Mark 14

A Woman Pours Perfume on Jesus at Bethany

1When the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, the chief priests and the teachers of the law got together to make plans to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2“But we can’t do it during the feast,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

3Jesus was in Bethany, eating dinner in the home of Simon the Leper. A woman came in with an alabaster jar that contained very expensive perfume made out of pure nard. She broke the jar open and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head.

4Some of the people there got angry and said to one another, “Why did she waste that perfume? 5It could have been sold for more than a year’s pay, and the money could have been given to the poor.” And they started angrily telling the woman that she’d done something wrong.

6“Leave her alone,” Jesus told them. “Why are you criticizing her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 7You’ll always have the poor with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you won’t always have me. 8She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body to prepare me for burial. 9Truly I tell you, what she has done will be told wherever the good news is preached all over the world, and she will be remembered.”

10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples, went to the chief priests and offered to hand Jesus over to them. 11They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So he looked for the right time to hand Jesus over to them.

The Last Supper

12On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was time to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover meal for you?”

13He sent out two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and you’ll meet a man carrying a jar of water. Follow him 14when he goes into a house. Say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is my guest room, where can I eat the Passover meal with my disciples?” ’ 15He’ll show you a large room upstairs that’s already set up with furniture. Prepare the meal there for us.”

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

17When evening came, Jesus arrived with the 12 disciples. 18While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you who is eating with me will hand me over to my enemies.”

19They were dismayed. One by one they asked him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

20“It’s one of you,” Jesus replied, “one who has dipped his bread into the same bowl as me. 21The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to the one who hands over the Son of Man! It would have been better for him if he’d never been born.”

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

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

24“This is my blood of the covenant,” he told them, “poured out for many. 25Truly I tell you, I won’t drink wine with you again until the day I drink it in the kingdom of God.”

26Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Says That the Disciples Will Turn Away

27“You’re all going to abandon me,” Jesus told his disciples. “It is written,

“ ‘I will strike down the shepherd,

and the sheep will be scattered.’

28But after I rise from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

29Peter replied, “Even if all the others abandon you, I never will.”

30“Truly I tell you,” Jesus responded, “tonight—before the rooster crows twice—you’ll claim three times that you don’t know me.”

31But Peter insisted, “Even if I have to die with you, I’ll never say that I don’t know you.” And all the others said the same thing.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

32They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus told his disciples, “Sit here while I go pray.” 33He took Peter, James, and John along with him. He became very distressed, and he said to them, 34“My soul is filled with anguish, and I feel like I might die. Stay here and keep watch.”

35He went a little farther, and then he fell to the ground and prayed that, if possible, he wouldn’t have to go through the time that was coming. 36“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Not what I want, though. Do what you want.”

37Then 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? 38Watch and pray so that you won’t fall into sin when you’re tempted. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

39Once more Jesus went away and prayed the same thing. 40When he came back, he found them sleeping once again. They couldn’t keep their eyes open, and they didn’t know what to say to him.

41When Jesus came back a third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. Look! The Son of Man is about to be handed over to sinners. 42Get up! Let’s go! Here comes the one who’s handing me over to them!”

Jesus Is Arrested

43While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, who was one of the 12 disciples, suddenly appeared. He had a group of men with him who were armed with swords and clubs. The chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders had sent them.

44Judas had arranged to hand Jesus over by giving them a signal. “The one I kiss will be the man,” he’d told them. “Arrest him and have the guards lead him away.” 45Judas went right over to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” Then he kissed him. 46The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 47Then one of those who was with Jesus reached for his sword. He pulled it out and slashed at the high priest’s slave with it, cutting off his ear.

48“Am I leading a rebellion against you?” asked Jesus. “Did you have to come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49I was with you every day, teaching in the temple courtyard, and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures must come true.” 50Then all his disciples abandoned him and ran away.

51A young man was following Jesus, wearing just a linen cloth. The men tried to grab him too, 52but he wriggled out of his clothing and ran away naked.

The Sanhedrin Puts Jesus on Trial

53The men took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders, and teachers of the law gathered for his trial. 54Peter followed Jesus from a distance and came as close as the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself by the fire.

