The Lord's Supper

²²While they were eating, Jesus took some bread. Jesus thanked God for the bread and divided it. He gave the bread to his followers. Jesus said, "Take this bread [and eat it]. This bread is my body." ²³Then Jesus took a cup of wine. He thanked God for it and gave it to the followers. All the followers drank from the cup. ²⁴Then Jesus said, "This wine is my blood. My blood (death) begins the new agreement [from God to his people]. This blood is given for many people. ²⁵I tell you the truth. I will not drink this wine again until that day when I drink it in the kingdom of God and the wine is new." ²⁶All the followers sang a song. Then they went out to the Mount of Olives.*

Jesus' Followers Will All Leave Him

²⁷Then Jesus told the followers, "You will all lose your faith. It is written [in the Scriptures*]: 'I will kill the shepherd, and the sheep will run away.' Zechariah 13:7

²⁸But [after I die], I will rise from death. Then I will go to Galilee. I will be there before you go there." ²⁹Peter said, "All the other followers may lose their faith. But I will never lose my faith." ³⁰Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth. Tonight you will say you don't know me. You will say this three times before the rooster crows twice." ³¹But Peter answered strongly, "I will never say I don't know you! I will even die with you!" And all the other followers said the same thing.

Jesus Prays Alone

³²Jesus and his followers went to a place named Gethsemane. Jesus said to the followers, "Sit here while I pray." ³³Jesus told Peter, James, and John to come with him. Then Jesus began to be very troubled and full of sorrow. ³⁴Jesus said to Peter, James, and John, "My soul is full of sorrow. My heart is breaking with sadness. Wait here and stay awake." ³⁵Jesus walked a little more away from them. Then Jesus fell on the ground and prayed. Jesus prayed that, if possible, he would not have this time of suffering. ³⁶Jesus prayed, "[Abba],* Father! You can do all things. Let me not have this cup* [of suffering]. But do what you want, not what I want." ³⁷Then Jesus went back to his followers. He found them sleeping. He said to Peter, "Simon, why are you sleeping? You could not stay awake with me for one hour? ³⁸Stay awake and pray for strength against temptation. Your spirit wants to do what is right. But your body is weak." ³⁹Again Jesus went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰Then Jesus went back to the followers. Again Jesus found them sleeping. Their eyes were very tired. The followers did not know what they should say to Jesus. ⁴¹After Jesus prayed a third time, he went back to his followers. Jesus said to them, "You are still sleeping and resting? That's enough! The time has come for the Son of Man* to be given to sinful people. ⁴²Stand up! We must go. Here comes the man who is giving me to those people."

Jesus Is Arrested

⁴³While Jesus was still speaking, Judas came there. Judas was one of the twelve apostles.* Judas had many people with him. These people were sent from the leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the older Jewish leaders. These people with Judas had swords and clubs. ⁴⁴Judas* planned to do something to show the people which man was Jesus. Judas said, "The man I kiss is Jesus. Arrest him and guard him while you lead him away." ⁴⁵So Judas went to Jesus and said, "Teacher!" Then Judas kissed Jesus. ⁴⁶Then the men grabbed Jesus and arrested him. ⁴⁷One of the followers standing near Jesus grabbed his sword and pulled it out. This follower hit the servant of the high priest* with the sword and cut off his ear. ⁴⁸Then Jesus said, "You came to get me with swords and clubs like I am a criminal. ⁴⁹Every day I was with you teaching in the temple* area. You did not arrest me there. But all these things have happened so that it will be like the Scriptures* said." ⁵⁰Then all of Jesus' followers left him and ran away. ⁵¹There was a young man following Jesus. He was wearing only a linen cloth. The people also grabbed this man. ⁵²The cloth he was wearing came off, and he ran away wearing nothing.

Mount of Olives A hill east the city of Jerusalem where a person could look down into the temple area. Scriptures Holy Writings--the Old Testament. Abba An Aramaic word. Jewish children called their fathers "[Abba]." cup Jesus is talking about the bad things that will happen to him. Accepting these things will be very hard, like drinking a cup full of something that tastes very bad. Son of Man A name Jesus used for himself. In Dan. 7:13-14, this is the name for the Messiah, the one God chose to save his people. apostles The men Jesus chose to be his special helpers. Judas Literally, "the one who betrayed him." high priest The most important Jewish priest and leader. temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship.