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Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,

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and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.

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Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.

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And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.

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They were delighted and agreed to give him money.

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He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

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Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

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Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."

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"Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked.

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He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters,

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and say to the owner of the house, `The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'

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He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there."

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

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When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.

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And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

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For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the kingdom of God."

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After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you.

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For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

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And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

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In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

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But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.

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The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him."

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They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

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Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

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Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.

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But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.

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For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

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You are those who have stood by me in my trials.

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And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me,

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so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

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"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.

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But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

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But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."

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Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

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Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered.

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He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.

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It is written: `And he was numbered with the transgressors' ; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfilment."

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The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That is enough," he replied.

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Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.

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On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."

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He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,

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"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

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An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

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And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

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When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

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"Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

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While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him,

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but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

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When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?"

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And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

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But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.

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Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?

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Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour--when darkness reigns."

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Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.

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But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.

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A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."

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But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.

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A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied.

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About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."

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Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.

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The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."

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And he went outside and wept bitterly.

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The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him.

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They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?"

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And they said many other insulting things to him.

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At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them.

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"If you are the Christ, " they said, "tell us." Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me,

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and if I asked you, you would not answer.

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But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."

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They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied, "You are right in saying I am."

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Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips."

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