Readings for Lent and Easter
Jesus is arrested
39 So off they went. Jesus headed, as usual, for the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.
40 When he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you won’t come into the trial.”
41 He then withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down to pray.
42 “Father,” he said, “if you wish it—please take this cup away from me! But it must be your will, not mine.” 43 An angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 By now he was in agony, and he prayed very fervently. And his sweat became like clots of blood, falling on the ground. 45 Then he got up from praying, and came to the disciples and found them asleep because of sorrow.
46 “Why are you sleeping?” he said to them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t come into the trial.”
47 While he was still speaking, a crowd appeared. The man named Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas! Are you going to betray the son of man with a kiss?”
49 Jesus’ followers saw what was about to happen.
“Master!” they said. “Shall we go in with the swords?” 50 And one of them struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear.
51 “Enough of that!” said Jesus, and healed the ear with a touch.
52 Then Jesus spoke to the arresting party—the chief priests, the Temple guards, and the elders.
“Anyone would think I was a brigand,” he said, “seeing you coming out like this with swords and clubs! 53 Every day I’ve been in the Temple with you and you never laid hands on me. But your moment has come at last, and so has the power of darkness.”
Peter denies Jesus
54 So they arrested Jesus, took him off, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Peter followed at a distance. 55 They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter sat in among them.
56 A servant-girl saw him sitting by the fire. She stared hard at him. “This fellow was with him!” she said.
57 Peter denied it. “I don’t know him, woman,” he said.
58 After a little while another man saw him and said, “You’re one of them!”
“No, my friend, I’m not,” replied Peter.
59 After the space of about an hour, another man insisted, “It’s true! This man was with him; he’s a Galilean too!”
60 “My good fellow,” said Peter, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” And at once, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 The master turned and looked at Peter, and Peter called to mind the words the master had spoken to him: “Before the cock crows, this very day, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.