The Plot to Kill Jesus

14 After(A) two days it was the Passover(B) and the Festival(C) of Unleavened Bread.(D) The chief priests and the scribes(E) were looking for a treacherous(F) way to arrest and kill Him.(G) “Not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be rioting among the people.”

The Anointing at Bethany

While(H) He was in Bethany(I) at the house of Simon who had a serious skin disease,(J) as He was reclining at the table,(K) a woman came with an alabaster jar of pure and expensive fragrant oil of nard. She broke the jar and poured it on His head.(L) But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this fragrant oil been wasted? For this oil might have been sold for more than 300 denarii(M) and given to the poor.”(N) And they began to scold her.

Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing(O) for Me. You always have the poor(P) with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have Me.(Q) She has done what she could; she has anointed My body(R) in advance for burial.(S) I assure you:(T) Wherever the gospel(U) is proclaimed in the whole world,(V) what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

10 Then(W) Judas Iscariot,(X) one of the Twelve,(Y) went to the chief priests(Z) to hand Him over(AA) to them. 11 And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him silver.[a](AB) So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray(AC) Him.

Preparation for Passover

12 On(AD) the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb,(AE) His disciples(AF) asked Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare the Passover so You may eat it?”

13 So He sent two of His disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher(AG) says, “Where is the guest room for Me to eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” 16 So the disciples(AH) went out, entered the city, and found it just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

Betrayal at the Passover

17 When(AI) evening came, He arrived with the Twelve.(AJ) 18 While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “I assure you: One of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me!”

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

20 He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping bread with Me in the bowl. 21 For the Son of Man(AK) will go just as it is written(AL) about Him,(AM) but woe(AN) to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

The First Lord’s Supper

22 As(AO) they were eating, He took bread,(AP) blessed and broke(AQ) it, gave it to them,(AR) and said, “Take it;[b] this is My body.”(AS)

23 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks,(AT) He gave it to them, and so they all drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is My blood that establishes the covenant;[c](AU) it is shed(AV) for many.(AW) 25 I assure you:(AX) I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine(AY) until that day when I drink it in a new(AZ) way[d] in the kingdom of God.”(BA) 26 After singing psalms,[e] they went out to the Mount of Olives.(BB)

Peter’s Denial Predicted

27 Then(BC) Jesus said to them, “All of you will run away,[f][g] because it is written:(BD)

I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep(BE) will be scattered.(BF)[h]

28 But after I have been resurrected,(BG) I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”(BH)

29 Peter(BI) told Him, “Even if everyone runs away, I will certainly not!”

30 “I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times!”(BJ)

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

The Prayer in the Garden

32 Then(BK) they came to a place named Gethsemane, and He told His disciples,(BL) “Sit here while I pray.”(BM) 33 He took Peter,(BN) James,(BO) and John(BP) with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and horrified. 34 Then He said to them, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow[i] —to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.”(BQ) 35 Then He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour(BR) might pass from Him. 36 And He said, Abba,(BS) Father!(BT) All things are possible(BU) for You. Take this cup(BV) away from Me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

37 Then He came and found them sleeping. “Simon,(BW) are you sleeping?” He asked Peter.(BX) “Couldn’t you stay awake one hour? 38 Stay awake and pray(BY) so that you won’t enter into temptation.(BZ) The spirit(CA) is willing, but the flesh(CB) is weak.”

39 Once again He went away and prayed, saying the same thing. 40 And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.[j] They did not know what to say to Him.(CC) 41 Then He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. Look, the Son of Man(CD) is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.(CE) 42 Get up;(CF) let’s go! See—My betrayer is near.”

The Judas Kiss

43 While(CG) He was still speaking, Judas,(CH) one of the Twelve,(CI) suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes,(CJ) and the elders.(CK) 44 His betrayer had given them a signal. “The One I kiss,” he said, “He’s the One; arrest Him and take Him away under guard.” 45 So when he came, he went right up to Him and said, “Rabbi!”(CL)—and kissed Him. 46 Then they took hold of Him and arrested Him. 47 And one of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his ear.

48 But Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as though I were a criminal,[k] to capture Me? 49 Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple complex,(CM) and you didn’t arrest Me. But the Scriptures(CN) must be fulfilled.”(CO) 50 Then they all deserted Him and ran away.(CP)

51 Now a certain young man,[l] having a linen cloth wrapped around his naked body, was following Him. They caught hold of him, 52 but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked.(CQ)

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

53 They(CR) led Jesus away to the high priest,(CS) and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes(CT) convened.(CU) 54 Peter(CV) followed Him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the temple police,[m](CW) warming himself by the fire.[n]

55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin(CX) were looking for testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,(CY) but they could find none. 56 For many were giving false testimony(CZ) against Him, but the testimonies did not agree. 57 Some stood up and were giving false testimony against Him, stating, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will demolish this sanctuary made by human hands,(DA) and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’” 59 Yet their testimony did not agree(DB) even on this.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t You have an answer to what these men are testifying against You?” 61 But He kept silent and did not answer anything.(DC) Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Messiah,(DD) the Son(DE) of the Blessed(DF) One?”

