The Life of Jesus

The chief priests, therefore, and the Pharisees gathered a council and said: What do we, for this man doth many miracles?

If we let him alone so, all will believe in him; and the Romans will come, and take away our place and nation.

But one of them, named Caiphas, being the high priest that year, said to them: You know nothing.

Neither do you consider that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people and that the whole nation perish not.

And this he spoke not of himself: but being the high priest of that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation.

And not only for the nation, but to gather together in one the children of God that were dispersed.

From that day therefore they devised to put him to death.

Wherefore Jesus walked no more openly among the Jews: but he went into a country near the desert, unto a city that is called Ephrem. And there he abode with his disciples.

And the pasch of the Jews was at hand: and many from the country went up to Jerusalem, before the pasch, to purify themselves.

They sought therefore for Jesus; and they discoursed one with another, standing in the temple: What think you that he is not come to the festival day? And the chief priests and Pharisees had given a commandment that, if any man knew where he was, he should tell, that they might apprehend him.

Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

Jesus therefore, six days before the pasch, came to Bethania, where Lazarus had been dead, whom Jesus raised to life.

And they made him a supper there: and Martha served. But Lazarus was one of them that were at table with him.

Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of right spikenard, of great price, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, he that was about to betray him, said:

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor?

Now he said this not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief and, having the purse, carried the things that were put therein.

Jesus therefore said: Let her alone, that she may keep it against the day of my burial.

For the poor you have always with you: but me you have not always.

A great multitude therefore of the Jews knew that he was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

But the chief priests thought to kill Lazarus also:

Because many of the Jews, by reason of him, went away and believed in Jesus.

And on the next day, a great multitude that was come to the festival day, when they had heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

Took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet him and cried Hosanna. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel.

And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it, as it is written: