Category: Luke

[21:29] Then Jesus told them this parable: “Think of the fig tree and all the other trees.

[21:30] When you see their leaves beginning to appear, you know that summer is near.

[21:31] In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that the Kingdom of God is about to come.

[21:32] “Remember that all these things will take place before the people now living have all died.

[21:33] Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

[21:34] “Be careful not to let yourselves become occupied with too much feasting and drinking and with the worries of this life, or that Day may suddenly catch you

[21:35] like a trap. For it will come upon all people everywhere on earth.

[21:36] Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

[21:37] Jesus spent those days teaching in the Temple, and when evening came, he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives.

[21:38] Early each morning all the people went to the Temple to listen to him.

[22:1] The time was near for the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover.

[22:2] The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were afraid of the people, and so they were trying to find a way of putting Jesus to death secretly.

[22:3] Then Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples.

[22:4] So Judas went off and spoke with the chief priests and the officers of the Temple guard about how he could betray Jesus to them.

[22:5] They were pleased and offered to pay him money.

[22:6] Judas agreed to it and started looking for a good chance to hand Jesus over to them without the people knowing about it.

[22:7] The day came during the Festival of Unleavened Bread when the lambs for the Passover meal were to be killed.

[22:8] Jesus sent Peter and John with these instructions: “Go and get the Passover meal ready for us to eat.”

[22:9] “Where do you want us to get it ready?” they asked him.

[22:10] He answered, “As you go into the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters,

[22:11] and say to the owner of the house: ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the room where my disciples and I will eat the Passover meal?’

[22:12] He will show you a large furnished room upstairs, where you will get everything ready.”

[22:13] They went off and found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

[22:14] When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table with the apostles.

[22:15] He said to them, “I have wanted so much to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer!

[22:16] For I tell you, I will never eat it until it is given its full meaning in the Kingdom of God.”

[22:17] Then Jesus took a cup, gave thanks to God, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.

[22:18] I tell you that from now on I will not drink this wine until the Kingdom of God comes.”

[22:19] Then he took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.”

[22:20] In the same way, he gave them the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup is God's new covenant sealed with my blood, which is poured out for you.

[22:21] “But, look! The one who betrays me is here at the table with me!

[22:22] The Son of Man will die as God has decided, but how terrible for that man who betrays him!”

[22:23] Then they began to ask among themselves which one of them it could be who was going to do this.

[22:24] An argument broke out among the disciples as to which one of them should be thought of as the greatest.

[22:25] Jesus said to them, “The kings of the pagans have power over their people, and the rulers claim the title ‘Friends of the People.’

[22:26] But this is not the way it is with you; rather, the greatest one among you must be like the youngest, and the leader must be like the servant.

[22:27] Who is greater, the one who sits down to eat or the one who serves? The one who sits down, of course. But I am among you as one who serves.

[22:28] “You have stayed with me all through my trials;

[22:29] and just as my Father has given me the right to rule, so I will give you the same right.

[22:30] You will eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and you will sit on thrones to rule over the twelve tribes of Israel.

[22:31] “Simon, Simon! Listen! Satan has received permission to test all of you, to separate the good from the bad, as a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff.

[22:32] But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers.”

[22:33] Peter answered, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you and to die with you!”

[22:34] “I tell you, Peter,” Jesus said, “the rooster will not crow tonight until you have said three times that you do not know me.”

[22:35] Then Jesus asked his disciples, “When I sent you out that time without purse, bag, or shoes, did you lack anything?” “Not a thing,” they answered.

[22:36] “But now,” Jesus said, “whoever has a purse or a bag must take it; and whoever does not have a sword must sell his coat and buy one.

[22:37] For I tell you that the scripture which says, ‘He shared the fate of criminals,’ must come true about me, because what was written about me is coming true.”

[22:38] The disciples said, “Look! Here are two swords, Lord!” “That is enough!” he replied.

[22:39] Jesus left the city and went, as he usually did, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples went with him.

[22:40] When he arrived at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”

[22:41] Then he went off from them about the distance of a stone's throw and knelt down and prayed.

[22:42] “Father,” he said, “if you will, take this cup of suffering away from me. Not my will, however, but your will be done.”

[22:43] An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

[22:44] In great anguish he prayed even more fervently; his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

[22:45] Rising from his prayer, he went back to the disciples and found them asleep, worn out by their grief.

[22:46] He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation.”