The Last Days

12 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead, was living. 2 There a supper was given in his honour at which Martha waited, while Lazarus was one of those present at the table. 3 So Mary took a pound of choice spikenard perfume of great value, and anointed the feet of Jesus with it, and then wiped them with her hair. The whole house was filled with the scent of the perfume. 4 One of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was about to betray Jesus, asked, 5 ‘Why was not this perfume sold for a year’s wages, and the money given to poor people?’ 6 He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and, being in charge of the purse, used to take what was put in it. 7 ‘Leave her alone,’ said Jesus, ‘so that she may keep it until the day when my body is being prepared for burial. 8 The poor you always have with you, but you will not always have me.’

9 Now great numbers of people found out that Jesus was at Bethany; and they came there, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 The chief priests, however, plotted to put Lazarus, as well as Jesus, to death, 11 because it was owing to him that many of the people had left them, and were becoming believers in Jesus. 12 On the following day great numbers of people who had come to the Festival, hearing that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, took palm branches, 13 and went out to meet him, shouting as they went, ‘God save him! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord – the king of Israel!’ 14 Having found a young donkey, Jesus seated himself on it, in accordance with the passage of scripture – 15 “Fear not, people of Zion. Your king is coming to you, sitting on the foal of a donkey.” 16 His disciples did not understand all this at first; but, when Jesus had been exalted, then they remembered that these things had been said of him in scripture, and that they had done these things for him. 17 Meanwhile the people who were with him, when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, were telling what they had seen. 18 This, indeed, was why the crowd met him – because people had heard that he had given this sign of his mission. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘You see that you are gaining nothing! Why, all the world has run after him!’Titleless Section Break

20 Among those who were going up to worship at the Festival were some Greeks, 21 who went to Philip of Bethsaida in Galilee, and said, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ 22 Philip went and told Andrew, and then together they went and told Jesus. 23 This was his reply – ‘The time has come for the Son of Man to be exalted. 24 In truth I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains solitary; but, if it dies, it becomes fruitful. 25 A person who loves their life loses it; while someone who hates their life in the present world will preserve it for eternal life. 26 If someone is ready to serve me, let them follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If a person is ready to serve me, my Father will honour them. 27 Now I am distressed at heart and what can I say? Father, bring me safe through this hour – yet it was for this reason that I came to this hour – 28 Father, honour your own name.’ At this there came a voice from heaven, which said, ‘I have already honoured it, and I will honour it again.’ 29 The crowd of bystanders, who heard the sound, said that it was thundering. Others said, ‘An angel has been speaking to him.’

30 ‘It was not for my sake that the voice came,’ said Jesus, ‘but for yours. 31 Now this world is on its trial. Now the Spirit that is ruling this world will be driven out; 32 and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ 33 By these words he indicated what death he was destined to die. 34 ‘We,’ replied the people, ‘have learned from the Law that the Christ is to remain for ever; how is it, then, that you say that the Son of Man must be “lifted up” Who is this “Son of Man”?’

35 ‘Only a little while longer,’ answered Jesus, ‘will you have the light among you. Travel on while you have the light, so that darkness may not overtake you; he who travels in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you still have the light, believe in the light, so that you may be children of light.’ After he had said this, Jesus went away, and hid himself from them. 37 But, though Jesus had given so many signs of his mission before their eyes, they still did not believe in him, 38 in fulfilment of the words of the prophet Isaiah, where he says – “Lord, who has believed our teaching? And to whom has the might of the Lord been revealed?” 39 The reason why they were unable to believe is given by Isaiah elsewhere, in these words – 40 “He has blinded their eyes, and blunted their mind, so that they should not see with their eyes, and perceive with their mind, and turn – And I should heal them.” 41 Isaiah said this, because he saw Christ’s glory; and it was of him that he spoke. 42 Yet for all this, even among the leading men there were many who came to believe in Jesus; but, because of the Pharisees, they did not acknowledge it, because they were afraid that they should be expelled from their synagogues; 43 for they valued honour from people more than honour from God. 44 But Jesus had proclaimed, ‘He who believes in me believes, not in me, but in him who sent me; 45 and he who sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, so that no one who believes in me should remain in the darkness. 47 When anyone hears my teaching and pays no heed to it, I am not his judge; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He who rejects me, and disregards my teaching, has a judge already – the message which I have delivered will itself be his judge at the Last day. 49 For I have not delivered it on my own authority; but the Father, who sent me, has himself given me his command as to what I should say, and what message I should deliver. 50 And I know that eternal life lies in keeping his command. Therefore, whatever I say, I say only what the Father has taught me.’
13 Before the Passover Festival began, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave the world and go to the Father. He had loved those who were his own in the world, and he loved them to the last. 2 The devil had already put the thought of betraying Jesus into the mind of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon; 3 and at supper, Jesus – although knowing that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God, and was to return to God – 4 rose from his place, and, taking off his upper garments, tied a towel round his waist. 5 He then poured some water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel which was tied round him. 6 When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said, ‘You, Master! Are you going to wash my feet?’

