Mark 14

1It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Bread Without Yeast. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for a sneaky way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.

2But they said: Not during the feast, or the people may riot.

3Jesus was in Bethany, eating at the home of Simon, a man who had once had a skin disease. A woman came with a jar of expensive perfume made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus' head.

4Some of the people there were upset. They said to each other: Why waste this perfume?

5It could have been sold for a large sum of money and given to the poor. And they spoke against the woman.

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

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

8She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body ahead of time, to prepare it for burial.

9I tell you the truth, wherever the good news is preached in all the world, what this woman did will be told, so people will remember her.

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

11They were glad to hear this and promised to give him money. So Judas began looking for a good chance to hand Jesus over.

12On the first day of the Feast of Bread Without Yeast, when the Passover lamb was killed, the disciples asked Jesus: Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover meal for You?

13Jesus sent two of His disciples and said: Go into the city. A man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him.

14When he goes into a house, say to the owner: The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover meal with my disciples?

15He will show you a large upstairs room, set up and ready. Prepare the meal for us there.

16The disciples left, went into the city, and found everything just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover meal.

17When evening came, Jesus arrived with the twelve.

18While they were at the table eating, Jesus said: I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me will hand me over.

19They became sad, and one after another they asked Him: Surely you don't mean me?

20Jesus answered: It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping his bread into the bowl with me.

21The Son of Man will die, just as the Scriptures say. But how terrible it will be for the man who hands over the Son of Man! It would be better for that man if he had never been born.

22While they were eating, Jesus took bread and thanked God for it. He broke it, gave it to them, and said: Take it. This is my body.

23Then he took a cup, thanked God, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

24He said to them: This is my blood, which begins the new agreement. It is poured out for many people.

25I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in God's kingdom.

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

27Jesus told them: You will all turn away from me, because it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.

28But after I rise from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.

29Peter said: Even if everyone else turns away, I will not.

30Jesus answered: I tell you the truth, today — this very night — before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you do not know me.

31But Peter said even more strongly: Even if I have to die with you, I will never say I do not know you. And all the others said the same.

32They went to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to His disciples: Sit here while I pray.

33He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and he began to feel deep trouble and great sorrow.

34He said to them: My heart is so full of sorrow that I feel I could die. Stay here and keep watch.

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

36He said: Abba, Father, everything is possible for You. Take this cup away from me. But do not do what I want; do what You want.

37Then Jesus came back and found the disciples sleeping. He said to Peter: Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?

38Stay awake and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.

39Again Jesus went away and prayed the same thing.

40When Jesus came back, He found them sleeping again, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to Him.

41He came back a third time and said: Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. Look, the Son of Man is about to be handed over to sinners.

42Get up, let us go. Here comes the man who is handing me over.

43Right away, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd carrying swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

44The man who was 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, Judas went straight to Jesus and said: Teacher! And he kissed him.

46Then the men grabbed Jesus and arrested Him.

47One of the people standing nearby pulled out a sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

48Jesus said to them: Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs to arrest me?

49Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not arrest me. But this is happening so that the Scriptures will come true.

50Then everyone left Him and ran away.

51A young man, wearing only a linen cloth, was following Jesus. When they grabbed him,

52he left the cloth behind and ran away naked.

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

54Peter followed at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself by the fire.

55The chief priests and the whole council were looking for evidence against Jesus so they could put Him to death, but they found none.

56Many gave false witness against Him, but their stories did not agree.

57Then some stood up and gave this false witness against Him:

58We heard Him say: I will destroy this temple made by human hands, and in three days I will build another, not made by human hands.

59But even then their stories did not agree.

60Then the high priest stood up in front of them and asked Jesus: Have You no answer? What is this they are saying against You?

61But Jesus stayed 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 side of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.

63The high priest tore his own clothes and said: Why do we need any more witnesses?

64You have heard Him insult God. What do you think? They all said He was guilty and must die.

65Then some of them began to spit on Him. They covered His face, hit Him with their fists, and said: Show us you are a prophet! And the guards beat Him.

66Peter was below in the courtyard. One of the servant girls of the high priest came by.

67When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him and said: You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.

68But Peter denied it. He said: I don't know what you are talking about. Then he went out to the entrance, and a rooster crowed.

69The servant girl saw him there and again said to the people standing around: This man is one of them.

70Again Peter denied it. A little later, those standing nearby said to Peter: Surely you are one of them, because you are from Galilee.

71Then Peter began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them: I do not know this man you are talking about.

72At once the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him: Before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you do not know me. And he broke down and cried.