John 20:10-18 - On the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb in which he was buried and was crying. She looked into the tomb and saw that Jesus was gone, and two angels were sitting where his body had been. They asked her why she was crying, and she said that it’s because Jesus’ body had been taken away and she didn’t know where it had gone. Just then, she turned and saw Jesus, but she didn’t know who he was. Thinking that he was the gardener, she asked him where Jesus’ body had been taken. When Jesus said her name, she recognized him and excitedly cried out “Rabboni!" meaning “teacher.” She rushed to tell the other disciples the good news that Jesus had risen.

Matthew 26:47-56 - After Jesus spent the night praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas arrived with a crowd armed with swords and clubs to take Jesus under arrest. Judas walked over to Jesus and greeted him with a kiss. This was the signal that he used to show the people who to arrest. When the men stepped forward to arrest Jesus, Peter took our his sword and struck the servant of the high priest in the ear. Jesus instructed Peter to put his sword away and spoke to the crowd saying that he is not leading a rebellion and that there was no need for them to come at him swords and clubs. After this, Jesus is taken under arrest and the disciples run away in fear.

Matthew 26:36-46 - Jesus and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane, and Jesus asked them to sit nearby while he prayed. He took Peter, James, and John and asked them to stay with him because he was overwhelmed with sorrow. He prayed to God to take away the cup of suffering away from him, but only as God wills. Returning to his friends, he saw that they had fallen asleep. He asked if they could stay up with him for just one hour. He continued to pray and then a second time found his friends sleeping. After the third time, he told them to get up because the time had come for him to be betrayed.

Matthew 26:17-28 - Jesus and his disciples came together to celebrate a meal during the Passover Festival. During this meal, Jesus announced at the table that one of them was going to betray him. The group of disciples were very sad and one at a time said to Jesus, “Surely you don’t mean me?” When it came to Judas, Jesus replied, “You have said so.” Then Jesus took break, broke it, and gave it to his disciples to eat, saying that it is his body. He did the same with a cup of wine, which he said is his blood, poured out for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 16:21-26 - Jesus explains to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, where he will suffer many things before being killed and on the third day raising back to life again. Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked him, saying that this would never happen to him. Jesus responds by calling Peter a stumbling block to him, and that Peter has in mind human concerns rather than God’s concerns. Jesus goes on to explain to his disciples they too must deny themselves and take up their own crosses in order to follow him, but that in being willing to lose their life for his sake, they will in fact find it.

Matthew 15:1-20 - Once Jesus was approached by some Pharisees and religious teachers, who accused his followers of breaking the traditions of the elders by not washing their hands before they ate. Jesus turned the accusation around on them, saying that they were the ones who were breaking the commands of God in order to uphold their traditions and human rules. Jesus cites the example of those who dismiss God’s command to honor one’s parents in order to devote to God that which would have been used to help their parents. Jesus concludes by saying that a person is not defiled by eating with unwashed hands but by the wicked thoughts that come from inside their hearts.

Matthew 16:5-12 - One day Jesus was crossing a lake with his disciples, and they had forgotten to take bread with them. Jesus said to them, “be careful of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” The disciples didn’t understand what he meant at first and thought he was talking about bread. Jesus corrected them and said that he was actually talking about teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees which spread like yeast, and which they must be careful about.

Luke 4:14-30 - As Jesus traveled around Galilee, preaching and teaching, news of him spread throughout the countryside and the people praised him. Then he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read a prophesy from Isaiah, which he then stated was now fulfilled in the hearing of the people. The people were amazed and asked, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Jesus then went on to say that the crowd would surely ask him to prove himself through miracles and that a prophet is never accepted in their own hometown. This angered the people, who tried to drive Jesus out of town and off a cliff, but he walked through the crowd and went on his way.

John 15:1-18 - Jesus uses the illustration of a vine and branches to describe our relationship with him. He says that he is the vine, we are the branches, and his Father is the gardener. When we stay connected to him we can bear fruit, just as a branch must stay connected to the vine as its life source so that it can bear fruit. He goes on to say that we remain in his love by keeping his commands, that is, to love one another as he has loved us. In doing so, we have great joy and Jesus calls us his friends.

John 11:17-27 - Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus had passed away and had been in the tomb for four days by the time Jesus arrived to visit them. Martha came out to meet Jesus, but her sister Mary stayed inside. In her grief, Martha told Jesus that if he had been there, their brother wouldn’t have died, but that she believes that even now Jesus could save him. Jesus responded that Lazarus would rise again, and Martha thought that he was talking about the resurrection at the last day. Jesus replied that he is the resurrection and the life, and Martha professed her faith in him as the Messiah and Son of God.

John 10:11-21 - Jesus taught his followers that he is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. The shepherd protects the sheep from the attacks of predators, rather than running away to protect his own life. He spoke about having a close and loving relationship with the sheep, as well as having sheep from different sheep pens that will one day join to become one flock under one shepherd. Jesus also alluded to the fact that he would sacrifice his life of his own accord and return to life again. There was division among those who heard his words, with some calling him demon-possessed and others pointing to his miracles as proof that he is from God.

Luke 7:36-50 - Once Jesus was invited over for dinner at a Pharisee’s home. While he was there, a woman from town who had a reputation for being a sinful woman came in with a jar of perfume. She began pouring the perfume on Jesus’ feet while wiping them with her hair and tears. The Pharisee saw this and started muttering to himself, wondering how Jesus could allow a sinful woman to touch him like that. Jesus then told a parable about two people who owed differing amounts of money to a moneylender, both of whom were forgiven their debts. He concluded that the one who was forgiven more would have more love and appreciation for the one who forgave their debts. In the same way, the woman who had been forgiven much by God, showed her great love for Jesus.

Luke 14:7-14 - Once when Jesus was at a dinner party at the home of a Pharisee, he noticed that the guests were taking the places of honour at the table, and he told them a parable. He told them, when someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the places of honour or someone more important might come along and you will be asked to give up your seat and will be humiliated. Instead, take the lowest seat, so that the host will will honour you by moving you up to a better seat. In saying this he taught that those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Furthermore, he taught that when one hosts a banquet, they should welcome those who are left out and on the margins, and that in doing so they will be blessed.

Luke 1:57-80 - When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth to her baby, her neighbors and relatives celebrated with her. Then when time came for the baby to be circumcised, they wanted the baby to be named after his father Zechariah. However, Elizabeth said that the name was to be John. Zechariah confirmed this by writing on a tablet that the baby’s name is John. Right then and there, Zechariah was able to speak once again and began praising God for bringing salvation and redemption to the people. He testified that John was to be a prophet who would prepare the way for the Lord.

Luke 1:39-56 - After Mary had learned the news about her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy, she hurried to visit her. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb jumped for joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She exclaimed, “blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear.” She wondered about why she had been so favored that the mother of the Lord would visit her. Mary also began praising and worshiping God for bringing down the rulers of the world and lifting up the humble.

Luke 1:26-38 - When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to visit a young girl named Mary who lived in the town of Nazareth and was engaged to be married to Joseph. The angel greeted Mary and said that she was highly favored by the Lord, and this troubled her. The angel told her not to be afraid, and that she would become pregnant and give birth to a son who would be named Jesus, and would be the Son of God as well as a great King who’s kingdom would never end. Mary was confused about how this would happen, and the angel said that the Holy Spirit would cause it to happen, and that even Elizabeth would be having a baby in her old age. Mary then accepted the angel’s words and God’s plan for her.