Mark 14

The Plot to Kill Jesus

1 It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and scribes were looking for a slick way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.

2 But they said, “Not during the festival, or the people might riot.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

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

4 Some people there were upset, saying to each other, “Why waste perfume like that,

5 That could have been sold for a lot and given to the poor.” And they were coming at her hard.

6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her, She did something good for Me.

7 You will always have the poor with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.

8 She did what she could, she poured perfume on My body ahead of time, preparing Me for burial.

9 I am telling you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what she did will be told in memory of her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

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

11 When they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. From that point on, he started looking for the right time to hand Him over.

The Last Supper

12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, His disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to go prepare the Passover meal for You?”

13 He sent two of His disciples, telling them, “Go into the city. A man carrying a jar of water will meet you, follow him.

14 Wherever he goes in, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher says, where is My guest room where I can eat the Passover with My disciples,’

15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Prepare it there.”

16 The disciples went into the city, found everything just like He told them, and prepared the Passover.

17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the twelve.

18 While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “I am telling you the truth, one of you eating with Me will betray Me.”

19 They were deeply troubled, and one by one they started saying to Him, “Surely not me,”

20 He said, “It is one of the twelve, the one dipping bread into the bowl with Me.

21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but it will be terrible for the one who betrays Him. It would have been better for that man if he had never been born.”

22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “Take it, this is My body.”

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

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

25 I am telling you the truth, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine again until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

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

27 Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away, because it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

28 But after I rise, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

29 Peter said, “Even if everyone else falls away, I will not.”

30 Jesus told him, “I am telling you the truth, today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

31 But Peter kept saying, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And they all said the same thing.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

33 He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled.

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

35 He went a little further, fell to the ground, and prayed that if possible, the hour might pass from Him.

36 He said, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”

37 He came back and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep, Could you not stay awake for one hour,

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

39 Again He went away and prayed the same thing.

40 When He came back, He found them sleeping again, their eyes were heavy, and they did not know what to say to Him.

41 He came back a third time and said, “You still sleeping and resting, That is enough. The hour has come. The Son of Man is being handed over into the hands of sinners.

42 Get up, let us go. The one betraying Me is here.”

Jesus Is Arrested

43 Right then, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, showed up. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, scribes, and elders.

44 The betrayer had arranged a signal: “The one I kiss is the man, arrest Him and take Him away under guard.”

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

46 Then they grabbed Jesus and arrested Him.

47 One of those standing there drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

48 Jesus said to them, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me,

49 Every day I was with you teaching in the temple, and you did not arrest Me. But this is happening so the Scriptures can be fulfilled.”

50 Then everyone left Him and ran.

51 A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They grabbed him,

52 but he ran away naked, leaving the cloth behind.

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

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

54 Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. He sat with the guards, warming himself by the fire.

55 The chief priests and the whole council were trying to find testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could not find any.

56 Many gave false testimony against Him, but their stories did not match.

57 Some stood up and said,

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

59 But even then, their testimony did not line up.

60 The high priest stood up in the middle and asked Jesus, “Are You not going to answer, What are these men testifying against You?”

61 But Jesus stayed silent and said nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62 Jesus 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.”

63 The high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we need more witnesses,

64 You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think,” They all condemned Him as deserving death.

65 Then some started spitting on Him, blindfolding Him, beating Him, and saying, “Prophesy!” And the guards took Him and beat Him.

Peter Denies Jesus

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

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

68 But he denied it, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” Then he went out to the entryway, and the rooster crowed.

69 The servant girl saw him again and started telling those standing there, “This is one of them.”

70 But again he denied it. A little later, those standing there said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, you are a Galilean.”

71 He started calling down curses and swearing, “I do not know this man you are talking about.”

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