55The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin (the council of elders) were looking for evidence against Jesus so they could put him to death. But they didn’t find anything they could use. 56Many witnesses said things about him that weren’t true, and their stories didn’t agree.

57Then some people stood up and gave this false testimony about him: 58“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made by human hands, and in three days I will build another temple that’s not made by human hands.’ ” 59But even their stories didn’t agree.

60Then the high priest stood up in front of everyone and asked Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer? What have you got to say about the charges these men are bringing against you?” 61But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

So the high priest asked him directly, “Are you the Messiah? Are you the Son of the Blessed One?”

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

63The high priest ripped his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64“You’ve heard him claim that he’s God! How does it look to you?”

They all found him guilty and said he had to die. 65Then some began to spit on him. They blindfolded him, hit him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” Then the guards took him and beat him.

Peter Says He Doesn’t Know Jesus

66Peter was still down in the courtyard. One of the high priest’s female servants came by, 67and when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him closely.

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

68But Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he insisted, “it’s nonsense.” Then he went out to the entrance to the courtyard. A rooster crowed.

69The same servant noticed him again there and she said to those who were standing around, “This man is one of them.” 70Peter denied it again.

After a little while, those who were standing nearby said to Peter, “You must be one of them, because you’re from Galilee.”

71“May I be cursed if I’m not telling the truth!” Peter said to them. “I swear that I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

72Right then the rooster crowed for a second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you’ll say three times that you don’t know me.” And he broke down and cried.

Currently Selected:

Mark 14: RAD

Highlight

Copy

Compare

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

Radiate™ New Testament

Learn More About Radiate New Testament

Mark 14

The Plot to Kill Jesus

(Matthew 26:1–5; Luke 22:1–2; John 11:45–57)

1It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings were looking for some underhanded way to arrest Jesus and to kill him. 2However, they said, “We shouldn’t arrest him during the festival, or else there will be a riot among the people.”

A Woman Prepares Jesus’ Body for the Tomb

(Matthew 26:6–13; John 12:1–8)

3Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had suffered from a skin disease. While Jesus was sitting there, a woman went to him. She had a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She opened the bottle and poured the perfume on his head.

4Some who were there were irritated and said to one another, “Why was the perfume wasted like this? 5This perfume could have been sold for a high price, and the money could have been given to the poor.” So they said some very unkind things to her.

6Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 7You will always have the poor with you and can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have me with you. 8She did what she could. She came to pour perfume on my body before it is placed in a tomb. 9I can guarantee this truth: Wherever the Good News is spoken in the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas Plans to Betray Jesus

(Matthew 26:14–16; Luke 22:3–6)

10Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus. 11They were pleased to hear what Judas had to say and promised to give him money. So he kept looking for a chance to betray Jesus.

Preparations for the Passover

(Matthew 26:17–20; Luke 22:7–17)

12Killing the Passover lamb was customary on the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The disciples asked Jesus, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”

13He sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city. You will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him. 14When he goes into a house, tell the owner that the teacher asks, ‘Where is my room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 15He will take you upstairs and show you a large room. The room will be completely furnished. Get everything ready for us there.”

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

17When evening came, Jesus arrived with the twelve apostles.

Jesus Knows Who Will Betray Him

(Matthew 26:21–25; Luke 22:21–23; John 13:21–30)

18While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “I can guarantee this truth: One of you is going to betray me, one who is eating with me!”

19Feeling hurt, they asked him one by one, “You don’t mean me, do you?”

20He said to them, “It’s one of you twelve, someone dipping his hand into the bowl with me. 21The Son of Man is going to die as the Scriptures say he will. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays the Son of Man! It would have been better for that person if he had never been born.”

The Lord’s Supper

(Matthew 26:26–30; Luke 22:19–20)

22While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, “Take this. This is my body.”

23Then he took a cup, spoke a prayer of thanksgiving, and gave the cup to them. They all drank from it. 24He said to them, “This is my blood, the blood of the promise.#14:24 Or “testament,” or “covenant.” It is poured out for many people.

25“I can guarantee this truth: I won’t drink this wine again until that day when I drink new wine in God’s kingdom.”

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

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

(Matthew 26:31–35; Luke 22:31–34; John 13:36–38)

27Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will abandon me. Scripture says,

‘I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheep will be scattered.’

