Judas Agrees to Hand Jesus Over

22 The Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was near. 2The chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus. They were afraid of the people.

3Then Satan entered Judas, who was called Iscariot. Judas was one of the Twelve. 4He went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard. He talked with them about how he could hand Jesus over to them. 5They were delighted and agreed to give him money.

6Judas accepted their offer. He watched for the right time to hand Jesus over to them. He wanted to do it when no crowd was around.

The Last Supper

7Then the day of Unleavened Bread came. That was the time the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John on ahead. “Go,” he told them. “Prepare for us to eat the Passover meal.”

9“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

10Jesus replied, “When you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters. 11Then say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is the guest room? Where can I eat the Passover meal with my disciples?” ’ 12He will show you a large upstairs room with furniture in it. Prepare for us to eat there.”

13Peter and John left. They found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover meal.

14When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles took their places at the table. 15He said to them, “I have really looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you. I wanted to do this before I suffer. 16I tell you, I will not eat the Passover meal again until it is celebrated in God’s kingdom.”

17After Jesus took the cup, he gave thanks. He said, “Take this cup and share it among yourselves. 18I tell you, I will not drink wine with you again until God’s kingdom comes.”

19Then Jesus took bread. He gave thanks and broke it. He handed it to them and said, “This is my body. It is given for you. Every time you eat it, do it in memory of me.”

20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup. He said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. It is poured out for you. 21But someone here is going to hand me over to my enemies. His hand is with mine on the table. 22The Son of Man will go to his death, just as God has already decided. But how terrible it will be for the one who hands him over!”

23The apostles began to ask each other about this. They wondered which one of them would do it.

24They also started to argue. They disagreed about which of them was thought to be the most important person.

25Jesus said to them, “The kings of the nations hold power over their people. And those who order them around call themselves Protectors. 26But you must not be like that. Instead, the most important among you should be like the youngest. The one who rules should be like the one who serves.

27“Who is more important? Is it the one at the table, or the one who serves? Isn’t it the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28You have stood by me during my troubles. 29And I give you a kingdom, just as my Father gave me a kingdom. 30Then you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.

31“Simon, Simon! Satan has asked to sift you disciples like wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon. I have prayed that your faith will not fail. When you have turned back, help your brothers to be strong.”

33But Simon replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

34Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, you will say three times that you don’t know me. And you will do it before the rooster crows today.”

35Then Jesus asked the disciples, “Did you need anything when I sent you without a purse, bag or sandals?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

36He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it. And also take a bag. If you don’t have a sword, sell your coat and buy one. 37It is written, ‘He was counted among those who had committed crimes.’ (Isaiah 53:12) I tell you that what is written about me must come true. Yes, it is already coming true.”

38The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That is enough,” he replied.

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives. His disciples followed him. 40When they reached the place, Jesus spoke. “Pray that you won’t fall into sin when you are tempted,” he said to them.

41Then he went a short distance away from them. There he got down on his knees and prayed. 42He said, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup of suffering away from me. But do what you want, not what I want.”

43An angel from heaven appeared to Jesus and gave him strength. 44Because he was very sad and troubled, he prayed even harder. His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45After that, he got up from prayer and went back to the disciples. He found them sleeping. They were worn out because they were very sad.

46“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up! Pray that you won’t fall into sin when you are tempted.”

Jesus Is Arrested

47While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd came up. The man named Judas was leading them. He was one of the Twelve. Judas approached Jesus to kiss him.

48But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you handing over the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen. So they said, “Lord, should we use our swords against them?” 50One of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

51But Jesus answered, “Stop this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

52Then Jesus spoke to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders. They had all come for him. “Am I leading a band of armed men against you?” he asked. “Do you have to come with swords and clubs? 53Every day I was with you in the temple courtyard. And you didn’t lay a hand on me. But this is your hour. This is when darkness rules.”

Peter Says He Does Not Know Jesus

54Then the men arrested Jesus and led him away. They took him into the high priest’s house. Peter followed from far away. 55They started a fire in the middle of the courtyard. Then they sat down together. Peter sat down with them.

56A female servant saw him sitting there in the firelight. She looked closely at him. Then she said, “This man was with Jesus.”

