Lucas 22
1The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also called Passover, drew near.
2The high priests and religion scholars were looking for a way to do away with Jesus but, fearful of the people, they were also looking for a way to cover their tracks.
3That''s when Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot. He was one of the Twelve.
4Leaving the others, he conferred with the high priests and the Temple guards about how he might betray Jesus to them.
5They couldn''t believe their good luck and agreed to pay him well.
6He gave them his word and started looking for a way to betray Jesus, but out of sight of the crowd.
7The Day of Unleavened Bread came, the day the Passover lamb was butchered.
8Jesus sent Peter and John off, saying, "Go prepare the Passover for us so we can eat it together."
9They said, "Where do you want us to do this?"
10He said, "Keep your eyes open as you enter the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him home.
11Then speak with the owner of the house: The Teacher wants to know, "Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?''
12He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare the meal there."
13They left, found everything just as he told them, and prepared the Passover meal.
14When it was time, he sat down, all the apostles with him,
15and said, "You''ve no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering.
16It''s the last one I''ll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God."
17Taking the cup, he blessed it, then said, "Take this and pass it among you.
18As for me, I''ll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives."
19Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory."
20He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for you.
21"Do you realize that the hand of the one who is betraying me is at this moment on this table?
22It''s true that the Son of Man is going down a path already marked out--no surprises there. But for the one who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man, this is doomsday."
23They immediately became suspicious of each other and began quizzing one another, wondering who might be about to do this.
24Within minutes they were bickering over who of them would end up the greatest.
25But Jesus intervened: "Kings like to throw their weight around and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles.
26It''s not going to be that way with you. Let the senior among you become like the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant.
27"Who would you rather be: the one who eats the dinner or the one who serves the dinner? You''d rather eat and be served, right? But I''ve taken my place among you as the one who serves.
28And you''ve stuck with me through thick and thin.
29Now I confer on you the royal authority my Father conferred on me
30so you can eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and be strengthened as you take up responsibilities among the congregations of God''s people.
31"Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat.
32Simon, I''ve prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start."