Mark 14

1The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.

2For they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be an uproar among the people.”

3While he was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4But some who were there were indignant and said to one another, “Why was this perfume wasted?

5It could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her harshly.

6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me.

7For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me.

8She did what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for burial.

9Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.

11When they heard this, they were delighted and promised to give him money. So he began looking for a good opportunity to betray him.

12On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?”

13So he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him.

14Wherever he goes in, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’

15He will show you a large upstairs room, furnished and ready. Prepare for us there.”

16The disciples went out, came into the city, and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

17When evening came, he arrived with the twelve.

18While they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

19They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely not I?”

20He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, the one who is dipping into the bowl with me.

21For the Son of Man is going just as it is written about him, but how terrible it will be for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”

22While they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.”

23Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

24He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

25Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

26After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

27Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

28But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

29Peter said to him, “Even if they all fall away, I will not.”

30Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today—this very night—before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny me three times.”

31But he kept insisting emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And they all said the same.

32They came to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

33He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply alarmed and distressed.

34He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, to the point of death. Stay here and keep awake.”

35Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

36He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want.”

37Then he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not stay awake for one hour?

38Stay awake and pray, so that you will not come into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

39Again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.

40When he came back again, he found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

41He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is being handed over into the hands of sinners.

42Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is near.”

43Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.

44Now the betrayer had given them a signal: “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him and lead him away under guard.”

45As soon as he arrived, he went up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.

46Then they laid hands on him and arrested him.

47But one of those standing by drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

48Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a robber?

49Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this is happening so that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.”

50Then they all deserted him and fled.

51A young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth wrapped around his body. They seized him,

52but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked.

53They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes came together.

54Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. He was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.

55The chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none.

56For many gave false testimony against him, but their testimony did not agree.

57Then some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,

58“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’”

59Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

60Then the high priest stood up in front of them all and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is this that these men are testifying against you?”

61But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

63Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?

64You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.

65Then some began to spit on him. They covered his face, struck him with their fists, and said to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and slapped him.

66While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s servant girls came by.

67When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him and said, “You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus.”

68But he denied it: “I do not know or understand what you are talking about.” Then he went out into the entryway, and a rooster crowed.

69The servant girl saw him and began again to say to those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”

70But again he denied it. A little while later, those standing nearby again said to Peter, “You really are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”

71But he began to call down curses and to swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about.”

72Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had said to him: “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.