The Gospel Part 24

Jesus then said, I am. Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them.

As soon as Jesus said, I am, they were astonished and fell to the ground.

Then He asked them again, Who are you looking for? They said, Jesus of Nazareth. Then Jesus said to them, I have told you that I am. If you are looking for me, let the others go their way. He said this because of His earlier words: Of those you gave me, I have lost none.

Then Peter, having a sword, struck the high priest's servant and cut his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Jesus immediately said to Peter, Put away your sword. Will I not drink the cup my Father has given me? Then the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus, bound Him, and took Him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die for the sake of the people.

Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple who was known to the high priest and went inside the palace with Jesus. Peter stood outisde the door. The other disciple arranged with the woman who kept the door for Peter to go inside. Then she asked him, Are you also one of this man's disciples? He said, I am not. Peter stood by the fire along with the officers and servants who were warming themselves in the cold night.

The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples, and about His teachings. Jesus said to him, I have spoken openly in public. I taught in the synagogue, in the very temple the Jews always attend. There is nothing I have said in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have listened to me about what I have said to them? They know what I said.

When He had thus spoken, one of the officers struck Jesus with the palm of his hand and said, Why do you answer the high priest that way? Jesus said to him, If I have spoken evil, tell me what it is. If not, why strike me? Then Annas had Him bound and sent to Caiaphas, the high priest.

As Simon Peter stood and warmed himself, they said to him, Are you not also one of His disciples? He denied it and said, I am not. Then one of the high priest's servants, a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut, said, Did I not see you in the garden with Him? Peter denied again.

Immediately the c.o.c.k crowed.

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment. It was early and they themselves did not go into the judgment hall lest they be defiled and not be able to eat the pa.s.sover. Pilate went outside to them and said, What accusation do you make against this man? They said to him, If He were not a criminal we would not have brought Him to you.

Then Pilate said to them, Take Him and judge Him according to your law.

The Jews said, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death. This agreed with Jesus' words when He spoke of what death He would die.

Pilate went into the judgment hall again. He called Jesus and said to Him, Art Thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Do you ask this on your own or did others tell you to ask this? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests have delivered you to me.

What have you done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so I would not be turned over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from here.

Pilate therefore said to Him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. For this I was born and for this reason I came into the world: to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. Pilate muttered, What is truth? Then he went out again to the Jews and said, I find no fault in Him at all. But you have a custom that I release someone to you at the pa.s.sover. Is it your request, therefore, that I release to you the King of the Jews? They all said, Not this man, but Barabbas. Barabbas was a robber.

19. Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him scourged. The officers platted a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They put a purple robe on Him and said, Hail, King of the Jews! They slapped Him with their hands. Pilate came out again and said, I bring Him to you so you know that I find no fault in Him. Then Jesus was brought out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, Behold the man!

When the chief priests and officers saw Him they cried out, Crucify Him. Crucify Him. Pilate said to them, You take Him and crucify Him. I find no fault in Him. The Jews said, We have a law and, by our law, He ought to die because He made Himself the Son of G.o.d. When Pilate heard this, he became concerned. He went back into the judgment hall and asked Jesus, Where are you from? But Jesus gave him no answer.

Then Pilate said to Him, Will you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have the power to crucify or release you? Jesus answered, You would have no power over me unless it was given from above. The one who delivered me to you has the greater sin. From then on Pilate tried to release Him but the Jews cried out, saying, If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Whoever makes himself a king, speaks against Caesar.

When Pilate heard this, he took Jesus to the judgment seat in a place called Gabbatha. It was the preparation for the pa.s.sover and around the sixth hour. Pilate said to the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with Him. Away with Him. Crucify Him. Pilate said to them, will I crucify your king? The chief priest answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then Pilate handed Him over to them to be crucified. They took Jesus and led Him away.

Bearing His cross, He went into a place called Golgotha. Here they crucified Him and two others, one on either side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate made a sign and put it on the cross. The writing was, Jesus of Nazareth, The King Of The Jews.

This sign was read by many of the Jews because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city and the words were written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Do not write The King of the Jews, but write, He said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written.

When they put Jesus on the cross, the officers took His garments and made four parts. Each officer took a part. But His coat was seamless and woven from the top down. They said to eachother, Let us not tear it up but cast lots for whose it will be. Thus the scripture was fulfilled: They parted my raiment among them and, for my vesture, they did cast lots.

By the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then He said to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, and so that the scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst. A vessel full of vinegar was nearby. They filled a sponge, put it on a reed of hyssop and put it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, He bowed His head and said, It is finished.

During the preparation for the sabbath, a high day, it was not fit that the bodies should remain on the cross. The Jews besought Pilate to break their legs so the dead bodies could then be taken away. The officers broke the legs of the first and then of the other who was crucified alongside Jesus. But when they came to Him and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the officers pierced His side with a spear and, from His side, came blood and water.

He who saw it bore record, and his record is true. He knows that he told the truth so that you might believe. These things were done so that this scripture would be fulfilled: A bone of Him will not be broken. And another scripture said: They will look on Him whom they pierced.

After this, Joseph of Arimathaea, who, for fear of the Jews, was a secret disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate if he could take Jesus' body.

Pilate gave him permission. Nicodemus, who went to Jesus at night, was with Joseph. He brought myrrh and aloes. They took the body of Jesus, wound it in linen cloth, and prepared it with the spices as was the Jewish burial custom. In the place where He was crucified there was a new sepulchre in the garden area. There they laid Jesus.

20. Early on the first day of the week, when it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the sepulchre. She saw that the stone had been taken away from the entrance. She ran to find Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. She said to them, They have taken the Lord out of the sepulchre and we do not know where they have laid Him. Peter and the other disciple started toward the sepulchre. They began running together. But the other disciple, having outrun Peter, arrived at the entrance first. Stooping down, he looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there but he did not go inside.

When Peter came, he went into the sepulchre, saw the linen cloth and the scarf that covered His head. The scarf was not lying with the linen cloth, but was folded separately in a place by itself. Then the other disciple went inside and he saw, and believed. At this time they did not know the words of scripture: He must rise again from the dead. They returned home.

But Mary stood outside at the entrance and was weeping. As she wept, she stooped down, looked into the sepulchre, and saw two angels in white. They sat, one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain. They said to her, Woman, why do you weep? She said, They have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid Him.

After she said this, she turned and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know it was Jesus. He said to her, Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for? Thinking that this was the gardener, she said, Sir, if you have carried Him somewhere, tell me where you have laid Him and I will take Him away. Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned and said, Master.

Jesus said to her, Do not touch me because I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to the disciples and tell them, I am going to my Father, and your Father; and to my G.o.d, and your G.o.d.

Mary Magdalene ran and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and gave them His message. In the evening of that first day of the week, where the disciples were a.s.sembled with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus appeared and stood in their midst. He said to them, Peace be to you. When He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be to you; as my Father has sent me, even so send I you. When He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them; and whose sins you retain, they are retained.

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see the print of the nails in His hands, and put my finger into the nailprints, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.

Eight days pa.s.sed. The disciples were inside with the doors closed and Thomas was with them. Then Jesus appeared and stood in their midst. He said, Peace be to you. Then He said to Thomas, put your finger here and see my hands; and put you hand into my side. Do not doubt but believe.

Thomas said to Him, My Lord and my G.o.d. Jesus said, Thomas, because you have seen me you believe. Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believe.

And many other signs truly did Jesus do in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of G.o.d; and that, believing, you will have life through His Name.

21. After this, Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. Seven of His disciples were gathered together: Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, James and John who were the sons of Zebedee, and two others.

Simon Peter said to the group, I am going fishing. They said to him, We will go with you. They went out and got into a fishing boat. They were out all night and caught nothing.

At dawn, Jesus was standing on the sh.o.r.e; but the disciples did not know it was Jesus. Then Jesus called to them, Children, have you caught anything? They answered, No. Jesus said, Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. When they threw the net over the right side, they were unable to draw it in because of the number of fish in the net. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord.

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he drew up his fishing robe and dove into the water. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net with the fish. They were only about a hundred yards from sh.o.r.e. When they climbed out of the boat, they saw a charcoal fire already laid with fish. And there was also bread. Jesus said, Bring the fish you caught.

Simon Peter went over and dragged in the net full of one hundred and fifty three large fish. Yet, even though there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, Come and dine. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, Who are you? knowing that it was the Lord.

Jesus then came to each one and served the bread and fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples.

After they finished the breakfast, Jesus turned to Simon Peter and said, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? Peter said to Him, Yes, Lord. You know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my lambs. Then He said to him a second time, Simon, son of John, Do you love me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord. You know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my sheep.

He said to him yet a third time, Simon, son of John, Do you love me?

Peter was upset because He asked a third time, Do you love me? He answered Jesus, Lord, You know all things. You know that I love you.

Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go.

But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will clothe you and carry you where you do not want to go. Jesus said this to signify by what kind of death Peter would glorify G.o.d. After Jesus said these words, He said to Peter, Follow me.

Then Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them.

This was the disciple who leaned on Jesus' breast at supper, and who also asked, Lord, who is he who betrays you? Peter, now seeing him, said to Jesus, Lord, what about him? Jesus said, If I want him to stay until I come, what concern is that of yours? You follow me.

Then the saying spread among the others that that disciple would not die. Yet, Jesus did not say, he will not die but, if I want him to remain until I come, what concern is it of yours?

This is the disciple who testifies to these things, and has written them down, and we know that his testimony is true. There are many other things that Jesus did that, if they were all told, I do not think the whole world could contain all the books that would be written.

Amen.

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