Study Desk

Jesus told the people this story: A man once planted a vineyard and rented it out. Then he left the country for a long time.

When it was time to harvest the crop, he sent a servant to ask the renters for his share of the grapes. But they beat up the servant and sent him away without anything.

When the renters saw the owner's son, they said to one another, "Someday he will own the vineyard. Let's kill him! Then we can have it all for ourselves."

until I make your enemies into a footstool for you.'

It will be an awful time for women who are expecting babies or nursing young children! Everywhere in the land people will suffer horribly and be punished.

The chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus, because they were afraid of what the people might do.

He agreed and started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus when the crowds were not around.

The day had come for the Festival of Thin Bread, and it was time to kill the Passover lambs.

So Jesus said to Peter and John, "Go and prepare the Passover meal for us to eat."

The owner will take you upstairs and show you a large room ready for you to use. Prepare the meal there."

When the time came for Jesus and the apostles to eat,

Jesus took some bread in his hands and gave thanks for it. He broke the bread and handed it to his apostles. Then he said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this as a way of remembering me!"

After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, "This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement.

The Son of Man will die in the way that has been decided for him, but it will be terrible for the one who betrays him!"

For a long time Herod had wanted to see Jesus and was very happy because he finally had this chance. He had heard many things about Jesus and hoped to see him work a miracle.

Pilate spoke to them a third time, "But what crime has he done? I have not found him guilty of anything for which he should be put to death. I will have him beaten with a whip and set free."

The people kept on shouting as loud as they could for Jesus to be put to death.

He freed the man who was in jail for rioting and murder, because he was the one the crowd wanted to be set free. Then Pilate handed Jesus over for them to do what they wanted with him.

A large crowd was following Jesus, and in the crowd a lot of women were crying and weeping for him.

Jesus turned to the women and said: Women of Jerusalem, don't cry for me! Cry for yourselves and for your children.