New Testament in a Year
22 And now the Passover celebration was drawing near—the Jewish festival when only bread made without yeast was used. 2 The chief priests and other religious leaders were actively plotting Jesus’ murder, trying to find a way to kill him without starting a riot—a possibility they greatly feared.
3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4 and he went over to the chief priests and captains of the Temple guards to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5 They were, of course, delighted to know that he was ready to help them and promised him a reward. 6 So he began to look for an opportunity for them to arrest Jesus quietly when the crowds weren’t around.
7 Now the day of the Passover celebration arrived, when the Passover lamb was killed and eaten with the unleavened bread. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to find a place to prepare their Passover meal.
9 “Where do you want us to go?” they asked.
10 And he replied, “As soon as you enter Jerusalem,[a] you will see a man walking along carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house he enters, 11 and say to the man who lives there, ‘Our Teacher says for you to show us the guest room where he can eat the Passover meal with his disciples.’ 12 He will take you upstairs to a large room all ready for us. That is the place. Go ahead and prepare the meal there.”
13 They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and prepared the Passover supper.
14 Then Jesus and the others arrived, and at the proper time all sat down together at the table; 15 and he said, “I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now that I won’t eat it again until what it represents has occurred in the Kingdom of God.”
17 Then he took a glass of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”
19 Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it apart and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Eat it in remembrance of me.”
20 After supper he gave them another glass of wine, saying, “This wine is the token of God’s new agreement to save you—an agreement sealed with the blood I shall pour out to purchase back your souls.[b] 21 But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. 22 I[c] must die. It is part of God’s plan. But, oh, the horror awaiting that man who betrays me.”
23 Then the disciples wondered among themselves which of them would ever do such a thing.
24 And they began to argue among themselves as to who would have the highest rank in the coming Kingdom.[d]
25 Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men order their slaves around, and the slaves have no choice but to like it![e] 26 But among you, the one who serves you best will be your leader. 27 Out in the world the master sits at the table and is served by his servants. But not here! For I am your servant. 28 Nevertheless, because you have stood true to me in these terrible days,[f] 29 and because my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I, here and now, grant you the right 30 to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.