Memorial Bible Reading Schedule 2025 and Invitation
Saturday, April 12. Memorial (After Sunset) Sunrise
![[Image:] Guards taking Jesus into custody in the garden of Gethsemane.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/266a77_edfb0f582ec940d79408bd1aff77e731~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_460,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/495.jpg)
[Image:] Guards taking Jesus into custody in the garden of Gethsemane.
Matthew 26:17 through 19
[Click to read scripture]|[Matthew 26:17 through 19:] On the first day of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying: “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said: “Go into the city to So-and-so and say to him, ‘The Teacher says: “My appointed time is near; I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your home.”’” So the disciples did as Jesus instructed them and prepared for the Passover. [Click to close]
Mark 14:12 through 16
[Click to read scripture]|[Mark 14:12 through 16:] Now on the first day of the Unleavened Bread, when they customarily offered up the Passover sacrifice, his disciples said to him: “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” With that he sent two of his disciples and said to them: “Go into the city, and a man carrying an earthenware water jar will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he goes inside, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says: “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ And he will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Prepare it for us there.” So the disciples went out, and they entered the city and found it just as he said to them, and they prepared for the Passover. [Click to close]
Luke 22:7 through 13
[Click to read scripture]|[Luke 22:7 through 13:] The day of the Unleavened Bread now arrived, on which the Passover sacrifice must be offered; so Jesus sent Peter and John, saying: “Go and get the Passover ready for us to eat.” They said to him: “Where do you want us to get it ready?” He said to them: “Look! When you enter into the city, a man carrying an earthenware water jar will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters. And say to the landlord of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you: “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ And that man will show you a large, furnished upper room. Get it ready there.” So they left and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared for the Passover. [Click to close]
Sunset (Nisan 14 begins) Matthew 26:20 through 75
[Click to read scripture]|[Matthew 26:20 through 75:] When evening came, he was reclining at the table with the 12 disciples. While they were eating, he said: “Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Being very much grieved at this, each and every one began to say to him: “Lord, it is not I, is it?” In reply he said: “The one who dips his hand with me into the bowl is the one who will betray me. True, the Son of man is going away, just as it is written about him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who was about to betray him, replied: “It is not I, is it, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him: “You yourself said it.” As they continued eating, Jesus took a loaf, and after saying a blessing, he broke it, and giving it to the disciples, he said: “Take, eat. This means my body.” And taking a cup, he offered thanks and gave it to them, saying: “Drink out of it, all of you, for this means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you: I will by no means drink again any of this product of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in the Kingdom of my Father.” Finally, after singing praises, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them: “All of you will be stumbled in connection with me on this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered about.’ But after I have been raised up, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” But Peter, in response, said to him: “Although all the others are stumbled in connection with you, I will never be stumbled!” Jesus said to him: “Truly I say to you, on this night, before a rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” Peter said to him: “Even if I should have to die with you, I will by no means disown you.” All the other disciples also said the same thing. Then Jesus came with them to the spot called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples: “Sit down here while I go over there and pray.” And taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to feel grieved and to be greatly troubled. Then he said to them: “I am deeply grieved, even to death. Stay here and keep on the watch with me.” And going a little way forward, he fell facedown, praying: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me. Yet, not as I will, but as you will.” He returned to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter: “Could you not so much as keep on the watch for one hour with me? Keep on the watch and pray continually, so that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, he went off and prayed: “My Father, if it is not possible for this to pass away unless I drink it, let your will take place.” And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them, he again went off and prayed for a third time, saying once more the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them: “At such a time as this, you are sleeping and resting! Look! The hour has drawn near for the Son of man to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer has drawn near.” While he was still speaking, look! Judas, one of the Twelve, came and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying: “Whoever it is I kiss, he is the one; take him into custody.” And going straight up to Jesus, he said: “Greetings, Rabbi!” and gave him a tender kiss. But Jesus said to him: “Fellow, for what purpose are you present?” Then they came forward and seized Jesus and took him into custody. But look! one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, taking off his ear. Then Jesus said to him: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father to supply me at this moment more than 12 legions of angels? In that case, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must take place this way?” In that hour Jesus said to the crowds: “Did you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs as against a robber? Day after day I used to sit in the temple teaching, and yet you did not take me into custody. But all of this has taken place for the writings of the prophets to be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples abandoned him and fled. Those who took Jesus into custody led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. But Peter kept following him from a good distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and after going inside, he sat with the house attendants to see the outcome. Now the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death. But they found none, although many false witnesses came forward. Later two came forward and said: “This man said, ‘I am able to throw down the temple of God and build it up in three days.’” With that the high priest stood up and said to him: “Do you say nothing in reply? What is it these men are testifying against you?” But Jesus kept silent. So the high priest said to him: “I put you under oath by the living God to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him: “You yourself said it. But I say to you: From now on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest ripped his outer garments, saying: “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? See! Now you have heard the blasphemy. What is your opinion?” They answered: “He deserves to die.” Then they spat in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him on the face, saying: “Prophesy to us, you Christ. Who struck you?” Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him and said: “You too were with Jesus the Galilean!” But he denied it before them all, saying: “I do not know what you are talking about.” When he went out to the gatehouse, another girl noticed him and said to those there: “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” Again he denied it, with an oath: “I do not know the man!” After a little while, those standing around came up and said to Peter: “Certainly you are also one of them, for in fact, your dialect gives you away.” Then he started to curse and swear: “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter called to mind what Jesus had said, namely: “Before a rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. [Click to close]
Mark 14:17 through 72
[Click to read scripture]|[Mark 14:17 through 72:] After evening had fallen, he came with the Twelve. And as they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said: “Truly I say to you, one of you who is eating with me will betray me.” They began to be grieved and to say to him one by one: “It is not I, is it?” He said to them: “It is one of the Twelve, the one dipping with me into the bowl. For the Son of man is going away, just as it is written about him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” And as they continued eating, he took a loaf, said a blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “Take it; this means my body.” And taking a cup, he offered thanks and gave it to them, and they all drank out of it. And he said to them: “This means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many. Truly I say to you, I will by no means drink anymore of the product of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.” Finally, after singing praises, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them: “You will all be stumbled, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered about.’ But after I have been raised up, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” But Peter said to him: “Even if all the others are stumbled, I will not be.” At that Jesus said to him: “Truly I say to you that today, yes, on this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times.” But he kept insisting: “If I have to die with you, I will by no means disown you.” Also, all the others began to say the same thing. So they came to a spot named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples: “Sit down here while I pray.” And he took Peter and James and John along with him, and he began to feel deeply distressed and to be greatly troubled. He said to them: “I am deeply grieved, even to death. Stay here and keep on the watch.” And going a little way forward, he fell to the ground and began praying that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. And he said: “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you; remove this cup from me. Yet, not what I want, but what you want.” He returned and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter: “Simon, are you sleeping? Did you not have the strength to keep on the watch for one hour? Keep on the watch and pray continually, so that you do not come into temptation. The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak.” And he went away again and prayed, saying the same thing. And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were weighed down, so they did not know what to answer him. And he returned the third time and said to them: “At such a time as this, you are sleeping and resting! It is enough! The hour has come! Look! The Son of man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer has drawn near.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now his betrayer had given them an agreed sign, saying: “Whoever it is I kiss, he is the one; take him into custody, and lead him away under guard.” And he came straight up and approached him and said, “Rabbi!” and gave him a tender kiss. So they seized him and took him into custody. However, one of those standing by drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, taking off his ear. But in response Jesus said to them: “Did you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs as against a robber? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and yet you did not take me into custody. Nevertheless, this is to fulfill the Scriptures.” And they all abandoned him and fled. However, a certain young man wearing only a fine linen garment over his naked body began to follow him nearby, and they tried to seize him, but he left his linen garment behind and got away naked. They now led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes assembled. But Peter, from a good distance, followed him as far as into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting together with the house attendants and warming himself before a bright fire. Now the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they were not finding any. Many, indeed, were giving false witness against him, but their testimonies were not in agreement. Also, certain ones were standing up and bearing false witness against him, saying: “We heard him say, ‘I will throw down this temple that was made with hands, and in three days I will build another not made with hands.’” But even on these grounds, their testimony was not in agreement. Then the high priest stood up in their midst and questioned Jesus, saying “Do you say nothing in reply? What is it these men are testifying against you?” But he kept silent and made no reply at all. Again the high priest began to question him and said to him: “Are you the Christ the Son of the Blessed One?” Then Jesus said: “I am; and you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” At this the high priest ripped his garments and said: “What further need do we have of witnesses? You heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving of death. And some started to spit on him and to cover his face and hit him with their fists and say to him: “Prophesy!” And slapping him in the face, the court attendants took him. Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. On seeing Peter warming himself, she looked straight at him and said: “You too were with the Nazarene, this Jesus.” But he denied it, saying: “Neither do I know him nor do I understand what you are talking about,” and he went outside to the entryway. There the servant girl saw him and again began to say to those standing by: “This is one of them.” Again he was denying it. And after a little while, those standing by again began saying to Peter: “Certainly you are one of them, for you are, in fact, a Galilean.” But he started to curse and swear: “I do not know this man of whom you speak!” Immediately a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter recalled what Jesus had said to him: “Before a rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and began to weep. [Click to close]
![[Image:] Jesus praying with his apostles at the Passover meal.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/266a77_db13602eaa28438fbeb705ebea347472~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_460,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/495.jpg)
[Image:] Jesus praying with his apostles at the Passover meal.
Luke 22:14 through 65
[Click to read scripture]|[Luke 22:14 through 65:] So when the hour came, he reclined at the table along with the apostles. And he said to them: “I have greatly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” And accepting a cup, he gave thanks and said: “Take this and pass it from one to the other among yourselves, for I tell you, from now on, I will not drink again from the product of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes.” Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “This means my body, which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” Also, he did the same with the cup after they had the evening meal, saying: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf. “But look! the hand of my betrayer is with me at the table. For, indeed, the Son of man is going his way according to what has been determined; all the same, woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!” So they began to discuss among themselves which one of them could really be about to do this. However, there also arose a heated dispute among them over which one of them was considered to be the greatest. But he said to them: “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those having authority over them are called Benefactors. You, though, are not to be that way. But let the one who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the one taking the lead as the one ministering. For which one is greater, the one dining or the one serving? Is it not the one dining? But I am among you as the one serving. “However, you are the ones who have stuck with me in my trials; and I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the 12 tribes of Israel. “Simon, Simon, look! Satan has demanded to have all of you to sift you as wheat. But I have made supplication for you that your faith may not give out; and you, once you have returned, strengthen your brothers.” Then he said to him: “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” But he said: “I tell you, Peter, a rooster will not crow today until you have denied knowing me three times.” He also said to them: “When I sent you out without a money bag and a food pouch and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said: “No!” Then he said to them: “But now let the one who has a money bag take it, likewise a food pouch, and let the one who has no sword sell his outer garment and buy one. For I tell you that what is written must be accomplished in me, namely, ‘He was counted with lawless ones.’ For this is being fulfilled concerning me.” Then they said: “Lord, look! here are two swords.” He said to them: “It is enough.” On leaving, he went as was his custom to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed him. On arriving at the place, he said to them: “Carry on prayer so that you do not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw away, and he bent his knees and began to pray, saying: “Father, if you want to, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, let, not my will, but yours take place.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. But he was in such agony that he kept praying more earnestly; and his sweat became as drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went to the disciples, he found them slumbering, exhausted from grief. He said to them: “Why are you sleeping? Get up and keep praying, so that you do not enter into temptation.” While he was still speaking, look! a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them, and he approached Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him: “Judas, are you betraying the Son of man with a kiss?” When those around him saw what was going to happen, they said: “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” One of them even struck the slave of the high priest, taking off his right ear. But in reply Jesus said: “That is enough.” And he touched the ear and healed him. Jesus then said to the chief priests and captains of the temple and elders who had come there for him: “Did you come out with swords and clubs as against a robber? While I was with you in the temple day after day, you did not lay your hands on me. But this is your hour and the authority of darkness.” Then they arrested him and led him off, and they brought him into the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance. When they lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. But a servant girl, seeing him sitting in the light of the fire, looked closely at him and said: “This man was also with him.” But he denied it, saying: “I do not know him, woman.” After a short time another person saw him and said: “You too are one of them.” But Peter said: “Man, I am not.” And after about an hour had passed, another man began insisting strongly: “Certainly this man was also with him, for he is, in fact, a Galilean!” But Peter said: “Man, I do not know what you are saying.” And instantly, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. At this the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter recalled the statement of the Lord when he had said to him: “Before a rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Now the men who held Jesus in custody began to mock him, hitting him; and after covering his face, they kept asking: “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other blasphemous things against him. [Click to close]
John 13:1 through 18:27
[Click to read scripture]|[John 13:1 through 18:27:] Now because he knew before the festival of the Passover that his hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father, Jesus, having loved his own who were in the world, loved them to the end. The evening meal was going on, and the Devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him. So Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he came from God and was going to God, got up from the evening meal and laid aside his outer garments. And taking a towel, he wrapped it around his waist. After that he put water into a basin and started to wash the feet of the disciples and to dry them off with the towel that was wrapped around him. Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him: “Lord, are you washing my feet?” Jesus answered him: “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand after these things.” Peter said to him: “You will certainly never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him: “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him: “Lord, wash not only my feet but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him: “Whoever has bathed does not need to have more than his feet washed, but is completely clean. And you men are clean, but not all of you.” For he knew the man who was betraying him. This is why he said: “Not all of you are clean.” When, now, he had washed their feet and had put his outer garments on, he again reclined at the table and said to them: “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are correct, for I am such. Therefore, if I, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, you also should wash the feet of one another. For I set the pattern for you, that just as I did to you, you should also do. Most truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, happy you are if you do them. I am not talking about all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this was so that the scripture might be fulfilled: ‘The one who was eating my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ From this moment on, I am telling you before it occurs, so that when it does occur you may believe that I am he. Most truly I say to you, whoever receives anyone I send receives me also, and whoever receives me receives also the One who sent me.” After saying these things, Jesus became troubled in spirit, and he bore witness, saying: “Most truly I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples began to look at one another, being at a loss as to which one he was talking about. One of the disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining close to Jesus. Therefore, Simon Peter nodded to this one and said to him: “Tell us whom he is talking about.” So the latter leaned back on the chest of Jesus and said to him: “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered: “It is the one to whom I will give the piece of bread that I dip.” So after dipping the bread, he took it and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After Judas took the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. So Jesus said to him: “What you are doing, do it more quickly.” However, none of those reclining at the table knew why he said this to him. Some, in fact, were thinking that since Judas was holding the money box, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he should give something to the poor. So after he received the piece of bread, he went out immediately. And it was night. When, therefore, he had gone out, Jesus said: “Now the Son of man is glorified, and God is glorified in connection with him. God himself will glorify him, and he will glorify him immediately. Little children, I am with you a little longer. You will look for me; and just as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ I now say it also to you. I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples if you have love among yourselves.” Simon Peter said to him: “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered: “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.” Peter said to him: “Lord, why is it I cannot follow you now? I will surrender my life in your behalf.” Jesus answered: “Will you surrender your life in my behalf? Most truly I say to you, a rooster will by no means crow until you have disowned me three times.” “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Exercise faith in God; exercise faith also in me. In the house of my Father are many dwelling places. Otherwise, I would have told you, for I am going my way to prepare a place for you. Also, if I go my way and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you home to myself, so that where I am you also may be. And where I am going, you know the way.” Thomas said to him: “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you men had known me, you would have known my Father also; from this moment on you know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him: “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him: “Even after I have been with you men for such a long time, Philip, have you not come to know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father also. How is it you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in union with the Father and the Father is in union with me? The things I say to you I do not speak of my own originality, but the Father who remains in union with me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in union with the Father and the Father is in union with me; otherwise, believe because of the works themselves. Most truly I say to you, whoever exercises faith in me will also do the works that I do; and he will do works greater than these, because I am going my way to the Father. Also, whatever you ask in my name, I will do this, so that the Father may be glorified in connection with the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. “If you love me, you will observe my commandments. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another helper to be with you forever, the spirit of the truth, which the world cannot receive, because it neither sees it nor knows it. You know it, because it remains with you and is in you. I will not leave you bereaved. I am coming to you. In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. In that day you will know that I am in union with my Father and you are in union with me and I am in union with you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. In turn, whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will clearly show myself to him.” Judas, not Iscariot, said to him: “Lord, what has happened that you intend to show yourself clearly to us and not to the world?” In answer Jesus said to him: “If anyone loves me, he will observe my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not observe my words. The word that you are hearing is not mine, but belongs to the Father who sent me. “I have spoken these things to you while I am still with you. But the helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you. I leave you peace; I give you my peace. I do not give it to you the way that the world gives it. Do not let your hearts be troubled nor let them shrink out of fear. You heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I am. So now I have told you before it occurs, so that you may believe when it does occur. I will not speak with you much more, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has no hold on me. But for the world to know that I love the Father, I am doing just as the Father has commanded me to do. Get up, let us go from here. