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The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching.
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The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the peopleâs reaction.
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Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples,
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and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them.
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They were delighted, and they promised to give him money.
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So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds werenât around.
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Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed.
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Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, âGo and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.â
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âWhere do you want us to prepare it?â they asked him.
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He replied, âAs soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters,
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say to the owner, âThe Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?â
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He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.â
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They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.
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When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.
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Jesus said, âI have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.
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For I tell you now that I wonât eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.â
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Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, âTake this and share it among yourselves.
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For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.â
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He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, âThis is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.â
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After supper he took another cup of wine and said, âThis cup is the new covenant between God and his peopleâan agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
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âBut here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me.
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For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.â
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The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.
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Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.
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Jesus told them, âIn this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called âfriends of the people.â
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But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.
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Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.