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Matthew 26:1-75 (MSG)

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¹ When Jesus finished saying these things, he told his disciples, ² "You know that Passover comes in two days. That's when the Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over for crucifixion." ³ At that very moment, the party of high priests and religious leaders was meeting in the chambers of the Chief Priest named Caiaphas, ⁴ conspiring to seize Jesus by stealth and kill him. ⁵ They agreed that it should not be done during Passover Week. "We don't want a riot on our hands," they said. ⁶ When Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper, ⁷ a woman came up to him as he was eating dinner and anointed him with a bottle of very expensive perfume. ⁸ When the disciples saw what was happening, they were furious. "That's criminal! ⁹ This could have been sold for a lot and the money handed out to the poor." ¹⁰ When Jesus realized what was going on, he intervened. "Why are you giving this woman a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. ¹¹ You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives, but not me. ¹² When she poured this perfume on my body, what she really did was anoint me for burial. ¹³ You can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she has just done is going to be remembered and admired." ¹⁴ That is when one of the Twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the cabal of high priests ¹⁵ and said, "What will you give me if I hand him over to you?" They settled on thirty silver pieces. ¹⁶ He began looking for just the right moment to hand him over. ¹⁷ On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare your Passover meal?" ¹⁸ He said, "Enter the city. Go up to a certain man and say, 'The Teacher says, My time is near. I and my disciples plan to celebrate the Passover meal at your house.'" ¹⁹ The disciples followed Jesus' instructions to the letter, and prepared the Passover meal. ²⁰ After sunset, he and the Twelve were sitting around the table. ²¹ During the meal, he said, "I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators." ²² They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, "It isn't me, is it, Master?" ²³ Jesus answered, "The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. ²⁴ In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures--no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man--better never to have been born than do this!" ²⁵ Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, "It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?" Jesus said, "Don't play games with me, Judas." ²⁶ During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples: Take, eat. This is my body. ²⁷ Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them: Drink this, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood, God's new covenant poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ "I'll not be drinking wine from this cup again until that new day when I'll drink with you in the kingdom of my Father." ³⁰ They sang a hymn and went directly to Mount Olives. ³¹ Then Jesus told them, "Before the night's over, you're going to fall to pieces because of what happens to me. There is a Scripture that says, I'll strike the shepherd; helter-skelter the sheep will be scattered. ³² But after I am raised up, I, your Shepherd, will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee." ³³ Peter broke in, "Even if everyone else falls to pieces on account of you, I won't." ³⁴ "Don't be so sure," Jesus said. "This very night, before the rooster crows up the dawn, you will deny me three times." ³⁵ Peter protested, "Even if I had to die with you, I would never deny you." All the others said the same thing. ³⁶ Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, "Stay here while I go over there and pray." ³⁷ Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. ³⁸ Then he said, "This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me." ³⁹ Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, "My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?" ⁴⁰ When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? ⁴¹ Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire." ⁴² He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, "My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I'm ready. Do it your way." ⁴³ When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn't keep their eyes open. ⁴⁴ This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time. ⁴⁵ When he came back the next time, he said, "Are you going to sleep on and make a night of it? My time is up, the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Get up! Let's get going! My betrayer is here." ⁴⁷ The words were barely out of his mouth when Judas (the one from the Twelve) showed up, and with him a gang from the high priests and religious leaders brandishing swords and clubs. ⁴⁸ The betrayer had worked out a sign with them: "The one I kiss, that's the one--seize him." ⁴⁹ He went straight to Jesus, greeted him, "How are you, Rabbi?" and kissed him. ⁵⁰ Jesus