7 ‘You do not understand now what I am doing,’ replied Jesus, ‘but you will learn by and by.’

8 ‘You will never wash my feet!’ exclaimed Peter. ‘Unless I wash you,’ answered Jesus, ‘you have nothing in common with me.’

9 ‘Then, Master, not my feet only,’ exclaimed Simon Peter, ‘but also my hands and my head.’

10 ‘He who has bathed,’ replied Jesus, ‘has no need to wash, unless it be his feet, but is altogether clean; and you,’ he said to the disciples, ‘are clean, yet not all of you.’ 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said “You are not all clean.” 12 When he had washed their feet, and had put on his upper garments and taken his place, he spoke to them again. ‘Do you understand what I have been doing to you?’ he asked. 13 ‘You yourselves call me “the teacher” and “the Master”, and you are right, for I am both. 14 If I, then – “the Master” and “the teacher” – have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet; 15 for I have given you an example, so that you may do just as I have done to you. 16 In truth I tell you, a servant is not greater than their master, neither is a messenger greater than the one who sends them. 17 Now that you know these things, happy are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking about all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but this is in fulfilment of the words of scripture – “He that is eating my bread has lifted his heel against me.” 19 For the future I will tell you of things before they take place, so that, when they take place, you may believe that I am what I am. 20 In truth I tell you, the one who receives anyone that I send receives me; and the person who receives me receives him who sent me.’ 21 After saying this, Jesus was much troubled, and said solemnly, ‘In truth I tell you that it is one of you who will betray me.’ 22 The disciples looked at one another, wondering whom he meant. 23 Next to Jesus, in the place on his right hand, was one of his disciples, whom he loved. 24 So Simon Peter made signs to that disciple, and whispered, ‘Tell me who it is that he means.’ 25 Being in this position, that disciple leant back on Jesus’ shoulder, and asked him, ‘Who is it, Master?’

26 ‘It is the one,’ answered Jesus, ‘to whom I will give a piece of bread after dipping it in the dish.’ And, when Jesus had dipped the bread, he took it and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot; 27 and it was then, after he had received it, that Satan took possession of him. So Jesus said to him, ‘Do at once what you are going to do.’ 28 But no one at the table understood why he said this to Judas. 29 Some thought that, as Judas kept the purse, Jesus meant that he was to buy some things needed for the Festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 After taking the piece of bread, Judas went out immediately; and it was night.Titleless Section Break

31 When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been exalted, and God has been exalted through him; 32 and God will exalt him with himself – yes, he will exalt him forthwith. 33 My children, I am to be with you but a little while longer. You will look for me; and what I said to the people – “You cannot come where I am going” – I now say to you. 34 I give you a new commandment – love one another; love one another as I have loved you. 35 It is by this that everyone will recognise you as my disciples – by your loving one another.’

36 ‘Where are you going, Master?’ asked Peter. ‘I am going where you cannot now follow me,’ answered Jesus, ‘but you will follow me later.’

37 ‘Why cannot I follow you now, Master?’ asked Peter. ‘I will lay down my life for you.’

38 ‘Will you lay down your life for me?’ replied Jesus. ‘In truth I tell you, the cock will not crow until you have disowned me three times. 14 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s home there are many dwellings. If it had not been so, I should have told you, for I am going to prepare a place for you. 3 And, since I go and prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me, so that you may be where I am; 4 and you know the way to the place where I am going.’

5 ‘We do not know where you are going, Master,’ said Thomas. ‘So how can we know the way?’ 6 Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one ever comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had recognised me, you would have known my Father also; for the future you will recognise him, indeed you have already seen him.’

8 ‘Master, show us the Father,’ said Philip, ‘and we will be satisfied.’

