Mark 14-15

New Life Version

They Look for a Way to Put Jesus to Death ^(A)

14 It was now two days before the supper of the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt and the supper of bread without yeast. The religious leaders and the teachers of the Law tried to trap Jesus. They tried to take Him so they could put Him to death. ² These men said, “This must not happen on the day of the special supper. The people would be against it and make much trouble.”

Mary of Bethany Puts Special Perfume on Jesus ^(B)

³ Jesus was in the town of Bethany eating in the house of Simon. Simon was a man with a very bad skin disease. A woman came with a jar of special perfume. She had given much money for this. She broke the jar and poured the special perfume on the head of Jesus. ⁴ Some of them were angry. They said, “Why was this special perfume wasted? ⁵ This perfume could have been sold for much money and given to poor people.” They spoke against her.

⁶ Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why are you giving her trouble? She has done a good thing to Me. ⁷ You will have poor people with you all the time. Whenever you want, you can do something good for them. You will not have Me all the time. ⁸ She did what she could. She put this perfume on My body to make Me ready for the grave. ⁹ For sure, I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in all the world, this woman will be remembered for what she has done.”

Judas Hands Jesus Over to Be Killed ^(C)

¹⁰ Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve followers. He went to the head religious leaders of the Jews to talk about how he might hand Jesus over to them. ¹¹ When the leaders heard it, they were glad. They promised to give Judas money. Then he looked for a way to hand Jesus over.

Getting Ready for the Special Supper ^(D)

¹² The first day of the supper of bread without yeast was the day to kill an animal. It was for the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. His followers said to Jesus, “What place do You want us to make ready for You to eat this special supper?” ¹³ Jesus sent two of His followers on ahead and said to them, “Go into the city. There a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. ¹⁴ He will go into a house. You say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is the room you keep for friends, where I can eat this special supper with My followers?”’ ¹⁵ He will take you to a large room on the second floor with everything in it. Make it ready for us.”

¹⁶ The followers went from there and came into the city. They found everything as Jesus had said. They made things ready for the special supper.

¹⁷ In the evening He came with the twelve followers. ¹⁸ They sat at the table and ate. Jesus said, “For sure, I tell you, one of you will hand Me over to be killed. He is eating with Me.” ¹⁹ They were very sad. They said to Him one after the other, “Is it I?” ²⁰ He said to them, “It is one of the twelve followers. It is the one who is putting his hand with mine into the same dish. ²¹ The Son of Man is going away as it is written of Him. But it will be bad for that man who hands the Son of Man over to be killed! It would have been better if he had not been born!”

The First Lord’s Supper ^(E)

²² As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread. He gave thanks and broke it in pieces. He gave it to them and said, “Take, eat, this is My body.” ²³ Then He took the cup and gave thanks. He gave it to them and they all drank from it. ²⁴ He said to them, “This is My blood of the New Way of Worship which is given for many. ²⁵ For sure, I tell you, that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the holy nation of God.” ²⁶ After they sang a song, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Tells How Peter Will Lie about Him ^(F)

²⁷ Jesus said to them, “All of you will be ashamed of Me and leave Me tonight. For it is written, ‘I will kill the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will spread everywhere.’ ^{(G) 28} After I am raised from the dead, I will go before you into the country of Galilee.” ²⁹ Peter said to Him, “Even if all men are ashamed of You and leave You, I never will.” ³⁰ Jesus said to him, “For sure, I tell you, that today, even tonight, before a rooster crows two times, you will say three times you do not know Me.” ³¹ Peter spoke with strong words, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never say that I do not know You.” All the followers said the same thing.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane ^(H)

³² They came to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to His followers, “You sit here while I pray.” ³³ He took Peter and James and John with Him. He began to have much sorrow and a heavy heart. ³⁴ He said to them, “My soul is very sad. My soul is so full of sorrow I am ready to die. You stay here and watch.” ³⁵ He went a little farther and got down with His face on the ground. He prayed that this time of suffering might pass from Him if it could. ³⁶ He said, “Father, You can do all things. Take away what must happen to Me. Even so, not what I want, but what You want.”

³⁷ Then Jesus came to the followers and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not able to watch one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray so that you will not be tempted. Man’s spirit wants to do this, but the body does not have the power to do it.”

³⁹ Again Jesus went away and prayed saying the same words. ⁴⁰ He came back and found them sleeping again. Their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to Him. ⁴¹ He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! Listen, the time has come when the Son of Man will be handed over to sinners. ⁴² Get up and let us go. See! The man who will hand Me over to the head religious leader is near.”

Jesus Handed Over to Sinners ^(I)

⁴³ At once, while Jesus was talking, Judas came. He was one of the twelve followers. He came with many other men who had swords and sticks. They came from the head religious leaders of the Jews and the teachers of the Law and the leaders of the people. ⁴⁴ The man who was going to hand Jesus over gave the men something to look for. He said, “The Man I kiss is the One. Take hold of Him and take Him away.”

⁴⁵ At once Judas went straight to Jesus and said, “Teacher!” and kissed Him. ⁴⁶ Then they put their hands on Him and took Him.

⁴⁷ One of the followers of Jesus who stood watching took his sword. He hit the servant owned by the head religious leader and cut off his ear. ⁴⁸ Jesus said to them, “Have you come with swords and sticks to take Me as if I were a robber? ⁴⁹ I have been with you every day teaching in the house of God. You never took hold of Me. But this has happened as the Holy Writings said it would happen.” ⁵⁰ Then all His followers left Him and ran away.

⁵¹ A young man was following Him with only a piece of cloth around his body. They put their hands on the young man. ⁵² Leaving the cloth behind, he ran away with no clothes on.

Jesus Stands in Front of the Head Religious Leaders ^(J)

⁵³ They led Jesus away to the head religious leader. All the religious leaders and other leaders and the teachers of the Law were gathered there. ⁵⁴ But Peter followed a long way behind as they went to the house of the head religious leader. He sat with the helpers and got warm by the fire.

Jesus Stands in Front of the Court ^(K)

⁵⁵ The religious leaders and all the court were looking for something against Jesus. They wanted to find something so they could kill Him. But they could find nothing. ⁵⁶ Many came and told false things about Him, but their words did not agree. ⁵⁷ Some got up and said false things against Him. They said, ⁵⁸ “We have heard Him say, ‘I will destroy the house of God that was made with hands. In three days I will build another that is not made with hands.’” ⁵⁹ Even these who spoke against Him were not able to agree.

⁶⁰ The head religious leader stood up in front of the people. He asked Jesus, “Have You nothing to say? What about the things these men are saying against You?” ⁶¹ Jesus said nothing. Again the head religious leader asked Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Holy One?” ⁶² Jesus said, “I am! And you will see the Son of Man seated on the right side of the All-powerful God. You will see Him coming again in the clouds of the sky.”

⁶³ Then the head religious leader tore his clothes apart. He said, “Do we need other people to speak against Him? ⁶⁴ You have heard Him speak as if He were God! What do you think?” They all said He was guilty of death. ⁶⁵ Some began to spit on Him. They covered Jesus’ face, and they hit Him. They said, “Tell us what is going to happen.” Soldiers hit Him with their hands.

Peter Said He Did Not Know Jesus ^(L)

⁶⁶ Peter was outside in the yard. One of the servant-girls of the head religious leader came. ⁶⁷ She saw Peter getting warm. She looked at him and said, “You were with Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁶⁸ Peter lied, saying, “I do not know Jesus and do not understand what you are talking about.” As he went out, a rooster crowed.

⁶⁹ The servant-girl saw him again. She said to the people standing around, “This man is one of them.” ⁷⁰ He lied again saying that he did not know Jesus. Later, those who stood around said to Peter again, “For sure you are one of them. You are from the country of Galilee. You talk like they do.” ⁷¹ He began to say strong words and to swear. He said, “I do not know the Man you are talking about!”

⁷² At once a rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him, “Before a rooster crows two times, you will say three times you do not know Me.” When he thought about it, he cried.

Jesus Before Pilate ^(M)

15 Early in the morning the head religious leaders of the Jews and other leaders and the teachers of the Law and all the court gathered together to talk about Jesus. Then they tied up Jesus and led Him away. They handed Him over to Pilate. ² Pilate asked Jesus, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He said to Pilate, “What you say is true.”

³ The religious leaders spoke many things against Him. Jesus did not say a word. ⁴ Pilate asked Him again, “Have You nothing to say? Listen to the things they are saying against You!” ⁵ Jesus did not say a word. Pilate was much surprised and wondered about it.