28“But after I am brought back to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.”

29Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else abandons you, I won’t.”

30Jesus said to Peter, “I can guarantee this truth: Tonight, before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”

31But Peter said very strongly, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never say that I don’t know you.” All the other disciples said the same thing.

Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane

(Matthew 26:36–46; Luke 22:39–46)

32Then they came to a place called Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, “Stay here while I pray.”

33He took Peter, James, and John with him and began to feel distressed and anguished. 34He said to them, “My anguish is so great that I feel as if I’m dying. Wait here, and stay awake.”

35After walking a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible he might not have to suffer what was ahead of him. 36He said, “Abba! #14:36 Abba is Aramaic for “father.” Father! You can do anything. Take this cup ⌞of suffering⌟ away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine.”

37He went back and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake for one hour? 38Stay awake, and pray that you won’t be tempted. You want to do what’s right, but you’re weak.”

39He went away again and prayed the same prayer as before. 40He found them asleep because they couldn’t keep their eyes open. They didn’t even know what they should say to him.

41He came back a third time and said to them, “You might as well sleep now. It’s all over. The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. 42Get up! Let’s go! The one who is betraying me is near.”

Jesus Is Arrested

(Matthew 26:47–56; Luke 22:47–54a; John 18:1–14)

43Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, arrived. A crowd carrying swords and clubs was with him. They were from the chief priests, the experts in Moses’ Teachings, and the leaders of the people. 44Now, the traitor had given them a signal. He said, “The one I kiss is the man you want. Arrest him, and guard him closely as you take him away.”

45Then Judas quickly stepped up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.

46Some men took hold of Jesus and arrested him. 47One of those standing there pulled out his sword and cut off the ear of the chief priest’s servant.

48Jesus asked them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a criminal? 49I used to teach in the temple courtyard every day. But you didn’t arrest me then. But what the Scriptures say must come true.”

50Then all the disciples abandoned him and ran away.

51A certain young man was following Jesus. He had nothing on but a linen sheet. They tried to arrest him, 52but he left the linen sheet behind and ran away naked.

The Trial in Front of the Jewish Council

(Matthew 26:57–68; Luke 22:63–71)

53The men took Jesus to the chief priest. All the chief priests, the leaders, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings had gathered together. 54Peter followed him at a distance and went into the chief priest’s courtyard. He sat with the guards and warmed himself facing the glow of a fire.

55The chief priests and the whole Jewish council were searching for some testimony against Jesus in order to execute him. But they couldn’t find any. 56Many gave false testimony against him, but their statements did not agree.

57Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him. They said, 58“We heard him say, ‘I’ll tear down this temple made by humans, and in three days I’ll build another temple, one not made by human hands.’ ” 59But their testimony did not agree even on this point.

60So the chief priest stood up in the center and asked Jesus, “Don’t you have any answer to what these men testify against you?”

61But he was silent.

The chief priest asked him again, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62Jesus answered, “Yes, I am, and you will see the Son of Man in the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne. He will be coming with the clouds of heaven.”

63The chief priest tore his clothes in horror and said, “Why do we need any more witnesses? 64You’ve heard him dishonor God! What’s your verdict?”

All of them condemned him with the death sentence. 65Some of them began to spit on him. They covered his face and hit him with their fists. They said to him, “Prophesy!” Even the guards took him and slapped him.

Peter Denies Jesus

(Matthew 26:69–75; Luke 22:54b–62; John 18:15–18, 25–27)

66Peter was in the courtyard. One of the chief priest’s female servants 67saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him and said, “You, too, were with Jesus from Nazareth!”

68But Peter denied it by saying, “I don’t know him, and I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

He went to the entrance. Then a rooster crowed.#14:68 Some manuscripts and translations omit this sentence.

69The servant saw him. Once again she said to those who were standing around, “This man is one of them!” 70Peter again denied it.

After a little while the men standing there said to Peter again, “It’s obvious you’re one of them. You’re a Galilean!”

71Then Peter began to curse and swear with an oath, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” 72Just then a rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered that Jesus said to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter began to cry very hard.

Learn More About GOD'S WORD