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What actually happened to Jesus? The eyewitness reports from the Bible portray an incredible unfolding of terrible events. It has nothing to do with bunnies and eggs! The historical account is inspiring, yet brutally honest and confronting.

All four accounts from the Bible have been carefully combined to show you what happened in Jerusalem about 2000 years ago. This, then, is the story:

Anointing and Betrayal

The Passover was in six days, and Jesus was in Bethany. A dinner was prepared in His honour, Martha served, and Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead, was among those who ate with Him.

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from pure nard, broke it open and poured it on His head. She then anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” And Judas Iscariot said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” (Not that he cared for the poor — he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself). So they scolded her harshly.

But Jesus replied,

“Leave her alone. Why criticise her for doing such a good thing to Me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.

She has done what she could and has anointed My body for burial ahead of time. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered.”

Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them.

They were delighted, and gave him thirty pieces of silver. He agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest Him when the crowds weren’t around.

A video interpretation of the Last Week of Jesus:

The Triumphant Entry

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, He sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village over there,” He said. “As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it to Me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” This took place to fulfil the prophecy that said,

“Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey — riding on a donkey’s colt.’”

They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, He sat on it.

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet Him.

When Jesus reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of His followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

He replied, “If they kept quiet, the very stones along the road would cry out!”

As He saw the city, He wept, saying,

“If only you had known this day would bring peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days will come on you when your enemies will build a barricade around you, surround you and hem you in on every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. They will not leave one stone on another in your midst because you did not recognise the time when God visited you.”

The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as He entered. “Who is this?” they asked.

And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Jesus Clears the Temple Courts

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.

Jesus said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill Him, for they feared Him, because the whole crowd was amazed at His teaching.

The blind and the lame came to Him in the Temple, and He healed them. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and even heard the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.”

But the leaders were indignant. They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”

“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give You praise.’” Then He returned to Bethany, where He stayed overnight.

In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, He was hungry, and He noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves, as it was too early in the season for fruit. Then He said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately, the fig tree withered up.

The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”

Then Jesus told them,

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.

I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.

But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in Heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

Jesus Again Predicts His Death

He took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to Him. “Listen,” He said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law.

They will sentence Him to die. Then they will hand Him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day He will be raised from the dead.”

Jesus said, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into His glory. I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce a plentiful harvest.

Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

Anyone who wants to serve Me must follow Me, because My servants must be where I am. And the Father will honour anyone who serves Me.

Now My soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to Your Name.”

Then a voice came from Heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some said it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to Him.

Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not Mine. The time for judging this world has come, and Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to Myself.” He said this to indicate how He was going to die.

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

Again, they entered Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to Him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right to do them?”

“I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. “Did John’s authority to baptise come from Heaven, or was it merely human? Answer Me!”

They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from Heaven, He will ask why we didn’t believe John. But do we dare say it was merely human?” For they were afraid that the people would mob and stone them, because everyone believed that John was a prophet. So they finally replied, “We don’t know.”

And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”

“But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway.

Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.

Which of the two obeyed his father?”

They replied, “The first.”

Then Jesus explained His meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.

“Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then, he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country.

At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. So, the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.

Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’ But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’

So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him. When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “What do you think he will do to those farmers?”

The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.”

Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?

‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the Cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’

I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce the proper fruit. Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”

When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realised He was telling the story against them — they were the wicked farmers. They wanted to arrest Him, but they were afraid of the crowds.

One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realised that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

Jesus replied,

“The most important commandment is this: ‘The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’

The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’  The entire law and the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Signs of Christ’s Return

As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of His disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.”

Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”

Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to Him privately and asked Him, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal Your return and the end of the world?”

Jesus told them, “Don’t be deceived, for many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.

Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from Heaven. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues and sent to prison. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are My followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about Me.

When you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you, for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you! For it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

You will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of Me. And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other. A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.

Many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

But not a hair of your head will perish! By standing firm and enduring to the end, you will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.

So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (Reader, pay attention!), then, those in Judea must flee to the hills. A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days.