Jesus or Barabbas Is to Go Free ^(N)

⁶ Each year at the special supper Pilate would let one person who was in prison go free. It would be the one the people asked for. ⁷ The name of one of those in prison was Barabbas. He, together with others, had killed people while working against the leaders of the country. ⁸ All the people went to Pilate and asked him to do as he had done before. ⁹ Pilate said, “Do you want me to let the King of the Jews go free?” ¹⁰ He knew the religious leaders had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous. ¹¹ The religious leaders talked the people into thinking that Pilate should let Barabbas go free. ¹² Pilate said to them again, “What do you want me to do with the Man you call the King of the Jews?” ¹³ They spoke with loud voices again, “Nail Him to a cross.” ¹⁴ Then Pilate said to them, “Why? What bad thing has He done?” They spoke with loud voices all the more, “Nail Him to a cross!”

The Crown of Thorns ^(O)

¹⁵ Pilate wanted to please the people. He gave Barabbas to them and had Jesus beaten. Then he handed Him over to be nailed to a cross. ¹⁶ The soldiers led Jesus away to a large room in the court. They called all the soldiers together. ¹⁷ The soldiers put a purple coat on Him. They put a crown of thorns on His head, ¹⁸ and said to Him, “Hello, King of the Jews!” ¹⁹ They hit Him on the head with a stick and spit on Him. They got down on their knees and worshiped Him. ²⁰ After they had made fun of Him, they took the purple coat off of Him and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to be nailed to a cross.

²¹ They came to a man called Simon who was coming from the country of Cyrene. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. They made Simon carry the cross of Jesus.

Jesus on the Cross ^(P)

²² They led Jesus to a place called Golgotha. This name means the place of the skull. ²³ They gave Him wine with something in it to take away the pain, but He would not drink it. ²⁴ When they had nailed Jesus to the cross, they divided His clothes by drawing names to see what each man should take. ²⁵ It was about nine o’clock in the morning when they nailed Him to the cross. ²⁶ Over Jesus’ head they put in writing what they had against Him, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

The Two Robbers ^(Q)

²⁷ They nailed two robbers on crosses beside Jesus. One was on His right side and the other was on His left side. ²⁸ *It happened as the Holy Writings said it would happen, “They thought of Him as One Who broke the Law.” ^(R)

²⁹ Those who walked by shook their heads and laughed at Jesus. They said, “You were the One Who could destroy the house of God and build it again in three days. ³⁰ Save Yourself and come down from the cross.” ³¹ The head religious leaders and the teachers of the Law made fun of Him also. They said to each other, “He saved others but He cannot save Himself. ³² Let Christ, the King of the Jews, come down from the cross. We want to see it and then we will believe.” Those who were on the crosses beside Jesus spoke bad things to Him.

The Death of Jesus ^(S)

³³ From noon until three o’clock it was dark over all the land. ³⁴ At three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “My God, My God, why have You left Me alone?”

³⁵ When some of those who stood by heard that, they said, “Listen! He is calling for Elijah.” ³⁶ One of them ran and took a sponge and filled it with sour wine. He put it on a stick and gave it to Him to drink. He said, “Let Him alone. Let us see if Elijah will come and take Him down.”

The Powerful Works at the Time of His Death ^(T)

³⁷ Then Jesus gave a loud cry. He gave up His spirit and died. ³⁸ The curtain in the house of God was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹ The captain of the soldiers was looking at Jesus when He cried out. He saw Him die and said, “For sure, this Man was the Son of God.”

The Women at the Cross ^(U)

⁴⁰ Women were looking on from far away. Among them was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome. ⁴¹ These cared for Him when He was in the country of Galilee. There were many other women there who had followed Him to Jerusalem.

The Grave of Jesus ^(V)

⁴² It was the day to get ready for the Day of Rest and it was now evening. ⁴³ Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was an important man in the court. He was looking for the holy nation of God. Without being afraid, he went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴ Pilate was surprised and wondered if Jesus was dead so soon. He called the captain of the soldiers and asked if Jesus was already dead.

⁴⁵ After the captain said that Jesus was dead, Pilate let Joseph take the body. ⁴⁶ Joseph took the body of Jesus down from the cross. He put the linen cloth he had bought around the body. Then he laid the body in a grave which had been cut out in the side of a rock. He pushed a stone over to cover the door of the grave. ⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where He was laid.