57But Peter said he had not been with him. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

58A little later someone else saw Peter. “You also are one of them,” he said.

“No,” Peter replied. “I’m not!”

59About an hour later, another person spoke up. “This fellow must have been with Jesus,” he said. “He is from Galilee.”

60Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned and looked right at Peter. Then Peter remembered what the Lord had spoken to him. “The rooster will crow today,” Jesus had said. “Before it does, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” 62Peter went outside. He broke down and sobbed.

The Guards Make Fun of Jesus

63There were men guarding Jesus. They began laughing at him and beating him. 64They blindfolded him. They said, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65They also said many other things to make fun of him.

Jesus Is Brought to Pilate and Herod

66At dawn the elders of the people met together. These included the chief priests and the teachers of the law. Jesus was led to them. 67“If you are the Christ,” they said, “tell us.”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me. 68And if I asked you, you would not answer. 69But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”

70They all asked, “Are you the Son of God then?”

He replied, “You are right in saying that I am.”

71Then they said, “Why do we need any more witnesses? We have heard it from his own lips.”

23 Then the whole group got up and led Jesus off to Pilate. 2They began to bring charges against Jesus. They said, “We have found this man misleading our people. He is against paying taxes to Caesar. And he claims to be Christ, a king.”

3So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Yes. It is just as you say,” Jesus replied.

4Then Pilate spoke to the chief priests and the crowd. He announced, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

5But they kept it up. They said, “His teaching stirs up the people all over Judea. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

6When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was from Galilee. 7He learned that Jesus was from Herod’s area of authority. So Pilate sent Jesus to Herod. At that time Herod was also in Jerusalem.

8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very pleased. He had been wanting to see Jesus for a long time. He had heard much about him. He hoped to see Jesus do a miracle.

9Herod asked him many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there. With loud shouts they brought charges against him.

11Herod and his soldiers laughed at him and made fun of him. They dressed him in a beautiful robe. Then they sent him back to Pilate. 12That day Herod and Pilate became friends. Before this time they had been enemies.

13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people. 14He said to them, “You brought me this man. You said he was turning the people against the authorities. I have questioned him in front of you. I have found no basis for your charges against him. 15Herod hasn’t either. So he sent Jesus back to us. As you can see, Jesus has done nothing that is worthy of death. 16/17So I will just have him whipped and let him go.”

18With one voice the crowd cried out, “Kill this man! Give Barabbas to us!” 19Barabbas had been thrown into prison. He had taken part in a struggle in the city against the authorities. He had also committed murder.

20Pilate wanted to let Jesus go. So he made an appeal to the crowd again. 21But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22Pilate spoke to them for the third time. “Why?” he asked. “What wrong has this man done? I have found no reason to have him put to death. So I will just have him whipped and let him go.”

23But with loud shouts they kept calling for Jesus to be crucified. The people’s shouts won out.

24So Pilate decided to give them what they wanted. 25He set free the man they asked for. The man had been thrown in prison for murder and for fighting against the authorities. Pilate gave Jesus over to them so they could carry out their plans.

Jesus Is Nailed to a Cross

26As they led Jesus away, they took hold of Simon. Simon was from Cyrene. He was on his way in from the country. They put a wooden cross on his shoulders. Then they made him carry it behind Jesus.

27A large number of people followed Jesus. Some were women whose hearts were filled with sorrow. They cried loudly because of him.

28Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children. 29The time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the women who can’t have children! Blessed are those who never gave birth or nursed babies!’ 30It is written,

“ ‘The people will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”

They’ll say to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ (Hosea 10:8)

31People do these things when trees are green. So what will happen when trees are dry?”

32Two other men were also led out with Jesus to be killed. Both of them had broken the law. 33The soldiers brought them to the place called The Skull. There they nailed Jesus to the cross. He hung between the two criminals. One was on his right and one was on his left.

34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” The soldiers divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35The people stood there watching. The rulers even made fun of Jesus. They said, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

36The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him. They offered him wine vinegar. 37They said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38A written sign had been placed above him. It read, This Is the King of the Jews.

39One of the criminals hanging there made fun of Jesus. He said, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself! Save us!”