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the cultivator. He takes away every branch in me not bearing fruit, and he cleans every one bearing fruit, so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Remain in union with me, and I will remain in union with you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you unless you remain in union with me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in union with me and I in union with him, this one bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing at all. If anyone does not remain in union with me, he is thrown out like a branch and dries up. And men gather those branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in union with me and my sayings remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will take place for you. My Father is glorified in this, that you keep bearing much fruit and prove yourselves my disciples. Just as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; remain in my love. If you observe my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have observed the commandments of the Father and remain in his love. “These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be made full. This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends. You are my friends if you do what I am commanding you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master does. But I have called you friends, because I have made known to you all the things I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me, but I chose you, and I appointed you to go and keep bearing fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that no matter what you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. “These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you. Keep in mind the word I said to you: A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have observed my word, they will also observe yours. But they will do all these things against you on account of my name, because they do not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me also hates my Father. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have both seen me and hated me as well as my Father. But this happened in order to fulfill the word written in their Law: ‘They hated me without cause.’ When the helper comes that I will send you from the Father, the spirit of the truth, which comes from the Father, that one will bear witness about me; and you, in turn, are to bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. “I have said these things to you so that you may not be stumbled. Men will expel you from the synagogue. In fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he has offered a sacred service to God. But they will do these things because they have not come to know either the Father or me. Nevertheless, I have told you these things so that when the hour for them to happen arrives, you will remember that I told them to you. “I did not tell you these things at first, because I was with you. But now I am going to the One who sent me; yet not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have told you these things, grief has filled your hearts. Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the helper will not come to you; but if I do go, I will send him to you. And when that one comes, he will give the world convincing evidence concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment: first concerning sin, because they are not exercising faith in me; then concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; then concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them now. However, when that one comes, the spirit of the truth, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own initiative, but what he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things to come. That one will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and will declare it to you. All the things that the Father has are mine. That is why I said he receives from what is mine and declares it to you. In a little while you will see me no longer, and again, in a little while you will see me.” At that some of his disciples said to one another: “What does he mean by saying to us, ‘In a little while you will not see me, and again, in a little while you will see me,’ and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” So they were saying: “What does he mean by saying, ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” Jesus knew they wanted to question him, so he said to them: “Are you asking one another this because I said: ‘In a little while you will not see me, and again, in a little while you will see me’? Most truly I say to you, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be grieved, but your grief will be turned into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has grief because her hour has come, but when she has given birth to the child, she remembers the tribulation no more because of the joy that a man has been born into the world. So you also, now you have grief; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will ask me no question at all. Most truly I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything, he will give it to you in my name. Until now you have not asked for a single thing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. “I have spoken these things to you in comparisons. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in comparisons, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will make request of the Father in my name; in saying this, I do not mean that I will make request for you. For the Father himself has affection for you, because you have had affection for me and have believed that I came as God’s representative. I came as the Father’s representative and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.” His disciples said: “See! Now you are speaking plainly and are not using comparisons. Now we know that you know all things and you do not need to have anyone question you. By this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them: “Do you believe now? Look! The hour is coming, indeed, it has come, when each one of you will be scattered to his own house and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have said these things to you so that by means of me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage! I have conquered the world.” Jesus spoke these things, and raising his eyes to heaven, he said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your son so that your son may glorify you, just as you have given him authority over all flesh, so that he may give everlasting life to all those whom you have given to him. This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I have glorified you on the earth, having finished the work you have given me to do. So now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory that I had alongside you before the world was. “I have made your name manifest to the men whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have observed your word. Now they have come to know that all the things you gave me are from you; because I have given them the sayings that you gave me, and they have accepted them and have certainly come to know that I came as your representative, and they have believed that you sent me. I make request concerning them; I make request, not concerning the world, but concerning those whom you have given me, because they are yours; and all my things are yours and yours are mine, and I have been glorified among them. “I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them, I used to watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me; and I have protected them, and not one of them is destroyed except the son of destruction, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given your word to them, but the world has hated them, because they are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. “I do not request that you take them out of the world, but that you watch over them because of the wicked one. They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I also sent them into the world. And I am sanctifying myself in their behalf, so that they also may be sanctified by means of truth. “I make request, not concerning these only, but also concerning those putting faith in me through their word, so that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. I have given them the glory that you have given me, in order that they may be one just as we are one. I in union with them and you in union with me, in order that they may be perfected into one, so that the world may know that you sent me and that you loved them just as you loved me. Father, I want those whom you have given me to be with me where I am, in order that they may look upon my glory that you have given me, because you loved me before the founding of the world. Righteous Father, the world has, indeed, not come to know you, but I know you, and these have come to know that you sent me. I have made your name known to them and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them.” After he said these things, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley to where there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, his betrayer, also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought the detachment of soldiers and officers of the chief priests and of the Pharisees and came there with torches and lamps and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all the things that were going to happen to him, stepped forward and said to them: “Whom are you looking for?” They answered him: “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them: “I am he.” Now Judas, his betrayer, was also standing with them. However, when Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again: “Whom are you looking for?” They said: “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus answered: “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill what he had said: “Of those whom you have given me, I have not lost a single one.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The name of the slave was Malchus. Jesus, however, said to Peter: “Put the sword into its sheath. Should I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” Then the soldiers and the military commander and the officers of the Jews seized Jesus and bound him. They led him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Caiaphas was, in fact, the one who had advised the Jews that it was to their benefit for one man to die in behalf of the people. Now Simon Peter, as well as another disciple, was following Jesus. That disciple was known to the high priest, and he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. The servant girl who was the doorkeeper then said to Peter: “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said: “I am not.” Now the slaves and the officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had made, because it was cold and they were warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. So the chief priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered him: “I have spoken to the world publicly. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews come together, and I said nothing in secret. Why do you question me? Question those who have heard what I told them. See! These know what I said.” After he said these things, one of the officers who was standing by gave Jesus a slap in the face and said: “Is that the way you answer the chief priest?” Jesus answered him: “If I said something wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said was right, why do you hit me?” Then Annas sent him away bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing there warming himself. Then they said to him: “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said: “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, who was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said: “I saw you in the garden with him, did I not?” However, Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed. [Click to close]
Jesus The Way, the Truth, the Life, chapter 116
[Click to read Jesus The Way]|[Chapter 116. Teaching Humility at the Last Passover]
Matthew 26:20; Mark 14:17; Luke 22:14 through 18; John 13:1 through 17
Chapter Overview. Jesus eats his last Passover with the apostles. He teaches a lesson by washing the apostles’ feet.
