Death Plot and Anointing

14 (A)Now (B)the Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes (C)were seeking how to arrest Him covertly and kill Him; for they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise there will be a riot of the people.”

(D)While He was in (E)Bethany at the home of Simon [a]the Leper, He was reclining at the table, and a woman came with an alabaster vial of very (F)expensive perfume of pure [b]nard. She broke the vial and poured the perfume over His head. But there were some indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume could have been sold for over three hundred [c]denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a good deed for Me. For you always have (G)the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; (H)she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. Truly I say to you, (I)wherever the gospel is preached in the entire world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

10 (J)Then Judas Iscariot, (K)who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to [d]betray Him to them. 11 They were delighted when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.

The Last Passover

12 (L)On the first day of [e](M)Unleavened Bread, when [f]the Passover lamb was being (N)sacrificed, His disciples *said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 13 And He *sent two of His disciples and *said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you; follow him; 14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is My (O)guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 15 And he himself will show you a large upstairs room furnished and ready; prepare for us there.” 16 The disciples left and came to the city, and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

17 (P)When it was evening He *came with the twelve. 18 And as they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will [g]betray Me—[h]one who is eating with Me.” 19 They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?” 20 But He said to them, It is one of the twelve, the one who dips bread with Me in the bowl. 21 For the Son of Man is going away just as it is written about Him; but woe to that man [i]by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good [j]for that man if he had not been born.”

The Lord’s Supper

22 (Q)While they were eating, He took some bread, and [k]after a (R)blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” 23 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My (S)blood of the (T)covenant, which is being poured out for many. 25 Truly I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine again, until that day when I drink it, new, in the kingdom of God.”

26 (U)And after singing a [l]hymn, they went out to (V)the Mount of Olives.

27 (W)And Jesus *said to them, “You will all [m]fall away, because it is written: ‘(X)I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised, (Y)I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 29 But Peter said to Him, “Even if they all [n]fall away, yet I will not!” 30 And Jesus *said to him, “Truly I say to you, that [o](Z)this very night, before (AA)a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.” 31 But [p]Peter repeatedly said insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing as well.

Jesus in Gethsemane

32 (AB)They *came to a place named [q]Gethsemane; and He *said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” 33 And He *took with Him Peter, [r]James, and John, and began to be very (AC)distressed and troubled. 34 And He *said to them, (AD)My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and [s]keep watch.” 35 And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began praying that if it were possible, (AE)the hour might [t]pass Him by. 36 And He was saying, (AF)Abba! [u]Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; (AG)yet not what I will, but what You will.” 37 And He *came and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not [v]keep watch for one hour? 38 [w](AH)Keep watching and praying, so that you will not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again He went away and prayed, saying the same [x]words. 40 And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to say in reply to Him. 41 And He *came the third time, and *said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? That is enough. (AI)The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being [y]betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let’s go; behold, the one who is betraying Me is near!”

Betrayal and Arrest

43 (AJ)And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, *came up, [z]accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs who were from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44 Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; arrest Him and lead Him away [aa]under guard.” 45 And after coming, Judas immediately went to Him and *said, “(AK)Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 46 And they laid hands on Him and arrested Him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and [ab]cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a man inciting a revolt? 49 Every day I was with you (AL)within the temple grounds teaching, and you did not arrest Me; but this has taken place so that the Scriptures will be fulfilled.” 50 And [ac]His disciples all left Him and fled.

51 A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they *seized him. 52 But he [ad]pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.

Jesus before His Accusers

53 (AM)They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes *gathered together. 54 And Peter had followed Him at a distance, (AN)right into (AO)the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the [ae]officers and (AP)warming himself at the [af]fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the entire [ag](AQ)Council were trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. 56 For many people were giving false testimony against Him, and so their testimonies were not consistent. 57 And then some stood up and began giving false testimony against Him, saying, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘(AR)I will destroy this [ah]temple that was made by hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.’” 59 And not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. 60 And then the high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not offer any answer for what these men are testifying against You?” 61 (AS)But He kept silent and did not offer any answer. (AT)Again the high priest was questioning Him, and *said to Him, “Are You the [ai]Christ, the Son of [aj]the Blessed One?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see (AU)the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and (AV)coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 (AW)Tearing his clothes, the high priest *said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the (AX)blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him as deserving of death. 65 And some began to (AY)spit on Him, and [ak](AZ)to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists and say to Him, “(BA)Prophesy!” Then the officers took custody of Him [al]and slapped Him in the face.

