The Life of Jesus

By your patient endurance you will gain your souls.

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.

Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city.

For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.

How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people.

They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.

Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.

When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.

So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.

For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth.

So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.

And early in the morning all the people would come to hear Him at the temple.

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,

and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death; for they feared the people.

Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve.

And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them.

They were delighted and agreed to give him money.