At Jesus’ direction, Peter and John have already arrived in Jerusalem to prepare for the Passover. Later Jesus and the ten other apostles head there. It is afternoon, and the sun is sinking in the western sky as Jesus and his party descend the Mount of Olives. This is Jesus’ last daytime view from here until after his resurrection. Soon Jesus and his party reach the city and make their way to the home where they will have the Passover meal. They climb the stairs to the large upper room. There they find that all preparations have been made for their private meal. Jesus has looked forward to this occasion, for he says: “I have greatly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” (Luke 22:15) Many years earlier, the custom of passing a number of cups of wine among the Passover participants was introduced. Now, after accepting one of the cups, Jesus gives thanks and says: “Take this and pass it from one to the other among yourselves, for I tell you, from now on, I will not drink again from the product of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes.” (Luke 22:17 and 18) It should be clear that his death is close. At some point during the Passover meal, something unusual occurs. Jesus gets up, sets aside his outer garments, and picks up a towel. Then he puts water in a basin that is at hand. Ordinarily, a host would see to it that his guests’ feet were washed, perhaps by a servant. (Luke 7:44) On this occasion no host is present, so Jesus performs this personal service. Any of the apostles could have taken the opportunity to do it, but not one of them does. Is it because some rivalry still exists among them? Whatever the case, they are embarrassed to have Jesus wash their feet.
When Jesus comes to Peter, he protests: “You will certainly never wash my feet.” Jesus replies: “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Peter responds with feeling: “Lord, wash not only my feet but also my hands and my head.” How surprised he must be, then, at Jesus’ answer: “Whoever has bathed does not need to have more than his feet washed, but is completely clean. And you men are clean, but not all of you.” (John 13:8 through 10) Jesus washes the feet of all 12, including the feet of Judas Iscariot. After putting his outer garments on and reclining at the table again, Jesus asks: “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are correct, for I am such. Therefore, if I, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, you also should wash the feet of one another. For I set the pattern for you, that just as I did to you, you should also do. Most truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, happy you are if you do them.” (John 13:12 through 17) What a beautiful lesson in humble service! Jesus’ followers should not seek the first place, thinking that they are important and should be served. Rather, they should follow Jesus’ example, not by any ritual of foot washing, but by being willing to serve with humility and without partiality.
[Box, Questions for review]
During the Passover meal, what does Jesus tell the apostles that indicates his death is close?
Why is it unusual that Jesus washes the apostles’ feet?
By performing the menial service of washing his apostles’ feet, what lesson is Jesus providing? [End of Box] [Click to close]
[Click to read Jesus The Way]|[Chapter 117. The Lord’s Evening Meal]
Matthew 26:21 through 29; Mark 14:18 through 25; Luke 22:19 through 23; John 13:18 through 30
Chapter Overview. Judas is identified as a traitor. Jesus institutes a memorial meal.
Earlier this evening Jesus taught his apostles a lesson in humility by washing their feet. Now, apparently after the Passover meal, he quotes David’s prophetic words: “The man at peace with me, one whom I trusted, who was eating my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” Then he explains: “One of you will betray me.” (Psalm 41:9; John 13:18 and 21) The apostles look at one another, and each asks: “Lord, it is not I, is it?” Even Judas Iscariot does so. Peter urges John, who is next to Jesus at the table, to find out who it is. So John leans close to Jesus and asks: “Lord, who is it?” (Matthew 26:22; John 13:25) Jesus answers: “It is the one to whom I will give the piece of bread that I dip.” Dipping some bread in a dish on the table, Jesus hands it to Judas, saying: “The Son of man is going away, just as it is written about him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” (John 13:26; Matthew 26:24) Satan then enters Judas. This man, already corrupt, now gives himself over to do the Devil’s will and thus becomes “the son of destruction.” (John 6:64 and 70; 12:4; 17:12) Jesus tells Judas: “What you are doing, do it more quickly.” The other apostles imagine that Judas, who is holding the money box, is being told: “‘Buy what we need for the festival,’ or that he should give something to the poor.” (John 13:27 through 30) Instead, Judas goes off to betray Jesus. On this same evening as the Passover meal, Jesus introduces an entirely new type of meal. He takes a loaf, says a prayer of thanks, breaks it, and gives it to his apostles to eat. He says: “This means my body, which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) The piece of bread is passed around, and the apostles eat of it. Now Jesus takes a cup of wine, says a prayer of thanks over it, and passes it to them. Each drinks from the cup, about which Jesus says: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf.” (Luke 22:20) Thus Jesus arranges for a memorial of his death that his followers are to hold each year on Nisan 14. It will call to mind what Jesus and his Father have done to enable men of faith to escape from the condemnation of sin and death. Even more so than did the Passover for the Jews, it highlights true liberation for believing mankind.
Jesus says that his blood “is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.” Among the many to gain such forgiveness are his faithful apostles and others like them. They are the ones who will be with him in the Kingdom of his Father. (Matthew 26:28 and 29)
[Box, Questions for review]
What Bible prophecy does Jesus quote about a companion, and how does he apply it?
Jesus tells Judas to do what, but how do the other apostles understand Jesus’ direction?
What new event does Jesus introduce, and what purpose does it serve? [End of Box] [Click to close]
Jesus The Way, the Truth, the Life, chapter 117
[Click to read Jesus The Way]|[Chapter 117. The Lord’s Evening Meal]
Matthew 26:21 through 29; Mark 14:18 through 25; Luke 22:19 through 23; John 13:18 through 30
Chapter Overview. Judas is identified as a traitor. Jesus institutes a memorial meal.
Earlier this evening Jesus taught his apostles a lesson in humility by washing their feet. Now, apparently after the Passover meal, he quotes David’s prophetic words: “The man at peace with me, one whom I trusted, who was eating my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” Then he explains: “One of you will betray me.” (Psalm 41:9; John 13:18 and 21) The apostles look at one another, and each asks: “Lord, it is not I, is it?” Even Judas Iscariot does so. Peter urges John, who is next to Jesus at the table, to find out who it is. So John leans close to Jesus and asks: “Lord, who is it?” (Matthew 26:22; John 13:25) Jesus answers: “It is the one to whom I will give the piece of bread that I dip.” Dipping some bread in a dish on the table, Jesus hands it to Judas, saying: “The Son of man is going away, just as it is written about him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” (John 13:26; Matthew 26:24) Satan then enters Judas. This man, already corrupt, now gives himself over to do the Devil’s will and thus becomes “the son of destruction.” (John 6:64 and 70; 12:4; 17:12) Jesus tells Judas: “What you are doing, do it more quickly.” The other apostles imagine that Judas, who is holding the money box, is being told: “‘Buy what we need for the festival,’ or that he should give something to the poor.” (John 13:27 through 30) Instead, Judas goes off to betray Jesus. On this same evening as the Passover meal, Jesus introduces an entirely new type of meal. He takes a loaf, says a prayer of thanks, breaks it, and gives it to his apostles to eat. He says: “This means my body, which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) The piece of bread is passed around, and the apostles eat of it. Now Jesus takes a cup of wine, says a prayer of thanks over it, and passes it to them. Each drinks from the cup, about which Jesus says: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf.” (Luke 22:20) Thus Jesus arranges for a memorial of his death that his followers are to hold each year on Nisan 14. It will call to mind what Jesus and his Father have done to enable men of faith to escape from the condemnation of sin and death. Even more so than did the Passover for the Jews, it highlights true liberation for believing mankind.
Jesus says that his blood “is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.” Among the many to gain such forgiveness are his faithful apostles and others like them. They are the ones who will be with him in the Kingdom of his Father. (Matthew 26:28 and 29)
[Box, Questions for review]
What Bible prophecy does Jesus quote about a companion, and how does he apply it?
Jesus tells Judas to do what, but how do the other apostles understand Jesus’ direction?
What new event does Jesus introduce, and what purpose does it serve? [End of Box] [Click to close]
Jesus The Way, the Truth, the Life, chapter 118
[Click to read Jesus The Way]|[Chapter 118. A Dispute Over Greatness]
Matthew 26:31 through 35; Mark 14:27 through 31; Luke 22:24 through 38; John 13:31 through 38
Chapter Overview. Jesus gives counsel about position. Peter’s denial foretold. Love identifies Jesus’ followers.
