Mark 14:1-42

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

2“Not during the festival,” they said, “so that there won’t be a riot among the people.”

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

4But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this perfume been wasted?

5For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they began to scold her.

6Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing for me.

7You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me.

8She has done what she could; she has anointed my body in advance for burial.

9Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole 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.

11And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.

12On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover so that you may eat it?”

13So he sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him.

14Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’

15He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.”

16So the disciples went out, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

17When evening came, he arrived with the Twelve.

18While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me — one who is eating with me.”

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

20He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve — the one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me.

21For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.”

22As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.”

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

24He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, 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 new in the kingdom of God.”

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

27Then 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.

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

29Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away, I will not.”

30“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

31But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And they all said the same thing.

32Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

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

34He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.”

35He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

36And he said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”

37Then he came and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake one hour?

38Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

39Once again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing.

40And again he came and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to him.

41Then he came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. See, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

42Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”