Study Desk

For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me a drink.

"It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor."

But Jesus, aware of this, replied, "Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?

She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial.

From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?"

For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!"

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take this and eat it, for this is my body."

And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, "Each of you drink from it,

for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

On the way, Jesus told them, "Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!"

When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn't keep their eyes open.

Jesus said, "My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for." Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?

Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?"

Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death.

"I have sinned," he declared, "for I have betrayed an innocent man." "What do we care?" they retorted. "That's your problem."

The leading priests picked up the coins. "It wouldn't be right to put this money in the Temple treasury," they said, "since it was payment for murder."

After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter's field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners.