Mark 14

A Plot and an Anointing

1It was two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to seize Jesus by stealth and kill him, 2because they were saying, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.”

3While Jesus 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 from pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume over his head. 4Some people there became indignant and said to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? 5It could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you troubling her? She has done a beautiful work for me. 7You always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you do not always have me. 8She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas Agrees to Hand Jesus Over

10Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests so that he might hand Jesus over to them. 11When they heard this, they were pleased and promised to give him money. So he began looking for an opportunity to hand Jesus over.

Passover and the Supper

12On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13He sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city. A man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14Wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, 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, entered the city, and found everything just as he had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 17When evening came, Jesus arrived with the twelve. 18While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will hand me over—one who is eating with me.” 19They began to be grieved and said to him one after another, “Surely not I?” 20He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who dips into the bowl with me. 21The Son of Man goes just as it is written about him, but woe to the person through whom the Son of Man is handed over. It would have been better for that person not to have been born.”

22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it. This is my body.” 23Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many. 25Truly I tell you, I will certainly not drink again from 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.

Peter’s Denial Foretold

27Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else falls away, I will not.” 30Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today—this very night—before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the others said the same.

Gethsemane

32They came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33He took Peter, James, and John with him and began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Stay here and watch.” 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, everything is possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want.” 37He came back and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch for one hour? 38Watch and pray so that you do not enter into testing. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39He went away again and prayed, saying the same words. 40When he returned, he found them sleeping again because their eyes were heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41He came a third time and said, “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, the one handing me over has come near.”

Jesus Is Arrested

43Immediately, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived. With him was a crowd carrying swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests, scribes, and elders. 44The one handing Jesus over had given them a signal: “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45As soon as Judas arrived, he went up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46They laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 47One of those standing nearby drew a sword, struck the high priest’s servant, 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 teaching in the temple, and you did not arrest me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” 50Then everyone left him and fled. 51A young man was following him wearing only a linen cloth over his naked body. They seized him, 52but he left the linen cloth behind and fled naked.

Jesus Before the Council

53They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders, and scribes gathered together. 54Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. He sat with the attendants, warming himself by the fire. 55The chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus so they could put him to death, but they could not find any. 56Many were giving false testimony against him, but their testimonies did not agree. 57Some stood up and testified falsely against him, 58saying, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made by hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’” 59But even then their testimony did not agree. 60The high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Do you have no answer? What are these people testifying against you?” 61But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63The high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we need any more witnesses? 64You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as deserving death. 65Some began to spit on him. They covered his face, struck him, and said, “Prophesy!” The attendants also received him with blows.

Peter Denies Jesus

66While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s servant girls came by. 67Seeing Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.” 68But he denied it: “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” He went out into the forecourt, and a rooster crowed. 69When the servant girl saw him there, she began again to tell those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.” 70But he denied it again. After a little while, the people standing there said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, because you are a Galilean.” 71But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!” 72Immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.