The Night Before the Cross

Two days before the Passover, the chief priests and elders plotted to arrest Jesus. In Bethany, a woman poured very expensive perfume on His head. The disciples complained about the waste, but Jesus said she had prepared His body for burial and that her act would be remembered wherever the gospel is preached. Then Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

During the Passover meal, Jesus said one of the twelve would betray Him. He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." Taking the cup, He said, "this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins." Christians remember this meal in the Lord's Supper.

In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed three times, "not what I desire, but what you desire," while His disciples kept falling asleep. Judas arrived with a crowd and betrayed Him with a kiss. The disciples fled. At the high priest's house, Jesus declared He was the Christ, the Son of God. Outside, Peter denied knowing Him three times, and when the rooster crowed, he went out and wept bitterly.