14In only two days the eight-day Festival of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread would begin. The high priests and religion scholars were looking for a way they could seize Jesus by stealth and kill him.G1161G1417G2250G2258G3957G2532G3326G106G2532G749G2532G1122G2212G4459G2902G846G1722G1388G6152They agreed that it should not be done during Passover Week. "We don't want the crowds up in arms," they said.G1161G3004G3361G1722G1859G3379G2071G2351G29923Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper. While he was eating dinner, a woman came up carrying a bottle of very expensive perfume. Opening the bottle, she poured it on his head.G2532G846G5607G1722G963G1722G3614G4613G3015G846G2621G2064G1135G2192G211G3464G3487G4101G4185G2532G4937G211G2708G2596G846G27764Some of the guests became furious among themselves. "That's criminal! A sheer waste!G1161G2258G5100G23G4314G1438G2532G3004G1519G5101G1096G3778G684G3464G10965This perfume could have been sold for well over a year's wages and handed out to the poor." They swelled up in anger, nearly bursting with indignation over her.G1063G5124G1410G4097G1883G5145G1220G2532G1325G4434G2532G1690G8466But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why are you giving her a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me.G1161G2424G2036G863G846G863G5101G2873G3930G846G2038G2570G2041G1519G16917You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives. Whenever you feel like it, you can do something for them. Not so with me.G1063G2192G4434G3326G1438G3842G2532G3752G2309G1410G4160G846G2095G1161G1691G2192G3756G38428She did what she could when she could—she pre-anointed my body for burial.G4160G3739G3778G846G2192G4301G3462G3450G4983G1519G17809And you can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she just did is going to be talked about admiringly."G281G3004G5213G3699G302G5124G2098G2784G1519G3650G2889G2532G3739G3778G846G4160G2980G1519G3422G84610Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the cabal of high priests, determined to betray him.G2532G2455G2469G1520G1427G565G4314G749G2443G3860G846G84611They couldn't believe their ears, and promised to pay him well. He started looking for just the right moment to hand him over.G1161G191G5463G2532G1861G1325G846G694G2532G2212G4459G2122G3860G84612On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the day they prepare the Passover sacrifice, his disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations so you can eat the Passover meal?"G2532G4413G2250G106G3753G2380G3957G846G3101G3004G846G4226G2309G565G2090G2443G5315G395713He directed two of his disciples, "Go into the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him.G2532G649G1417G846G3101G2532G3004G846G5217G1519G4172G2532G528G5213G444G941G2765G5204G190G84614Ask the owner of whichever house he enters, 'The Teacher wants to know, Where is my guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?'G2532G3699G1437G1525G2036G3617G3754G1320G3004G4226G2076G2646G3699G5315G3957G3326G3450G310115He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare for us there."G2532G846G1166G5213G3173G508G4766G2092G1563G2090G225416The disciples left, came to the city, found everything just as he had told them, and prepared the Passover meal.G2532G846G3101G1831G2532G2064G1519G4172G2532G2147G2531G2036G846G2532G2090G395717After sunset he came with the Twelve.G2532G1096G3798G2064G3326G142718As they were at the supper table eating, Jesus said, "I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators, one who at this moment is eating with me."G2532G846G345G2532G2068G2424G2036G281G3004G5213G3754G1520G1537G5216G3588G2068G3326G1700G3860G316519Stunned, they started asking, one after another, "It isn't me, is it?"G1161G756G3076G2532G3004G846G1527G3385G1473G2532G243G3385G147320He said, "It's one of the Twelve, one who eats with me out of the same bowl.G1161G611G2036G846G1520G1537G1427G1686G3326G1700G1519G516521In one sense, it turns out that the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense, the man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!"G5207G444G3303G5217G2531G1125G4012G846G1161G3759G1565G444G1223G3739G5207G444G3860G2570G2258G1565G444G1487G846G1080G3756G108022In the course of their meal, having taken and blessed the bread, he broke it and gave it to them. Then he said, Take, this is my body.G2532G846G2068G2424G2983G740G2127G2806G2532G1325G846G2532G2036G2983G5315G5124G2076G3450G498323Taking the chalice, he gave it to them, thanking God, and they all