said, "Friend, why this charade?" Then they came on him--grabbed him and roughed him up. ⁵¹ One of those with Jesus pulled his sword and, taking a swing at the Chief Priest's servant, cut off his ear. ⁵² Jesus said, "Put your sword back where it belongs. All who use swords are destroyed by swords. ⁵³ Don't you realize that I am able right now to call to my Father, and twelve companies--more, if I want them--of fighting angels would be here, battle-ready? ⁵⁴ But if I did that, how would the Scriptures come true that say this is the way it has to be?" ⁵⁵ Then Jesus addressed the mob: "What is this--coming out after me with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous criminal? Day after day I have been sitting in the Temple teaching, and you never so much as lifted a hand against me. ⁵⁶ You've done it this way to confirm and fulfill the prophetic writings." Then all the disciples cut and ran. ⁵⁷ The gang that had seized Jesus led him before Caiaphas the Chief Priest, where the religion scholars and leaders had assembled. ⁵⁸ Peter followed at a safe distance until they got to the Chief Priest's courtyard. Then he slipped in and mingled with the servants, watching to see how things would turn out. ⁵⁹ The high priests, conspiring with the Jewish Council, tried to cook up charges against Jesus in order to sentence him to death. ⁶⁰ But even though many stepped up, making up one false accusation after another, nothing was believable. Finally two men came forward ⁶¹ with this: "He said, 'I can tear down this Temple of God and after three days rebuild it.'" ⁶² The Chief Priest stood up and said, "What do you have to say to the accusation?" ⁶³ Jesus kept silent. Then the Chief Priest said, "I command you by the authority of the living God to say if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." ⁶⁴ Jesus was curt: "You yourself said it. And that's not all. Soon you'll see it for yourself: The Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Mighty One, Arriving on the clouds of heaven." ⁶⁵ At that, the Chief Priest lost his temper, ripping his robes, yelling, "He blasphemed! Why do we need witnesses to accuse him? You all heard him blaspheme! ⁶⁶ Are you going to stand for such blasphemy?" They all said, "Death! That seals his death sentence." ⁶⁷ Then they were spitting in his face and banging him around. They jeered as they slapped him: ⁶⁸ "Prophesy, Messiah: Who hit you that time?" ⁶⁹ All this time, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. One servant girl came up to him and said, "You were with Jesus the Galilean." ⁷⁰ In front of everybody there, he denied it. "I don't know what you're talking about." ⁷¹ As he moved over toward the gate, someone else said to the people there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene." ⁷² Again he denied it, salting his denial with an oath: "I swear, I never laid eyes on the man." ⁷³ Shortly after that, some bystanders approached Peter. "You've got to be one of them. Your accent gives you away." ⁷⁴ Then he got really nervous and swore. "I don't know the man!" Just then a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ Peter remembered what Jesus had said: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He went out and cried and cried and cried.


This passage relates to the following topic(s):
(v. 26) Cross / Communion - Jesus - remembering forgiveness of sins
(v. 27) Cross / Communion - Jesus - remembering forgiveness of sins
(v. 28) Cross / Communion - Jesus - remembering forgiveness of sins
(v. 29) Cross / Communion - Jesus - remembering forgiveness of sins
(v. 30) Cross / Communion - Jesus - remembering forgiveness of sins
(v. 30) Singing - Jesus and disciples - They sung a hymn before going to the Mount of Olives
(v. 38) Righteousness - Jesus - challenging to stay righteous
(v. 39) Righteousness - Jesus - challenging to stay righteous

This passage relates to the following question(s):
(v. 52) Should we practice physical resistance?
(v. 53) Why does God not destroy Satan? Jesus could have stopped his crucifixion

This passage is referenced in the following quiet time(s):
(v. 10) Purpose Driven Life - Thinking Like a Servant (part 2) (2008-07-04)
(v. 12) Jesus was Human (part I) (2011-03-01)
(v. 14) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 15) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 16) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 17) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 18) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 19) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 20) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 21) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 22) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 23) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 24) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 25) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 26) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 27) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 28) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 29) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 30) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 31) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 32) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 33) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 34) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 35) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part I) (2011-02-17)
