From Gary... Coffee and immorality

I love coffee!!!!!  Well, that's not exactly right- I probably should have used 20 or so more exclamation points!!!!!!! In my teen years I would only drink 5 or 10 cups a day. Later (20's-30's) I went up to 15, perhaps more. Now, in retirement I only drink 2 or maybe three a day. But don't be deceived, more often than not they are from my quart coffee cup that I bought at Cracker Barrel recently.  

So, if the study associated with this picture means anything, I should still be around for a few years. But, anything can happen, so keep the coffee flowing... No matter how potent the coffee brew is (try using one of those old coffee pots that work with a fireplace and boil the grounds longer), still sooner or later, even coffee won't keep you alive.

And then there is Jesus...

John, Chapter 11 (WEB)

 1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha.  2 It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother, Lazarus, was sick.  3 The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, “Lord, behold, he for whom you have great affection is sick.”  4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that God’s Son may be glorified by it.”   5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.  6 When therefore he heard that he was sick, he stayed two days in the place where he was.  7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let’s go into Judea again.” 

  8  The disciples told him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” 

  9  Jesus answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world.   10  But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light isn’t in him.”   11 He said these things, and after that, he said to them, “Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep.” 

  12  The disciples therefore said, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 

  13  Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.  14 So Jesus said to them plainly then,“Lazarus is dead.   15  I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let’s go to him.” 

  16  Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go also, that we may die with him.” 

  17  So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already.  18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away.  19 Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.  20 Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house.  21 Therefore Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.  22 Even now I know that, whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”  23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 

  24  Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 

  25  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.   26  Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 

  27  She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the world.” 

  28  When she had said this, she went away, and called Mary, her sister, secretly, saying, “The Teacher is here, and is calling you.” 

  29  When she heard this, she arose quickly, and went to him.  30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him.  31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”  32 Therefore when Mary came to where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” 

  33  When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,  34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” 

They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 

  35  Jesus wept. 

  36  The Jews therefore said, “See how much affection he had for him!”  37 Some of them said, “Couldn’t this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also kept this man from dying?” 

  38  Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.  39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” 

Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 

  40  Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?” 

  41  So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me.   42  I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude that stands around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”   43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 

  44  He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. 

Jesus said to them, “Free him, and let him go.” 

Jesus really lived, he really died and he really lives again. Investigate, think about it, question it- sooner or later we are all forced to come to grips with reality- death is inevitable.  But, it does not have to be final!!!! The five hundred witnesses who saw Jesus should be enough to convince anyone. 

1 Corinthians, Chapter 15 (WEB)

 1 Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand,  2 by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.  3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,  5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.  7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,  8 and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.

Not enough for you? Well, dig deeper and when you do, think about it long and hard. And have a LARGE cup of Coffee with you, because I can testify that I always think more clearly with a cup of coffee or two nearby!!!!! Stop drinking only if you get so jittery your hands shake!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading February 19, 20, 21

Bible Reading  

February 19, 20, 21

The World English Bible

Feb. 19

Genesis 50

Gen 50:1 Joseph fell on his father's face, wept on him, and kissed him.

Gen 50:2 Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father; and the physicians embalmed Israel.

Gen 50:3 Forty days were fulfilled for him, for that is how many the days it takes to embalm. The Egyptians wept for him for seventy days.

Gen 50:4 When the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the house of Pharaoh, saying, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,

Gen 50:5 'My father made me swear, saying, "Behold, I am dying. Bury me in my grave which I have dug for myself in the land of Canaan." Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come again.' "

Gen 50:6 Pharaoh said, "Go up, and bury your father, just like he made you swear."

Gen 50:7 Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, all the elders of the land of Egypt,

Gen 50:8 all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.

Gen 50:9 There went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company.

Gen 50:10 They came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and sore lamentation. He mourned for his father seven days.

Gen 50:11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, "This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians." Therefore, its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.

Gen 50:12 His sons did to him just as he commanded them,

Gen 50:13 for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field, for a possession of a burial site, from Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.

Gen 50:14 Joseph returned into Egypt--he, and his brothers, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.

