Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him, and He would be crucified the next day. It was not only Passover; it was Jesus' last meal with His disciples, so it was a very special occasion.
As Jesus and His disciples were eating, Jesus again surprised and upset all the disciples. He said, "Truly I tell you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me!" All the disciples looked around and said, "Surely, it is not I, Lord." Peter asked Jesus, "Who is it, Lord?" Jesus replied, "It is the one I give this piece of bread to." Then he handed the bread to His disciple Judas and said, "Do quickly what you are going to do." Judas left immediately, but most of the disciples did not know why.
Then Jesus took a loaf of bread, blessed it and broke it into pieces. He gave a piece to each of the eleven remaining disciples and said, "This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me."
Then he took a cup of wine, gave thanks, and passed it around the table, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I will never again drink wine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."
After the Passover meal, Jesus led His disciples out to a deserted garden called Gethsemane to pray. He prayed to His Father in heaven that He could somehow be spared the agony of crucifixion that He knew He was about to face. But, above all, He was determined to complete His earthly mission. He closed His prayer by saying, "My Father, if this suffering cannot be avoided, Your will be done."
Jesus often went to Gethsemane with the disciples, and Judas knew this was the perfect place to arrest Jesus without attracting attention. The chief priests and elders of the temple sent an armed mob along with Judas. Judas told the mob he would identify Jesus by giving Him a kiss, a common form of greeting at that time.
Now Judas arrived with the mob sent by the chief priests. He went up to Jesus, kissed Him, and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" This was the signal for the mob to take Jesus captive.
Peter, wanting to defend Jesus, drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest's servant. But Jesus said, "Put away your sword; all who take to the sword will die by the sword. Don't you know that I could ask My Father, and he would send legions of angels to protect Me. But the scriptures say it must happen this way."
The mob grabbed Jesus and took Him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. But all of Jesus' disciples ran away in fear that they would also be arrested.
