Study Desk

During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this. It is my body."

Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He gave it to his disciples, and they all drank some.

Then he said, "This is my blood, which is poured out for many people, and with it God makes his agreement.

Jesus said to his disciples, "All of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'

Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he told them, "Sit here while I pray."

Someone standing there pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

At once the high priest ripped his robe apart and shouted, "Why do we need more witnesses?

Pilate wanted to please the crowd. So he set Barabbas free. Then he ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus with a whip and nail him to a cross.

They put a purple robe on him, and on his head they placed a crown that they had made out of thorn branches.

When the soldiers had finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the purple robe. They put his own clothes back on him and led him off to be nailed to a cross.

They nailed Jesus to a cross and gambled to see who would get his clothes.

The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left.

Some women were looking on from a distance. They had come with Jesus to Jerusalem. But even before this they had been his followers and had helped him while he was in Galilee. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joseph were two of these women. Salome was also one of them.

The man said, "Don't be alarmed! You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who was nailed to a cross. God has raised him to life, and he isn't here. You can see the place where they put his body.

Now go and tell his disciples, and especially Peter, that he will go ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you."

Very early on the first day of the week, after Jesus had risen to life, he appeared to Mary Magdalene. Earlier he had forced seven demons out of her. She left and told his friends, who were crying and mourning.

Afterwards, Jesus appeared to his eleven disciples as they were eating. He scolded them because they were too stubborn to believe the ones who had seen him after he had been raised to life.

Then the disciples left and preached everywhere. The Lord was with them, and the miracles they worked proved that their message was true. The women quickly told Peter and his friends what had happened. Later, Jesus sent the disciples to the east and to the west with his sacred and everlasting message of how people can be saved forever.

When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest by the name of Zechariah from the priestly group of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was from the family of Aaron.

His birth will make you very happy, and many people will be glad.