Luke 21

1 Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate.2 Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies.3 He said, "The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today.4 All these others made offerings that they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford-she gave her all!"

Watch Out for Doomsday Deceivers

5 One day people were standing around talking about the Temple, remarking how beautiful it was, the splendor of its stonework and memorial gifts. Jesus said,6 "All this you're admiring so much-the time is coming when every stone in that building will end up in a heap of rubble."

7 They asked him, "Teacher, when is this going to happen? What clue will we get that it's about to take place?"

8 He said, "Watch out for the doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, 'I'm the One,' or, 'The end is near.' Don't fall for any of that.9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history and no sign of the end."

10 He went on, "Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over.11 Huge earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be famines. You'll think at times that the very sky is falling.

12 "But before any of this happens, they'll arrest you, hunt you down, and drag you to court and jail. It will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because you carry my name.13 You'll end up on the witness stand, called to testify.14 Make up your mind right now not to worry about it.15 I'll give you the words and wisdom that will reduce all your accusers to stammers and stutters.

16 "You'll even be turned in by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. Some of you will be killed.17 There's no telling who will hate you because of me.18 Even so, every detail of your body and soul-even the hairs of your head!-is in my care; nothing of you will be lost.19 Staying with it-that's what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry; you'll be saved.

Vengeance Day

20 "When you see soldiers camped all around Jerusalem, then you'll know that she is about to be devastated.21 If you're living in Judea at the time, run for the hills. If you're in the city, get out quickly. If you're out in the fields, don't go home to get your coat.22 This is Vengeance Day-everything written about it will come to a head.23 Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Incredible misery! Torrential rage!24 People dropping like flies; people dragged off to prisons; Jerusalem under the boot of barbarians until the nations finish what was given them to do.

25 "It will seem like all hell has broken loose-sun, moon, stars, earth, sea,26 in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.

27 "And then-then!-they'll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style-a glorious welcome!28 When all this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way!"

29 He told them a story. "Look at a fig tree. Any tree for that matter.30 When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right around the corner.31 The same here-when you see these things happen, you know God's kingdom is about here.32 Don't brush this off: I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too-these things will happen.33 Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out.

34 "But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap,35 for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once.36 So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."

37 He spent his days in the Temple teaching, but his nights out on the mountain called Olives.38 All the people were up at the crack of dawn to come to the Temple and listen to him.

Luke 22

The Passover Meal

1 The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also called Passover, drew near.2 The 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.

3 That's when Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot. He was one of the Twelve.4 Leaving the others, he conferred with the high priests and the Temple guards about how he might betray Jesus to them.5 They couldn't believe their good luck and agreed to pay him well.6 He gave them his word and started looking for a way to betray Jesus, but out of sight of the crowd.

7 The Day of Unleavened Bread came, the day the Passover lamb was butchered.8 Jesus sent Peter and John off, saying, "Go prepare the Passover for us so we can eat it together."

9 They said, "Where do you want us to do this?"

10 He said, "Keep your eyes open as you enter the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him home.11 Then 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?'12 He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare the meal there."

13 They left, found everything just as he told them, and prepared the Passover meal.

14 When it was time, he sat down, all the apostles with him,15 and 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.16 It's the last one I'll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God."

17 Taking the cup, he blessed it, then said, "Take this and pass it among you.18 As for me, I'll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives."

19 Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory."

20 He 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?22 It'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."

23 They immediately became suspicious of each other and began quizzing one another, wondering who might be about to do this.

Get Ready for Trouble

24 Within minutes they were bickering over who of them would end up the greatest.25 But Jesus intervened: "Kings like to throw their weight around and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles.26 It'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.28 And you've stuck with me through thick and thin.29 Now I confer on you the royal authority my Father conferred on me30 so 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.32 Simon, 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."

33 Peter said, "Master, I'm ready for anything with you. I'd go to jail for you. I'd die for you!"

34 Jesus said, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Peter, but before the rooster crows you will have three times denied that you know me."

35 Then Jesus said, "When I sent you out and told you to travel light, to take only the bare necessities, did you get along all right?" "Certainly," they said, "we got along just fine."

36 He said, "This is different. Get ready for trouble. Look to what you'll need; there are difficult times ahead. Pawn your coat and get a sword.37 What was written in Scripture, 'He was lumped in with the criminals,' gets its final meaning in me. Everything written about me is now coming to a conclusion."

38 They said, "Look, Master, two swords!" But he said, "Enough of that; no more sword talk!"

A Dark Night

39 Leaving there, he went, as he so often did, to Mount Olives. The disciples followed him.40 When they arrived at the place, he said, "Pray that you don't give in to temptation."

41 He pulled away from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed,42 "Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?"43 At once an angel from heaven was at his side, strengthening him.44 He prayed on all the harder. Sweat, wrung from him like drops of blood, poured off his face.

45 He got up from prayer, went back to the disciples and found them asleep, drugged by grief.46 He said, "What business do you have sleeping? Get up. Pray so you won't give in to temptation."

47 No sooner were the words out of his mouth than a crowd showed up, Judas, the one from the Twelve, in the lead. He came right up to Jesus to kiss him.48 Jesus said, "Judas, you would betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"

49 When those with him saw what was happening, they said, "Master, shall we fight?"50 One of them took a swing at the Chief Priest's servant and cut off his right ear.

51 Jesus said, "Let them be. Even in this." Then, touching the servant's ear, he healed him.

52 Jesus spoke to those who had come-high priests, Temple police, religion leaders: "What is this, jumping me with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous criminal?53 Day after day I've been with you in the Temple and you've not so much as lifted a hand against me. But do it your way-it's a dark night, a dark hour."

