New Testament in a Year

The Chief Priests and Scribes Plot to Kill Jesus

22 Now the feast of Unleavened Bread (which is called Passover) was drawing near. ² And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they could destroy him, because they were afraid of the people.

Judas Arranges to Betray Jesus

³ And Satan entered into Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. ⁴ And he went away and^[a] discussed with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard how he could betray him to them. ⁵ And they were delighted, and came to an agreement with him to give him^[b] money. ⁶ And he agreed, and began looking^[c] for a favorable opportunity to betray him to them apart from the crowd.

Jesus’ Final Passover with the Disciples

⁷ And the day of the feast of Unleavened Bread came, on which it was necessary for the Passover lamb to be sacrificed. ⁸ And he sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and^[d] prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.^{[e] 9} So they said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”^{[f] 10} And he said to them, “Behold, when^[g] you have entered into the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters. ¹¹ And you will say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ ¹² And he will show you a large furnished^[h] upstairs room. Make preparations there.” ¹³ So they went and^[i] found everything^[j] just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

The Lord’s Supper

¹⁴ And when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired^[k] to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you that I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ¹⁷ And he took in hand a cup, and^[l] after^[m] giving thanks he said, “Take this and share it^[n] among yourselves. ¹⁸ For I tell you,^[o] from now on I will not drink of the product of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ And he took bread, and^[p] after^[q] giving thanks, he broke it^[r] and gave it^[s] to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰ And in the same way the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you.

²¹ “But behold, the hand of the one who is betraying me is with me on the table! ²² For the Son of Man is going according to what has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” ²³ And they began to debate with one another who then of them it could be who was going to do this.

A Dispute About Who Is Greatest

²⁴ And a dispute also occurred among them as to which of them was recognized as being greatest. ²⁵ So he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles^[t] lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called benefactors. ²⁶ But you are not to be like this! But the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am in your midst as the one who serves.

²⁸ “And you are the ones who have remained^[u] with me in my trials, ²⁹ and I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred on me, ³⁰ that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.