New Testament in a Year
26 As they were eating, Jesus took a small loaf of bread and blessed it and broke it apart and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take it and eat it, for this is my body.”
27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks for it and gave it to them and said, “Each one drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, sealing the new covenant. It is poured out to forgive the sins of multitudes. 29 Mark my words—I will not drink this wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight you will all desert me. For it is written in the Scriptures[a] that God will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. 32 But after I have been brought back to life again, I will go to Galilee and meet you there.”
33 Peter declared, “If everyone else deserts you, I won’t.”
34 Jesus told him, “The truth is that this very night, before the cock crows at dawn, you will deny me three times!”
35 “I would die first!” Peter insisted. And all the other disciples said the same thing.
36 Then Jesus brought them to a garden grove, Gethsemane, and told them to sit down and wait while he went on ahead to pray. 37 He took Peter with him and Zebedee’s two sons James and John, and began to be filled with anguish and despair.
38 Then he told them, “My soul is crushed with horror and sadness to the point of death . . . stay here . . . stay awake with me.”
39 He went forward a little, and fell face downward on the ground, and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup be taken away from me. But I want your will, not mine.”
40 Then he returned to the three disciples and found them asleep. “Peter,” he called, “couldn’t you even stay awake with me one hour? 41 Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For the spirit indeed is willing, but how weak the body is!”
42 Again he left them and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot go away until I drink it all, your will be done.”
43 He returned to them again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy, 44 so he went back to prayer the third time, saying the same things again.
45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Sleep on now and take your rest . . . but no! The time has come! I am[b] betrayed into the hands of evil men! 46 Up! Let’s be going! Look! Here comes the man who is betraying me!”
47 At that very moment while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived with a great crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the Jewish leaders. 48 Judas had told them to arrest the man he greeted, for that would be the one they were after. 49 So now Judas came straight to Jesus and said, “Hello, Master!” and embraced[c] him in friendly fashion.
50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed him.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.