the raging tides. 26 People will faint from fear as they wait for what is coming over the whole earth, for the powers in space will be driven from their courses. 27 Then the Son of Man will appear, coming in a cloud with great power and glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your salvation is near.”

The Lesson of the Fig-Tree

29. Then Jesus told them this parable: “Think of the fig-tree and all the other trees. 30 When you see their leaves beginning to appear you know that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that the Kingdom of God is about to come.

32. “Remember that all these things will take place before the people now living have all died. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away; my words will never pass away.’

The Need to Watch

34. “Be on your guard! Don’t let yourselves become occupied with too much feasting and drinking, and with the worries of this life, or that Day may come on you suddenly. 35 For it will come like a trap upon all men over the whole earth. 36 Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."

37. Jesus spent those days teaching in the Temple, and when evening came he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives. 38 Early each morning all the people went to the Temple to listen to him.

Chapter - 22 The Plot against Jesus

1. The time was near for the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover. 2 The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were afraid of the people, and so they were trying to find a way of putting Jesus to death secretly.

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

3. Then Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples. 4 So Judas went off and spoke with the chief priests and the officers of the Temple guard about how he could betray Jesus to them. 5 They were pleased and offered to pay him money. 6 Judas agreed to it and started looking for a good chance to hand Jesus over to them without the people knowing about it.