62 “I am,”(DG) said Jesus, “and all of you[o] will see the Son of Man(DH) seated at the right hand(DI) of the Power and coming with the clouds(DJ) of heaven.”(DK)[p]

63 Then the high priest(DL) tore his robes(DM) and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?(DN) 64 You have heard the blasphemy!(DO) What is your decision?”[q]

And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.(DP) 65 Then some began to spit on Him, to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, saying, “Prophesy!”(DQ) The temple police(DR) also took Him and slapped Him.

Peter Denies His Lord

66 While(DS) Peter(DT) was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s servants came. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with that Nazarene,(DU) Jesus.”

68 But he denied it: “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about!” Then he went out to the entryway, and a rooster crowed.[r]

69 When the servant saw him again she began to tell those standing nearby, “This man is one of them!”

70 But again he denied it. After a little while those standing there said to Peter again, “You certainly are one of them, since you’re also a Galilean!”[s](DV)

71 Then he started to curse[t] and to swear with an oath,(DW) “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time,(DX) and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” When he thought about it, he began to weep.[u]

Footnotes

  1. Mark 14:11 Or money; in Mt 26:15 it is specified as 30 pieces of silver; see Zch 11:12-13
  2. Mark 14:22 Other mss add eat;
  3. Mark 14:24 Other mss read the new covenant
  4. Mark 14:25 Or drink new wine; lit drink it new
  5. Mark 14:26 Pss 113–118 were sung during and after the Passover meal.
  6. Mark 14:27 Other mss add because of Me this night
  7. Mark 14:27 Or stumble
  8. Mark 14:27 Zch 13:7
  9. Mark 14:34 Or I am deeply grieved
  10. Mark 14:40 Lit because their eyes were weighed down
  11. Mark 14:48 Lit as against a criminal
  12. Mark 14:51 Perhaps John Mark who later wrote this Gospel
  13. Mark 14:54 Or the officers; lit the servants
  14. Mark 14:54 Lit light
  15. Mark 14:62 Lit and you
  16. Mark 14:62 Ps 110:1; Dn 7:13
  17. Mark 14:64 Lit How does it appear to you?
  18. Mark 14:68 Other mss omit and a rooster crowed
  19. Mark 14:70 Other mss add and your speech shows it
  20. Mark 14:71 To call down curses on himself if what he said weren’t true
  21. Mark 14:72 Or he burst into tears, or he broke down

Jesus Anointed at Bethany(A)(B)(C)

14 Now the Passover(D) and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.(E) “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

While he was in Bethany,(F) reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.(G)

Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you,[b] and you can help them any time you want.(H) But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.(I) Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world,(J) what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve,(K) went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.(L) 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

The Last Supper(M)(N)

12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb,(O) Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs,(P) furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

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

17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me.(Q) 21 The Son of Man(R) will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it(S) and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.(T)

24 “This is my blood of the[c] covenant,(U) which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”(V)

26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.(W)

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial(X)

27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered.’[d](Y)

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

29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice[e] you yourself will disown me three times.”(AA)

31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you,(AB) I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

Gethsemane(AC)

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(AD) along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,”(AE) he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour(AF) might pass from him. 36 “Abba,[f] Father,”(AG) he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup(AH) from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”(AI)

37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.(AJ) The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(AK)

39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour(AL) has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Jesus Arrested(AM)

43 Just as he was speaking, Judas,(AN) one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!”(AO) and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts,(AP) and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”(AQ) 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.(AR)

51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin(AS)(AT)

53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest.(AU) There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.(AV)

55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin(AW) were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another,(AX) not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.(AY)

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”(AZ)

62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”(BA)

63 The high priest tore his clothes.(BB) “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

They all condemned him as worthy of death.(BC) 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.(BD)

Peter Disowns Jesus(BE)

66 While Peter was below in the courtyard,(BF) one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself,(BG) she looked closely at him.

“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,”(BH) she said.

68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,”(BI) he said, and went out into the entryway.[g]

69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it.(BJ)

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”(BK)

71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”(BL)

72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.[h] Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice[i] you will disown me three times.”(BM) And he broke down and wept.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 14:5 Greek than three hundred denarii
  2. Mark 14:7 See Deut. 15:11.
  3. Mark 14:24 Some manuscripts the new
  4. Mark 14:27 Zech. 13:7
  5. Mark 14:30 Some early manuscripts do not have twice.
  6. Mark 14:36 Aramaic for father
  7. Mark 14:68 Some early manuscripts entryway and the rooster crowed
  8. Mark 14:72 Some early manuscripts do not have the second time.
  9. Mark 14:72 Some early manuscripts do not have twice.