Study Desk

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread and thanked God for it and broke it. Then he gave it to his followers and said, "Take it; this is my body."

Then Jesus took a cup and thanked God for it and gave it to the followers, and they all drank from the cup.

Then Jesus said, "This is my blood which is the new agreement that God makes with his people. This blood is poured out for many.

Then Jesus went back to his followers and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay awake with me for one hour?

Stay awake and pray for strength against temptation. The spirit wants to do what is right, but the body is weak."

After Jesus prayed a third time, he went back to his followers and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? That's enough. The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinful people.

Judas had planned a signal for them, saying, "The man I kiss is Jesus. Arrest him and guard him while you lead him away."

Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he freed Barabbas for them. After having Jesus beaten with whips, he handed Jesus over to the soldiers to be crucified.

They put a purple robe on Jesus and used thorny branches to make a crown for his head.

A man named Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was coming from the fields to the city. The soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross for Jesus.

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

Joseph from Arimathea was brave enough to go to Pilate and ask for Jesus' body. Joseph, an important member of the Jewish council, was one of the people who was waiting for the kingdom of God to come.

They said to each other, "Who will roll away for us the stone that covers the entrance of the tomb?"

But the man said, "Don't be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who has been crucified. He has risen from the dead; he is not here. Look, here is the place they laid him.

Since I myself have studied everything carefully from the beginning, most excellent Theophilus, it seemed good for me to write it out for you. I arranged it in order,

John will be a great man for the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer, and even from birth, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

He will go before the Lord in spirit and power like Elijah. He will make peace between parents and their children and will bring those who are not obeying God back to the right way of thinking, to make a people ready for the coming of the Lord."

Outside, the people were still waiting for Zechariah and were surprised that he was staying so long in the Temple.

Later, Zechariah's wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and did not go out of her house for five months. Elizabeth said,

"Look what the Lord has done for me! My people were ashamed of me, but now the Lord has taken away that shame."