9 ‘Have I been all this time among you,’ said Jesus, ‘and yet you, Philip, have not recognised me? The person who has seen me has seen the Father, how can you say, then, “Show us the Father”? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in union with the Father, and the Father with me? In giving you my teaching I am not speaking on my own authority; but the Father himself, always in union with me, does his own work. 11 Believe me,’ he said to them all, ‘when I say that I am in union with the Father and the Father with me, or else believe me because of the work itself. 12 In truth I tell you, the person who believes in me will themselves do the work that I am doing; and they will do greater work still, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask, in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be honoured in the Son. 14 If you ask anything, in my name, I will do it. 15 If you love me, you will lay my commands to heart, 16 and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper, to be with you always – the Spirit of truth. 17 The world cannot receive this Spirit, because it does not see him or recognise him, but you recognise him, because he is always with you, and is within you. 18 I will not leave you bereaved; I will come to you. 19 In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will still see me; because I am living, you will be living also. 20 At that time you will recognise that I am in union with the Father, and you with me, and I with you. 21 It is they who have my commands and lays them to heart who loves me; and the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them, and will reveal myself to them.’

22 ‘What has happened, Master,’ said Judas (not Judas Iscariot), ‘that you are going to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?’

23 ‘Whoever loves me,’ Jesus answered, ‘will lay my message to heart; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 The person who does not love me will not lay my message to heart; and the message to which you are listening is not my own, but comes from the Father who sent me. 25 I have told you all this while still with you, 26 but the helper – the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name – will teach you all things, and will recall to your minds all that I have said to you. 27 Peace be with you! My own peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, or dismayed. 28 You heard me say that I was going away and would return to you. Had you loved me, you would have been glad that I was going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And this I have told you now before it happens, so that, when it does happen, you may still believe in me. 30 I will not talk with you much more, for the Spirit that is ruling the world is coming. He has nothing in common with me; 31 but he is coming so that the world may see that I love the Father, and that I do as the Father commanded me. Come, let us be going.

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15 ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. 2 Any unfruitful branch in me he takes away, and he cleanses every fruitful branch, so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the message that I have given you. 4 Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains united to the vine; no more can you, unless you remain united to me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remains united to me, while I remain united to you – you bear fruit plentifully; for you can do nothing apart from me. 6 If anyone does not remain united to me, they are thrown away, as a branch would be, and withers up. Such branches are collected and thrown into the fire, and are burnt. 7 If you remain united to me, and my teaching remains in your hearts, ask whatever you wish, and it will be yours. 8 It is by your bearing fruit plentifully, and so showing yourselves my disciples, that my Father is honoured. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; remain in my love. 10 If you lay my commands to heart, you will remain in my love; just as I have laid the Father’s commands to heart and remain in his love. 11 I have told you all this so that my own joy may be yours, and that your joy may be complete. 12 This is my command – love one another, as I have loved you. 13 No one can give greater proof of love than by laying down their life for their friends. 14 And you are my friends, if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you “servants,” because a servant does not know what their master is doing; but I have given you the name of “friends,” because I made known to you everything that I learned from my Father. 16 It wasn’t you who chose me, but I who chose you, and I appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that should remain, so that the Father might grant you whatever you ask in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands that you may love one another. 18 If the world hates you, you know that it has first hated me. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world – that is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I said to you – “A servant is not greater than their master.” If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have laid my message to heart, they will lay yours to heart also. 21 But they will do all this to you, because you believe in my name, for they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have had no sin to answer for; but as it is, they have no excuse for their sin. 23 The person who hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them such work as no one else ever did, they would have had no sin to answer for; but, as it is, they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 And so is fulfilled what is said in their Law – “They hated me without cause.” 26 But, when the helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth, who comes from the Father – will bear testimony to me; 27 yes, and you also are to bear testimony, because you have been with me from the first. 16 ‘I have spoken to you in this way so that you may not falter. 2 They will expel you from their synagogues; indeed the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think that they are making an offering to God. 3 They will do this, because they have not learned to know the Father, or even me. 4 But I have spoken to you of these things so that, when the time for them comes, you may remember that I told you about them myself. 5 I did not tell you all this at first, because I was with you. But now I am to return to him who sent me; and yet not one of you asks me – “Where are you going?” 6 Although your hearts are full of sorrow at all that I have been saying to you. 7 Yet I am only telling you the truth; it is for your good that I should go away. For otherwise the helper will never come to you, but, if I leave you, I will send him to you. 8 And he, when he comes, will bring conviction to the world as to sin, and as to righteousness, and as to judgment; 9 as to sin, for people do not believe in me; 10 as to righteousness, for I am going to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 as to judgment, for the Spirit that is ruling this world has been condemned. 12 I have still much to say to you, but you cannot bear it now. 13 Yet when he – The Spirit of truth – comes, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but he will speak of all that he hears; and he will tell you of the things that are to come. 14 He will honour me; because he will take of what is mine, and will tell it to you. 15 Everything that the Father has is mine; that is why I said that he takes of what is mine, and will tell it to you. 16 In a little while you will no longer see me; and then in a little while you will see me indeed.’

