Luke 22:1-46

A Plot To Kill Jesus

 ¹The Festival of Thin Bread, also called Passover, was near. ²The chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus, because they were afraid of what the people might do. ³Then Satan entered the heart of Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve apostles. ⁴Judas went to talk with the chief priests and the officers of the temple police about how he could help them arrest Jesus. ⁵They were very pleased and offered to pay Judas some money. ⁶He agreed and started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus when the crowds were not around.

   

Jesus Eats with His Disciples

 ⁷The day had come for the Festival of Thin Bread, and it was time to kill the Passover lambs. ⁸So Jesus said to Peter and John, "Go and prepare the Passover meal for us to eat."

    ⁹But they asked, "Where do you want us to prepare it?"

    ¹⁰Jesus told them, "As you go into the city, you will meet a man carrying a jar of water. Follow him into the house ¹¹and say to the owner, `Our teacher wants to know where he can eat the Passover meal with his disciples.' ¹²The owner will take you upstairs and show you a large room ready for you to use. Prepare the meal there." ¹³Peter and John left. They found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

   

The Lord's Supper

 ¹⁴When the time came for Jesus and the apostles to eat, ¹⁵he said to them, "I have very much wanted to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer. ¹⁶I tell you that I will not eat another Passover meal until it is finally eaten in God's kingdom."

    ¹⁷Jesus took a cup of wine in his hands and gave thanks to God. Then he told the apostles, "Take this wine and share it with each other. ¹⁸I tell you that I will not drink any more wine until God's kingdom comes."

    ¹⁹Jesus took some bread in his hands and gave thanks for it. He broke the bread and handed it to his apostles. Then he said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this as a way of remembering me!"

    ²⁰After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, "This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement. ²¹The one who will betray me is here at the table with me! ²²The Son of Man will die in the way that has been decided for him, but it will be terrible for the one who betrays him!"

    ²³Then the apostles started arguing about who would ever do such a thing.

   

An Argument about Greatness

 ²⁴The apostles got into an argument about which one of them was the greatest. ²⁵So Jesus told them:

   Foreign kings order their people around, and powerful rulers call themselves everyone's friends. ²⁶But don't be like them. The most important one of you should be like the least important, and your leader should be like a servant. ²⁷Who do people think is the greatest, a person who is served or one who serves? Isn't it the one who is served? But I have been with you as a servant. ²⁸You have stayed with me in all my troubles. ²⁹So I will give you the right to rule as kings, just as my Father has given me the right to rule as a king. ³⁰You will eat and drink with me in my kingdom, and you will each sit on a throne to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

   

Jesus' Disciples Will Be Tested

 ³¹Jesus said, "Simon, listen to me! Satan has demanded the right to test each one of you, as a farmer does when he separates wheat from the husks. ³²But Simon, I have prayed that your faith will be strong. And when you have come back to me, help the others." ³³Peter said, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to jail and even to die with you."

    ³⁴Jesus replied, "Peter, I tell you that before a rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will say three times that you don't know me."

   

Moneybags, Traveling Bags, and Swords

 ³⁵Jesus asked his disciples, "When I sent you out without a moneybag or a traveling bag or sandals, did you need anything?"

   "No!" they answered.

    ³⁶Jesus told them, "But now, if you have a moneybag, take it with you. Also take a traveling bag, and if you don't have a sword, sell some of your clothes and buy one. ³⁷Do this because the Scriptures say, `He was considered a criminal.' This was written about me, and it will soon come true." ³⁸The disciples said, "Lord, here are two swords!"

   "Enough of that!" Jesus replied.

   

Jesus Prays

 ³⁹Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives, as he often did, and his disciples went with him. ⁴⁰When they got there, he told them, "Pray that you won't be tested."

    ⁴¹Jesus walked on a little way before he knelt down and prayed, ⁴²"Father, if you will, please don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want." ⁴³Then an angel from heaven came to help him. ⁴⁴Jesus was in great pain and prayed so sincerely that his sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood. ⁴⁵Jesus got up from praying and went over to his disciples. They were asleep and worn out from being so sad. ⁴⁶He said to them, "Why are you asleep? Wake up and pray that you won't be tested."