And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive.

But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.  See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.

Then, if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. And if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes.

Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.  The nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth.

And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near! And He will send out His angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather His chosen ones from all over the world — from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

Now, learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know His return is very near, right at the door.

I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but My words will never disappear.

Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near. However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.

When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered the ark.

People didn’t realise what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth.

Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man. Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.

The coming of the Son of Man is like a man going on a long trip. When He left home, He gave each of His slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and He told the gatekeeper to watch for His return. You, too, must keep watch!

For you don’t know when the Master of the household will return — in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. Don’t let Him find you sleeping when He arrives without warning.

I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for Him! Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a thief was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the Master can give the responsibility of managing His other household servants and feeding them. If the Master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the Master will put that servant in charge of all He owns.

But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My Master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk?

The Master will return unannounced and unexpected, and He will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the Bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.

When the Bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the Bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet Him!’

All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.”

But while they were gone to buy oil, the Bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.

Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ But he called back, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’

Therefore, you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of My return.”

Parable of the Talents

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last, to each one according to their ability. He then left on his trip.

The servant who received the five talents began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two talents also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

After a long time, their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of gold came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of gold to invest, and I have earned five more.’

The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

The servant who had received the two bags of gold came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of gold to invest, and I have earned two more.’

The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”

Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting things you didn’t plant and gathering crops where you did not sow any seed. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the ground. Look, here is your money back.’

But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvest things I didn’t plant and gathered crops where I did not sow seed, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I would’ve received my gold back with interest.’

Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance.

But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

The Final Judgment

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at His left.

Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.’

Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? Or a stranger and show You hospitality? Or naked and give You clothing? When did we ever see You sick or in prison and visit You?’

And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these, My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!”

Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed Me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite Me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give Me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit Me.’

Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help You?’

And He will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these, My brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help Me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Every day, Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening, He returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. The crowds gathered at the Temple early each morning to hear Him, for they hung on to every word He said.

The Last Supper

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for You?”

So Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with these instructions: “As you go into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with My disciples?’ He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” So the two disciples went into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.

Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to His Father. He had loved His disciples during His ministry on earth, and now He loved them to the very end. When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before My suffering begins. For I say to you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” And He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is My blood, which is the new covenant between God and His people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.”

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

Jesus knew that the Father had given Him authority over everything and that He had come from God and would return to God. So He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him.

When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

“No,” Peter protested, “You will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to Me.”

Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

After washing their feet, He put on His robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.

I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their Master. Nor is the messenger more important than the One who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

“I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfils the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah.

I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes My messenger is welcoming Me, and anyone who welcomes Me is welcoming the Father who sent Me.”

Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and He exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray Me. For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”

The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing. Greatly distressed, they asked in turn, “Am I the one?”

John was sitting next to Jesus at the table. Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s He talking about?” So John leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when He had dipped it, He gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.”

None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. So Judas left at once, going out into the night.

As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into His glory, and God will be glorified because of Him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, He will give His own glory to the Son, and He will do so at once. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer.

And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for Me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.”

Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. But He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called ‘Benefactors.’ It is not to be like that among you.

On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the least, and whoever leads, like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the One who serves.

You are those who stood by Me in My trials. I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one on Me, so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Jesus, the Way to the Father

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me. There is more than enough room in My Father’s house. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to Myself that where I am, you may also be. And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where You are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Me. If you had really known Me, you would know who My Father is. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him!”

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?

The words I speak are not My own, but My Father who lives in Me does His work through Me. Just believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen Me do.”

I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in My Name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask Me for anything in My Name, and I will do it!”

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

“If you love Me, obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognise Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you.

No, I will not abandon you as orphans — I will come to you. Soon, the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. Those who accept My commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me. And because they love Me, My Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal Myself to each of them.”

Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, why are You going to reveal Yourself only to us and not to the world?”

Jesus replied, “All who love Me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and We will come and make Our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love Me will not obey Me.

And remember, My words are not My own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent Me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit — He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give this to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again.

