Study Desk

"When a woman gives birth to a baby, she has pain, because her time has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain. She forgets because she is so happy that a child has been born into the world.

It is the same with you. Now you are sad, but I will see you again, and you will be happy. You will have a joy that no one can take away.

You have never asked for anything in this way before. But ask in my name, and you will receive. And you will have the fullest joy possible.

"I have told you these things, using words that hide the meaning. But the time will come when I will not use words like that to tell you things. I will speak to you in plain words about the Father.

Listen to me. A time is coming when you will be scattered, each to his own home. In fact, that time is already here. You will leave me, and I will be alone. But I am never really alone, because the Father is with me.

"I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!"

I pray for them now. I am not praying for the people in the world. But I am praying for these people you gave me, because they are yours.

"Now I am coming to you. I will not stay in the world, but these followers of mine are still in the world. Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of your name—the name you gave me. Then they will be one, just as you and I are one.

"I am coming to you now. But I pray these things while I am still in the world. I say all this so that these followers can have the true happiness that I have. I want them to be completely happy.

"I am not asking you to take them out of the world. But I am asking that you keep them safe from the Evil One.

"I pray not only for these followers but also for those who will believe in me because of their teaching.

Father, you are the one who always does what is right. The world does not know you, but I know you, and these followers of mine know that you sent me.

But Peter waited outside near the door. The follower who knew the high priest came back outside and spoke to the gatekeeper. Then he brought Peter inside.

Jesus answered, "If I said something wrong, tell everyone here what was wrong. But if what I said is right, then why do you hit me?"

But again Peter said, "No, I was not with him!" As soon as he said this, a rooster crowed.

Pilate said to them, "You take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jewish leaders answered, "But your law does not allow us to punish anyone by killing them."

But it is one of your customs for me to free one prisoner to you at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to free this ‘king of the Jews'?"

When the leading priests and the Jewish guards saw Jesus they shouted, "Kill him on a cross! Kill him on a cross!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and nail him to a cross yourselves. I find nothing I can charge him with."

So he went back inside the palace and asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer him.

After this, Pilate tried to let Jesus go free. But the Jewish leaders shouted, "Anyone who makes himself a king is against Caesar. So if you let this man go free, that means you are not Caesar's friend."