| 11: 1-11 |
Entry to Jerusalem |
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and
Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciplesand
said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as
you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been
ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, 'Why are you
doing this?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back
here immediately.'" They went away and found a colt tied near a door,
outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders
said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" They told them
what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought
the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it.
Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy
branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead
and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one
who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of
our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" Then he entered
Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around
at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with
the twelve. |
| 12: 18-27 |
The question about resurrection |
Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and
asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that 'if
a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry
the widow and raise up children for his brother.' There were seven
brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; and
the second married her and died, leaving no children; and the third
likewise; none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself
died. In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had
married her." Jesus said to them, "Is not this the reason you are
wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God?
For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given
in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being
raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about
the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is God not of the dead, but of the
living; you are quite wrong." |
| 12: 28-34 |
The Greatest Commandments Back 12: |
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another,
and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, "Which commandment
is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel:
the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind,
and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than
these." Then the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you
have truly said that 'he is one, and besides him there is no other';
and 'to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding,
and with all the strength,' and 'to love one's neighbor as oneself,'
- this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not
far from the kingdom of God." After that no one dared to ask him any
question. |
| 12: 41-44 |
The widow at the treasury |
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting
money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor
widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.
Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you,
this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing
to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance;
but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she
had to live on." |
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| 14: 12-25 |
The Last Supper |
On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is
sacrificed, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go
and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?" So he sent
two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go into the city, and a man
carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he
enters, say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks, Where is
my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He
will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations
for us there." So the disciples set out and went to the city, and
found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover
meal. When it was evening, he came with the twelve. And when they
had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, "Truly I tell
you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." They began
to be distressed and to say to him one after another, "Surely, not
I?" He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping
bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written
of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It
would have been better for that one not to have been born." While
they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he
broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." Then
he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all
of them drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again
drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new
in the kingdom of God." |
| 14: 26-31, 66-72 |
Peter's promise and denial |
When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
And Jesus said to them, "You will all become deserters; for it is
written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." Peter
said to him, "Even though all become deserters, I will not." Jesus
said to him, "Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before
the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." But he said
vehemently, "Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you."
And all of them said the same.
....... While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls
of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself,
she stared at him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the man from
Nazareth." But he denied it, saying, "I do not know or understand
what you are talking about." And he went out into the forecourt.
Then the cock crowed. And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began
again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them." But again
he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said
to Peter, "Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean."
But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, "I do not know this
man you are talking about." At that moment the cock crowed for the
second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, "Before
the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke
down and wept. |
| 14: 32-52 |
Gethsemane |
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples,
"Sit here while I pray." He took with him Peter and James and John,
and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, "I am
deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake." And going
a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that,
if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, "Abba,
Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me;
yet, not what I want, but what you want." He came and found them sleeping;
and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake
one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time
of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." And
again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more
he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and
they did not know what to say to him. He came a third time and said
to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The
hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand." Immediately,
while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and
with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests,
the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign,
saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away
under guard." So when he came, he went up to him at once and said,
"Rabbi!" and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and arrested
him. But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the
slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to
them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though
I were a bandit? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching,
and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled." All
of them deserted him and fled. A certain young man was following him,
wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he
left the linen cloth and ran off naked. |
| 14: 53-65 |
The Trial before the High Priest |
They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the
elders, and the scribes were assembled. Peter had followed him at
a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was
sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire. Now the chief
priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus
to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave false testimony
against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and
gave false testimony against him, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will
destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will
build another, not made with hands.'" But even on this point their
testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them
and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify
against you?" But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high
priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"
Jesus said, "I am; and 'you will see the Son of Man seated at the
right hand of the Power,' and 'coming with the clouds of heaven.'"
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "Why do we still need
witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?" All
of them condemned him as deserving death. Some began to spit on him,
to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, "Prophesy!" The
guards also took him over and beat him. |
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| 15: 1-20 |
The Roman Trial, and mocking |
As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation
with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus,
led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him, "Are
you the King of the Jews?" He answered him, "You say so." Then the
chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again,
"Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you."
But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed. Now at
the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom
they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels
who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came
and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then
he answered them, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the
Jews?" For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief
priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the
crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke
to them again, "Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call
the King of the Jews?" They shouted back, "Crucify him!" Pilate asked
them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more,
"Crucify him!" So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas
for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is,
the governor's headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort.
And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns
into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, "Hail,
King of the Jews!" They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him,
and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped
him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they
led him out to crucify him. |
| 15: 21-41 |
The Crucifixion |
They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country,
to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander
and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which
means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with
myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided
his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.
It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription
of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews." And with him
they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left.
Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha!
You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save
yourself, and come down from the cross!" In the same way the chief
priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves
and saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah,
the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see
and believe." Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in
the afternoon. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice,
"Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why
have you forsaken me?" When some of the bystanders heard it, they
said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah." And someone ran, filled
a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to
drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take
him down." Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the
curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when
the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed
his last, he said, "Truly this man was God's Son!" There were also
women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene,
and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.
These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee;
and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. |
| 15: 42-47 |
The Burial |
When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation,
that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected
member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for
the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of
Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning
the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time.
When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the
body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down
the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that
had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the
door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw
where the body was laid. |
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