Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

When Jesus had finished teaching his disciples, he said to them, "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and I will be handed over to be crucified. This has been written about me in the scriptures."

The chief priests, scribes, and elders of the people conspired against him at the palace of Caiaphas, who was called the high priest. They planned to seize Jesus by stealth and put him to death. But they said, "Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people."

Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper. A woman came to him with a very precious ointment and poured it on his head as he sat at table. When his disciples saw this, they were indignant and said, "What is the point of all this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor."

Jesus understood their question, but he said to them, "Why are you troubling this woman? For she has done a good work on me. You will always have the poor with you, but I will not be with you forever. In that she has poured this ointment on my body, she has prepared me for burial."

Wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what this woman did will be remembered in her honor. One of Jesus' twelve apostles, Judas Iscariot, secretly went to the chief priests and agreed with them that he would hand Jesus over in exchange for thirty pieces of silver.

The next day was a special festival, known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jesus' disciples asked him where they should prepare for the Passover meal. He told them to go into the city and say to a certain man, "The Teacher says, 'My time is near; I will eat the Passover with my disciples at your house.'"

When evening came, Jesus sat down with his twelve apostles. As they were eating, he said to them, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." They became deeply sorrowful and each asked him if it could be them. He replied, "The person who dips his hand in the dish with me is the one who will betray me."

Jesus then told them that the scriptures had predicted that he would suffer and die, but woe to the one who betrayed him – it would have been better for that person never to have been born. Judas, the apostle who was about to betray Jesus, asked if it was him. Jesus replied, "You have spoken."

As they continued eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and said a blessing over it. He broke the bread into pieces and gave them to his disciples, saying, "Take this; eat it – this is my body." He also took a cup of wine and handed it to them, saying, "Drink from this all of you; for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins."

Jesus told them that he would not drink this cup again until they joined him in his Father's kingdom. After they finished eating, Jesus and his disciples went to the Mount of Olives where he said to them, "You will all be offended because of me tonight: it is written that I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will scatter."

Peter replied, "I would never abandon you, even if everyone else does." But Jesus told him, "Before the cock crows this night, you will deny knowing me three times." Peter insisted, "Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you." The other disciples echoed his words.

Jesus led them to a place called Gethsemane and asked them to sit while he went to pray. He took Peter, James, and John with him, but they fell asleep as Jesus prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup cannot pass from me without my drinking it, your will be done."

Jesus came back to his disciples, found them sleeping again, and told Peter, "Couldn't you have stayed awake with me for just one hour?" He urged them to watch and pray. After a third time of praying, Jesus went to his disciples and said, "Rest now; but look – the time has come when the Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of sinners."

As he spoke, Judas arrived with a group of armed men from the chief priests and elders. Judas had agreed to identify Jesus by kissing him. As soon as he did this, they seized Jesus.

One of Jesus' companions drew his sword and struck one of the high priest's servants, cutting off his ear. Jesus told him, "Put your sword away; all who take up a sword will die by the sword." He then said to the crowd that had come with Judas, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me? I have been teaching in the temple every day."

Jesus was led away to the high priest's palace where Caiaphas, the chief priests, scribes, and elders were waiting for him. Peter followed at a distance but went inside when they arrived.

The high priest asked Jesus if he had any answer to the false charges brought against him by two witnesses who testified that Jesus said he could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. Jesus remained silent. The high priest then asked him directly if he was the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus replied, "You have spoken the truth; but from now on you will see me seated at the right hand of power and coming in the clouds."

The high priest tore his robes and shouted that Jesus had committed blasphemy. They decided there was no need for further witnesses, as they had heard enough. The council found Jesus guilty of death.

Jesus was spat upon, struck, and mocked by those who held him captive. Meanwhile, Peter sat outside the palace, and a maid approached him, saying, "You were with Jesus of Nazareth." Peter denied knowing Jesus three times before the crowd, even after being confronted about his speech betraying him. When he finally realized what had happened, he wept bitterly.

As the night went on, Jesus was taken to various locations, questioned by different officials, and subjected to physical abuse. Despite his suffering, he remained steadfast in his faith and love for God.