drank from it.G2532G2983G4221G2168G1325G846G2532G3956G4095G1537G84624He said, This is my blood, God's new covenant, Poured out for many people.G2532G2036G846G5124G2076G3450G129G2537G1242G3588G1632G4012G418325"I'll not be drinking wine again until the new day when I drink it in the kingdom of God."G281G3004G5213G3364G4095G3754G3765G1537G1081G288G2193G1565G2250G3752G4095G846G2537G1722G932G231626They sang a hymn and then went directly to Mount Olives.G2532G5214G1831G1519G3735G163627Jesus told them, "You're all going to feel that your world is falling apart and that it's my fault. There's a Scripture that says, I will strike the shepherd; The sheep will go helter-skelter.G2532G2424G3004G846G3754G3956G4624G1722G1722G1698G5026G3571G3754G1125G3960G4166G2532G4263G128728"But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee."G235G3326G3165G1453G4254G5209G1519G105629Peter blurted out, "Even if everyone else is ashamed of you when things fall to pieces, I won't be."G1161G4074G5346G846G2532G1487G3956G4624G235G3756G147330Jesus said, "Don't be so sure. Today, this very night in fact, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times."G2532G2424G3004G846G281G3004G4671G3754G4594G1722G5026G3571G4250G2228G220G5455G1364G533G3165G515131He blustered in protest, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you." All the others said the same thing.G1161G3004G3123G1537G4053G1437G3165G1163G4880G4671G3364G533G4571G3364G5615G1161G2532G3004G395632They came to an area called Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."G2532G2064G1519G5564G3739G3686G1068G2532G3004G846G3101G2523G5602G2193G433633He took Peter, James, and John with him. He plunged into a sinkhole of dreadful agony.G2532G3880G3326G1438G4074G2532G2385G2532G2491G2532G756G1568G2532G8534He told them, "I feel bad enough right now to die. Stay here and keep vigil with me."G2532G3004G846G3450G5590G2076G4036G2193G2288G3306G5602G2532G112735Going a little ahead, he fell to the ground and prayed for a way out:G2532G4281G3397G4098G1909G1093G2532G4336G2443G1487G2076G1415G5610G3928G575G84636"Papa, Father, you can—can't you?—get me out of this. Take this cup away from me. But please, not what I want—what do you want?"G2532G3004G5G3962G3956G1415G4671G3911G5124G4221G575G1700G235G3756G5101G1473G2309G235G5101G477137He came back and found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, you went to sleep on me? Can't you stick it out with me a single hour?G2532G2064G2532G2147G846G2518G2532G3004G4074G4613G2518G2480G3756G1127G3391G561038Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don't enter the danger zone without even knowing it. Don't be naive. Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."G1127G2532G4336G3363G1525G1519G3986G4151G3303G4289G1161G4561G77239He then went back and prayed the same prayer.G2532G3825G565G4336G2036G846G305640Returning, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn't keep their eyes open, and they didn't have a plausible excuse.G2532G5290G2147G846G2518G3825G1063G846G3788G2258G916G2532G3756G1492G5101G611G84641He came back a third time and said, "Are you going to sleep all night? No—you've slept long enough. Time's up. The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of sinners.G2532G2064G5154G2532G3004G846G2518G3063G2532G373G566G5610G2064G2400G5207G444G3860G1519G5495G26842Get up. Let's get going. My betrayer has arrived."G1453G71G2400G3860G3165G144843No sooner were the words out of his mouth when Judas, the one out of the Twelve, showed up, and with him a gang of ruffians, sent by the high priests, religion scholars, and leaders, brandishing swords and clubs.G2532G2112G846G2089G2980G3854G2455G1520G5607G1427G2532G3326G846G4183G3793G3326G3162G2532G3586G3844G749G2532G1122G2532G424544The betrayer had worked out a signal with them: "The one I kiss, that's the one—seize him. Make sure he doesn't get away."G1161G3860G846G1325G846G4953G3004G3739G302G5368G846G2076G2902G846G2532G520G80645He went straight to Jesus and said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him.G2532G2064G4334G2112G846G3004G4461G4461G2532G2705G84646The others then grabbed him and roughed him up.G1161G1911G846G5495G1909G846G2532G2902G84647One of the men standing there unsheathed his sword, swung, and came down on the Chief Priest's servant, lopping off the man's ear.G1161G5100G1520G3936G4685G3162G3817G1401G749G2532G851G846G562148Jesus said to them, "What is this, coming after me with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous criminal?G2532G2424G611G2036G846G1831G5613G1909G3027G3326G3162G2532G3586G4815G316549Day after day I've been sitting in the Temple teaching, and you never so much as lifted a hand against me. What you in fact have done is confirm the prophetic writings."G2252G2250G2596G4314G5209G1722G2411G1321G2532G2902G3165G3756G235G1124G2443G413750All the disciples cut and ran.G2532G3956G863G846G534351A young man was following along. All he had on was a bedsheet. Some of the men grabbed himG2532G190G846G1520G5100G3495G4616G4016G1909G1131G2532G3495G2902G84652but he got away, running off naked, leaving them holding the sheet.G1161G2641G4616G5343G575G846G113153They led Jesus to the Chief Priest, where the high priests, religious leaders, and scholars had gathered together.G2532G520G2424G520G4314G749G2532G846G4905G3956G749G2532G4245G2532G112254Peter followed at a safe distance until they got to the Chief Priest's courtyard, where he mingled with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.G2532G4074G190G846G3113G575G2193G2080G1519G833G749G2532G2258G4775G3326G5257G2532G2328G4314G545755The high priests conspiring with the Jewish Council looked high and low for evidence against Jesus by which they could sentence him to death. They found nothing.G1161G749G2532G3650G4892G2212G3141G2596G2424G1519G2289G846G2289G2532G2147G375656Plenty of people were willing to bring in false charges, but nothing added up, and they ended up canceling each other out.G1063G4183G5576G2596G846G2532G3141G2258G2470G3756G225857Then a few of them stood up and lied:G2532G450G5100G5576G2596G846G300458"We heard him say, 'I am going to tear down this Temple, built by hard labor, and in three days build another without lifting a hand.'"G3754G2249G191G846G3004G3754G1473G2647G5126G3485G5499G2532G1223G5140G2250G3618G243G88659But even they couldn't agree exactly.G2532G3761G3779G2470G846G3141G2258G247060In the middle of this, the Chief Priest stood up and asked Jesus, "What do you have to say to the accusation?"G2532G749G450G1519G3319G1905G2424G3004G3756G611G3762G5101G3778G2649G467561Jesus was silent. He said nothing. The Chief Priest tried again, this time asking, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed?"G1161G4623G2532G611G3762G3825G749G1905G846G2532G3004G846G1488G4771G5547G5207G212862Jesus said, "Yes, I am, and you'll see it yourself: The Son of Man seated At the right hand of the Mighty One, Arriving on the clouds of heaven."G1161G2424G2036G1473G1510G2532G3700G5207G444G2521G1537G1188G1411G2532G2064G3326G3507G377263The Chief Priest lost his temper. Ripping his clothes, he yelled, "Did you hear that? After that do we need witnesses?G1161G749G1284G846G5509G3004G5101G5532G2192G2089G314464You heard the blasphemy. Are you going to stand for it?" They condemned him, one and all. The sentence: death.G191G988G5101G5316G5213G1161G3956G2632G846G1511G1777G228865Some of them started spitting at him. They blindfolded his eyes, then hit him, saying, "Who hit you? Prophesy!" The guards, punching and slapping, took him away.G2532G5100G756G1716G846G2532G4028G846G4383G2532G2852G846G2532G3004G846G4395G2532G5257G906G846G447566While all this was going on, Peter was down in the courtyard. One of the Chief Priest's servant girls came inG2532G4074G5607G2736G1722G833G2064G3391G3814G74967and, seeing Peter warming himself there, looked hard at him and said, "You were with the Nazarene, Jesus."G2532G1492G4074G2328G1689G846G3004G2532G4771G2532G2258G3326G2424G347968He denied it: "I don't know what you're talking about." He went out on the porch. A rooster crowed.G1161G720G3004G1492G3756G3761G1987G5101G4771G3004G2532G1831G1854G1519G4259G2532G220G545569The girl spotted him and began telling the people standing around, "He's one of them."G2532G3814G1492G846G3825G756G3004G3936G3754G3778G2076G1537G84670He denied it again. After a little while, the bystanders brought it up again. "You've got to be one of them. You've got 'Galilean' written all over you."G1161G720G3825G2532G3397G3326G3936G3004G3825G4074G230G1488G1537G846G2532G1063G1488G1057G2532G4675G2981G366271Now Peter got really nervous and swore, "I never laid eyes on this man you're talking about."G1161G756G332G2532G3660G3754G1492G3756G5126G444G3739G300472Just then the rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered how Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows twice, you'll deny me three times." He collapsed in tears.G2532G1537G1208G220G5455G2532G4074G363G4487G3739G2424G2036G846G3754G4250G220G5455G1364G533G3165G5151G2532G1911G2799
Dublin, OH
