Part 9 (1/2)

021:025 ”There will be signs in sun, moon, and stars; and on earth anguish among the nations in their bewilderment at the roaring of the sea and its billows; 021:026 while men's hearts are fainting for fear, and for anxious expectation of what is coming on the world. For the forces which control the heavens will be disordered and disturbed.

021:027 And then will they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great power and glory.

021:028 But when all this is beginning to take place, grieve no longer.

Lift up your heads, because your deliverance is drawing near.”

021:029 And He spoke a parable to them. ”See,” He said, ”the fig-tree and all the trees.

021:030 As soon as they have shot out their leaves, you know at a glance that summer is now near.

021:031 So also, when you see these things happening, you may be sure that the Kingdom of G.o.d is near.

021:032 I tell you in solemn truth that the present generation will certainly not pa.s.s away without all these things having first taken place.

021:033 Earth and sky will pa.s.s away, but it is certain that my words will not pa.s.s away.

021:034 ”But take heed to yourselves, lest your souls be weighed down with self-indulgence and drunkenness or the anxieties of this life, and that day come upon you, suddenly, like a falling trap; 021:035 for it will come on all dwellers on the face of the whole earth.

021:036 But beware of slumbering; and every moment pray that you may be fully strengthened to escape from all these coming evils, and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man.”

021:037 His habit at this time was to teach in the Temple by day, but to go out and spend the night on the Mount called the Oliveyard.

021:038 And all the people came to Him in the Temple, early in the morning, to listen to Him.

022:001 Meanwhile the Festival of the Unleavened Bread, called the Pa.s.sover, was approaching, 022:002 and the High Priests and the Scribes were contriving how to destroy Him. But they feared the people.

022:003 Satan, however, entered into Judas (the man called Iscariot) who was one of the Twelve.

022:004 He went and conferred with the High Priests and Commanders as to how he should deliver Him up to them.

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 Pa.s.sover lamb to be sacrificed-- 022:008 Jesus sent Peter and John with instructions. ”Go,” He said, ”and prepare the Pa.s.sover 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 Pa.s.sover 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 Pa.s.sover 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 Pa.s.sover 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 G.o.d.”

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 G.o.d has come.”

022:019 Then, taking a Pa.s.sover 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.”

022:033 ”Master,” replied Peter, ”with you I am ready to go both to prison and to death.”

022:034 ”I tell you, Peter,” said Jesus, ”that the c.o.c.k will not crow to-day till you have three times denied that you know me.”

022:035 Then He asked them, ”When I sent you out without purse or bag or shoes, was there anything you needed?”

”No, nothing,” they replied.

022:036 ”But now,” said He, ”let the one who has a purse take it, and he who has a bag must do the same. And let him who has no sword sell his outer garment and buy one.

022:037 For I tell you that those words of Scripture must yet find their fulfilment in me: 'And He was reckoned among the lawless'; for indeed that saying about me has its accomplishment.”

022:038 ”Master, here are two swords,” they exclaimed.

”That is enough,” He replied.

022:039 On going out, He proceeded as usual to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him.

022:040 But when He arrived at the place, He said to them, ”Pray that you may not come into temptation.”