When Jesus and his disciples had finished eating the Passover meal, Jesus brought them out of the city to the Mount of Olives to a garden called Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not be tempted.” Then he took Peter, James and John a short distance away and said, “I am sad to the point of death. Stay here and watch.” Then Jesus moved another short distance away and prayed, “Father, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet, not what I will but what you will be done.”
When Jesus had prayed, he returned to find the disciples sleeping. He woke them up and said, “Could you not stay awake for even one hour?” And they were all ashamed. Then Jesus left them to pray again the same way. When he had prayed this second time, Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. Then Jesus went and prayed the same thing a third time. When he returned to the disciples, he said, “Awake – the time has come, and the betrayer is near.”
Then Judas appeared with a mob of soldiers. He greeted Jesus with a kiss, and the soldiers seized Jesus and took him away. Then all the disciples ran away in fear.
First the soldiers and leaders of the Jews took Jesus to the house of the High Priest. There witnesses falsely accused him, but Jesus remained silent. The High Priest said to Jesus, “Speak up, man. Why aren’t you saying anything to defend yourself? Tell us, are you the Anointed One of God?” Jesus replied, “Yes, I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God.” When he heard this, the High Priest tore his clothes and said, “Blasphemy! We don’t need any more witnesses. What do you think?” And everyone said, “He’s guilty, and He deserves to die!”
When morning came and the leaders of the Jews had finished questioning Jesus, they brought him to the Roman governor. His name was Pilate. Pilate asked, “What crime has this man committed?” The leaders of the Jews said, “He claims to be a King.” Then Pilate brought Jesus in to question him. Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say that I am, but my kingdom is not of this world.”
Then Pilate turned Jesus over to his soldiers to be beaten. After they had whipped Jesus severely, Pilate spoke again to the Jews, “I find no fault in this man. Let me release him to you.”
But the Jews said, “No! Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” But Pilate said, “But I find no fault in this man!” Then the Jews said, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the King in Rome!” Then Pilate became afraid. The Jews shouted all the more, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Then Pilate allowed them to take Jesus away to be crucified.