If you really loved Me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, Who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over Me, but I will do what the Father requires of Me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.”

Jesus, the True Vine

“I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.

Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me, you can do nothing.

Anyone who does not remain in Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.

But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father.

I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me. Remain in My love. When you obey My commandments, you remain in My love, just as I obey My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

This is My commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are My friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves.

Now you are My friends, since I have told you everything the Father told Me. You didn’t choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My Name. This is My command: Love one other.”

The World’s Hatred

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted Me, they will persecute you. And if they had listened to Me, they would listen to you.

They will do all this to you because of Me, for they have rejected the one who sent Me. They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now, they have no excuse for their sin. Anyone who hates Me also hates My Father.

If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate Me and My Father. This fulfils what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated Me without cause.’

But I will send you the Advocate — the Spirit of Truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about Me. And you must also testify about Me because you have been with Me from the beginning of My ministry.

I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or Me. Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember My warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.”

But now I am going away to the One who sent Me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come.

If I do go away, then I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in Me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see Me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.”

There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own but will tell you what He has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring Me glory by telling you whatever He receives from Me. All that belongs to the Father is Mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever He receives from Me.’”

Sadness Will Be Turned to Joy

“In a little while, you won’t see Me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see Me again.”

Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does He mean when He says, ‘In a little while you won’t see Me, but then you will see Me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? And what does He mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”

Jesus realised they wanted to ask Him about it, so He said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while, you won’t see Me, but a little while after that, you will see Me again. I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to Me, but the world will rejoice.

You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labour. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.

At that time you won’t need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My Name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using My Name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon, I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. Then you will ask in My Name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father Himself loves you dearly because you love Me and believe that I came from God. Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”

Then His disciples said, “At last, You are speaking plainly and not figuratively. Now we understand that You know everything, and there’s no need to question You. From this, we believe that You came from God.”

Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming, indeed, it’s here now, when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving Me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with Me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

The Prayer of Jesus

After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to Heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so He can give glory back to You. For You have given Him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one You have given Him. And this is the way to have eternal life — to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One You sent to earth. I brought glory to You here on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.

Now, Father, bring Me into the glory We shared before the world began. I have revealed You to the ones You gave Me from this world. They were always Yours. You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from You, for I have passed on to them the message You gave Me. They accepted it and know that I came from You, and they believe You sent Me.”

My prayer is not for the world, but for those You have given Me, because they belong to You. All who are Mine belong to You, and You have given them to Me, so they bring Me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to You.

Holy Father, You have given Me Your Name; now protect them by the power of Your Name so that they will be united just as We are. During My time here, I protected them by the power of the Name You gave Me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

Now I am coming to You. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with My joy. I have given them Your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

I’m not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by Your truth; teach them Your word, which is truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give Myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by Your truth.”

I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in Me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one — as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in Us so that the world will believe You sent Me. I have given them the glory You gave Me, so they may be one as We are one. I am in them and You are in Me.

May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me. Father, I want these whom You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they can see all the glory You gave Me because You loved Me even before the world began!

O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know You, but I do; and these disciples know You sent Me. I have revealed You to them, and I will continue to do so. Then Your love for Me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight, all of you will desert Me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.

Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Simon Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts You, I will never desert You.”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter — this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know Me.”

“No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveller’s bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?” “No,” they replied.

“But now,” He said, “take your money and a traveller’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! For the time has come for this prophecy about Me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’ Yes, everything written about Me by the prophets will come true.”

“Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.”

“That’s enough,” He said.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and He said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter, James and John, and He became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”

He went on a little further, about a stone’s throw, and bowed with His face to the ground, praying that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass by. “Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet not My will be done but Yours.”

Then He returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter,

“Couldn’t you watch with Me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will but Yours be done.”

When He returned to them again, He found them sleeping. For they couldn’t keep their eyes open, and they didn’t know what to say.

So He went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. An angel from Heaven appeared and strengthened Him. He prayed more fervently, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

At last, He stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. “Why are you sleeping?” He asked them.

