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The Festival of Unleavened Bread, called Passover, was near.
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The chief priests and the scribes were looking for some way to kill Jesus. However, they were afraid of the people.
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Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles.
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Judas went to the chief priests and the temple guards and discussed with them how he could betray Jesus.
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They were pleased and agreed to give him some money.
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So Judas promised to do it. He kept looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them when there was no crowd.
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The day came during the Festival of Unleavened Bread when the Passover lamb had to be killed.
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Jesus sent Peter and John and told them, "Go, prepare the Passover lamb for us to eat."
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They asked him, "Where do you want us to prepare it?"
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He told them, "Go into the city, and you will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him into the house he enters.
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Tell the owner of the house that the teacher asks, 'Where is the room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?'
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He will take you upstairs and show you a large furnished room. Get things ready there."
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The disciples left. They found everything as Jesus had told them and prepared the Passover.
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When it was time to eat the Passover meal, Jesus and the apostles were at the table.
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Jesus said to them, "I've had a deep desire to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
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I can guarantee that I won't eat it again until it finds its fulfillment in the kingdom of God."
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Then he took a cup and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He said, "Take this, and share it.
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I can guarantee that from now on I won't drink this wine until the kingdom of God comes."
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Then Jesus took bread and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, "This is my body, which is given up for you. Do this to remember me."
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When supper was over, he did the same with the cup. He said, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new promise made with my blood."
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"The hand of the one who will betray me is with me on the table.
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The Son of Man is going to die the way it has been planned for him. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays him."
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So they began to discuss with each other who could do such a thing.
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Then a quarrel broke out among the disciples. They argued about who should be considered the greatest.
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Jesus said to them, "The kings of nations have power over their people, and those in authority call themselves friends of the people.
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But you're not going to be that way! Rather, the greatest among you must be like the youngest, and your leader must be like a servant.
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Who's the greatest, the person who sits at the table or the servant? Isn't it really the person who sits at the table? But I'm among you as a servant.
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"You have stood by me in the troubles that have tested me.
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So as my Father has given me a kingdom, I'm giving it to you.
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You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. You will also sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel."
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[Then the Lord said,] "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to have you apostles for himself. He wants to separate you from me as a farmer separates wheat from husks.
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But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. So when you recover, strengthen the other disciples."
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But Peter said to him, "Lord, I'm ready to go to prison with you and to die with you."
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Jesus replied, "Peter, I can guarantee that the rooster won't crow tonight until you say three times that you don't know me."
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Then Jesus said to them, "When I sent you out without a wallet, traveling bag, or sandals, you didn't lack anything, did you?" "Not a thing!" they answered.
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Then he said to them, "But now, the person who has a wallet and a traveling bag should take them along. The person who doesn't have a sword should sell his coat and buy one.
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I can guarantee that the Scripture passage which says, 'He was counted with criminals,' must find its fulfillment in me. Indeed, whatever is written about me will come true."
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The disciples said, "Lord, look! Here are two swords!" Then Jesus said to them, "That's enough!"