Peter’s Denials

66 (BB)And while Peter was below in (BC)the courtyard, one of the slave women of the high priest *came, 67 and seeing Peter (BD)warming himself, she looked at him and *said, “You were with Jesus the (BE)Nazarene as well.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he (BF)went out onto the [am]porch.[an] 69 The slave woman saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them!” 70 But again (BG)he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “You really are one of them, (BH)for you are a Galilean as well.” 71 But he began to [ao]curse himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak!” 72 And immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before (BI)a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And [ap]he hurried on and began to weep.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 14:3 I.e., a nickname; the man no doubt was cured
  2. Mark 14:3 An aromatic oil extracted from an East Indian plant
  3. Mark 14:5 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
  4. Mark 14:10 Or hand Him over
  5. Mark 14:12 I.e., Passover week
  6. Mark 14:12 Lit they were sacrificing
  7. Mark 14:18 Or deliver Me over
  8. Mark 14:18 Or the one
  9. Mark 14:21 Or through
  10. Mark 14:21 Lit for him if that man had not
  11. Mark 14:22 Lit having blessed
  12. Mark 14:26 Ps 113-118 were traditionally sung at Passover
  13. Mark 14:27 I.e., have a lapse in faith
  14. Mark 14:29 I.e., have a lapse in faith
  15. Mark 14:30 Lit today, on this night
  16. Mark 14:31 Lit he
  17. Mark 14:32 I.e., oil press
  18. Mark 14:33 Or Jacob
  19. Mark 14:34 Or stay awake
  20. Mark 14:35 Lit pass from Him
  21. Mark 14:36 A translation of Aramaic Abba, prob. added by Mark
  22. Mark 14:37 Or stay awake
  23. Mark 14:38 Or Stay awake and keep praying
  24. Mark 14:39 Lit word
  25. Mark 14:41 Or delivered
  26. Mark 14:43 Lit and with him
  27. Mark 14:44 Lit safely
  28. Mark 14:47 Lit took off
  29. Mark 14:50 Lit they
  30. Mark 14:52 Lit left behind
  31. Mark 14:54 Or servants
  32. Mark 14:54 Lit light
  33. Mark 14:55 Or Sanhedrin
  34. Mark 14:58 Or sanctuary
  35. Mark 14:61 I.e., Messiah
  36. Mark 14:61 A common way for the Jewish leaders to refer to God
  37. Mark 14:65 Or cover over His face
  38. Mark 14:65 Or with blows inflicted by rods
  39. Mark 14:68 Or forecourt, gateway
  40. Mark 14:68 Later mss add and a rooster crowed
  41. Mark 14:71 Lit put himself under a curse
  42. Mark 14:72 Or after thinking of this, he began

The Plot to Kill Jesus(A)

14 Now it was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The high priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus secretly and to have him put to death, because they kept saying, “This must not happen during the festival. Otherwise, there’ll be a riot among the people.”

A Woman Anoints Jesus(B)

While Jesus[a] was in Bethany sitting at the table in the home of Simon the leper, a woman arrived with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Irritated, some who were there asked one another, “Why was the perfume wasted like this? This perfume could have been sold for more than 300 denarii[b] and the money[c] given to the destitute.” So they got extremely angry with her.

But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me, because you’ll always have the destitute with you and can help them whenever you want, but you won’t always have me. She has done what she could. She poured perfume on my body in preparation for my burial. I tell all of you[d] with certainty, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus(C)

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the high priests to betray Jesus[e] to them. 11 After they had listened to him,[f] they were delighted and promised to give him money. So he began to look for a good opportunity to betray him.

The Passover with the Disciples(D)

12 On the first day of the Festival[g] of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’[h] disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover meal?”

13 He sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and you will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him. 14 When he goes into a house,[i] say to its owner that the Teacher asks, ‘Where is my room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 15 Then he will show you a large upstairs room that is furnished and ready. Get everything ready for us there.” 16 So the disciples left and went into the city. They found everything just as Jesus[j] had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

17 When evening came, Jesus[k] arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell all of you[l] with certainty, one of you is going to betray me, one who is eating with me.”

19 They began to be very sad and asked him, one after the other, “Surely I am not the one, am I?”

20 He told them, “It’s one of you Twelve, the one who is dipping his bread into the bowl with me. 21 For the Son of Man is going away, just as it has been written about him, but how terrible it will be for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had never been born.”

The Lord’s Supper(E)

22 While they were eating, Jesus[m] took a loaf of bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and handed it to them, saying, “Take some. This is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 He told them, “This is my blood of the covenant that is being poured out for many people. 25 I tell all of you[n] with certainty, I’ll never again drink the product of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

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

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial(F)

27 Then Jesus told them, “All of you will turn against me, because it is written,

‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered.’[o]

28 However, after I’ve been raised, I’ll go to Galilee ahead of you.”

29 But Peter told him, “Even if everyone else turns against you, I certainly won’t.”

30 Jesus told him, “I tell you[p] with certainty, today, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you’ll deny me three times.”

31 But Peter[q] kept saying emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I’ll never deny you!” And all the others kept saying the same thing.

Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane(G)

32 Then they came to a place called Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, “Sit down here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John along with him, and he began to feel distressed and troubled. 34 So he told them, “I’m deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Wait here and stay awake.”

35 Going on a little farther, he fell to the ground and kept praying that if it were possible the hour might pass from him. 36 He kept repeating, “Abba![r] Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I want but what you want.”

37 When he went back, he found his disciples[s] asleep. “Simon, are you asleep?” he asked Peter. “You couldn’t stay awake for one hour, could you? 38 All of you must stay awake and pray that you won’t be tempted. The spirit is indeed willing, but the body[t] is weak.”

