Study Desk

You, too, must keep watch! For you don't know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak.

I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!"

It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him.

"It could have been sold for a year's wages and the money given to the poor!" So they scolded her harshly.

But Jesus replied, "Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me?

She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time.

They were delighted when they heard why he had come, and they promised to give him money. So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you?"

For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!"

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take it, for this is my body."

And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

And he said to them, "This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.

On the way, Jesus told them, "All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'

"Abba, Father," he cried out, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn't keep their eyes open. And they didn't know what to say.

Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, "Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?"

Meanwhile, Peter was in the courtyard below. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest came by

(For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.)

Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah.