CHAPTER 23

It was Thursday when the Passover lamb was sacrificed in the temple. So Jesus said to Peter and John, “Go and make preparations for us, so that we can eat the Passover meal together.” Peter and John asked Jesus, “Where do you want us to prepare Passover?” Jesus said, “Go into Jerusalem. As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Tell the man, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I will celebrate the Passover meal at your guest room with my disciples.’ Follow him to his house, and he will show you a large furnished guest room upstairs. Make preparations for us there.”

So Peter and John went into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, and they found everything as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover meal in the upper room.

When it was Thursday evening, Jesus and his apostles arrived at the upper room in Jerusalem. They reclined on a couch around the table to eat the Passover meal together. Jesus said to them, “I have been eager to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. I tell you the truth: I will not eat it again until the Passover is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

While they were eating together, the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus. But Jesus knew that the Father had put everything under his power, and that he had come from God and was going back to God. I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. I tell you the truth: Whoever receives anyone I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me into this world.”

After Jesus had said this, his heart was troubled in spirit and he told his apostles, “I tell you the truth: One of you eating with me is going to betray me.” Jesus said, “I am not speaking about all of you, because I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill Psalm 41:9, ‘He who ate my bread has gone against me.’

His apostles stared at one another, because they were confused about what he was saying. All the apostles were very troubled, and one by one they said to Jesus, “Lord, is it me?” The apostle John was reclining next to Jesus at the table. Peter motioned to him and said, “Ask Jesus which one of us he is talking about.” John leaned against Jesus and asked him, “Lord, which one of us is going to betray you?”

Jesus said to him, “The one sitting next to me will betray me. The Son of Man will suffer just as it is written about him in God’s word, but how terrible for the one who betrays the Son of Man! It would be much better for him if he had not been born.”

Then Jesus dipped the piece of bread into the dish and gave it to Judas Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered his heart. Then Judas asked Jesus, “Teacher, surely it isn’t me?” Jesus said, “Yes, it is you. What you are about to do, do quickly!”

As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he left. And it was night.

The apostles did not understand why Jesus had said this to Judas. Because Judas was in charge of the money bag, some of them thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Passover Feast, or to give some money to the poor.

Then Jesus took a loaf of bread, gave thanks to God, broke the bread, and gave the pieces to his apostles. He said to them, “Take and eat, for this is my body given for you; eat it in remembrance of me.” The apostles ate the bread. Then Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks to God, and gave it to his apostles. He said, “Drink from this cup all of you, share it among yourselves. For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you the truth: I will not drink wine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” And all the apostles drank from the cup.

Then once again the apostles began to argue among themselves about which one of them was considered the greatest in the kingdom of God. Jesus said to them, “Non-Jewish kings exercise power over the people, and those who rule with authority over them call themselves Benefactors. Benefactors were prominent people who bestowed gifts on their citizens to gain loyalty. But you are not to be like them. Instead, the greatest among you will be like the youngest, and the leader will be the one who serves others. For you know that the master who eats at the table is greater than the one who serves him. But I live among you as the one who serves. You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.”

Jesus quietly got up from the table, removed his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

He then filled a bowl with water, and began to wash the feet of his apostles, and dried them with the towel. Jesus came to Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus said, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later on you will understand.” But Peter said, “No! You will never wash my feet!” Jesus said, “You will never be my disciple unless I wash your feet.” Peter cried out, “Lord! Then wash not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

After washing his apostles’ feet, Jesus put on his outer clothing and returned to his place at the table.

He said to his apostles, “Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me your ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right. For that is what I am. Now that I have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I washed your feet to give you an example to follow. I tell you the truth: A slave is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know my teaching, you will be blessed if you do it. For the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. My dear children, I will be living with you only a little longer. You will look for me, but where I am going, you cannot come. I give you this new command: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By your love everyone will know that you are my disciples.”

Flustered, Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus said, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow me later.” Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and even to death! Why can’t I follow you now? I will die for you!” Then Jesus said to Peter, “Will you really die for me? I tell you the truth Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny that you know me three times. Peter, Peter, listen to me. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, so that your faith will not fail. And when you repent and return again, be sure to strengthen your fellow brothers.”

Then Jesus said to his apostles, “Do not allow your hearts to be troubled, but believe in God and believe also in me. For my Father’s house has many rooms. If this was not true, I would not have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. I will return and take you to be with me.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life! No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will also know the Father. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to Jesus, “Lord, all we ask is that you show us the Father, and that will satisfy us.” Jesus said, “Philip, I have been with you a long time, and you still do not know me. Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. So why do you ask me to show you the Father? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you are not on my own authority, but the Father lives in me and does his work through me. Believe me when I tell you that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of my miracles.

“I tell you the truth: Whoever believes in me will also do the works I do, and they will do even greater works than I do, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father will be glorified in the Son. You can ask me anything in my name, and I will do it. If you love me, you will obey my teaching. I will ask the Father, and he will send you the Holy Spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit is the counselor to help you and be with you forever. This world cannot receive the Holy Spirit of truth, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he lives with you and will be in you. I will never leave you as orphans, but I will come back for you. Soon, this world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever obeys my teaching is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and reveal myself to him.”

Then Jude said, “But, Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself to us, but not to this world?” Jesus said, “Whoever loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me will not obey my teaching. My teaching is not my own, it belongs to the Father who sent me into this world. I tell you all these things while I am still living among you. But the Holy Spirit—the Counselor—who the Father will send in my name will teach you everything and will remind you of ev- erything I have told you. I leave you my peace; my peace I give you! I do not give to you the passing peace that this world gives. Do not allow your hearts to be troubled and do not be afraid. You have heard me say to you, ‘I am leaving you, but I am coming back for you.’ If you love me, you should rejoice that I am going to the Father. I tell you now before I leave you, so that when I do leave you, you will believe. I will not tell you much more, because Satan—the ruler of this world—is coming. He has no power over me, but he comes so that this world will learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has told me to do.”

Jesus asked his apostles, “Did you need anything when I sent you on a mission journey without a moneybag, backpack, or sandals?” They said, “No.” Jesus then said, “But now if you have a moneybag, take it, and also a backpack, and if you don’t have a sword, sell some clothes and buy one. For it is written in Isaiah 53:12, ‘And he was counted with the rebels.’ I tell you the truth: This passage must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me in the Bible is about to be fulfilled.” Jesus’ apostles said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.”

Then Jesus said, “That is enough!” After singing a song of praise to God, Jesus said to his apostles “Stand up and let us leave this place.” They were reclining around a low table, so they stood up. Jesus and his apostles left the upper room, and he led them toward the Mount of Olives.

As they were walking toward the Mount of Olives, Jesus frightened his apostles when he told them, “This very night all of you will fall away from me, for as it is written in Zechariah 13:7, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I rise from the dead, I will meet with you again in Galilee.”

Jesus continued to teach saying: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that doesn’t produce fruit. He prunes every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit. You are already clean because of the teaching I have spoken to you. Live in me, as I also live in you, because no branch can produce fruit separate from the vine. Just as the branch must remain in the vine, so neither can you produce fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you live in me and I live in you, you will produce much fruit, but apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not live in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and dries up. And dried branches are then gathered and thrown into the fire and burned up. If you live in me and my words live in you, ask me for whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. The Father is glorified when you produce much fruit, proving that you are my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now live in my love! If you obey my teaching, you will live in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s teaching and live in his love. I tell you these things so that my joy will be in you and that you will have abundant joy. This is my commandment: Love one another as I have loved you. The greatest act of love is this: To lay down your life for your friends. You are my friends if you obey my teaching. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I have learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and ap- pointed you, so that you will go and produce fruit that will remain. Whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my com- mand: Love one another!

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. If you belonged to this world, it would love you as one of its own. But you do not belong to this world, because I have brought you out of this world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I taught you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey your teaching also.

“If I had not come into this world and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me, hates my Father also. They have seen my miraculous works, and yet they still hated both me and my Father. This happened to fulfill Psalm 35:19, ‘They hated me for no reason.’ When the Holy Spirit of truth comes, who I will send to you from the Father, he will bear witness of me. And you my apostles also must bear witness of me, because you have been with me from the beginning.

“I tell you all these things so that you will not fall away from the faith. For the Jewish religious leaders will excommunicate you from the synagogue. In fact, the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are murdering you in the service of God. They will do these things to you because they have not known the Father or me.

“But now I am going to him who sent me into this world. Now you don’t need to ask me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said that I am leaving you, your hearts are filled with sadness. I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Holy Spirit will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When the Holy Spirit comes, he will convict this world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. I have much more to teach you, but you are not ready to accept it now. But when the Holy Spirit comes, he will guide you into all of God’s truth. He will not speak on his own au- thority, but he will speak only what he hears. He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will tell you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Holy Spirit will receive from me what he will tell you.

“In a little while I will leave and you will see me no more, but then after a little while you will see me again.” Confused, his apostles said to one another, “What is he talking about? They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is say- ing.” Jesus knew that his apostles wanted to ask him about what he was saying, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, but then after a little while you will see me again’? I tell you the truth: When I leave, you will cry and mourn, but this world will rejoice. You will mourn, but your sorrow will become joy. A woman giving birth has great pain at the time she is giving birth, but right after she gives birth she forgets her pain because of her great joy for her new baby born into the world. In the same way, your hearts will be filled with sadness when I leave, but when I come again your hearts will be filled with joy, and no one will be able to take this joy away from you. In the day that I come again, you will no longer ask me any questions. I tell you the truth: My Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Ask and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

“Although I have been teaching you using stories, the time is coming when I will tell you plainly about my Father. For the Father loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came into this world from the Father, and now I am leaving this world and returning to the Father.” Then Jesus’ apostles said, “You are now speaking in plain language and not in stories. We can see that you know all things and that you do not need to have anyone ask you questions. This is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus said, “Do you now believe? I tell you that a time is coming, and in fact has now come, when you will be scattered. You will leave me alone and go to your own home. But I will not be alone, because my Father will be with me. I tell you these things so that in me you will have my peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, be strong! For I have overcome this world!”

After teaching his apostles, Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed: “Father, my time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son can glorify you. For you have given him authority over all people, so that he can give eternal life to whoever you have given him. Now this is eternal life in the kingdom of God: That they know you, the only true God, and me, whom you have sent into this world. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.

“And now Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the creation of the universe. I have revealed your name to the people you gave me out of this world. They were yours, but you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I taught them the words you gave me and they believed. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, because they are yours.

“All I have is yours, and everything you have is mine. And I am glorified in them. I am leaving this world, but my disciples are still in this world. Holy Father, protect my disciples by the power of your name—the name you gave me, so that they will be one as we are one. While I was living with them I protected them and kept them safe by the name you gave me. None of them has been lost except Judas who was destined to destruction, so your word would be fulfilled. I am now coming to you, but I say these things while I am still living in this world, so that they will have the fullness of my joy within them. I taught my disciples your word and the world has hated them, because they are not of this world any more than I am of this world. My prayer is not that you take them out of this world but that you protect them from Satan, the evil one. Make them holy by the truth, for your word is truth. As you sent me into this world, I have sent my disciples into this world. And for them I sanctify myself, so that they too will be holy in truth. I not only pray for my disciples, but also for whoever will believe in me through their message, so they all will be one.

“Righteous Father, just as you are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, so that this world will believe that you sent me into this world. I have given them the glory that you gave me, so that they will be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they will be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me into this world, and that you have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me, so that they can see my glory—the glory you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the universe.

”Father, although this world does not know you, I know you, and my disciples know that you have sent me into this world. I have revealed your name to them, and I will continue to make it known, so the love you have loved me with will be in them, and I will live in them.”