Mark 14:1-42

1It was now two days before the Passover and [the festival of] Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes were searching for a deceitful way to arrest Jesus and kill Him;

2but they were saying, “Not during the festival, for the people might riot.”

3While He was in Bethany [as a guest] at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster vial of very costly and precious perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured the perfume over His head.

4But there were some who were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted?

5For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii [a laborer’s wages for almost a year], and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.

6But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why are you bothering her and causing trouble? She has done a good and beautiful thing to Me.

7For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do something good to them; but you will not always have Me.

8She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.

9I assure you and most solemnly say to you, wherever the good news [regarding salvation] is proclaimed throughout the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

10Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve [disciples], went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.

11When they heard this they were delighted, and promised to give him money. And he began looking for an opportune time to betray Jesus.

12On the first day [of the festival] of Unleavened Bread, when [as was customary] they sacrificed the Passover lamb, His disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

13And He sent two of His disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him;

14and say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’

15He will show you a large upstairs room, furnished and ready [with carpets and dining couches]; prepare [the supper] for us there.”

16The disciples left and went to the city and found everything just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

17When it was evening, He came with the twelve [disciples].

18While they were reclining at the table, Jesus said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you that one of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me.”

19They began to be grieved and deeply distressed and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?”

20And He replied, “It is one of the twelve [disciples], one who is dipping bread in the bowl with Me.

21For the Son of Man goes [to the cross] just as it is written [in Scripture] of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

22While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it [giving thanks and praise], and He broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take it. This is My body.”

23And when He had taken a cup [of wine] and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

24And He said to them, “This is My blood of the [new] covenant, [My blood] which is being poured out for many [for the forgiveness of sins].

25I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

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

27Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away [and be ashamed and be afraid to be associated with Me as disciples], because it is written, ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

28But after I have been raised [from the dead], I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

29But Peter said to Him, “Even if they all fall away [and desert You, ashamed and afraid of being associated with You], yet I will not [do so]!”

30Jesus said to him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you will deny [that you even know] Me three times.”

31But Peter kept saying insistently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing as well.

32Then they went to a place called Gethsemane; and Jesus said to His disciples, “Sit down here until I have prayed.”

33He took Peter and James and John with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled [extremely anguished at the prospect of what was to come].

34And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved and overwhelmed with sorrow, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.”

35After going a little farther, He fell to the ground [distressed by the weight of His spiritual burden] and began to pray that if it were possible [in the Father’s will], the hour [of suffering and death for the sins of mankind] might pass from Him.

36He was saying, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for You; take this cup [of judgment] away from Me; but not what I will, but what You will.”

37And He came back and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Were you unable to keep watch for one hour?

38Keep [actively] watching and praying so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

39He went away again and prayed, saying the same words.

40And again He came back and found them sleeping, because their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know how to answer Him.

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

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