Study Desk

After^(a) two days it was the Passover^(b) and the Festival^(c) of Unleavened Bread.^(d) The chief priests and the scribes^(e) were looking for a treacherous^(f) way to arrest and kill Him.^(g)

"Not during the festival," they said, "or there may be rioting among the people."

While^(h) He was in Bethany⁽ⁱ⁾ at the house of Simon who had a serious skin disease,^(j) as He was reclining at the table,^(k) a woman came with an alabaster jar of pure and expensive fragrant oil of nard. She broke the jar and poured it on His head.^(l)

But some were expressing indignation to one another: "Why has this fragrant oil been wasted?

For this oil might have been sold for more than 300 denarii^(m) and given to the poor."⁽ⁿ⁾ And they began to scold her.

Then Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing^(o) for Me.

You always have the poor^(p) with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have Me.^(q)

She has done what she could; she has anointed My body^(r) in advance for burial.^(s)

I assure you:^(t) Wherever the gospel^(u) is proclaimed in the whole world,^(v) what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her."

Then^(w) Judas Iscariot,^(x) one of the Twelve,^(y) went to the chief priests^(z) to hand Him over^(aa) to them.

And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him silver.^[a](ab) So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray^(ac) Him.

On^(ad) the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb,^(ae) His disciples^(af) asked Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare the Passover so You may eat it?"

So He sent two of His disciples and told them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him.

Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher^(ag) says, "Where is the guest room for Me to eat the Passover with My disciples?"'

He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there."

So the disciples^(ah) went out, entered the city, and found it just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

When^(ai) evening came, He arrived with the Twelve.^(aj)

While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, "I assure you: One of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me!"

They began to be distressed and to say to Him one by one, "Surely not I?"

He said to them, "It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping bread with Me in the bowl.

For the Son of Man^(ak) will go just as it is written^(al) about Him,^(am) but woe^(an) to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."

As^(ao) they were eating, He took bread,^(ap) blessed and broke^(aq) it, gave it to them,^(ar) and said, "Take it;^[b] this is My body." ^(as)

Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks,^(at) He gave it to them, and so they all drank from it.

He said to them, "This is My blood that establishes the covenant; ^[c](au) it is shed^(av) for many.^(aw)

I assure you:^(ax) I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine^(ay) until that day when I drink it in a new^(az) way^[d] in the kingdom of God." ^(ba)

After singing psalms,^[e] they went out to the Mount of Olives.^(bb)

Then^(bc) Jesus said to them, "All of you will run away, ^[f][g] because it is written: ^(bd) I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep ^(be) will be scattered. ^(bf)[h]

But after I have been resurrected,^(bg) I will go ahead of you to Galilee." ^(bh)

Peter^(bi) told Him, "Even if everyone runs away, I will certainly not!"

"I assure you," Jesus said to him, "today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times!" ^(bj)

But he kept insisting, "If I have to die with You, I will never deny You!" And they all said the same thing.