Mark 14:27-42

New Testament for Everyone

²⁷ “You’re all going to desert me,” said Jesus, “because it’s written,

²⁸ “But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

²⁹ Peter spoke up.

“Everyone else may desert you,” he said, “but I won’t.”

³⁰ “I’m telling you the truth,” Jesus replied. “Today—this very night, before the cock has crowed twice—you will renounce me three times.”

³¹ This made Peter all the more vehement. “Even if I have to die with you,” he said, “I will never renounce you.”

And all the rest said the same.

³² They came to a place called Gethsemane.

“Stay here,” said Jesus to the disciples, “while I pray.”

³³ He took Peter, James and John with him, and became quite overcome and deeply distressed.

³⁴ “My soul is disturbed within me,” he said, “right to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”

³⁵ He went a little further, and fell on the ground and prayed that, if possible, the moment might pass from him.

³⁶ “Abba, Father,” he said, “all things are possible for you! Take this cup away from me! But—not what I want, but what you want.”

³⁷ He returned and found them sleeping. “Are you asleep, Simon?” he said to Peter. “Couldn’t you keep watch for a single hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray, so that you won’t come into the time of trouble. The spirit is eager, but the body is weak.”

³⁹ Once more he went off and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰ And again, when he returned, he found them asleep, because their eyes were very heavy. They had no words to answer him. ⁴¹ But the third time he came, he said to them, “All right—sleep as much as you like now. Have a good rest. The job is done, the time has come—and look! The son of man is betrayed into the clutches of sinners. ⁴² Get up, let’s be on our way. Here comes the man who’s going to betray me.”