Study Desk

So Judas led a group of soldiers to the garden, along with some guards from the leading priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons.

Jesus already knew everything that would happen to him. So he went out and asked them, "Who are you looking for?"

Jesus said, "I told you that I am Jesus. So if you are looking for me, let these other men go free."

Simon Peter and another one of Jesus' followers went with Jesus. This follower knew the high priest. So he went with Jesus into the yard of the high priest's house.

It was cold, so the servants and guards had built a fire. They were standing around it, warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them.

So why do you question me? Ask the people who heard my teaching. They know what I said."

So Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas the high priest. He was still tied.

So Pilate went outside to them and asked, "What do you say this man has done wrong?"

Jesus said, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jewish leaders. No, my kingdom is not an earthly one."

Pilate said, "So you are a king." Jesus answered, "You are right to say that I am a king. I was born for this: to tell people about the truth. That is why I came into the world. And everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me."

So he went back inside the palace and asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer him.

Jesus answered, "The only power you have over me is the power given to you by God. So the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

After this, Pilate tried to let Jesus go free. But the Jewish leaders shouted, "Anyone who makes himself a king is against Caesar. So if you let this man go free, that means you are not Caesar's friend."

So Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be killed on a cross. The soldiers took Jesus.

So the soldiers said to each other, "We should not tear this into parts. Let's throw lots to see who will get it." This happened to make clear the full meaning of what the Scriptures say: "They divided my clothes among them, and they threw lots for what I was wearing." So the soldiers did this.

Then he said to the follower, "Here is your mother." So after that, this follower took Jesus' mother to live in his home.

There was a jar full of sour wine there, so the soldiers soaked a sponge in it. They put the sponge on a branch of a hyssop plant and lifted it to Jesus' mouth.

This day was Preparation day. The next day was a special Sabbath day. The Jewish leaders did not want the bodies to stay on the cross on the Sabbath day. So they asked Pilate to order that the legs of the men be broken. And they asked that the bodies be taken down from the crosses.

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men on the crosses beside Jesus.

But when the soldiers came close to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead. So they did not break his legs.