40But the other criminal scolded him. “Don’t you have any respect for God?” he said. “Remember, you are under the same sentence of death. 41We are being punished fairly. We are getting just what our actions call for. But this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”

42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43Jesus answered him, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Today you will be with me in paradise.”

Jesus Dies

44It was now about noon. The whole land was covered with darkness until three o’clock. 45The sun had stopped shining. The temple curtain was torn in two. 46Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my very life.” After he said this, he took his last breath.

47The Roman commander saw what had happened. He praised God and said, “Jesus was surely a man who did what was right.”

48The people had gathered to watch that sight. When they saw what happened, they beat their chests and went away. 49But all those who knew Jesus stood not very far away, watching those things. They included the women who had followed him from Galilee.

Jesus Is Buried

50A man named Joseph was a member of the Jewish Council. He was a good and honest man. 51He had not agreed with what the leaders had decided and done. He was from Arimathea, a town in Judea. He was waiting for God’s kingdom.

52Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53He took it down and wrapped it in linen cloth. Then he put it in a tomb cut in the rock. No one had ever been buried there. 54It was Preparation Day. The Sabbath was about to begin.

55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph. They saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was placed in it. 56Then they went home. There they prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath day in order to obey the Law.

Jesus Rises From the Dead

24 It was very early in the morning on the first day of the week. The women took the spices they had prepared. Then they went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from it. 3When they entered the tomb, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4They were wondering about this.

Suddenly two men in clothes as bright as lightning stood beside them. 5The women were terrified. They bowed down with their faces to the ground.

Then the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6Jesus is not here! He has risen! Remember how he told you he would rise. It was while he was still with you in Galilee. 7He said, ‘The Son of Man must be handed over to sinful people. He must be nailed to a cross. On the third day he will rise from the dead.’ ”

8Then the women remembered Jesus’ words.

9They came back from the tomb. They told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them were the ones who told the apostles. 11But the apostles did not believe the women. Their words didn’t make any sense to them.

12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent over and saw the strips of linen lying by themselves. Then he went away, wondering what had happened.

On the Road to Emmaus

13That same day two of Jesus’ followers were going to a village called Emmaus. It was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.

15As they talked about those things, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them. 16But God kept them from recognizing him.

17Jesus asked them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?”

They stood still, and their faces were sad. 18One of them was named Cleopas. He said to Jesus, “You must be a visitor to Jerusalem. If you lived there, you would know the things that have happened there in the last few days.”

19“What things?” Jesus asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet. He was powerful in what he said and did in the eyes of God and all of the people. 20The chief priests and our rulers handed Jesus over to be sentenced to death. They nailed him to a cross. 21But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to set Israel free. Also, it is the third day since all this happened.

22“Some of our women amazed us too. Early this morning they went to the tomb. 23But they didn’t find his body. So they came and told us what they had seen. They saw angels, who said Jesus was alive. 24Then some of our friends went to the tomb. They saw it was empty, just as the women had said. They didn’t see Jesus’ body there.”

25Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are! How long it takes you to believe all that the prophets said! 26Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and then receive his glory?”

27Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures. He began with Moses and all the Prophets.

28The two men approached the village where they were going. Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they tried hard to keep him from leaving. They said, “Stay with us. It is nearly evening. The day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30He joined them at the table. Then he took bread and gave thanks. He broke it and began to give it to them. 31Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. But then he disappeared from their sight.

32They said to each other, “He talked with us on the road. He opened the Scriptures to us. Weren’t our hearts burning inside us during that time?”

33They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them. They were all gathered together. 34They were saying, “It’s true! The Lord has risen! He has appeared to Simon!”

35Then the two of them told what had happened to them on the way. They told how they had recognized Jesus when he broke the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

36The disciples were still talking about this when Jesus himself suddenly stood among them. He said, “May peace be with you!”

37They were surprised and terrified. They thought they were seeing a ghost.

38Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do you have doubts in your minds? 39Look at my hands and my feet. It is really I! Touch me and see. A ghost does not have a body or bones. But you can see that I do.”

40After he said that, he showed them his hands and feet. 41But they still did not believe it. They were amazed and filled with joy.

So Jesus asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

42They gave him a piece of cooked fish. 43He took it and ate it in front of them.

44Jesus said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything written about me must happen. Everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms must come true.”

