Study Desk

So Judas came straight to Jesus. "Greetings, Rabbi!" he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.

Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death.

When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders.

So the governor asked again, "Which of these two do you want me to release to you?" The crowd shouted back, "Barabbas!"

Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. The responsibility is yours!"

So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

"He saved others," they scoffed, "but he can't save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him!

He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.'"

One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink.

So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we'll be worse off than we were at first."

So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.

If the governor hears about it, we'll stand up for you so you won't get in trouble."

So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

John announced: "Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.

So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.

So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.

So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.

Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God's word to them,

They couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.

Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you question this in your hearts?