Gen 50:15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully pay us back for all of the evil which we did to him."

Gen 50:16 They sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father commanded before he died, saying,

Gen 50:17 'You shall tell Joseph, "Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you." ' Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

Gen 50:18 His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, "Behold, we are your servants."

Gen 50:19 Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid, for am I in the place of God?

Gen 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Gen 50:21 Now therefore don't be afraid. I will nourish you and your little ones." He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.

Gen 50:22 Joseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father's house. Joseph lived one hundred ten years.

Gen 50:23 Joseph saw Ephraim's children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph's knees.

Gen 50:24 Joseph said to his brothers, "I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."

Gen 50:25 Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here."

Gen 50:26 So Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Feb. 20

Exodus 1

Exo 1:1 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob):

Exo 1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

Exo 1:3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

Exo 1:4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Exo 1:5 All the souls who came out of Jacob's body were seventy souls, and Joseph was in Egypt already.

Exo 1:6 Joseph died, as did all his brothers, and all that generation.

Exo 1:7 The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.

Exo 1:8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who didn't know Joseph.

Exo 1:9 He said to his people, "Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.

Exo 1:10 Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies, and fight against us, and escape out of the land."

Exo 1:11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses.

Exo 1:12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They were grieved because of the children of Israel.

Exo 1:13 The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve,

Exo 1:14 and they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field, all their service, in which they ruthlessly made them serve.

Exo 1:15 The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah,

Exo 1:16 and he said, "When you perform the duty of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stool; if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live."

Exo 1:17 But the midwives feared God, and didn't do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive.

Exo 1:18 The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and have saved the boys alive?"

Exo 1:19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women aren't like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous, and give birth before the midwife comes to them."

Exo 1:20 God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty.

Exo 1:21 It happened, because the midwives feared God, that he gave them families.

Exo 1:22 Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, "You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive."

Feb. 21

Exodus 2

Exo 2:1 A man of the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi as his wife.

Exo 2:2 The woman conceived, and bore a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.

Exo 2:3 When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank.

Exo 2:4 His sister stood far off, to see what would be done to him.

Exo 2:5 Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe at the river. Her maidens walked along by the riverside. She saw the basket among the reeds, and sent her handmaid to get it.

Exo 2:6 She opened it, and saw the child, and behold, the baby cried. She had compassion on him, and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children."

Exo 2:7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Should I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?"

Exo 2:8 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." The maiden went and called the child's mother.

Exo 2:9 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child away, and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages." The woman took the child, and nursed it.

Exo 2:10 The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, and said, "Because I drew him out of the water."

Exo 2:11 It happened in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brothers, and looked at their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers.

Exo 2:12 He looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no one, he killed the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

Exo 2:13 He went out the second day, and behold, two men of the Hebrews were fighting with each other. He said to him who did the wrong, "Why do you strike your fellow?"

Exo 2:14 He said, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?" Moses was afraid, and said, "Surely this thing is known."

Exo 2:15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and lived in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well.

Exo 2:16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.

Exo 2:17 The shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

Exo 2:18 When they came to Reuel, their father, he said, "How is it that you have returned so early today?"

Exo 2:19 They said, "An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock."

Exo 2:20 He said to his daughters, "Where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread."

Exo 2:21 Moses was content to dwell with the man. He gave Moses Zipporah, his daughter.

Exo 2:22 She bore a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, "I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land."

Exo 2:23 It happened in the course of those many days, that the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.

Exo 2:24 God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

Exo 2:25 God saw the children of Israel, and God was concerned about them.

Feb. 19

Matthew 25

Mat 25:1 "Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Mat 25:2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

Mat 25:3 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,

Mat 25:4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Mat 25:5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

Mat 25:6 But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!'

Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Mat 25:8 The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, 'What if there isn't enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'

Mat 25:10 While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

Mat 25:11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.'

Mat 25:12 But he answered, 'Most certainly I tell you, I don't know you.'

Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for you don't know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Mat 25:14 "For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them.

Mat 25:15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.

Mat 25:16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

Mat 25:17 In like manner he also who got the two gained another two.