45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, “This is what is written. The Christ will suffer. He will rise from the dead on the third day. 47His followers will preach in his name. They will tell others to turn away from their sins and be forgiven. People from every nation will hear it, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You have seen these things with your own eyes.

49“I am going to send you what my Father has promised. But for now, stay in the city. Stay there until you have received power from heaven.”

Jesus Is Taken Up Into Heaven

50Jesus led his disciples out to the area near Bethany. Then he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them. He was taken up into heaven.

52Then they worshiped him. With great joy, they returned to Jerusalem. 53Every day they went to the temple, praising God.

John

The Word Became Human

1 In the beginning, the Word was already there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.

3All things were made through him. Nothing that has been made was made without him. 4Life was in him, and that life was the light for all people. 5The light shines in the darkness. But the darkness has not understood it.

6A man came who was sent from God. His name was John. 7He came to give witness about that light. He gave witness so that all people could believe.

8John himself was not the light. He came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

10The Word was in the world that was made through him. But the world did not recognize him. 11He came to what was his own. But his own people did not accept him.

12Some people did accept him. They believed in his name. He gave them the right to become children of God. 13To be a child of God has nothing to do with human parents. Children of God are not born because of human choice or because a husband wants them to be born. They are born because of what God does.

14The Word became a human being. He made his home with us. We have seen his glory. It is the glory of the one and only Son.

He came from the Father. And he was full of grace and truth.

15John gives witness about him. He cries out and says, “This was the one I was talking about. I said, ‘He who comes after me is more important than I am. He is more important because he existed before I was born.’ ”

16We have all received one blessing after another. God’s grace is not limited. 17Moses gave us the law. Jesus Christ has given us grace and truth.

18No one has ever seen God. But God, the one and only Son, is at the Father’s side. He has shown us what God is like.

John the Baptist Is Not the Christ

19The Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask John who he was. John gave witness to them. 20He did not try to hide the truth. He spoke to them openly. He said, “I am not the Christ.”

21They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet we’ve been expecting?” they asked.

“No,” he answered.

22They asked one last time, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23John replied, using the words of Isaiah the prophet. John said, “I’m the messenger who is calling out in the desert, ‘Make the way for the Lord straight.’ ” (Isaiah 40:3)

24Some Pharisees who had been sent 25asked him, “If you are not the Christ, why are you baptizing people? Why are you doing that if you aren’t Elijah or the Prophet we’ve been expecting?”

26“I baptize people with water,” John replied. “But One is standing among you whom you do not know. 27He is the One who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.”

28This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River. That was where John was baptizing.

Jesus Is the Lamb of God

29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, “Look! The Lamb of God! He takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the One I was talking about. I said, ‘A man who comes after me is more important than I am. That’s because he existed before I was born.’ 31I did not know him. But God wants to make it clear to Israel who this person is. That’s the reason I came baptizing with water.”

32Then John told them, “I saw the Holy Spirit come down from heaven like a dove. The Spirit remained on Jesus. 33I would not have known him. But the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘You will see the Spirit come down and remain on someone. He is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34I have seen it happen. I give witness that this is the Son of God.”

Jesus Chooses the First Disciples

35The next day John was again with two of his disciples. 36He saw Jesus walking by. John said, “Look! The Lamb of God!”

37The two disciples heard him say this. So they followed Jesus.

38Then Jesus turned around and saw them following. He asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Rabbi means Teacher.

39“Come,” he replied. “You will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying. They spent the rest of the day with him. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.

40Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother. Andrew was one of the two disciples who heard what John had said. He had also followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon. He told him, “We have found the Messiah.” Messiah means Christ. 42And he brought Simon to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas.” Cephas means Peter (or rock).

Jesus Chooses Philip and Nathanael

43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”

44Philip was from the town of Bethsaida. So were Andrew and Peter. 45Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One that Moses wrote about in the Law. The prophets also wrote about him. He is Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

47Jesus saw Nathanael approaching. Here is what Jesus said about him. “He is a true Israelite. There is nothing false in him.”

48“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree. I saw you there before Philip called you.”

49Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel.”

50Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”

51Then he said to the disciples, “What I’m about to tell you is true. You will see heaven open. You will see the angels of God going up and coming down on the Son of Man.”