During his last evening with his apostles, Jesus has provided them with a fine lesson in humble service by washing their feet. Why is that fitting? Because of a weakness they have shown. They are devoted to God, yet they still are concerned about which of them is greatest. (Mark 9:33 and 34; 10:35 through 37) That weakness resurfaces this evening. The apostles become involved in “a heated dispute among them over which one of them was considered to be the greatest.” (Luke 22:24) How saddened Jesus must be to see them bickering again! What does he do? Rather than scolding the apostles for their attitude and behavior, Jesus patiently reasons with them: “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those having authority over them are called Benefactors. You, though, are not to be that way.... For which one is greater, the one dining or the one serving?” Then, reminding them of the example that he has constantly set for them, Jesus says: “But I am among you as the one serving.” (Luke 22:25 through 27) Despite their imperfections, the apostles have stuck with Jesus through many challenging situations. So he says: “I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom.” (Luke 22:29) These men are Jesus’ loyal followers. He assures them that by means of a covenant between him and them, they will be in the Kingdom and share in his royal dominion. Although the apostles have this marvelous prospect, they are still in the flesh and are still imperfect. Jesus tells them: “Satan has demanded to have all of you to sift you as wheat,” which scatters as it is sifted. (Luke 22:31) He also warns: “All of you will be stumbled in connection with me on this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered about.’” (Matthew 26:31; Zechariah 13:7) Peter confidently objects: “Although all the others are stumbled in connection with you, I will never be stumbled!” (Matthew 26:33) Jesus tells Peter that before a rooster crows twice that night, Peter will disown him. However, Jesus adds: “I have made supplication for you that your faith may not give out; and you, once you have returned, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32) Yet Peter boldly affirms: “Even if I should have to die with you, I will by no means disown you.” (Matthew 26:35) The other apostles say the same thing. Jesus tells his disciples: “I am with you a little longer. You will look for me; and just as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ I now say it also to you.” Then he adds: “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:33 through 35) At hearing Jesus say that he is to be with them just a little longer, Peter asks: “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replies: “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.” Puzzled, Peter says: “Lord, why is it I cannot follow you now? I will surrender my life in your behalf.” (John 13:36 and 37) Jesus now refers to the time when he sent the apostles out on a preaching tour of Galilee without a money bag or a food pouch. (Matthew 10:5, 9 and 10) He asks: “You did not lack anything, did you?” They reply: “No!” But what should they do in the days ahead? Jesus directs them: “Let the one who has a money bag take it, likewise a food pouch, and let the one who has no sword sell his outer garment and buy one. For I tell you that what is written must be accomplished in me, namely, ‘He was counted with lawless ones.’ For this is being fulfilled concerning me.” (Luke 22:35 through 37) Jesus is pointing to the time when he will be nailed to a stake alongside evildoers, or lawless ones. Thereafter his followers will face severe persecution. They feel that they are prepared and say: “Lord, look! here are two swords.” He answers: “It is enough.” (Luke 22:38) That they have two swords with them will soon afford Jesus an opportunity to teach another important lesson.
[Box, Questions for review]
Why are the apostles arguing, and how does Jesus deal with the situation?
What is to be accomplished by the covenant that Jesus makes with his faithful disciples?
How does Jesus respond to Peter’s display of confidence? [End of Box] [Click to close]
Jesus The Way, the Truth, the Life, chapter 119
[Click to read Jesus The Way]|[Chapter 119. Jesus, The Way, the Truth, the Life]
John 14:1 through 31
Chapter Overview. Jesus is going away to prepare a place. He promises his followers a helper. The Father is greater than Jesus.
Still in the upper room with the apostles after the memorial meal, Jesus encourages them: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Exercise faith in God; exercise faith also in me.” (John 13:36; 14:1) Jesus gives the faithful apostles reason not to be troubled over his departure: “In the house of my Father are many dwelling places.... If I go my way and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you home to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” The apostles, however, do not grasp that he is speaking about going to heaven. Thomas asks: “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (John 14:2 through 5) “I am the way and the truth and the life,” Jesus answers. Only by accepting him and his teachings and imitating his life course can one enter the heavenly house of his Father. Jesus says: “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Philip, listening intently, requests: “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Philip seems to want some manifestation of God, like the visions that Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah received. However, the apostles have something better than such visions. Jesus highlights that, replying: “Even after I have been with you men for such a long time, Philip, have you not come to know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father also.” Jesus perfectly reflects the Father’s personality; hence, living with and observing Jesus is like seeing the Father. Of course, the Father is superior to the Son, for Jesus points out: “The things I say to you I do not speak of my own originality.” (John 14:8 through 10) The apostles can see that Jesus is giving all credit for his teachings to his Father. Jesus’ apostles have seen him do wonderful works and have heard him proclaim the good news about the Kingdom of God. Now he tells them: “Whoever exercises faith in me will also do the works that I do; and he will do works greater than these.” (John 14:12) Jesus is not saying that they will perform greater miracles than he did. They will, though, carry out their ministry for a much longer time, over a much greater area, and to far more people. Jesus’ departure will not leave them abandoned, for he promises: “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” Moreover, he says: “I will ask the Father and he will give you another helper to be with you forever, the spirit of the truth.” (John 14:14, 16 and 17) He guarantees them that they will receive the holy spirit, this other helper. That happens on the day of Pentecost. “In a little while, ” Jesus says, “the world will see me no more, but you will see me, because I live and you will live.” (John 14:19) Not only will Jesus appear to them in bodily form after his resurrection but he will, in time, resurrect them to be with him in heaven as spirit creatures. Now Jesus states a simple truth: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. In turn, whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will clearly show myself to him.” At this the apostle Judas, who is also called Thaddaeus, asks: “Lord, what has happened that you intend to show yourself clearly to us and not to the world?” Jesus replies: “If anyone loves me, he will observe my word, and my Father will love him ... Whoever does not love me does not observe my words.” (John 14:21 through 24) Unlike his followers, the world does not recognize Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is going away, so how will his disciples be able to recall all that he taught them? Jesus explains: “The helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you.” The apostles have seen how powerfully the holy spirit can work, so this assurance is comforting. Jesus adds: “I leave you peace; I give you my peace.... Do not let your hearts be troubled nor let them shrink out of fear.” (John 14:26 and 27) The disciples have reason, then, not to be troubled, they will have direction and protection from Jesus’ Father. Evidence of God’s protection will soon be seen. Jesus says: “The ruler of the world is coming, and he has no hold on me.” (John 14:30) The Devil was able to enter into Judas and get a hold on him. But there is no sinful weakness in Jesus that Satan can play on to turn him against God. Nor will the Devil be able to restrain Jesus in death. Why not? Jesus states: “I am doing just as the Father has commanded me to do.” He is certain that his Father will resurrect him. (John 14:31)
[Box, Questions for review]
Where is Jesus going, and what assurance does Thomas receive regarding the way there?
What does Philip apparently want Jesus to provide?
How will Jesus’ followers do greater works than he is doing?
Why is it reassuring that the Father is greater than Jesus? [End of Box] [Click to close]
Jesus The Way, the Truth, the Life, chapter 120
[Click to read Jesus The Way]|[Chapter 120. Bearing Fruit as Branches and Being Jesus’ Friends]
John 15:1 through 27
Chapter Overview. The true vine and the branches. How to remain in Jesus’ love.
