< Mark 14 >
1 Now two days later was the feast of the Passover and of Unleavened Bread. Both the chief priests and the Scribes were continually seeking how they might arrest him by a stratagem and kill him;
2 but, "Not on a feast-day," they said, "for fear there should be a riot among the people."
3 And while he was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the Leper, while he was dining, a woman came with an alabaster vase of very costly, pure spikenard perfume, and, breaking the vase, she poured the perfume on his head.
4 Some of those who were present said among themselves indignantly. "Why has the perfume been wasted like this?
5 That perfume could have been sold for more than one hundred and fifty dollars, and given to the poor."
6 So they began upbraiding her, but Jesus said. "Let her alone. Why are you troubling her?
7 She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor among you, and can show them kindness whenever you wish, but me you will not always have.
8 She has done what she could. she has before time anointed my body for my burial.
9 I tell you in solemn truth that wherever the gospel is preached throughout the whole world, there what she has done shall be told in remembrance of her."
10 Now Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went away to the high priests to betray Jesus to them;
11 and they were glad when they heard it, and promised to pay him money. So he kept looking for an opportunity to betray him.
12 And the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, the day for killing the paschal lamb, his disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparation for you to eat the Passover?"
13 Then he sent two of his disciples, and told them. "Go into the city, and you will meet a man carrying a jar of water.
14 Follow him; and whatever house he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, "Where is your guest-chamber, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"‘
15 He will himself show you a large, upper room, furnished and ready. there make preparation for us."
16 So the disciples went off, and came into the city, and found everything as he had told them.
17 So they made ready the Passover, and as night fell he came, with the Twelve.
18 While they were at the table, eating, Jesus said solemnly. "It is one of you who will betray me - one who is eating with me."
19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him, one after another, "Surely, not I?"
20 "It is one of the Twelve," said Jesus, "one who is dipping into the same dish with me.
21 For the Son of man is going his way, as the Scripture says, but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! It were good for that man if he had never been born."
22 And as they were eating he took bread, and after the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "Take it, this is my body."
23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it,
24 and he said. "This is my covenant blood, which is poured out for many.
25 Solemnly I tell you I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
26 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
27 And Jesus said to them. "All of you are about to stumble, for it is written, "I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad.
28 "But after my resurrection I will go before you into Galilee."
29 "Although they all stumble and fall, yet will not I," answered Peter.
30 Jesus said to him, "I tell you in solemn truth that you yourself, today on this very night, before the cock crow twice, shall three times disown me."
31 But Peter kept protesting passionately, "Though I must die with you, I will not disown you!" And they all kept saying the same.
32 So they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit down here while I pray."
33 Then he took Peter and Jamesand Johnwith him, and began to be full of terror and distress;
34 and he said to them. "My soul is full of anguish, even unto death; wait here, and keep watch."
35 So he went a little farther, and throwing himself upon the ground, he prayed repeatedly that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.
36 "Abba, Father," he said, "all things are possible with thee. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what thou wilt."
37 Then he came and found them asleep, and he said to Peter. "Are you sleeping, Simon? Could you not keep watch one hour?
38 Keep watch, all of you, and pray that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’
39 Then he went away again and prayed, saying the same words;
40 and when he returned he found them once more asleep, for their eyes were heavy with sleep, and they knew not what to say to him.
41 Then he came the third time, and said. "Sleep on now, and take your rest! It is over. My hour is come. Look! the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42 Rouse yourselves, let us go. See! my betrayer is at hand."
43 At that instant, while he was yet speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a mob armed with swords and clubs, sent by the high priests and Scribes and elders.
44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign. "The one I kiss," he said, "is the man. Arrest him, and take him away safely."
45 So he came and going straight up to Jesus he said.
46 "Rabbi," and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and took him.
47 But one of the bystanders drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
48 But Jesus interposed, saying. "Are you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs, as if I were a robber?
49 Day after day I was face to face with you in the Temple courts, teaching, and you did not seize me. But this is done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled."
50 Then they all forsook him and fled.
51 One young man, however, began following him, with only a linen sheet thrown round his naked body.
52 They seized him, but he left the linen sheet and fled away naked.
53 Then they took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and Scribes came with him.
54 Peter also had followed Jesus at a distance, until he was inside the court of the high priest. There he was sitting among the officers, warming himself in the light of the fire.
55 Meanwhile the high priests and all of the Sanhedrin were trying to get evidence against Jesus, so as to have him put to death, but they found none;
56 for though many gave false witness against him, their testimony did not agree.
57 Some came forward and swore falsely, saying,
58 "We heard him say, ‘I will tear down this temple made by hands, and in three days I will build another temple not made by hands.’"
59 But even their evidence did not agree.
60 Then the high priest rose and stood forth among them. "Have you no answer to make?" he asked Jesus; "What is it that these testify against you?"
61 But he remained silent, and answered nothing. Again the high priest questioned him. "Are you the Christ," he said, "the Son of the Blessed?"
62 "I am," Jesus answered, "and you all shall see the Son of man seated on the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
63 Then the high priest tore his vestments. "Why do we need any further witness?" he exclaimed.
64 "Did you hear his blasphemy? What is your verdict?"
65 Then they all condemn him to be worthy of death. Some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him while striking him and saying, "Prophesy." The officers, too, received him into custody with blows.
66 Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, there came one of the maid servants of the high priest, and saw Peter warming himself.
67 She looked at him, and said, "You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus."
68 But he denied it. He said. "I don’t know, I don’t understand what you are saying." Then he went out into the porch, and the cock crew.
69 Again the maid servant saw him, and began again to tell the bystanders, "He is one of them."
70 A second time he continued to deny it. After a little the by- standers began to say to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."
71 But he began with curses an solemn oaths to say, "I do not know the man you are talking about."
72 At that instant for the second time a cock crew. Then Peter recalled the word which Jesus had spoken to him, "Before the cock crows twice you will disown me thrice." And as he thought of it, he began to weep aloud.