(v. 36) Kingdom First - Making Peace with Others (2010-01-04)
(v. 36) Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 1) (2010-01-19)
(v. 36) Promises of God - Strength From Prayer (2009-03-16)
(v. 36) Mind of Christ - Obedience (part I) (2011-06-21)
(v. 36) Man of Prayer - Introduction (2008-09-27)
(v. 36) Mind Change - Pray (2011-10-26)
(v. 36) Power of Spiritual Thinking - Emotions and Spirituality (2008-05-06)
(v. 36) Mind of Christ - Discipleship (part V) (2011-06-20)
(v. 36) 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities (2008-08-08)
(v. 36) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 36) 30 Days at the Cross - Denial Without Regret (2008-07-29)
(v. 37) Mind of Christ - Obedience (part I) (2011-06-21)
(v. 37) Kingdom First - Making Peace with Others (2010-01-04)
(v. 37) Mind Change - Pray (2011-10-26)
(v. 37) Power of Spiritual Thinking - Emotions and Spirituality (2008-05-06)
(v. 37) Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 1) (2010-01-19)
(v. 37) Mind of Christ - Discipleship (part V) (2011-06-20)
(v. 37) Man of Prayer - Introduction (2008-09-27)
(v. 37) 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities (2008-08-08)
(v. 37) 30 Days at the Cross - Denial Without Regret (2008-07-29)
(v. 37) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 38) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 38) Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 1) (2010-01-19)
(v. 38) Kingdom First - Making Peace with Others (2010-01-04)
(v. 38) Mind of Christ - Discipleship (part V) (2011-06-20)
(v. 38) Mind of Christ - Obedience (part I) (2011-06-21)
(v. 38) 30 Days at the Cross - Denial Without Regret (2008-07-29)
(v. 38) Jesus with People - Openness (2009-02-07)
(v. 38) Man of Prayer - Introduction (2008-09-27)
(v. 38) Power of Spiritual Thinking - Emotions and Spirituality (2008-05-06)
(v. 38) 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities (2008-08-08)
(v. 38) Mind Change - Pray (2011-10-26)
(v. 39) 30 Days at the Cross - Denial Without Regret (2008-07-29)
(v. 39) 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities (2008-08-08)
(v. 39) Mind of Christ - Obedience (part I) (2011-06-21)
(v. 39) Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 1) (2010-01-19)
(v. 39) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 39) Man of Prayer - Introduction (2008-09-27)
(v. 39) Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 1) (2010-01-19)
(v. 39) Power of Spiritual Thinking - Emotions and Spirituality (2008-05-06)
(v. 39) Kingdom First - Making Peace with Others (2010-01-04)
(v. 39) Mind of Christ - Discipleship (part V) (2011-06-20)
(v. 39) Mind Change - Pray (2011-10-26)
(v. 40) Power of Spiritual Thinking - Emotions and Spirituality (2008-05-06)
(v. 40) Mind Change - Pray (2011-10-26)
(v. 40) Man of Prayer - Introduction (2008-09-27)
(v. 40) 30 Days at the Cross - Denial Without Regret (2008-07-29)
(v. 40) Mind of Christ - Obedience (part I) (2011-06-21)
(v. 40) Kingdom First - Making Peace with Others (2010-01-04)
(v. 40) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 40) 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities (2008-08-08)
(v. 40) Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 1) (2010-01-19)
(v. 40) Mind of Christ - Discipleship (part V) (2011-06-20)
(v. 40) Mission - Peter, From a Reed (2010-12-04)
(v. 41) 30 Days at the Cross - Denial Without Regret (2008-07-29)
(v. 41) 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities (2008-08-08)
(v. 41) Mind Change - Pray (2011-10-26)
(v. 41) Kingdom First - Making Peace with Others (2010-01-04)
(v. 41) Purpose Driven Life - Overcoming Temptation (2008-06-21)
(v. 41) Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 1) (2010-01-19)
(v. 41) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 41) Man of Prayer - Introduction (2008-09-27)
(v. 41) Mind of Christ - Obedience (part I) (2011-06-21)
(v. 41) Power of Spiritual Thinking - Emotions and Spirituality (2008-05-06)
(v. 41) Mind of Christ - Discipleship (part V) (2011-06-20)
(v. 42) Power of Spiritual Thinking - Emotions and Spirituality (2008-05-06)
(v. 42) Mind Change - Pray (2011-10-26)
(v. 42) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 42) 30 Days at the Cross - Denial Without Regret (2008-07-29)
(v. 42) Mind of Christ - Discipleship (part V) (2011-06-20)
(v. 42) Kingdom First - Making Peace with Others (2010-01-04)
(v. 42) Man of Prayer - Introduction (2008-09-27)
(v. 42) Mind of Christ - Obedience (part I) (2011-06-21)
(v. 42) Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 1) (2010-01-19)
(v. 42) 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities (2008-08-08)
(v. 43) Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 1) (2010-01-19)