Jesus has been encouraging his faithful apostles in a heart-to-heart talk. It is late, perhaps past midnight. Jesus now presents a motivating illustration: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the cultivator,” he begins. (John 15:1) His illustration resembles what had been said centuries earlier about the nation of Israel, which was called Jehovah’s vine. (Jeremiah 2:21; Hosea 10:1 and 2) However, Jehovah is casting off that nation. (Matthew 23:37, 38) So Jesus is introducing a new thought. He is the vine that his Father has been cultivating since anointing Jesus with holy spirit in 29 C.E. But Jesus shows that the vine symbolizes more than just him, saying: “[My Father] takes away every branch in me not bearing fruit, and he cleans every one bearing fruit, so that it may bear more fruit.... Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you unless you remain in union with me. I am the vine; you are the branches.” (John 15:2 through 5) Jesus has promised his faithful disciples that after he goes away, he would send a helper, the holy spirit. Fifty-one days later, when the apostles and others receive that spirit, they become branches of the vine. And all the “branches” would have to remain united with Jesus. To accomplish what? He explains: “Whoever remains in union with me and I in union with him, this one bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing at all.” These “branches”, his faithful followers, would bear much fruit, imitating Jesus’ qualities, actively speaking to others about God’s Kingdom, and making more disciples. What if one does not remain in union with Jesus and does not bear fruit? Jesus explains: “If anyone does not remain in union with me, he is thrown out.” On the other hand, Jesus says: “If you remain in union with me and my sayings remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will take place for you.” (John 15:5 through 7) Now Jesus returns to what he has mentioned twice, keeping his commandments. (John 14:15 and 21) He describes a key way for disciples to prove that they are doing so: “If you observe my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have observed the commandments of the Father and remain in his love.” However, more is involved than loving Jehovah God and his Son. Jesus says: “This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends. You are my friends if you do what I am commanding you.” (John 15:10 through 14) In a few hours, Jesus will demonstrate his love by giving his life for all who exercise faith in him. His example should move his followers to have similar self-sacrificing love for one another. This love will identify them, as Jesus stated earlier: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:35) The apostles should take note of Jesus’ calling them “friends.” He relates why they are such: “I have called you friends, because I have made known to you all the things I have heard from my Father.” What a precious relationship to have, to be intimate friends of Jesus and to know what the Father told him! In order to enjoy this relationship, though, they must “keep bearing fruit.” If they do, Jesus says, “no matter what you ask the Father in my name he [will] give it to you.” (John 15:15 and 16) The love among these “branches,” his disciples, will help them to endure what is to come. He warns them that the world will hate them, yet he offers this comfort: “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, ... for this reason the world hates you.” (John 15:18 and 19) Explaining further why the world will hate them, Jesus adds: “They will do all these things against you on account of my name, because they do not know the One who sent me.” Jesus says that his miraculous works, in effect, convict those who hate him: “If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have both seen me and hated me as well as my Father.” Actually, their hatred fulfills prophecy. (John 15:21, 24 and 25; Psalm 35:19; 69:4) Again, Jesus promises to send the helper, the holy spirit. That powerful force is available for all his followers and is able to help them to bear fruit, “to bear witness.” (John 15:27)
[Box, Questions for review]
Who is the cultivator, who is the vine, and who are the branches in Jesus’ illustration?
What fruit does God desire from the branches?
How can Jesus’ disciples be his friends, and what will help them to face up to the world’s hatred? [End of Box] [Click to close]
Jesus The Way, the Truth, the Life, chapter 121
[Click to read Jesus The Way]|[Chapter 121. “Take Courage! I Have Conquered the World”]
John 16:1 through 33
Chapter Overview. Soon the apostles will see Jesus no more. The apostles’ grief will turn into joy.
Jesus and the apostles are poised to leave the upper room where they held the Passover meal. Having given them considerable admonition, Jesus adds: “I have said these things to you so that you may not be stumbled.” Why was such a warning appropriate? He tells them: “Men will expel you from the synagogue. In fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he has offered a sacred service to God.” (John 16:1 and 2) That may be troubling news for the apostles. Although Jesus had said earlier that the world would hate them, he had not directly told them that they would be killed. Why not? “I did not tell you these things at first, because I was with you,” he says. (John 16:4) Now he is forearming them before he departs. This may help them to avoid being stumbled later. Jesus continues: “I am going to the One who sent me; yet not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’” Earlier that evening they had inquired about where he was going. (John 13:36; 14:5; 16:5) But now, shaken by what he said about persecution, they are absorbed in their own grief. Thus they fail to ask further about the glory that awaits him or what that would mean for true worshippers. Jesus observes: “Because I have told you these things, grief has filled your hearts.” (John 16:6) Then Jesus explains: “It is for your benefit that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the helper will not come to you; but if I do go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7) Only by Jesus’ dying and going to heaven can his disciples receive the holy spirit, which he can send as a helper to his people anywhere on earth. The holy spirit “will give the world convincing evidence concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment.” (John 16:8) Yes, the world’s failure to exercise faith in God’s Son will be exposed. Jesus’ ascension to heaven will provide convincing evidence of his righteousness and will demonstrate why Satan, “the ruler of this world,” merits adverse judgment. (John 16:11) “I still have many things to say to you,” Jesus continues, “but you are not able to bear them now.” When he pours out the holy spirit, it will guide them to an understanding of “all the truth,” and they will be able to live by that truth. (John 16:12 and 13) The apostles are puzzled by Jesus’ further statement: “In a little while you will see me no longer, and again, in a little while you will see me.” They ask one another what he means. Jesus realizes that they want to question him about this, so he explains: “Most truly I say to you, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be grieved, but your grief will be turned into joy.” (John 16:16 and 20) When Jesus is killed the next afternoon, the religious leaders rejoice, but the disciples grieve. Then their grief changes into joy when Jesus is resurrected! And their joy continues when he pours out upon them God’s holy spirit. Comparing the apostles’ situation to that of a woman during birth pangs, Jesus says: “When a woman is giving birth, she has grief because her hour has come, but when she has given birth to the child, she remembers the tribulation no more because of the joy that a man has been born into the world.” Jesus encourages his apostles, saying: “You also, now you have grief; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:21 and 22) Up to this time, the apostles have never made requests in Jesus’ name. He now says: “In that day you will make request of the Father in my name.” Why are they to do so? Not because the Father is reluctant to respond. In fact, Jesus says: “The Father himself has affection for you, because you have had affection for me ... as God’s representative.” (John 16:26 and 27) Jesus’ encouraging words to the apostles may have emboldened them to affirm: “By this we believe that you came from God.” That conviction will soon be tested. In fact, Jesus describes what is just ahead: “Look! The hour is coming, indeed, it has come, when each one of you will be scattered to his own house and you will leave me alone.” Yet he assures them: “I have said these things to you so that by means of me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:30 through 33) No, Jesus is not abandoning them. He is sure that they too can be world conquerors, just as he is, by their faithfully accomplishing God’s will despite the attempts of Satan and his world to break their integrity.
[Box, Questions for review]
The apostles are troubled when Jesus gives what warning?
Why do the apostles fail to ask Jesus any further questions?
How does Jesus illustrate the apostles’ change from grief to joy? [End of Box] [Click to close]
Jesus The Way, the Truth, the Life, chapter 122
[Click to read Jesus The Way]|[Chapter 122. Jesus’ Concluding Prayer in the Upper Room]
John 17:1 through 26
Chapter Overview. The result of coming to know God and his Son. The oneness of Jehovah, Jesus, and the disciples.
Moved by deep love for his apostles, Jesus has been preparing them for his imminent departure. He now raises his eyes to heaven and prays to his Father: “Glorify your son so that your son may glorify you, just as you have given him authority over all flesh, so that he may give everlasting life to all those whom you have given to him.” (John 17:1 and 2) Clearly, Jesus recognizes that giving God glory is of prime importance. But how comforting is the prospect that Jesus mentions—everlasting life! Having received “authority over all flesh,” Jesus can offer the benefits of his ransom to all mankind. Yet, only some will be so blessed. Why only some? Because Jesus will impart the benefits of his ransom only to those who act in accord with what Jesus next mentions: “This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3) A person must come to know both the Father and the Son intimately, having a close bond with them. He must feel as they do about matters. Further, he must strive to imitate their matchless qualities in dealing with others. And he must appreciate that humans’ receiving everlasting life is secondary to the glorification of God. Jesus now returns to this theme: “I have glorified you on the earth, having finished the work you have given me to do. So now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory that I had alongside you before the world was.” (John 17:4 and 5) Yes, Jesus asks to be restored to heavenly glory by means of a resurrection. However, Jesus has not forgotten what he has accomplished in his ministry. He prays: “I have made your name manifest to the men whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have observed your word.” (John 17:6) Jesus did more than pronounce God’s name, Jehovah, in his ministry. He helped his apostles to come to know what the name represents, God’s qualities and his way of dealing with humans. The apostles have come to know Jehovah, the role of his Son, and the things Jesus has taught. Jesus humbly says: “I have given them the sayings that you gave me, and they have accepted them and have certainly come to know that I came as your representative, and they have believed that you sent me.” (John 17:8) Jesus then acknowledges the distinction between his followers and the world of mankind in general: “I make request, not concerning the world, but concerning those whom you have given me, because they are yours ... Holy Father, watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.... I have protected them, and not one of them is destroyed except the son of destruction,” namely, Judas Iscariot, who is on his mission to betray Jesus. (John 17:9 through 12) “The world has hated them,” Jesus continues to pray. “I do not request that you take them out of the world, but that you watch over them because of the wicked one. They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:14 through 16) The apostles and other disciples are in the world, human society ruled by Satan, but they must remain separate from it and its badness. How? They must keep themselves holy, set apart to serve God, by applying the truths found in the Hebrew Scriptures and the truths that Jesus himself has taught. Jesus prays: “Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17) In time, some of the apostles will write inspired books that will also be part of “the truth” that can help to sanctify a person. But there will in time be others who will accept “the truth.” Jesus thus prays “not concerning these only [those who are there], but also concerning those putting faith in [him] through their word.” What does Jesus request for all of them? “That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us.” (John 17:20 and 21) Jesus and his Father are not literally one person. They are one in that they are in agreement on all things. Jesus prays that his followers enjoy this same oneness. Shortly before this, Jesus had told Peter and the others that he was going his way to prepare a place for them, meaning a place in heaven. (John 14:2 and 3) Jesus now returns to that idea in prayer: “Father, I want those whom you have given me to be with me where I am, in order that they may look upon my glory that you have given me, because you loved me before the founding of the world.” (John 17:24) He thus confirms that long ago, before Adam and Eve conceived offspring, God loved his only-begotten Son, who became Jesus Christ. Concluding his prayer, Jesus reemphasizes both his Father’s name and God’s love for the apostles and for others who will yet accept “the truth,” saying: “I have made your name known to them and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them.” (John 17:26)
[Box, Questions for review]
What does coming to know God and his Son mean?
