Part 36

022:005 This gave them great pleasure, and they agreed to pay him.

022:006 He accepted their offer, and then looked out for an opportunity to betray Him when the people were not there.

022:007 When the day of the Unleavened Bread came--the day for the Passover lamb to be sacrificed--

022:008 Jesus sent Peter and John with instructions. "Go," He said, "and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it."

022:009 "Where shall we prepare it?" they asked.

022:010 "You will no sooner have entered the city," He replied, "than you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house to which he goes,

022:011 and say to the master of the house, "`The Rabbi asks you, Where is the room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?'

022:012 "And he will show you a large furnished room upstairs. There make your preparations."

022:013 So they went and found all as He had told them; and they got the Passover ready.

022:014 When the time was come, and He had taken His place at table, and the Apostles with Him,

022:015 He said to them, "Earnestly have I longed to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

022:016 for I tell you that I certainly shall not eat one again till its full meaning has been brought out in the Kingdom of God."

022:017 Then, having received the cup and given thanks, He said, "Take this and share it among yourselves;

022:018 for I tell you that from this time I will never drink the produce of the vine till the Kingdom of God has come."

022:019 Then, taking a Passover biscuit, He gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is being given on your behalf: this do in remembrance of me."

022:020 He gave them the cup in like manner, when the meal was over. "This cup," He said, "is the new Covenant ratified by my blood which is to be poured out on your behalf.

022:021 Yet the hand of him who is betraying me is at the table with me.

022:022 For indeed the Son of Man goes on His way--His pre-destined way; yet alas for that man who is betraying Him!"

022:023 Thereupon they began to discuss with one another which of them it could possibly be who was about to do this.

022:024 There arose also a dispute among them which of them should be regarded as greatest.

022:025 But He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles are their masters, and those who exercise authority over them are called Benefactors.

022:026 With you it is not so; but let the greatest among you be as the younger, and the leader be like him who serves.

022:027 For which is the greater--he who sits at table, or he who waits on him? Is it not he who sits at table? But my position among you is that of one who waits on others.

022:028 You however have remained with me amid my trials;

022:029 and I covenant to give you, as my Father has covenanted to give me, a Kingdom--

022:030 so that you shall eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and sit on thrones as judges over the twelve tribes of Israel.

022:031 "Simon, Simon, I tell you that Satan has obtained permission to have all of you to sift as wheat is sifted.

022:032 But *I* have prayed for *you* that your faith may not fail, and you, when at last you have come back to your true self, must strengthen your brethren."