Mark
Summary
The narrative documents the solemn and tragic events leading to Jesus’s crucifixion: beginning with the plotting of the chief priests and His anointing at Bethany by a woman whose act of devotion Jesus declares will be remembered wherever the Gospel is preached. Jesus shares a final Passover meal with His disciples, where He establishes the Lord’s Supper as a lasting remembrance of His coming sacrifice and predicts His betrayal and the disciples’ flight. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus experiences profound spiritual anguish as He submits His will to the Father’s: while the disciples fail to remain alert in prayer. Following His arrest, He remains steadfast and authoritative throughout His mockery and trials before the high priest and the Jewish council: while Peter’s subsequent denial serves as a poignant contrast to Christ’s courageous and humble resolve.
After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death.
But they said, "Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people."
And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, "Why was this waste of the ointment made?"
"For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor." And they murmured against her.
And Jesus said, "Let her alone; why trouble you her? she has wrought a good work on Me."
"For you have the poor with you always, and whensoever you will you may do them good: but Me you have not always."
"She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial."
"Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will also be told as a memorial to her."
And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests, to betray him to them.
And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, His disciples said to Him, "Where will you that we go and prepare that you may eat the passover?"
And He sends forth two of His disciples, and says to them, "Go you into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him."
"And wheresoever he shall go in, say you to the goodman of the house, The Master says, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with My disciples?"
"And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us."
And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said to them: and they made ready the passover.
And in the evening he comes with the twelve.
Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me."
And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, "Is it I?" and another said, "Is it I?"
And He answered and said to them, "It is one of the twelve, that dips with Me in the dish."
"The Son of man indeed goes, as it is written of Him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born."
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."
Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many."
"Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
And Jesus says to them, "All you shall be offended because of Me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."
"But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee."
But Peter said to Him, "Although all shall be offended, yet will not I."
And Jesus says to him, "Truly I say to you, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, you shall deny Me thrice."
But he spoke the more vehemently, "If I should die with you, I will not deny you in any wise." Likewise also said they all.
And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and He says to His disciples, "Sit you here, while I shall pray."
And he takes with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
And He says to them, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful to death: tarry you here, and watch."
And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."
And He comes, and finds them sleeping, and says to Peter, "Simon, sleepest you? could not you watch one hour?"
"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
And again he went away, and prayed, and spoke the same words.
And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
And He comes the third time, and says to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."
"Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrays Me is at hand."
And immediately, while he yet spoke, comes Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priest and the scribes and the elders.
And he that betrayed Him had given them a token, saying, "Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely."
And as soon as he was come, he goes immediately to Him, and says, "Master, Master;" and kissed Him.
And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
And Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take Me?"
"I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you took Me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled."
And they all forsook him, and fled.
And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,
"We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands."
But neither so did their witness agree together.
And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, "Answered you nothing? what is it which these witness against you?"
But He held His peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, and said to Him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"
Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
Then the high priest rent his clothes, and says, "What need we any further witnesses?"
"You have heard the blasphemy: what think you?" And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say to him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there comes one of the maids of the high priest:
And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, "And you also were with Jesus of Nazareth."
But he denied, saying, "I know not, neither understand I what you say." And he went out into the porch; and the cock crowed.
And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, "This is one of them."
And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely you are one of them: for you are a Galilaean, and your speech agreeth thereto.
But he began to curse and to swear, saying, "I know not this man of whom you speak."
And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said to him, Before the cock crow twice, you will deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.