Mark 14-16

1Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.

2“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

3While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.

4Some of those present, however, expressed their indignation to one another: “Why this waste of perfume?

5It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.

6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.

7The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.

8She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial.

9And truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.

11They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

12On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

13So He sent two of His disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him,

14and whichever house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’

15And he will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

16So the disciples left and went into the city, where they found everything as Jesus had described. And they prepared the Passover.

17When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.

18And while they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.”

19They began to be grieved and to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I?”

20He answered, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping his hand into the bowl with Me.

21The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”

23Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

24He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

25Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”

26And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

27Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

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

29Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I never will.”

30“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

31But Peter kept insisting, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the others said the same thing.

32Then they came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus told His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

33He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed.

34Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”

35Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from Him.

36“Abba, Father,” He said, “all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”

37Then Jesus returned and found them sleeping. “Simon, are you asleep?” He asked. “Were you not able to keep watch for one hour?

38Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

39Again He went away and prayed, saying the same thing.

40And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And they did not know what to answer Him.

41When Jesus returned the third time, He said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? That is enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

42Rise, let us go. See, My betrayer is approaching!”

43While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, scribes, and elders.

44Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him and lead Him away securely.”

45Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

46Then the men seized Jesus and arrested Him.

47And one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

48Jesus asked the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw?

49Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me. But this has happened that the Scriptures would be fulfilled.”

50Then everyone deserted Him and fled.

51One young man who had been following Jesus was wearing a linen cloth around his body. They caught hold of him,

52but he pulled free of the linen cloth and ran away naked.

53They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders, and scribes assembled.

54Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the officers and warmed himself by the fire.

55Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they did not find any.

56For many bore false witness against Jesus, but their testimony was inconsistent.

57Then some men stood up and testified falsely against Him:

58“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.’”

59But even their testimony was inconsistent.

60So the high priest stood up before them and questioned Jesus, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”

61But Jesus remained silent and made no reply. Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62“I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

63At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “Why do we need any more witnesses?

64You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?” And they all condemned Him as deserving of death.

65Then some of them began to spit on Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in His face.

66While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the servant girls of the high priest came down

67and saw him warming himself there. She looked at Peter and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.”

68But he denied it. “I do not know or even understand what you are talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, and the rooster crowed.

69There the servant girl saw him and again said to those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”

70But he denied it again. After a little while, those standing nearby said once more to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you too are a Galilean.”

71But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak!”

72And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

1Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.

2So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

3And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things.

4Then Pilate questioned Him again, “Have You no answer? Look how many charges they are bringing against You!”

5But to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply.

6Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing.

7And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.

8So the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to keep his custom.

9“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked.

10For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over.

11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.

12So Pilate asked them again, “What then do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”

13And they shouted back, “Crucify Him!”

14“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”

15And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

16Then the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called the whole company together.

17They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head.

18And they began to salute Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”

19They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.

20After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.

21Now Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.

22They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull.

23There they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it.

24And they crucified Him. They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what each of them would take.

25It was the third hour when they crucified Him.

26And the charge inscribed against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27Along with Jesus, they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left.

29And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,

30come down from the cross and save Yourself!”

31In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself!

32Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.

33From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.

34At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

35When some of those standing nearby heard this, they said, “Behold, He is calling Elijah.”

36And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He put it on a reed and held it up for Jesus to drink, saying, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down.”

37But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.

38And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

39When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

40And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

41These women had followed Jesus and ministered to Him while He was in Galilee, and there were many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.

42Now it was already evening. Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath),

43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.

44Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, so he summoned the centurion to ask if this was so.

45When Pilate had confirmed it with the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.

46So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.

47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where His body was placed.

1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.

2Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.

3They were asking one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb?”

4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, even though it was extremely large.

5When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.

7But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’”

8So the women left the tomb and ran away, trembling and bewildered. And in their fear they did not say a word to anyone.

9Early on the first day of the week, after Jesus had risen, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons.

10She went and told those who had been with Him, who were mourning and weeping.

11And when they heard that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they did not believe it.

12After this, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them as they walked along in the country.

13And they went back and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.

14Later, as they were eating, Jesus appeared to the Eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

18they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”

19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

20And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.