Hi, friends. Welcome to a very special week on the That Sounds Fun podcast. I am your host, Annie F. Downs,

and I'm so happy to be here with you. It is Holy Week, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter.

And each day, I will be reading the stories from the Gospels. That's Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John that coincide

with this exact day. If you have not been able to listen, starting back at Palm Sunday

and leading up to today, Good Friday, if you have time, I'd recommend doing that and catching

up with our story. Today is Good Friday. And I will be reading from the message version.

We will start in Matthew, chapter 26, verse 47, and go to chapter 27, verse 66.

The words were barely out of his mouth when Judas, the one from the 12, showed up,

and with him a gang from the high priests and religious

leaders brandishing swords and clubs. The betrayer had worked out a sign with them. The one I

kissed, that's the one, seize him. He went straight to Jesus, greeted him. How are you, rabbi?

And kissed him. And Jesus said, friend, why this charade? And then they came on

him, grabbed him and roughed him up. One of those with Jesus pulled his sword and taking a swing at the

chief priest's servant, cut off his ear. Jesus said, put your sword back where it belongs. All who use swords are destroyed by swords.

Don't you realize that I am able right now to call to my father and 12 companies, more if I want

them, of fighting angels would be here battle ready. But if I did that, how would the scriptures

come true that say this is the way it has to be?

And then Jesus addressed the mob.

What is this?

Coming out after me with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous criminal.

Day after day, I've been sitting in the temple teaching, and you never so much as lifted a hand against me. You've done it

this way to confirm and fulfill the prophetic writings, and then all the disciples cut and ran.

...