17 At this some of his disciples said to one another, ‘What does he mean by saying to us “In a little while you will not see me, and then in a little while you will see me indeed”; and by saying “Because I am going to the Father”? 18 What does he mean by “In a little while”?’ they said. ‘We do not know what he is speaking about.’ 19 Jesus saw that they were wanting to ask him a question, and said, ‘Are you trying to find out from one another what I meant by saying “In a little while you will not see me; and then in a little while you will see me indeed”? 20 In truth I tell you that you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will suffer pain, but your pain will turn to joy. 21 A woman in labour is in pain because her time has come; but no sooner is the child born, than she forgets her trouble in her joy that a child has been born into the world. 22 You, in the same way, are sorry now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will rob you of your joy. 23 And at that time you will not ask me anything; in truth I tell you, if you ask the Father for anything, he will grant it to you in my name. 24 So far you have not asked for anything, in my name; ask, and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 25 I have spoken to you of all this in figures; a time is coming, however, when I will not speak any longer to you in figures, but will tell you about the Father plainly. 26 You will ask, at that time, in my name; and I do not say that I will intercede with the Father for you; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from the Father. 28 I came out from the Father, and have come into the world; and now I am to leave the world, and go to the Father.’

29 ‘At last,’ exclaimed the disciples, ‘you are using plain words and not speaking in figures at all. 30 Now we are sure that you know everything, and need not wait for anyone to question you. This makes us believe that you did come from God.’

31 ‘Do you believe that already?’ Jesus answered. 32 ‘Listen! A time is coming – indeed it has already come – when you are to be scattered, each going his own way, and to leave me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 I have spoken to you in this way, so that in me you may find peace. In the world you will find trouble; yet, take courage! I have conquered the world.’

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17 After saying this, Jesus raised his eyes heavenwards, and said:

‘Father, the hour has come; honour your Son, so that your Son may honour you; 2 even as you gave him power over all humanity, so that he should give eternal life to everyone you have given him. 3 And the eternal life is this – to know you the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent as your messenger. 4 I have honoured you on earth by completing the work which you have given me to do; 5 and now do you honour me, Father, at your own side, with the honour which I had at your side before the world began. 6 I have revealed you to those whom you gave me from the world; they were your own, and you gave them to me; and they have laid your message to heart. 7 They recognise now that everything that you gave me was from you; 8 for I have given them the teaching which you gave me, and they received it, and clearly understood that I came from you, and they believed that you have sent me as your messenger. 9 I intercede for them; I am not interceding for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are your own – 10 All that is mine is yours, and all that is yours is mine – and I am honoured in them. 11 Now I am to be in this world no longer, but they are still to be in the world, and I am to come to you. Holy Father, keep them by that revelation of your name which you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them, I kept them by that revelation, and I have guarded them; and not one of them has been lost, except that lost soul – in fulfilment of scripture. 13 But now I am to come to you; and I am speaking like this, while still in the world, so that they may have my own joy, in all its fullness, in their hearts. 14 I have given them your message; and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world, even as I do not belong to the world. 15 I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but to keep them from evil. 16 They do not belong to the world, even as I do not belong to the world. 17 Consecrate them by the truth; your message is truth. 18 Just as you have sent me as your messenger to the world, so I send them as my messengers to the world. 19 And it is for their sakes that I am consecrating myself, so that they also may be truly consecrated. 20 But it is not only for them that I am interceding, but also for those who believe in me through their message, 21 that they all may be one – that as you, Father, are in union with us – and so the world may believe that you have sent me as your messenger. 22 I have given them the honour which you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one – 23 I in union with them and you with me – so that they may be perfected in their union, and so that the world may know that you have sent me as your messenger, and that you have loved them as you have loved me. 24 Father, my desire for all those whom you have given me is that they may be with me where I am, so that they may see the honour which you have given me; for you did love me before the beginning of the world. 25 Righteous Father, though the world did not know you, I knew you; and these people knew that you have sent me as your messenger. 26 I have made you known to them, and will do so still; that the love that you have had for me may be in their hearts, and that I may be in them also.’