39 He went away again and prayed the same prayer as before.[u] 40 Again he came back and found them asleep, because they could not keep their eyes open. They didn’t even know what they should say to him.

41 He came back a third time. “Are you still sleeping and resting?”[v] he asked. “Enough of that! The time has come. Look! The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up! Let’s go! See, the one who is betraying me is near!”

Jesus is Arrested(H)

43 Just then, while Jesus[w] was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A crowd armed with swords and clubs was with him. They were from the high priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer personally had given them a signal, saying, “The one I kiss[x] is the man. Arrest him, and lead him safely away.” 45 So Judas[y] immediately went up to Jesus[z] and said, “Rabbi,”[aa] and kissed him tenderly.

46 Then the men[ab] took hold of Jesus[ac] and arrested him. 47 But one of those standing there drew his sword and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear. 48 Jesus asked them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a bandit?[ad] 49 Day after day I was with you in the Temple teaching, yet you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then all the disciples[ae] deserted Jesus[af] and ran away.

The Young Man who Ran Away

51 A certain young man, who was wearing nothing but a linen sheet, was following Jesus.[ag] When the men[ah] grabbed him, 52 he left the linen sheet behind and ran away naked.

Jesus is Tried before the High Priest(I)

53 Then they took Jesus to the high priest. All the high priests, elders, and scribes had gathered together. 54 Peter followed Jesus[ai] at a distance as far as the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants and warming himself at the fire. 55 Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council[aj] were looking for some testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death, but they couldn’t find any. 56 Although many people gave false testimony against him, their testimony didn’t agree.

57 Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, 58 “We ourselves heard him say, ‘I will destroy this sanctuary made by human[ak] hands, and in three days I will build another one not made by human[al] hands.’ 59 But even on this point their testimony didn’t agree.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them[am] and asked Jesus, “Don’t you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61 But he kept silent and didn’t answer at all. The high priest asked him again, “Are you the Messiah,[an] the Son of the Blessed One?”

62 Jesus said, “I AM, and

‘you will see the Son of Man
    seated at the right hand of the Power’[ao]
        and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’”[ap]

63 Then the high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we still need witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard his blasphemy! What is your verdict?” All of them condemned him as deserving death.

65 Some of them began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and kept hitting him with their fists and telling him, “Prophesy!” Even the servants took him and slapped him around.

Peter Denies Jesus(J)

66 While Peter was down in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s servant girls came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she glared at him and said, “You, too, were with Jesus from Nazareth.”

68 But he denied it, saying, “I don’t know—or even understand—what you’re talking about!” Then he went out into the entryway. Just then a rooster crowed.[aq]

69 The servant girl saw him and again told those who were standing around, “This man is one of them!” 70 Again he denied it.

After a little while, the people who were standing there began to say to Peter again, “Obviously you’re one of them, because you are a Galilean!”

71 Then he began to invoke a divine curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” 72 Just then a rooster crowed a second time.

Peter remembered that Jesus told him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” Then he broke down and cried.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 14:3 Lit. he
  2. Mark 14:5 A denarius was the average day’s wage for a laborer.
  3. Mark 14:5 The Gk. lacks the money
  4. Mark 14:9 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
  5. Mark 14:10 Lit. him
  6. Mark 14:11 The Gk. lacks to him
  7. Mark 14:12 The Gk. lacks of the Festival
  8. Mark 14:12 Lit. his
  9. Mark 14:14 Lit. Wherever he enters
  10. Mark 14:16 Lit. he
  11. Mark 14:17 Lit. he
  12. Mark 14:18 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
  13. Mark 14:22 Lit. he
  14. Mark 14:25 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
  15. Mark 14:27 Cf. Zech 13:7
  16. Mark 14:30 The Gk. pronoun you is sing.
  17. Mark 14:31 Lit. he
  18. Mark 14:36 Abba is Heb./Aram. for Father
  19. Mark 14:37 Lit. found them
  20. Mark 14:38 Lit. flesh
  21. Mark 14:39 Lit. the same word
  22. Mark 14:41 Or You might as well keep on sleeping and resting.
  23. Mark 14:43 Lit. he
  24. Mark 14:44 People customarily greeted their friends with a kiss.
  25. Mark 14:45 Lit. he
  26. Mark 14:45 Lit. him
  27. Mark 14:45 Other mss. read Rabbi, Rabbi. The word is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher
  28. Mark 14:46 Lit. they
  29. Mark 14:46 Lit. him
  30. Mark 14:48 Or revolutionary
  31. Mark 14:50 Lit. all of them
  32. Mark 14:50 Lit. him
  33. Mark 14:51 Lit. him
  34. Mark 14:51 Lit. they
  35. Mark 14:54 Lit. him
  36. Mark 14:55 Or Sanhedrin
  37. Mark 14:58 The Gk. lacks human
  38. Mark 14:58 The Gk. lacks human
  39. Mark 14:60 Lit. in the middle
  40. Mark 14:61 Or Christ
  41. Mark 14:62 Cf. Ps 110:1
  42. Mark 14:62 Cf. Dan 7:13
  43. Mark 14:68 Other mss. lack Just then a rooster crowed