Religious Leaders Plot to Kill Jesus

Now it was two days before the feast of the Passover and Unleavened Bread, and the leading priests and Scribes were looking for a way to lure Jesus into being captured so they could kill Him. But they said, “Not at the feast, or the people may riot.”

He was staying in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper. And while He was at the table, a woman came in with an alabaster vial of pure nard ointment. Very expensive. She broke open the alabaster vial, and poured it on His head.

Now some became outraged among themselves, saying, “Why was this ointment wasted? It could’ve been sold for over three hundred denarii [about 300 day's wages, or $20,000 today], and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her.

But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you causing her trouble? She has done a good thing to Me. You will always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.

“What she was able to do, she has done. She has anointed My body for burial ahead of time. I tell you the truth, wherever this Good News is proclaimed, in all the world, what she has done will also be told, as a memorial to her.”

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles, left and went to the ruling priests, in order to betray Jesus to them. They celebrated this news, and promised to give him silver. So he looked for some convenient way to betray Him.

Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb, His disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for the Passover meal?”

So He sent two of His disciples, telling them, “Go into Jerusalem, and you’ll meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him. And whatever place he enters, tell the head of the house, “The Teacher says, ‘Where is the guestroom where I may eat the Passover meal with My disciples?’ And he’ll show you a big upstairs room, already furnished. You can prepare there for us.”

Then His disciples went out, and entered the city, and found everything to be just as He had said. So they set up for the Passover.

That evening, He arrived with the twelve apostles. When they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray Me. One who is eating with Me now.”

This distressed them, and they began to say to Him one by one, “Certainly, not I?” And another, “It can’t be me, can it?

But He told them, “It is one of you twelve who dips bread in the dish with Me. The Son of Man will certainly go as it has been written about Him. But woe to the one who betrays the Son of Man! It would’ve been better for him not to have been born!”

Then while they ate, Jesus took bread and blessed it. He broke it and gave some to each of them, saying, “Take and eat this, it is My body.”

And taking the cup, and giving thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. Then He said to them, “This is My blood, the blood of the New Covenant which is poured out for many. I tell you the truth, I’ll not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the day I drink it fresh and new in God’s kingdom.”

Then after they sang a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

And Jesus told them, “All of you will turn away from Me tonight. For it is written, ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Then Peter said to Him, “Even if everyone else rejects You, I won’t.”

But Jesus told him, “I tell you the truth, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you’ll deny Me three times.”

Yet Peter insisted again and again, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You!” And everyone else said the same.

Jesus Admits He is Messiah

Then they reached a place that is called Gethsemane [meaning oil press], and He told His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” But He took Peter, James and John with Him. Then He began to be overcome with dread and very great distress.

He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved — to the point of death! Stay here and watch!” Going a little beyond them, He fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, this hour might pass from Him, saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me! Yet not according to My will, but Your will be done.”

Then He returned and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you stand strong for one hour to keep watch? Stay alert, and pray that you will not enter into temptation! The spirit is truly ready, but the flesh is weak.”

Then He went and prayed again, saying the same things. When He came back, He found them sleeping again, for their eyes were heavy. And they didn’t know what to say to Him.

When He returned the third time, He told them, “Sleep on now and get your rest. It is enough. The moment has arrived...

“Listen! The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners! Get up! Let’s go. Look, the betrayer is here!”

Suddenly, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived. And with him was a large mob armed with swords and clubs, sent by the ruling priests, Scribes, and elders.

Now the betrayer had given the mob a signal, saying, “The one I greet with a kiss, He’s the one. Grab Him, and lead Him away under guard.” So when he got there, Judas walked straight up to Jesus, saying, “Rabbi! Rabbi! And he made a big show of kissing Him. Then they grabbed Jesus, holding Him firmly. But one man, a disciple standing close to Jesus, drew a sword and hit the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear.

Then Jesus asked them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as though chasing a robber, to capture Me? I stood among you every day, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest Me. But this is happening in order to fulfill the Scriptures.” At that point the disciples all deserted Him, running away.

Now a certain young man who was wearing only a linen sleeping garment had followed Him [out to the garden]. So when the young men in the mob grabbed him, he left the garment behind and escaped them naked.

Then they hauled Jesus away to the high priest. And all the ruling priests, the elders, and the Scribes assembled with him. Peter also followed Jesus at a distance, going as far as the high priest’s courtyard. There he sat among the servants, warming himself by the fire.

Now the leading priests, along with the whole Sanhedrin, tried to gather testimony against Jesus, anything that would justify a death penalty. But they found nothing. Many offered false testimony against Him, but their statements didn’t agree. Some even stood up, testifying falsely against Him, saying, “We heard Him say ‘I’ll destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days’ time, I’ll build another one, not made with hands.’” But even these statements were not in agreement.

Then the high priest stood up in the middle, and interrogated Jesus, saying, “Don’t You have anything to say? What about the things they’re testifying against You?” But He remained silent, answering none of the questions.

So again the high priest interrogated him, asking Him, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Jesus Sentenced

Then the high priest ripped his own clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You heard the blasphemy! What does it look like to you?” And they all judged Him to be worthy of death. Then some of them began to spit on Him. And they covered His face and hit Him with their fists, saying, “Prophesy!” Even the officers who took charge of Him struck Him.

While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s servant girls came along. She saw Peter by the fire. After looking at him, she said, “You were also with that Nazarene. With Jesus.”

But he denied it, saying, “I don’t know Him. What are you talking about?” Then he went out to the front entryway. And a rooster crowed.

When she saw him again, the girl started telling the people standing around, “That’s one of the disciples!” But Peter again denied it. Then, a little later, those who stood near said again to Peter, “You really are one of them! Even the way you talk gives you away as a Galilean.”

Peter began to curse, swearing at them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” And immediately a rooster crowed for the second time. Then he remembered what Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows twice, you’ll deny me three times.” And thinking about this, he broke down and wept.

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