Mat 25:18 But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

Mat 25:19 "Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them.

Mat 25:20 He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.'

Mat 25:21 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

Mat 25:22 "He also who got the two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.'

Mat 25:23 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

Mat 25:24 "He also who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.

Mat 25:25 I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.'

Mat 25:26 "But his lord answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn't sow, and gather where I didn't scatter.

Mat 25:27 You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.

Mat 25:28 Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.

Mat 25:29 For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn't have, even that which he has will be taken away.

Mat 25:30 Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Mat 25:31 "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.

Mat 25:32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Mat 25:33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Mat 25:34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;

Mat 25:35 for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.

Mat 25:36 I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.'

Mat 25:37 "Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?

Mat 25:38 When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?

Mat 25:39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?'

Mat 25:40 "The King will answer them, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

Mat 25:41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;

Mat 25:42 for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;

Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'

Mat 25:44 "Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?'

Mat 25:45 "Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me.'

Mat 25:46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Feb. 20, 21

Matthew 26

Mat 26:1 It happened, when Jesus had finished all these words, that he said to his disciples,

Mat 26:2 "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."

Mat 26:3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.

Mat 26:4 They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him.

Mat 26:5 But they said, "Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people."

Mat 26:6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

Mat 26:7 a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.

Mat 26:8 But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?

Mat 26:9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor."

Mat 26:10 However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? Because she has done a good work for me.

Mat 26:11 For you always have the poor with you; but you don't always have me.

Mat 26:12 For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

Mat 26:13 Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her."

Mat 26:14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,

Mat 26:15 and said, "What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?" They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver.

Mat 26:16 From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Mat 26:17 Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

Mat 26:18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples." ' "

Mat 26:19 The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover.

Mat 26:20 Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.

Mat 26:21 As they were eating, he said, "Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me."

Mat 26:22 They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, "It isn't me, is it, Lord?"

Mat 26:23 He answered, "He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me.

Mat 26:24 The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born."

Mat 26:25 Judas, who betrayed him, answered, "It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You said it."

Mat 26:26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."

Mat 26:27 He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, "All of you drink it,

Mat 26:28 for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.

Mat 26:29 But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's Kingdom."

Mat 26:30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Mat 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

Mat 26:32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee."

Mat 26:33 But Peter answered him, "Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble."

Mat 26:34 Jesus said to him, "Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."

Mat 26:35 Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you." All of the disciples also said likewise.

Mat 26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go there and pray."

Mat 26:37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.

Mat 26:38 Then he said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me."

Mat 26:39 He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire."

Mat 26:40 He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What, couldn't you watch with me for one hour?

Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that you don't enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Mat 26:42 Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup can't pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done."

Mat 26:43 He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

Mat 26:44 He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.

Mat 26:45 Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Mat 26:46 Arise, let's be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand."

Mat 26:47 While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priest and elders of the people.

Mat 26:48 Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, "Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him."

Mat 26:49 Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed him.

Mat 26:50 Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

Mat 26:51 Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.

Mat 26:52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.

Mat 26:53 Or do you think that I couldn't ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?

Mat 26:54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?"

Mat 26:55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn't arrest me.

Mat 26:56 But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him, and fled.

Mat 26:57 Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

Mat 26:58 But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.

Mat 26:59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

Mat 26:60 and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward,

Mat 26:61 and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.' "

Mat 26:62 The high priest stood up, and said to him, "Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?"

Mat 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, "I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."

Mat 26:64 Jesus said to him, "You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky."

Mat 26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.

Mat 26:66 What do you think?" They answered, "He is worthy of death!"

Mat 26:67 Then they spit in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,

Mat 26:68 saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?"

Mat 26:69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, "You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!"

Mat 26:70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I don't know what you are talking about."

Mat 26:71 When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him, and said to those who were there, "This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth."

Mat 26:72 Again he denied it with an oath, "I don't know the man."

Mat 26:73 After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, "Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known."

Mat 26:74 Then he began to curse and to swear, "I don't know the man!" Immediately the rooster crowed.

Mat 26:75 Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He went out and wept bitterly.