Mark Chapter 14

Fifth Prediction of His Death

14^:1 The Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread was two days away. The chief priests and scribes were trying to find a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and put him to death. ² They said, “Not during the festival; the people will riot.”

Mk 14:1-2

The Anointing of Jesus by Mary

            ³ When he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster cruise of expensive pure nard ointment. She broke open the alabaster cruise and poured it on his head. ⁴ Some were expressing their indignation to one another, “Why has she wasted this ointment? ⁵ She could’ve sold it for over 300 denarii and given it to the poor.” They started fussing at her.

⁶ Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She’s done me a good turn. ⁷ You always have poor people around; you can do something good for them any time. You won’t always have^p me. ⁸ She did what she could: she anointed my body ahead of time for burial. ⁹ Wherever you deliver the good news in the world, tell what she’s done in memory of her.”             Mk 14:3-9        

Judas’ Plot to Betray Jesus

¹⁰ Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the high priests to deliver Jesus to them. ¹¹ When they heard his offer, they were elated and promised to give him silver; so he started looking for a chance to turn him over.         

Mk 14:10-11

Preparation for the Passover Meal

            ¹² On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, his disciples said, “Where do you want us to get things ready for eating the Passover?” ¹³ He sent^p two disciples, “On the way into the city, you’ll meet a man carrying a clay pot of water. Follow him, ¹⁴ and where he goes in, say to the owner, ‘The Rabbi says, “Where’s the guest room so I can eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ ¹⁵ He’ll show you a big room upstairs, furnished and set up. Get things ready there.”

¹⁶ The disciples went into the city and found it like Jesus had said and got things ready.      

Mk 14:12-16

The Passover Meal;

Judas Identified as Traitor

            ¹⁷ He arrived^p that evening with the Twelve. ¹⁸ As they were reclining at table eating, he said^p, “One of you that’s eating with me is going to betray me.”

            ¹⁹ They became sad and said one by one, “It’s not me, is it?”

²⁰ He said, “It’s one of the Twelve that’s dipping with me in the bowl. ²¹ The Son of Man will go like scripture says, but woe to the one that betrays him! It would’ve been better for him if he hadn’t been born.”                          

Mk 14:17-21

The Lord’s Supper Instituted

            ²² During the meal Jesus took a loaf, blessed it, broke it, and handed it to them: “Take it; this is my body.” ²³ He took a cup, blessed it, handed it to them, and they all drank out of it. ²⁴ He said, “This is my blood of the covenant that’s shed for many. ²⁵ This is the last time I’ll drink the fruit of the vine till I do it in God’s kingdom.”

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

Mk 14:22-26

The Disciples Warned

            ²⁷ Jesus told^p them, “You’re all going to desert me because scripture says,

‘I’ll strike down the shepherd,

                                    and his sheep will scatter’ [Zech 13:7].

²⁸ But after I resurrect, I’ll go ahead of you to Galilee.”

            ²⁹ Peter said, “Even if everybody else deserts you, I won’t.”

            ³⁰ Jesus said^p, “I tell you, before a rooster double-crows in the morning, you’re going to deny me three times.”

            ³¹ He kept insisting, “Even if I have to die with you, I won’t deny you.”

That’s what they all said.                                                                                     

Mk 14:27-31

The Agony in the Garden

³² They came^p to a place named Gethsemane, and he told^p his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ He took^p Peter, James, and John, and began to feel stress and dread. ³⁴ “I’m really stressed. Stay here and keep watch.” ³⁵ He went on a little way and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if possible, the time would pass him by. ³⁶ “Abba (Father), you can do anything. Take this cup away from me. But not what I want, but what you want.” ³⁷ He came^p and found^p them sleeping and said^p to Simon, “You’re^sg sleeping? Couldn’t you^sg watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch^pl and pray so you^pl won’t be tempted. The spirit’s willing but the flesh is weak.” ³⁹ He went again and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰ When he came back, he found them sleeping; they couldn’t keep their eyes open. They didn’t know what to say. ⁴¹ He came^p the third time, “You’re still sleeping and resting? The time has come. The Son of Man is being betrayed to sinners. ⁴² Get up; let’s go! The one that’s betraying me is coming.”           

Mk 14:32-42

The Arrest of Jesus

            ⁴³ While he was still talking, Judas came^p with a crowd from the chief priests, scribes, and elders, carrying^pl swords and clubs. ⁴⁴ The traitor had given them a signal, “The one I kiss is him. Arrest him and take him away safely.” ⁴⁵ He came right up to Jesus and said^p, “Rabbi,” and kissed him. ⁴⁶ They grabbed Jesus and arrested him. ⁴⁷ One of those standing by drew his sword and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his ear. ⁴⁸ Jesus responded to them, “You’ve come out here with swords and clubs to arrest me like an insurgent? ⁴⁹ I was with you every day in the Temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. But this is happening to fulfill the scriptures.” ⁵⁰ The disciples ran away. ⁵¹ A young man was following him with a linen sheet around his naked body. They grabbed at him, ⁵² but he left the sheet behind and fled naked.

⁵³ They took Jesus to the high priest. The chief priests, elders, and scribes convened^p. ⁵⁴ Peter followed him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard and sat down with the officers to warm himself at the fire.                            

Mk 14:43-54

The Trial Before Caiaphas

            ⁵⁵ The chief priest and the full Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus so they could put him to death, but they couldn’t find any. ⁵⁶ A number of people gave false testimony against him, but their testimonies didn’t agree with each other. ⁵⁷ Some got up and gave false testimony, ⁵⁸ “We heard him say he’d tear down this sanctuary made with hands and build another one in three days without hands.” ⁵⁹ Their testimonies didn’t agree even on that point.

            ⁶⁰ The high priest stood up and asked Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer anything these men are testifying against you?”

⁶¹ He didn’t answer.

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

⁶² “I am;

‘You’ll see the Son of Man

                        sitting on the right hand of Power and

                        coming with the clouds’” [Ps 110:1; Dan 7:14].

⁶³ The high priest tore his clothes, “Why do we still need witnesses? ⁶⁴ You’ve heard the blasphemy. What’s your verdict?”

They ruled for the death penalty.

⁶⁵ Some started spitting on him, blindfolding and slapping him, “Say who did that!” The officers took him, slapping him.         

Mk 14:55-65

Peter’s Denials

⁶⁶ Peter was down below in the courtyard. A servant girl of the high priest came. ⁶⁷ When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him closely, “You were with the Nazarene, Jesus.”

⁶⁸ But he denied it, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” and he went out to the entryway.

⁶⁹ The servant girl saw him again and started telling the ones standing around, “This is one of them.”

⁷⁰ He denied it again.

A little later the ones standing around said, “You really are one of them; you’re a Galilean.”

⁷¹ He started taking oaths and swearing, “I don’t know the man you’re talking about.” ⁷² Immediately a rooster double-crowed, and Peter remembered: “Before a rooster double-crows, you’ll deny me three times.” He broke down sobbing.      

Mk 14:66-72