Study Desk

Good Father, the people of this world don't know you. But I know you, and my followers know that you sent me.

Judas had promised to betray Jesus. So he went to the garden with some Roman soldiers and temple police, who had been sent by the chief priests and the Pharisees. They carried torches, lanterns, and weapons. Jesus already knew everything that was going to happen, but he asked, "Who are you looking for?" They answered, "We are looking for Jesus from Nazareth!" Jesus told them, "I am Jesus!"

Peter stayed outside near the gate. But the other disciple came back out and spoke to the girl at the gate. She let Peter go in,

but asked him, "Aren't you one of that man's followers?" "No, I am not!" Peter answered.

But Jesus told him, "I have spoken freely in front of everyone. And I have always taught in our meeting places and in the temple, where all of our people come together. I have not said anything in secret.

Jesus answered, "If I have done something wrong, say so. But if not, why did you hit me?"

It was early in the morning when Jesus was taken from Caiaphas to the building where the Roman governor stayed. But the crowd waited outside. Any of them who had gone inside would have become unclean and would not be allowed to eat the Passover meal.

He went back inside and asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer.

Jesus replied, "If God had not given you the power, you couldn't do anything at all to me. But the one who handed me over to you did something even worse."

Then Pilate wanted to set Jesus free. But the crowd again yelled, "If you set this man free, you are no friend of the Emperor! Anyone who claims to be a king is an enemy of the Emperor."

But Pilate told them, "What is written will not be changed!"

After the soldiers had nailed Jesus to the cross, they divided up his clothes into four parts, one for each of them. But his outer garment was made from a single piece of cloth, and it did not have any seams.

But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, and they did not break his legs.

Joseph from Arimathea was one of Jesus' disciples. He had kept it secret though, because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders. But now he asked Pilate to let him have Jesus' body. Pilate gave him permission, and Joseph took it down from the cross.

He bent over and saw the strips of linen cloth lying inside the tomb, but he did not go in.

As soon as Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know who he was.

Jesus told her, "Don't hold on to me! I have not yet gone to the Father. But tell my disciples that I am going to the one who is my Father and my God, as well as your Father and your God."

If you forgive anyone's sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don't forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven."

So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said, "First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won't believe unless I do this!"

But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in him, you will have true life.