In what ways has Jesus made God’s name manifest?
How are God, his Son, and all true worshippers one? [End of Box] [Click to close]
Jesus The Way, the Truth, the Life, chapter 123
[Click to read Jesus The Way]|[Chapter 123. Praying When Deeply Grieved]
Matthew 26:30, 36 through 46; Mark 14:26, 32 through 42; Luke 22:39 through 46; John 18:1
Chapter Overview. Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. His sweat is as drops of blood.
Jesus finishes praying with his faithful apostles. Then, ‘after singing praises, they go out to the Mount of Olives.’ (Mark 14:26) They head eastward to a garden called Gethsemane, where Jesus is accustomed to going. Once they arrive at this pleasant spot among the olive trees, Jesus leaves eight of the apostles behind. Perhaps they remain near the garden’s entrance, for he tells them: “Sit down here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along three apostles, Peter, James, and John, Jesus goes farther into the garden. He becomes greatly troubled and tells the three: “I am deeply grieved, even to death. Stay here and keep on the watch with me.” (Matthew 26:36 through 38) Going some distance away from them, Jesus ‘falls to the ground and begins praying.’ What is he praying to God about at this intense moment? He prays: “Father, all things are possible for you; remove this cup from me. Yet, not what I want, but what you want.” (Mark 14:35 and 36) What does he mean? Is he backing away from his role as Ransomer? No! Jesus has observed from heaven the extreme suffering of others put to death by the Romans. Now as a human, who has tender feelings and who can feel pain, Jesus is not looking forward to what awaits him. More important, though, he is in agony because he senses that his dying like a despicable criminal might bring reproach on his Father’s name. In a few hours, he will be hanged on a stake as if he were a blasphemer against God. After praying at length, Jesus returns and finds the three apostles sleeping. He says to Peter: “Could you not so much as keep on the watch for one hour with me? Keep on the watch and pray continually, so that you may not enter into temptation.” Jesus realizes that the apostles too have been under stress, and it is late. He adds: “The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:40 and 41) Then Jesus goes off a second time and asks that God remove from him “this cup.” On returning, he once again finds the three apostles asleep, when they should have been praying that they not enter into temptation. When Jesus speaks to them, they do “not know what to answer him.” (Mark 14:40) A third time Jesus goes off, and he bends down on his knees to pray. Jesus is deeply concerned about the reproach that his death as a criminal will bring on his Father’s name. Jehovah is hearing his Son’s prayers, though, and at one point God sends an angel to strengthen him. Even so, Jesus does not stop supplicating his Father, but he keeps “praying more earnestly.” The emotional stress is enormous. What a weight is on Jesus’ shoulders! His own eternal life and that of believing humans is at stake. In fact, his ‘sweat becomes as drops of blood falling to the ground.’ (Luke 22:44) When Jesus returns the third time to his apostles, he again finds them sleeping. “At such a time as this,” he says, “you are sleeping and resting! Look! The hour has drawn near for the Son of man to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer has drawn near.” (Matthew 26:45 and 46)
[Box] His Sweat Is as Drops of Blood. Physician Luke does not explain how Jesus’ sweat “became as drops of blood.” (Luke 22:44) Luke may have been speaking illustratively, that the sweat resembled blood dripping from a wound. An alternate idea was offered by Doctor William D. Edwards in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA): “Although this is a very rare phenomenon, bloody sweat (hematidrosis ... ) may occur in highly emotional states ... As a result of hemorrhage into the sweat glands, the skin becomes fragile and tender.” [End of Box]
[Box, Questions for review]
After leaving the upper room, where does Jesus lead the apostles?
What are three apostles doing while Jesus prays?
That Jesus’ sweat becomes as drops of blood indicates what about his feelings? [End of Box] [Click to close]
Jesus The Way, the Truth, the Life, chapter 124
[Click to read Jesus The Way]|[Chapter 124. Christ Is Betrayed and Arrested]
Matthew 26:47 through 56; Mark 14:43 through 52; Luke 22:47 through 53; John 18:2 through 12
Chapter Overview. Judas betrays Jesus in the garden. Peter cuts off a man’s ear. Jesus is arrested.
It is well past midnight. The priests have agreed to pay Judas 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus. So Judas leads a large crowd of chief priests and Pharisees, seeking to find Jesus. They are accompanied by a detachment of armed Roman soldiers with a military commander. Evidently, when Jesus dismissed him from the Passover meal, Judas went directly to the chief priests. (John 13:27) They assembled their own officers as well as a band of soldiers. Judas may have led them first to the room where Jesus and his apostles had celebrated the Passover. But now the mob has crossed the Kidron Valley and is headed for the garden. In addition to weapons, they are carrying lamps and torches, determined to find Jesus. As Judas leads the procession up the Mount of Olives, he feels sure that he knows where to find Jesus. During the past week, as Jesus and the apostles traveled back and forth between Bethany and Jerusalem, they often stopped in the garden of Gethsemane. But now it is night, and Jesus may be in the shadows of the olive trees in the garden. So how will the soldiers, who may not have seen Jesus before, be able to identify him? To help them, Judas will provide a sign. He says: “Whoever it is I kiss, he is the one; take him into custody, and lead him away under guard.” (Mark 14:44) Leading the crowd into the garden, Judas sees Jesus with his apostles and goes straight up to him. “Greetings, Rabbi!” Judas says, and he kisses Jesus very tenderly. “Fellow, for what purpose are you present?” Jesus responds. (Matthew 26:49 and 50) Answering his own question, Jesus says: “Judas, are you betraying the Son of man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48) But that is enough of his betrayer!
Jesus now steps into the light of the torches and lamps and asks: “Whom are you looking for?” From the mob comes the answer: “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus courageously says: “I am he.” (John 18:4 and 5) Not knowing what to expect, the men fall to the ground. Rather than seizing that moment to flee into the night, Jesus again asks whom they are seeking. When they again say, “Jesus the Nazarene,” he calmly continues: “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” Even at this crucial moment, Jesus recalls what he said earlier, that he would not lose a single one. (John 6:39; 17:12) Jesus has kept his faithful apostles and not one has been lost “except the son of destruction”, Judas. (John 18:7 through 9) Thus he now asks that his loyal followers be let go. As the soldiers stand and move toward Jesus, the apostles realize what is happening. “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” they ask. (Luke 22:49) Before Jesus can reply, Peter wields one of the two swords that the apostles have at hand. He attacks Malchus, a slave of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
Jesus touches the ear of Malchus, healing the wound. He then teaches an important lesson, commanding Peter: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword.” Jesus is willing to be arrested, for he explains: “How would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must take place this way?” (Matthew 26:52 and 54) He adds: “Should I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (John 18:11) Jesus agrees with God’s will for him, even to the point of dying. Jesus asks the crowd: “Did you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs as against a robber? Day after day I used to sit in the temple teaching, and yet you did not take me into custody. But all of this has taken place for the writings of the prophets to be fulfilled.” (Matthew 26:55 and 56) The soldier band, the military commander, and the officers of the Jews seize Jesus and bind him. Seeing this, the apostles flee. However, “a certain young man”, perhaps the disciple Mark, remains among the crowd so as to follow Jesus. (Mark 14:51) This young man is recognized, and the crowd attempts to seize him, which forces him to leave behind his linen garment as he gets away.
[Box, Questions for review]
Why does Judas look for Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane?
Trying to defend Jesus, what does Peter do, but what does Jesus say about this?
How does Jesus reveal that he is in agreement with God’s will for him?
When the apostles abandon Jesus, who remains, and what happens then? [End of Box] [Click to close]
Jesus The Way, the Truth, the Life, chapter 125
[Click to read Jesus The Way]|[Chapter 125. Jesus Is Taken to Annas, Then to Caiaphas]
Matthew 26:57 through 68; Mark 14:53 through 65; Luke 22:54, 63 through 65; John 18:13 and 14, 19 through 24
Chapter Overview. Jesus is taken to former High Priest Annas. An illegal trial by the Sanhedrin.
Once Jesus is bound like a common criminal, he is led to Annas, who was the high priest when young Jesus amazed the teachers at the temple. (Luke 2:42 and 47) Some of Annas’ sons later served as high priest, and now his son-in-law Caiaphas holds that position. While Jesus is at the home of Annas, Caiaphas has time to assemble the Sanhedrin. That court of 71 members includes the high priest and others who had held that office. Annas questions Jesus “about his disciples and about his teaching.” Jesus replies simply: “I have spoken to the world publicly. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews come together, and I said nothing in secret. Why do you question me? Question those who have heard what I told them.” (John 18:19 through 21) An officer standing there slaps Jesus in the face and says reprovingly: “Is that the way you answer the chief priest?” But Jesus, knowing that he has done no wrong, responds: “If I said something wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said was right, why do you hit me?” (John 18:22 and 23) Annas then has Jesus taken away to his son-in-law Caiaphas. By now those composing the whole Sanhedrin, the current high priest, the elders of the people, and the scribes, have assembled. They meet at the home of Caiaphas. It is illegal to hold such a trial on the night of Passover, but this does not deter them from pursuing their wicked purpose. This is hardly an unbiased group. After Jesus resurrected Lazarus, the Sanhedrin decided that Jesus should die. (John 11:47 through 53) And just days ago the religious authorities conspired to seize Jesus and kill him. (Matthew 26:3 and 4) Yes, even before his trial begins, Jesus is as good as condemned to death! In addition to meeting illegally, the chief priests and others of the Sanhedrin are attempting to find witnesses who will give false evidence to build the case against Jesus. They find many, but these cannot agree as to their testimony. Finally, two come forward and claim: “We heard him say, ‘I will throw down this temple that was made with hands, and in three days I will build another not made with hands.’” (Mark 14:58) Yet even these men do not fully agree. Caiaphas asks Jesus: “Do you say nothing in reply? What is it these men are testifying against you?” (Mark 14:60) Jesus remains silent in the face of this false charge made by witnesses whose stories disagree. So High Priest Caiaphas switches to a different tactic. Caiaphas knows that the Jews are sensitive about anyone claiming to be the Son of God. Earlier, when Jesus had called God his Father, the Jews wanted to kill him because they claimed that he was “making himself equal to God.” (John 5:17 and 18; 10:31 through 39) Aware of such sentiments, Caiaphas now craftily demands of Jesus: “I put you under oath by the living God to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God!” (Matthew 26:63) Of course, Jesus has acknowledged being the Son of God. (John 3:18; 5:25; 11:4) If he does not do so now, that could be construed as denying that he is God’s Son and the Christ. So Jesus says: “I am; and you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62) At this, Caiaphas with great drama rips his garments and exclaims: “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? See! Now you have heard the blasphemy. What is your opinion?” The Sanhedrin hand down the unjust judgment: “He deserves to die.” (Matthew 26:65 and 66) Then they begin to mock Jesus and hit him with their fists. Others slap his face and spit into it. After they cover his whole face and slap him, they say sarcastically: “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” (Luke 22:64) Here is the Son of God being treated abusively at an illegal nighttime trial!
[Box, Questions for review]
Where is Jesus led first, and what happens to him there?
Where is Jesus next taken, and how is Caiaphas able to get the Sanhedrin to proclaim that Jesus deserves to die?
What abusive behavior occurs during the trial? [End of Box] [Click to close]
Jesus The Way, the Truth, the Life, chapter 126
[Click to read Jesus The Way]|[Chapter 126. Denials at the House of Caiaphas]
Matthew 26:69 through 75; Mark 14:66 through 72; Luke 22:54 through 62; John 18:15 through 18, 25 through 27
Chapter Overview. Peter denies Jesus.
Upon Jesus’ being arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, the apostles abandon him, fleeing in fear. However, two of them stop their flight. They are Peter “as well as another disciple,” evidently the apostle John. (John 18:15; 19:35; 21:24) They may catch up with Jesus as he is taken to the home of Annas. When Annas sends Jesus to High Priest Caiaphas, Peter and John follow at a distance. They are likely torn between fear for their own lives and concern for what will happen to their Master. John is known to the high priest and is thus able to gain entrance into the courtyard at Caiaphas’ house. Peter remains outside at the door until John returns and speaks to a servant girl who is acting as doorkeeper. Then Peter is allowed to enter. It is cold this night, so those in the courtyard have a charcoal fire burning. Peter sits with them to keep warm as he waits “to see the outcome” of Jesus’ trial. (Matthew 26:58) Now, in the light of the fire, the doorkeeper who let Peter in gets a better look at him. “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” she demands. (John 18:17) And she is not alone in recognizing Peter and accusing him of being with Jesus. (Matthew 26:69 and 71 through 73; Mark 14:70) This greatly upsets Peter. He is trying to be inconspicuous, even withdrawing to the entryway. So Peter denies that he was with Jesus, at one point saying: “Neither do I know him nor do I understand what you are talking about.” (Mark 14:67 and 68) He also starts to “curse and swear,” meaning that he is willing to take an oath that his words are true and to face calamity if they are not. (Matthew 26:74) Meanwhile, Jesus’ trial is in progress, apparently in a part of Caiaphas’ house that is above the courtyard. Peter and the others waiting below may see the comings and goings of various witnesses who are brought in to testify. Peter’s Galilean accent is an indication that his denial is false. Moreover, one in the group is related to Malchus, whose ear Peter cut off. So the charge is leveled against Peter: “I saw you in the garden with him, did I not?” When Peter denies this for a third time, a rooster crows, as was foretold. (John 13:38; 18:26 and 27) At that point, Jesus apparently is on a balcony overlooking the courtyard. The Lord turns and looks straight at Peter, which must pierce Peter to the core. He recalls what Jesus said only a few hours earlier in the upper room. Imagine how Peter feels as the realization of what he has done crashes down on him! Peter goes outside and weeps bitterly. (Luke 22:61 and 62) How could this happen? How could Peter, who was so certain of his spiritual strength and loyalty, deny his Master? Truth is being distorted, and Jesus is being depicted as a vile criminal. When Peter could have stood up for an innocent man, he turned his back on the very One who has “sayings of everlasting life.” (John 6:68) Peter’s tragic experience shows that even a person of faith and devotion can be thrown off balance if he is not properly prepared for unexpected trials or temptations. May what Peter went through serve as a warning to all of God’s servants!
[Box, Questions for review]
How do Peter and John gain entrance to the courtyard at Caiaphas’ house?
While Peter and John are in the courtyard, what is going on in the house?
What does it mean that Peter curses and swears?
Peter’s experience contains what serious lesson? [End of Box] [Click to close]