Study Desk

Then Jesus went back to his followers and said, "Are you still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinful people.

When that happened, one of Jesus' followers reached for his sword and pulled it out. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

Judas, the one who had given Jesus to his enemies, saw that they had decided to kill Jesus. Then he was very sorry for what he had done. So he took the thirty silver coins back to the priests and the leaders,

The leading priests picked up the silver coins in the Temple and said, "Our law does not allow us to keep this money with the Temple money, because it has paid for a man's death."

But the leading priests and elders convinced the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be freed and for Jesus to be killed.

Pilate said, "I have Barabbas and Jesus. Which do you want me to set free for you?" The people answered, "Barabbas."

All the people answered, "We and our children will be responsible for his death."

As the soldiers were going out of the city with Jesus, they forced a man from Cyrene, named Simon, to carry the cross for Jesus.

At noon the whole country became dark, and the darkness lasted for three hours.

Joseph went to Pilate and asked to have Jesus' body. So Pilate gave orders for the soldiers to give it to Joseph.

So give the order for the tomb to be guarded closely till the third day. Otherwise, his followers might come and steal the body and tell people that he has risen from the dead. That lie would be even worse than the first one."

The angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus, who has been crucified.

"This is a voice of one who calls out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord. Make the road straight for him.'" Isaiah 40:3

John was baptizing people in the desert and preaching a baptism of changed hearts and lives for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus said to them, "Come follow me, and I will make you fish for people."

Simon and his friends went to look for Jesus.

When they found him, they said, "Everyone is looking for you!"

Jesus felt sorry for the man, so he reached out his hand and touched him and said, "I will. Be healed!"

"Don't tell anyone about this. But go and show yourself to the priest. And offer the gift Moses commanded for people who are made well. This will show the people what I have done."

Now the followers of John and the Pharisees often fasted for a certain time. Some people came to Jesus and said, "Why do John's followers and the followers of the Pharisees often fast, but your followers don't?"