Mark 14:1-42

1Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread1 were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him. 2“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

3While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper,2 a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.

4Some of those present, however, expressed their indignation to one another: “Why this waste of perfume? 5It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii3 and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.

6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful deed to Me. 7The poor you will always have with you,4 and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me. 8She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial. 9And truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached in all the 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. 11They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money.

So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

12On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,5 when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

13So He sent two of His disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him, 14and whichever house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ 15And he will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

16So the disciples left and went into the city, where they found everything as Jesus had described. And they prepared the Passover.

17When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18And while they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.”

19They began to be grieved and to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I?”

20He answered, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping his hand6 into the bowl with Me. 21The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”

23Then He took the 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,7 which is poured out for many. 25Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”

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

27Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away,8 for it is written:

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

29Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I never will.”

30“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

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

32Then they came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus told His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

33He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed. 34Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”

35Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from Him. 36“Abba, Father,” He said, “all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”

37Then Jesus returned and found them sleeping. “Simon, are you asleep?” He asked. “Were you not able to keep watch for one hour? 38Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

39Again He went away and prayed, saying the same thing. 40And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And they did not know what to answer Him.

41When Jesus returned the third time, He said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? That is enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42Rise, let us go. See, My betrayer is approaching!”