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18 When Jesus had said this, he went out with his disciples and crossed the Kidron ravine to a place where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples went. 2 The place was well known to Judas, the betrayer, for Jesus and his disciples had often met there. 3 So Judas, who had obtained the soldiers of the Roman garrison, and some guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus, aware of all that was coming upon him, went to meet them, and said to them, ‘For whom are you looking?’

5 ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ was their answer. ‘I am he,’ said Jesus. (Judas, the betrayer, was also standing with them.) 6 When Jesus said “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he again asked for whom they were looking, and they answered, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’

8 ‘I have already told you that I am he,’ replied Jesus, ‘so, if it is for me that you are looking, let these people go.’ 9 This was in fulfilment of his words – “Of those whom you have given me I have not lost one.” 10 At this, Simon Peter, who had a sword with him, drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 But Jesus said to Peter, ‘Sheathe your sword. Should I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?’

12 So the soldiers of the garrison, with their commanding officer and the Jewish guards, arrested Jesus and bound him, 13 and took him first of all to Annas. Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had counselled the religious authorities, that it was best that one person should die for the people. 15 Meanwhile Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. That disciple, being well-known to the high priest, went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 while Peter stood outside by the door. Presently the other disciple – the one well-known to the high priest – went out and spoke to the portress, and brought Peter in. 17 So the maidservant said to Peter, ‘Aren’t you also one of this man’s disciples?’

‘No, I am not,’ he said. 18 The servants and guards were standing round a charcoal fire (which they had made because it was cold), and were warming themselves. Peter, too, was with them, standing and warming himself. 19 The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. 20 ‘For my part,’ answered Jesus, ‘I have spoken to all the world openly. I always taught in some synagogue, or in the Temple Courts, places where everyone assembles, and I never spoke of anything in secret. 21 Why question me? Question those who have listened to me as to what I have spoken about to them. They must know what I said.’ 22 When Jesus said this, one of the guards, who was standing near, gave him a blow with his hand. ‘Do you answer the high priest like that?’ he exclaimed. 23 ‘If I said anything wrong, give evidence about it,’ replied Jesus, ‘but if not, why do you strike me?’ 24 Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. 25 Meanwhile Simon Peter was standing there, warming himself; so they said to him, ‘Aren’t you also one of his disciples?’ Peter denied it. ‘No, I am not,’ he said. 26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relation of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, exclaimed, ‘Didn’t I myself see you with him in the garden?’ 27 Peter again denied it; and at that moment a cock crowed.Titleless Section Break

28 From Caiaphas they took Jesus to the Government house. It was early in the morning. But they did not enter the Government house themselves, otherwise they might become defiled, and so be unable to eat the Passover. 29 Therefore Pilate came outside to speak to them. ‘What charge do you bring against this man?’ he asked. 30 ‘If he had not been a criminal, we should not have given him up to you,’ they answered. 31 ‘Take him yourselves,’ said Pilate, ‘and try him by your own Law.’

‘We have no power to put anyone to death,’ the authorities replied – 32 in fulfilment of what Jesus had said when indicating the death that he was destined to die. 33 After that, Pilate went into the Government house again, and calling Jesus up, asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’

34 ‘Do you ask me that yourself?’ replied Jesus, ‘or did others say it to you about me?’

35 ‘Do you take me for a Jew?’ was Pilate’s answer. ‘It is your own nation and the chief priests who have given you up to me. What have you done?’

36 ‘My kingly power,’ replied Jesus, ‘is not due to this world. If it had been so, my servants would be doing their utmost to prevent my being given up to the authorities; but my kingly power is not from the world.’

37 ‘So you are a king after all!’ exclaimed Pilate. ‘Yes, it is true I am a king,’ answered Jesus. ‘I was born for this, I have come into the world for this – to bear testimony to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of truth listens to my voice.’

38 ‘What is truth?’ exclaimed Pilate. After saying this, he went out to the crowd again, and said, ‘For my part, I find nothing with which he can be charged. 39 It is, however, the custom for me to grant you the release of one man at the Passover Festival. Do you wish for the release of the king of the Jews?’

