Feb. 25

Matthew 26:17-35

17 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples."'"
19 The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.
20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve.
21 And while they were eating, he said, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."
22 Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, "Surely it is not I, Lord?"
23 He said in reply, "He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me.
24 The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born."
25 Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" He answered, "You have said so."
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body."
27 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you,
28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.
29 I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father."
30 Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to them, "This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken, for it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed';
32 but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee."
33 Peter said to him in reply, "Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be."
34 Jesus said to him, "Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times."
35 Peter said to him, "Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you." And all the disciples spoke likewise.

1 Corinthians 9:15-27

15 I have not used any of these rights, however, nor do I write this that it be done so in my case. I would rather die. Certainly no one is going to nullify my boast.
16 If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it!
17 If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
18 What then is my recompense? That, when I preach, I offer the gospel free of charge so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
19 Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible.
20 To the Jews I became like a Jew to win over Jews; to those under the law I became like one under the law--though I myself am not under the law--to win over those under the law.
21 To those outside the law I became like one outside the law--though I am not outside God's law but within the law of Christ--to win over those outside the law.
22 To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
23 All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.
24 Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win.
25 Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.
26 Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing.
27 No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.