“Pray, so that you will not fall into temptation. Listen, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up; let’s be going. Look, My betrayer is here!”

The Betrayal of Jesus

The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now, with blazing torches, lanterns, swords and clubs, they arrived at the olive grove. The traitor, Judas, had given them a sign: “Arrest the one I kiss, He’s the One.”

So he immediately went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. And Jesus said, “Friend, why have you come? Would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” But Jesus, fully realising all that was going to happen to Him, stepped forward to address them. “Who are you looking for?” They replied. “Jesus the Nazarene.”

“I am He,” Jesus said.  As He said, “I am He,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! Once more, He asked them, “Who are you looking for?” And again, they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” “I told you that I am He,” Jesus said. “And since I am the One you want, let these others go.” He did this to fulfil what He had said: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given Me.”

When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!” Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take up the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once send Me more than twelve legions of angels? Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given Me?” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come for Him. “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest Me? Why didn’t you arrest Me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your hour, the time when the power of darkness reigns.”

Then, all His disciples deserted Him and ran away. One young man following behind was clothed only in a long linen shirt. When the mob tried to grab him, he slipped out of his shirt and ran away naked.

Jesus at the High Priest’s House

So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied Him up. First, they took Him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.”

Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did John. John was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. Peter had to stay outside the gate.

Then John spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that Man’s disciples, are you?”

But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

The household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire because it was cold. They stood around warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.

Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about His followers and what He had been teaching them. Jesus replied,

“Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. Why are you asking Me this question? Ask those who heard Me. They know what I said.”

Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded. Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating Me?” Then Annas bound Jesus and sent Him to Caiaphas, the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials

Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.” Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.

But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” Then Peter started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!”

And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And he remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

The guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded Him and said, “Prophesy to us! Who hit You that time?” And they hurled all sorts of terrible insults at Him.

Jesus Before the Council

At daybreak, they led Jesus to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered. Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put Him to death.

But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they contradicted themselves. Finally, two men came forward who declared, “This Man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do You have to say for Yourself?” But Jesus remained silent.

Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge you in the Name of the living God — tell us if You are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

Jesus replied, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of Heaven.”

When the high priest heard this, he tore his clothes and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need more witnesses? You have all heard His blasphemy. What is your verdict?”

“Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!” Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat Him with their fists. And some slapped Him, jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit You that time?” And the guards led Jesus away and beat Him.

When Judas, who had betrayed Him, realised that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent Man.”

“What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.”

Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself. The leading priests picked up the coins. “It wouldn’t be right to put this money in the Temple treasury,” they said, “since it was payment for murder.”

After some discussion, they finally decided to buy the potter’s field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners. That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood. This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says,

“They took the thirty pieces of silver — the price at which He was valued by the people of Israel,
and purchased the potter’s field, as the Lord directed.”

Jesus’ Trial Before Pilate

Early in the morning, the entire council took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, as it was the day of Preparation for the Passover, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate it. So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this Man?”

“We wouldn’t have handed Him over to you if He weren’t a criminal!” they retorted. “Then take Him away and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied. (This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way He would die.)

They began to state their case: “This Man has been leading our people astray by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming He is the Messiah, a king.”

Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.

Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about Me?”

“Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought You to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, My followers would fight to keep Me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But My Kingdom is not of this world.”

Pilate said, “So you are a king?”

Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognise that what I say is true.”

“What is truth?” Pilate asked.

Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?”

They shouted back, “No! Not this Man. We want Barabbas!” For the leading priests and the elders had persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.)

And as the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against Him, Jesus remained silent. “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against You?” Pilate demanded. But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, so that the governor was greatly astonished.

Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent Man. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about Him last night.”

Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this Man!” Then they became insistent. “But He is causing riots by His teaching wherever He goes — all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem!”

“Oh, is he a Galilean?” Pilate asked. When they said that He was, Pilate sent Him to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod’s jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.

Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about Him and had been hoping for a long time to see Him perform a miracle. He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer.

Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations. Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. (Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)

Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, and he announced his verdict.

“You brought this man to me, accusing Him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”

Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill Him, and release Barabbas to us!”

Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. But they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

For the third time, he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence Him to death.” So he ordered Jesus to be scourged with a lead-tipped whip. Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and called the entire regiment.

They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on His head, and they placed a reed stick in His right hand as a sceptre. Then they knelt before Him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they spit on Him and grabbed the stick and struck Him on the head with it.

Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring Him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find Him not guilty.” Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and a purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the Man!”

When they saw Him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

“Take Him yourselves and crucify Him,” Pilate said. “I find Him not guilty.”

The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law, he ought to die because He called himself the Son of God.”

When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked Him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer.

“Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realise that I have the power to release You or crucify You?”

Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over Me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”

Then Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.” When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again.

Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). And Pilate said to the people, “Look, here is your King!”

“Away with Him,” they yelled. “Away with Him! Crucify Him!”

“What? Crucify your King?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back. And the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified.

Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”

And all the people yelled back, “Let His blood be on us and our children!”

The soldiers took off the robe and put His own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. (Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.) The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’

People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with Him. When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). The soldiers gave Jesus wine mixed with myrrh, but when He had tasted it, He refused to drink it.

It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified Him. After they had nailed Him to the cross, some soldiers divided His clothes into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took His tunic, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s cast lots for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says,

“They divided My garments among themselves and cast lots for My clothing.”

So that is what they did. The soldiers sat around and kept guard as He hung there. And the criminals were also crucified — one on His right and one on His left. Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it. Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.”

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother standing there beside John, He said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And He said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on, John took her into his home.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” The crowd watched, and the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders ridiculed Him. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but He can’t save Himself! Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe Him! He trusted God, so let God rescue Him now if He delights in Him! For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at You now!” they yelled at Him. “You said You were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, save Yourself and come down from the cross!” The soldiers mocked Him, too, by offering Him a drink of sour wine. They called out to Him, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”

One of the criminals hanging beside Him scoffed, “So You’re the Messiah, are You? Prove it by saving Yourself — and us, too!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this Man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”

The Death of Jesus

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. Then, at three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?

Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought He was calling for the prophet Elijah. “Wait!” they said. “Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take Him down!”

Jesus knew that His mission was now finished, and to fulfil Scripture, He said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to His lips. When Jesus had tasted it, He said, “It is finished!”

Jesus uttered another loud cry. Then, bowing His head, He breathed His last and exclaimed, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!” Immediately, the curtain of the Holy of Holies in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection, and went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

Now, the Centurion and the other soldiers keeping guard over Jesus, were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “Truly, this Man was the Son of God!”  And when all the crowd saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had cared for Him in Galilee, stood at a distance watching.

Since it was the day of preparation, the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high holy day because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken and then their bodies could be taken down.

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that He was already dead, so they didn’t break His legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe.) These things happened in fulfilment of the Scriptures that say,

“Not one of His bones will be broken,” and “They will look on the One they pierced.”

The Burial of Jesus

Now, there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a respected member of the Jewish high council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.

He courageously went before Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman Centurion and asked if He had died yet. The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, So Pilate ordered that Joseph could have the body.

So he took Jesus’ body down from the cross, and with him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He had brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes.

There was a garden near the place where He was crucified, and in the garden was a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid, so they wrapped His body in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in the tomb that had been carved out of rock. And they rolled a great stone across the entrance and left.

As this was happening, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where His body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint His body. But by the time they were finished, the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.

The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him,

“Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while He was still alive: ‘After three days, I will rise from the dead.’ So we request that you secure the tomb until the third day. This will prevent His disciples from stealing His body and then telling everyone He was raised from the dead! If that happens, the last deception will be worse than the first.”

Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure the tomb as best you can.” So they went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and posted guards to protect it.

The Resurrection

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene, Salome, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and other women went to the tomb with the spices they had prepared. They were saying to each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us?” for it was extremely large.