(v. 43) Mind of Christ - Obedience (part I) (2011-06-21)
(v. 43) 30 Days at the Cross - Denial Without Regret (2008-07-29)
(v. 43) Power of Spiritual Thinking - Emotions and Spirituality (2008-05-06)
(v. 43) Man of Prayer - Introduction (2008-09-27)
(v. 43) Mind Change - Pray (2011-10-26)
(v. 43) Kingdom First - Making Peace with Others (2010-01-04)
(v. 43) Mind of Christ - Discipleship (part V) (2011-06-20)
(v. 43) 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities (2008-08-08)
(v. 43) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 44) Man of Prayer - Introduction (2008-09-27)
(v. 44) Kingdom First - Making Peace with Others (2010-01-04)
(v. 44) 30 Days at the Cross - Denial Without Regret (2008-07-29)
(v. 44) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 44) Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 1) (2010-01-19)
(v. 44) Mind of Christ - Obedience (part I) (2011-06-21)
(v. 44) Mind Change - Pray (2011-10-26)
(v. 44) Mind of Christ - Discipleship (part V) (2011-06-20)
(v. 44) 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities (2008-08-08)
(v. 44) Power of Spiritual Thinking - Emotions and Spirituality (2008-05-06)
(v. 45) Mind of Christ - Obedience (part I) (2011-06-21)
(v. 45) Mind of Christ - Discipleship (part V) (2011-06-20)
(v. 45) 30 Days at the Cross - Denial Without Regret (2008-07-29)
(v. 45) Man of Prayer - Introduction (2008-09-27)
(v. 45) Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 1) (2010-01-19)
(v. 45) 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities (2008-08-08)
(v. 45) Power of Spiritual Thinking - Emotions and Spirituality (2008-05-06)
(v. 45) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 45) Kingdom First - Making Peace with Others (2010-01-04)
(v. 46) Mind of Christ - Discipleship (part V) (2011-06-20)
(v. 46) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 46) Kingdom First - Making Peace with Others (2010-01-04)
(v. 46) Mind of Christ - Obedience (part I) (2011-06-21)
(v. 46) Man of Prayer - Introduction (2008-09-27)
(v. 46) 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities (2008-08-08)
(v. 46) 30 Days at the Cross - Denial Without Regret (2008-07-29)
(v. 46) Power of Spiritual Thinking - Emotions and Spirituality (2008-05-06)
(v. 46) Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 1) (2010-01-19)
(v. 47) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 48) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 49) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 50) Jesus - the Zealot (part 1) (2010-06-10)
(v. 50) Heart of Friendship (part 2) (2010-04-26)
(v. 50) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 51) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 51) Jesus - the Zealot (part 1) (2010-06-10)
(v. 52) Genesis 23 - The Death of Sarah (2014-05-15)
(v. 52) Jesus - the Zealot (part 1) (2010-06-10)
(v. 52) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 53) Jesus - the Zealot (part 1) (2010-06-10)
(v. 53) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 54) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 54) No one like him - Jesus responds with scriptures (2009-05-17)
(v. 54) Jesus - the Zealot (part 1) (2010-06-10)
(v. 55) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 55) Jesus - the Zealot (part 1) (2010-06-10)
(v. 56) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 57) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 58) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 59) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 60) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 61) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 62) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 63) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 64) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 65) Jesus with People - Doing What We Ought (2009-02-18)
(v. 65) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 66) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 67) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 68) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 69) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 70) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 71) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 72) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 73) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 74) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 74) Life to the Full - Personal Life of Peter (part 1) (2010-04-16)
(v. 75) Cross of Christ - Kansas City (part II) (2011-02-18)
(v. 75) Mission - Peter, From a Reed (2010-12-04)
(v. 75) Restored (2015-06-16)

This passage is referenced in the following study note(s):
(v. 10) Bible Talk: Why ask Why? (2014-08-20)
(v. 11) Devotional: Encouragement - Lesson 3 (2008-12-12)
(v. 52) Teachers Worship: Genesis 23 (2014-05-17)

Definition(s):
Gethsemane (Geth-sem-a-ne): a very fat or plentiful vale
Jesus (Jeez-us): savior; deliverer
Judas (Joo-das): Jude, same as Judah
Simon (Sigh-mon): that hears; that obeys
Simon (Maccabeus): that hears; that obeys
Caiaphas (Kye-a-fass):
On (Onn):