Luke

Plot to Kill Jesus

The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also known as the Passover, was quickly approaching, 

and the chief priests and the teachers of the law wanted to kill Jesus. They were searching for a way to do so because they were afraid of the people.

Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve,

and he went to discuss with the chief priests and the officers of the guard how to hand Jesus over to them. 

They were pleased and agreed to pay him money,

so he accepted, and from that moment he looked for an opportunity to betray him without the people knowing.

Then came the Feast of Unleavened Bread, during which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying: 

“Go and get everything ready for us to eat the Passover meal.” 

They asked him: 

“Where do you want us to prepare it?” 

And he said: 

“When you enter the city, a man will come to you carrying a jar of water. Follow him to the house he enters,

and tell the owner, ‘The master asks: Where is the room where I may have the Passover with my disciples?’

He will show you a large, furnished room upstairs, and there you will prepare for us.

Peter and John went out, and after confirming everything just as Jesus had said, they prepared the Passover meal.

When the hour arrived, Jesus took his place at the table with the apostles.

And he said to them:

“I was eager to share this Passover meal with you before I suffer; 

for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

Then they passed him a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said: 

“Take this, and share it among yourselves; 

for I tell you that, from now on, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 

Jesus also took bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it and handed it to them, saying: 

“This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 

And after the supper, he did the same with the cup, saying: 

“This cup is the new covenant, sealed in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Yet the hand of the traitor is with me on the table. 

 Know that the Son of Man is heading the way set out for him. But alas for that one who betrays him! 

They began to ask one another which of them could do such a thing.

They also started arguing among themselves about who should be considered the most important. 

Jesus said: 

“The kings of the pagan nations dominate them as lords, and those in authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’” 

But not so with you; instead, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves. 

For who is the greatest: the one who sits at the table, or the one who serves? Isn’t it the one who sits? However, I am among you as one who serves.

You are the ones who have been with me and stood by me through my troubles;

because of this, just as the kingship has been given to me by my Father, so I give it to you. 

You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones and govern the twelve tribes of Israel.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has demanded to sift you like grain, 

but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have recovered, you will strengthen your brothers.” 

Then Peter said:

“Lord, with you I am ready to go even to prison and death.” 

But Jesus replied: 

“I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day before you have denied three times that you know me.”

Jesus also said to them: 

“When I sent you without a purse, a bag, or sandals, were you short of anything?” 

They answered: 

“No.” 

And Jesus said to them: 

“But now, the one who has a purse or a bag must take it, or even his coat, and sell it to buy a sword.

For Scripture says: He was numbered among criminals. These words have to be fulfilled in me, and everything written about me is now taking place.”

Then they said: 

“See, Lord, here are two swords!” but Jesus answered, “That is enough.”

After this, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives as usual, and the disciples followed him. 

When he reached the place, he told them:

“Pray that you may not be put to the test.”

Then he moved a little further, about a stone’s throw away, and kneeling, he prayed:

“Father, if it is your will, remove this cup from me; however, not my will but yours be done.” 

[[And from heaven, there appeared to him an angel who gave him strength.

As he was in agony, he prayed even more earnestly, and great drops of blood formed like sweat and fell to the ground.]] 

When he rose from prayer, he went to his disciples but found them worn out with grief and asleep.

And he said to them:

“Why do you sleep? Get up and pray, so that you may not be put to the test.”

Jesus was still speaking when suddenly a crowd appeared, led by Judas, one of the Twelve. He moved closer to Jesus to kiss him, 

 and Jesus said to him: 

“Judas, with a kiss you betray the Son of Man?”

Those with Jesus, observing what would unfold, asked him: 

“Master, shall we use the sword?” 

And one of them struck the High Priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. 

But Jesus ordered him: 

“No more of this!” 

He touched the man’s ear and healed him. 

Then Jesus spoke to those who came against him, the chief priests, officers of the temple, and elders; and he said to them: 

“Are you looking for a thief, a robber? Do you really need swords and clubs to arrest me? 

Day after day, I was among you, teaching in the temple, and you did not arrest me. But this is the hour of the power of darkness; this is your hour.”

Then they grabbed him and took him to the High Priest’s house. Peter followed from a distance. 

A fire was lit in the center of the courtyard where people gathered, and Peter sat among them.

A maidservant noticed him. Gazing at him closely in the firelight, she exclaimed: 

“This man also was with him!” 

But he denied it, saying: 

“Woman, I do not know him!” 

A little later, someone who saw him said: 

“You are also one of them!” 

Peter replied: 

“My friend, I am not!” 

After about an hour, another claimed: 

“Surely this man was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

Again, Peter denied it: 

“My friend, I don’t know what you are talking about!” He had not finished saying this when a cock crowed. 

The Lord turned around and looked at Peter, and Peter remembered the word which the Lord had spoken: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”

Peter went outside, weeping bitterly.

Now the guards who had arrested Jesus mocked and beat him. 

They blindfolded him, hit him, and then asked, “Who hit you? Tell us, prophet!”

And they hurled many other insulting words at him.

At daybreak, the council of elders of the people, including the chief priests and teachers of the law, gathered again. Then they had Jesus brought before them and started questioning him:

“Tell us, are you the Christ?” 

Jesus replied: 

“You will not believe it if I tell you

, and neither will you answer if I ask you. 

But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of God’s power.

Together, they asked:

“So you are the Son of God?” 

Jesus responded: “You say that I am.”

Then they said: 

“What need do we have of witnesses? We have heard it from his own lips.”