Suddenly, there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from Heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and became like dead men.

Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying.” So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus.

As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked,

“Why are you looking among the dead for Someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what He told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that He would rise again on the third day.” Now go and tell His disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there, just as He told you before He died.”

The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they were afraid to say anything to anyone. Mary Magdalene ran and found Simon Peter and John; she said,

“They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!”

It sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it; however, Peter and John started out for the tomb. They were both running, but John outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in.

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then they went home wondering what had happened.

Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying.

“Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put Him.”

She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognise Him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”

She thought He was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if You have taken Him away, tell me where You have put Him, and I will go and get Him.”

“Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to Him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”)

“Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find My brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’”

The other women were very frightened but also filled with great joy. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to Him, grasped His feet, and worshipped Him.

Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”

As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers,

“You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole His body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.”

So the guards accepted the bribe and did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

The Walk to Emmaus

That same day, two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along, they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognising Him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing with one another as you walk along?”

They stopped still, looking broken-hearted. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened here the last few days.”

“What things?” Jesus asked.

“The things that happened to Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

“He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and He was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed Him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified Him three days ago. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel.

Then, some women from our group were at His tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said His body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, His body was gone, just as the women had said.”

Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! How slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering His glory?”

Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

By this time, they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if He were going on, but they begged Him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So He went home with them.

As they sat down to eat, He took the bread and blessed it. Then He broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognised Him. And at that moment, He disappeared!

They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” They got up that very hour and went back to Jerusalem.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

There they found the disciples, and the others who had gathered with them, meeting behind locked doors for fear of the Jewish leaders, and said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.” Then they began describing in detail what had happened as they were walking along the road, and how they recognised Him as He was breaking the bread.

And while they were talking about this, Jesus Himself suddenly stood there among them. “Peace be with you,” He said. But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!

“Why are you frightened?” He asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at My hands. Look at My feet. You can see that it’s really Me. Touch Me and see; a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I do.” As He spoke, He showed them His hands and His feet

Still, they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He ate it as they watched.

Then He said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about Me in the law of Moses, the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

And He said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.

It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of His Name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you.”

Then Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” You are witnesses of all these things.”

One of the twelve disciples, Thomas, who was called Didymus (the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail wounds in His hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in His side, I will not believe.”

Eight days later, the disciples were together again, and this time, Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, and suddenly, Jesus stood among them. “Peace be with you,” He said. Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at My hands. Put your hand into the wound in My side. Don’t doubt any longer. Believe!”

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing Me.”

“I have been given all authority in Heaven and on earth. Therefore, go into all the world and preach the Good News making disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. Anyone who believes and is baptised will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.

These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in My Name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from Heaven.”

After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. Several of the disciples were there — Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

At dawn, Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who He was. He called out, “Friends, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then He said, “Throw out your net on the right side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they were unable to haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

Then John said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others came in the boat dragging the net full of fish, for they were only about a hundred yards from the shore.

When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them — fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.

“Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time Jesus had appeared to His disciples since He had been raised from the dead.

After breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “You know I love You.” “Then feed My lambs,” Jesus told him.

Jesus repeated the question: “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “You know I love You.” “Then take care of My sheep,” Jesus said.

A third time, He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You.”

Jesus said, “Then feed My sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow Me.”

Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved — the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray You?” Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow Me.” So the rumour spread among the believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.

The Ascension

Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting His hands to Heaven, He blessed them. While He was blessing them, He was taken up into a cloud, and as they strained to see Him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.

“Men of Galilee,” they said,

“Why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into Heaven and is seated in the place of honour at God’s right hand, but someday He will return from Heaven in the same way you saw Him go!”

And they worshipped Him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.

The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.

But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him, you will have life by the power of His Name.

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Note: Scripture used in this compilation is from the following translations: Amplified Bible, Christian Standard Bible, English Standard Bible, Expanded Bible, and New Living Translation.

Photo by Inocente Sanchez Guadarrama.