A Rooster Crowed

54 Arresting Jesus, they marched him off and took him into the house of the Chief Priest. Peter followed, but at a safe distance.55 In the middle of the courtyard some people had started a fire and were sitting around it, trying to keep warm.56 One of the serving maids sitting at the fire noticed him, then took a second look and said, "This man was with him!"

57 He denied it, "Woman, I don't even know him."

58 A short time later, someone else noticed him and said, "You're one of them." But Peter denied it: "Man, I am not."

59 About an hour later, someone else spoke up, really adamant: "He's got to have been with him! He's got 'Galilean' written all over him."

60 Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about." At that very moment, the last word hardly off his lips, a rooster crowed.61 Just then, the Master turned and looked at Peter. Peter remembered what the Master had said to him: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."62 He went out and cried and cried and cried.

Slapping Him Around

63 The men in charge of Jesus began poking fun at him, slapping him around.64 They put a blindfold on him and taunted, "Who hit you that time?"65 They were having a grand time with him.

66 When it was morning, the religious leaders of the people and the high priests and scholars all got together and brought him before their High Council.

67 They said, "Are you the Messiah?"68 If I asked what you meant by your question, you wouldn't answer me.69 So here's what I have to say: From here on the Son of Man takes his place at God's right hand, the place of power."

70 They all said, "So you admit your claim to be the Son of God?" "You're the ones who keep saying it," he said.

71 But they had made up their minds, "Why do we need any more evidence? We've all heard him as good as say it himself."

Luke 23

Pilate

1 Then they all took Jesus to Pilate2 and began to bring up charges against him. They said, "We found this man undermining our law and order, forbidding taxes to be paid to Caesar, setting himself up as Messiah-King."

3 Pilate asked him, "Is this true that you're 'King of the Jews'?" "Those are your words, not mine," Jesus replied.

4 Pilate told the high priests and the accompanying crowd, "I find nothing wrong here. He seems harmless enough to me."

5 But they were vehement. "He's stirring up unrest among the people with his teaching, disturbing the peace everywhere, starting in Galilee and now all through Judea. He's a dangerous man, endangering the peace."

6 When Pilate heard that, he asked, "So, he's a Galilean?"7 Realizing that he properly came under Herod's jurisdiction, he passed the buck to Herod, who just happened to be in Jerusalem for a few days.

8 Herod was delighted when Jesus showed up. He had wanted for a long time to see him, he'd heard so much about him. He hoped to see him do something spectacular.9 He peppered him with questions. Jesus didn't answer-not one word.10 But the high priests and religion scholars were right there, saying their piece, strident and shrill in their accusations.

11 Mightily offended, Herod turned on Jesus. His soldiers joined in, taunting and jeering. Then they dressed him up in an elaborate king costume and sent him back to Pilate.12 That day Herod and Pilate became thick as thieves. Always before they had kept their distance.

13 Then Pilate called in the high priests, rulers, and the others14 and said, "You brought this man to me as a disturber of the peace. I examined him in front of all of you and found there was nothing to your charge.15 And neither did Herod, for he has sent him back here with a clean bill of health. It's clear that he's done nothing wrong, let alone anything deserving death.16 I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go."

18 At that, the crowd went wild: "Kill him! Give us Barabbas!"19 (Barabbas had been thrown in prison for starting a riot in the city and for murder.)20 Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go, and so spoke out again.

21 But they kept shouting back, "Crucify! Crucify him!"

22 He tried a third time. "But for what crime? I've found nothing in him deserving death. I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go."

23 But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that he be crucified. And finally they shouted him down.24 Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted.25 He released the man thrown in prison for rioting and murder, and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted.

Skull Hill

26 As they led him off, they made Simon, a man from Cyrene who happened to be coming in from the countryside, carry the cross behind Jesus.27 A huge crowd of people followed, along with women weeping and carrying on.28 At one point Jesus turned to the women and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children.29 The time is coming when they'll say, 'Lucky the women who never conceived! Lucky the wombs that never gave birth! Lucky the breasts that never gave milk!'30 Then they'll start calling to the mountains, 'Fall down on us!' calling to the hills, 'Cover us up!'31 If people do these things to a live, green tree, can you imagine what they'll do with deadwood?"

32 Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution.

33 When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.

34 Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing."35 The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, "He saved others. Let's see him save himself! The Messiah of God-ha! The Chosen-ha!"

36 The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him, making a game of it. They toasted him with sour wine:37 "So you're King of the Jews! Save yourself!"

38 Printed over him was a sign: this is the king of the jews.

39 One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: "Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!"

40 But the other one made him shut up: "Have you no fear of God? You're getting the same as him.41 We deserve this, but not him-he did nothing to deserve this."

42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom."

43 He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise."

44 By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours -45 a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle.46 Jesus called loudly, "Father, I place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed his last.

47 When the captain there saw what happened, he honored God: "This man was innocent! A good man, and innocent!"

48 All who had come around as spectators to watch the show, when they saw what actually happened, were overcome with grief and headed home.49 Those who knew Jesus well, along with the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a respectful distance and kept vigil.

50 There was a man by the name of Joseph, a member of the Jewish High Council, a man of good heart and good character.51 He had not gone along with the plans and actions of the council. His hometown was the Jewish village of Arimathea.52 He lived in alert expectation of the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.53 Taking him down, he wrapped him in a linen shroud and placed him in a tomb chiseled into the rock, a tomb never yet used.54 It was the day before Sabbath, the Sabbath just about to begin.

55 The women who had been companions of Jesus from Galilee followed along. They saw the tomb where Jesus' body was placed.56 Then they went back to prepare burial spices and perfumes. They rested quietly on the Sabbath, as commanded.