40 ‘No, not this man,’ they shouted again, ‘but Barabbas!’ This Barabbas was a robber.

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19 After that, Pilate had Jesus scourged. 2 The soldiers made a crown with some thorns and put it on his head and threw a purple robe round him. 3 They kept coming up to him and saying, ‘Long live the king of the Jews!’ and they gave him blow after blow with their hands. 4 Pilate again came outside, and said to the people, ‘Look! I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find nothing with which he can be charged.’ 5 Then Jesus came outside, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe; and Pilate said to them, ‘Here is the man!’ 6 When the chief priests and the guards saw him, they shouted, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’

‘Take him yourselves and crucify him,’ said Pilate. ‘For my part, I find nothing with which he can be charged.’

7 ‘But we,’ replied the crowd, ‘have a Law, under which he deserves death for making himself out to be the Son of God.’ 8 When Pilate heard what they said, he became still more alarmed; 9 and, going into the Government house again, he said to Jesus, ‘Where do you come from?’ 10 But Jesus made no reply. So Pilate said to him, ‘Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know that I have power to release you, and have power to crucify you?’

11 ‘You would have no power over me at all,’ answered Jesus, ‘if it had not been given you from above; and, therefore, the man who betrayed me to you is guilty of the greater sin.’ 12 This made Pilate anxious to release him; but the crowd shouted, ‘If you release that man, you are no friend of the Emperor! Anyone who makes himself out to be a king is setting himself against the Emperor!’ 13 On hearing what they said, Pilate brought Jesus out, and took his seat on the Bench at a place called “The Stone Pavement” – in Hebrew “Gabbatha.” 14 It was the Passover Preparation day, and about noon. Then he said to the crowd, ‘Here is your king!’ 15 At that the people shouted, ‘Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!’

‘What! Should I crucify your king?’ exclaimed Pilate. ‘We have no king but the Emperor,’ replied the chief priests; 16 so Pilate gave Jesus up to them to be crucified.Titleless Section Break

So they took Jesus; 17 and he went out, carrying his cross himself, to the place which is named from a skull, or, in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and two others with him – one on each side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also had these words written and put up over the cross – “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 20 These words were read by many people, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and they were written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests said to Pilate, ‘Do not write “The king of the Jews”, but write what the man said – “I am the king of the Jews.” ’ 22 But Pilate answered, ‘What I have written, I have written.’Titleless Section Break

23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares – a share for each soldier – and they took the coat also. The coat had no seam, being woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 So they said to one another, ‘Do not let us tear it, but let us cast lots for it, to see who will have it.’ This was in fulfilment of the words of scripture –

“They shared my clothes among them,

and over my clothing they cast lots.”

That was what the soldiers did. 25 Meanwhile near the cross of Jesus were standing his mother and his mother’s sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary of Magdala. 26 When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved, standing near, he said to his mother, ‘There is your son.’ 27 Then he said to that disciple, ‘There is your mother.’ And from that very hour the disciple took her to live in his house.Titleless Section Break

28 Afterwards, knowing that everything was now finished, Jesus said, in fulfilment of the words of scripture, ‘I am thirsty.’ 29 There was a bowl standing there full of common wine; so they put a sponge soaked in the wine on the end of a hyssop-stalk, and held it up to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the wine, he exclaimed, ‘All is finished!’ Then, bowing his head, he resigned his spirit to God. 31 It was the Preparation day, and so, to prevent the bodies from remaining on the crosses during the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a great day), the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed. 32 Accordingly the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man, and then those of the other who had been crucified with Jesus; 33 but, on coming to him, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water immediately flowed from it. 35 This is the statement of one who actually saw it – and his statement may be relied on, and he knows that he is speaking the truth – and it is given in order that you also may be convinced. 36 For all this happened in fulfilment of the words of scripture – “Not one of its bones will be broken.” 37 And there is another passage which says – “They will look on him whom they pierced.” 38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus – but a secret one, owing to his fear of the religious authorities – begged Pilate’s permission to remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him leave; so Joseph went and removed the body. 39 Nicodemus, too – the man who had formerly visited Jesus by night – came with a roll of myrrh and aloes, weighing nearly a hundred pounds. 40 They took the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen with the spices, according to the Jewish mode of burial. 41 At the place where Jesus had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a newly made tomb in which no one had ever been laid. 42 And so, because of its being the Preparation day, and as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.