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Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,
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and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
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Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.
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And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.
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They were delighted and agreed to give him money.
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He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
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Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.
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Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”
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“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.
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He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters,
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and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’
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He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”
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They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
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When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.
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And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
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For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
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After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you.
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For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
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And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
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In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
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But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.
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The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!”
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They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.
