding Jesus made fun of him and beat him. 64They put a blindfold on him and said, “Tell us who struck you!” 65They kept on insulting Jesus in many other ways.

Jesus Is Questioned by the Council

(Matthew 26.59-66; Mark 14.55-64; John 18.19-24)

66At daybreak the nation's leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law of Moses got together and brought Jesus before their council. 67They said, “Tell us! Are you the Messiah?”

Jesus replied, “If I said so, you wouldn't believe me. 68And if I asked you a question, you wouldn't answer. 69But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right side of God All-Powerful.”

70Then they asked, “Are you the Son of God?”+

Jesus answered, “You say I am!”+

71They replied, “Why do we need more witnesses? He said it himself!”