Study Desk

The Plot Against Jesus^(a)

When Jesus had finished saying all these things,^(b) he said to his disciples,

"As you know, the Passover^(c) is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled^(d) in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,^(e)

and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.^(f)

"But not during the festival," they said, "or there may be a riot^(g) among the people."

While Jesus was in Bethany^(j) in the home of Simon the Leper,

a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked.

"This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."

Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

The poor you will always have with you,^[a](k) but you will not always have me.

When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.^(l)

Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot⁽ⁿ⁾—went to the chief priests

and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.^(o)

From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread,^(s) the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"^(t)

He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time^(u) is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.'"

So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.

And while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me."^(v)

They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely you don't mean me, Lord?"

Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.^(w)

The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him.^(x) But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

Then Judas, the one who would betray him,^(y) said, "Surely you don't mean me, Rabbi?"^(z) Jesus answered, "You have said so."

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it^(aa) and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

Then he took a cup,^(ab) and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.

This is my blood of the^[b] covenant,^(ac) which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.^(ad)

I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you^(ae) in my Father's kingdom."

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.^(af)

Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me,^(ah) for it is written: "‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'^[c](ai)

But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."^(aj)

Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."

"Truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."^(ak)

But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you,^(al) I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.