On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, my disciples came to me and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover supper?” I sent two of them (the same pair that had procured the colt), and instructed, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Wherever house he enters, say to its owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished, and ready. Make preparations for us there.” They went into the city and found things as I had told them. So, they prepared the Passover.
When evening came, I arrived with the Twelve. While we were reclining at the table eating, I dropped a bombshell. “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”
They were shocked. One by one they said to me, “Surely you don’t mean me?”
“It is one of you,” I said, “the one who dips bread into the bowl with me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would have been better for him if he had never been born.”
Then while we were eating, I took bread, and after having given thanks, I broke it and gave it to my disciples. I said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then I took a cup, and after having giving thanks, I gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” I said. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in God’s kingdom.”
We sang a psalm, and then left for the Mount of Olives.
“You will all fall away,” I told them on the Mount. “For it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
“Truly I tell you,” I said, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
With great passion he added, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.
We went to a place called Gethsemane. I instructed the disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” I took Peter, James, and John with me, and I began to feel distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” I confessed “Stay here and keep watch.”
Going a little farther, I fell to the ground and prayed that, if possible, the hour might pass from me. “Abba, Father,” I pleaded, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Then I returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” I said to Peter giving him a nudge, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Once more I went away and prayed for the same thing. When I came back, I found them sleeping again—their eyes were heavy. They were flummoxed and did not know what to say. Returning the third time, I said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
As I said those words, Judas appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. Apparently, he had arranged a signal: The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.
Judas approached me with a disingenuous smile. He said, “Rabbi!” and kissed me. The men immediately seized me and placed me under arrest. Then one of those standing nearby drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, severing his ear. Also, a young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
“Am I leading a rebellion?” I asked. “You have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”
The disciples fled.
They took me to the high priest. The chief priests, elders and the teachers of the law came together. I saw Peter following at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. He sat with the guards and warmed himself by the fire.
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against me to put me to death. But they found none. Many testified falsely against me, and their statements conflicted. Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against me: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'” Yet even then these testimonies were inconsistent.
Then the high priest stood up, puffed up like a peacock, and asked me, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” I elected to remain silent. Again, the high priest asked me, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” I admitted, adding “you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard this blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned me as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at me; they blindfolded me and struck me with their fists. They said, “Prophesy!” Then the guards took me and beat me.
Meanwhile, Peter had been in the courtyard below. Andrew, Peter’s brother, later recounted what happened as Peter was too ashamed to tell me himself. One of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself by the fire, she scrutinized him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. But he denied it.
“I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” Peter said, and stormed out into the entryway.
When the servant girl saw him there, and said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them. I am sure.” And again, he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
He began to call down curses and swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” Immediately he heard the rooster crow the second time. Then he remembered my words: Before the rooster crows twice you will deny me three times. My prophecy’s fulfillment devastated him, and he wept bitterly.