Study Desk

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."

But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest's slave, slashing off his ear.

Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, "Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy.

Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: "Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night."

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!"

And all the people yelled back, "We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!"

They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, "Hail! King of the Jews!"

When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.

He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left.

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."

His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.

He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you."

And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.

They told the soldiers, "You must say, ‘Jesus' disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.'

Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.