The Gospel According to St. Mark

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- Chapter 14 -

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

Now the feast of Passover and of Unleavened Bread was two days away. And the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, were seeking a means by which they might deceitfully seize him and kill him.(a)

But they said, “Not on the feast day, lest perhaps there may be a tumult among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

(Matthew 26:6–13; Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8)

And when he was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, and was reclining to eat, a woman arrived having an alabaster container of ointment, of precious spikenard. And breaking open the alabaster container, she poured it over his head.

But there were some who became indignant within themselves and who were saying: “What is the reason for this waste of the ointment?

For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and been given to the poor.” And they murmured against her.

But Jesus said: “Permit her. What is the reason that you trouble her? She has done a good deed for me.

For the poor, you have with you always. And whenever you wish, you are able to do good to them. But you do not have me always.

But she has done what she could. She has arrived in advance to anoint my body for burial.

Amen I say to you, wherever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the entire world, the things she has done also shall be told, in memory of her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

(Matthew 26:14–16; Luke 22:3–6)

And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went away, to the leaders of the priests, in order to betray him to them.

And they, upon hearing it, were gladdened. And they promised him that they would give him money. And he sought an opportune means by which he might betray him.

Preparing the Passover

(Matthew 26:17–19; Luke 22:7–13)

And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they immolate the Passover, the disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?”

And he sent two of his disciples, and he said to them: “Go into the city. And you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water; follow him.

And wherever he will have entered, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says: Where is my dining room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’

And he will show you a large cenacle, fully furnished. And there, you shall prepare it for us.”

And his disciples departed and went into the city. And they found it just as he had told them. And they prepared the Passover.

The Last Supper

(Matthew 26:20–30; Luke 22:14–23; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)

Then, when evening came, he arrived with the twelve.

And while reclining and eating with them at table, Jesus said, “Amen I say to you, that one of you, who eats with me, will betray me.”

But they began to be sorrowful and to say to him, one at a time: “Is it I?”

And he said to them: “It is one of the twelve, who dips his hand with me in the dish.

And indeed, the Son of man goes, just as it has been written of him. But woe to that man by whom the Son of man will be betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”(b)

And while eating with them, Jesus took bread. And blessing it, he broke it and gave it to them, and he said: “Take. This is my body.”

And having taken the chalice, giving 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 shall be shed for many.

Amen I say to you, that I will no longer drink from this fruit of the vine, until that day when I will drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

And having sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

(Zechariah 13:7–9; Matthew 26:31–35; Luke 22:31–38; John 13:36–38)

And Jesus said to them: “You will all fall away from me in this night. For it has been written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

But after I have risen again, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Then Peter said to him, “Even if all will have fallen away from you, yet I will not.”

And Jesus said to him, “Amen I say to you, that this day, in this night, before the rooster has uttered its voice twice, you will deny me three times.”(c)

But he spoke further, “Even if I must die along with you, I will not deny you.” And they all spoke similarly also.

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane

(Matthew 26:36–46; Luke 22:39–46)

And they went to a country estate, by the name of Gethsemani. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I pray.”

And he took Peter, and James, and John with him. And he began to be afraid and wearied.

And he said to them: “My soul is sorrowful, even unto death. Remain here and be vigilant.”

And when he had proceeded on a little ways, he fell prostrate on the ground. And he prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.

And he said: “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this chalice from me. But let it be, not as I will, but as you will.”

And he went and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter: “Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not able to be vigilant for one hour?

Watch and pray, so that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

And going away again, he prayed, saying the same words.

And upon returning, he found them sleeping yet again, (for their eyes were heavy) and they did not know how to respond to him.

And he arrived for the third time, and he said to them: “Sleep now, and take rest. It is enough. The hour has arrived. Behold, the Son of man will be betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Rise up, let us go. Behold, he who will betray me is near.”

The Betrayal of Jesus

(Matthew 26:47–56; Luke 22:47–53; John 18:1–14)

And while he was still speaking, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, arrived, and with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, sent from the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, and the elders.

Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying: “He whom I shall kiss, it is he. Take hold of him, and lead him away cautiously.”

And when he had arrived, immediately drawing near to him, he said: “Hail, Master!” And he kissed him.

But they laid hands on him and held him.

Then a certain one of those standing near, drawing a sword, struck a servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

And in response, Jesus said to them: “Have you set out to apprehend me, just as if to a robber, with swords and clubs?

Daily, I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not take hold of me. But in this way, the scriptures are fulfilled.”

Then his disciples, leaving him behind, all fled away.

Now a certain young man followed him, having nothing but a fine linen cloth over himself. And they took hold of him.(d)

But he, rejecting the fine linen cloth, escaped from them naked.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin

(Matthew 26:57–68; Luke 22:66–71; John 18:19–24)

And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the priests and the scribes and the elders came together.

But Peter followed him from a distance, even into the court of the high priest. And he sat with the servants at the fire and warmed himself.

Yet truly, the leaders of the priests and the entire council sought testimony against Jesus, so that they might deliver him to death, and they found none.

For many spoke false testimony against him, but their testimony did not agree.

And certain ones, rising up, bore false witness against him, saying:

“For we heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple, made with hands, and within three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ”

And their testimony did not agree.

And the high priest, rising up in their midst, questioned Jesus, saying, “Do you have nothing to say in answer to the things that are brought against you by these ones?”

But he was silent and gave no answer. Again, the high priest questioned him, and he said to him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed God?”

Then Jesus said to him: “I am. And you shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the power of God and arriving with the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest, rending his garments, said: “Why do we still require witnesses?

You have heard the blasphemy. How does it seem to you?” And they all condemned him, as guilty unto death.

And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face and to strike him with fists, and to say to him, “Prophesy.” And the servants struck him with the palms their hands.

Peter Denies Jesus

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

And while Peter was in the court below, one of the maidservants of the high priest arrived.

And when she had seen Peter warming himself, she stared at him, and she said: “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”

But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you saying.” And he went outside, in front of the court; and a rooster crowed.

Then again, when a maidservant had seen him, she began to say to the bystanders, “For this is one of them.”

But he denied it again. And after a little while, again those standing near said to Peter: “In truth, you are one of them. For you, too, are a Galilean.”

Then he began to curse and to swear, saying, “For I do not know this man, about whom you are speaking.”

And immediately the rooster crowed again. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he began to weep.

Footnotes

(a)14:1 Azymes:That is, the feast of the unleavened bread.(Challoner)

(b)14:21 The order of the use of ‘him’ and ‘that man’ is reversed in the translation, so that it does not sound as if the pronoun ‘him’ refers to Christ.(Conte)

(c)14:30 Crow twice:The cocks crow at two different times of the night; viz., about midnight for the first time; and then about the time commonly called the cock crowing; and this was the cock crowing our Saviour spoke of; and therefore the other Evangelists take no notice of the first crowing.(Challoner)

(d)14:51 The fine linen cloth represents the baptismal garment (the state of grace). Some are willing to give up this garment in order to escape persecution for the sake of Christ. But then they flee away naked, lacking grace in their souls.(Conte)

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

It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might seize him by deception and kill him.

For they said, “Not during the feast, because there might be a riot among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

(Matthew 26:6–13; Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8)

While he was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard—very costly. She broke the jar and poured it over his head.

But there were some who were indignant among themselves, saying, “Why has this ointment been wasted?

For this might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii

(a)

and given to the poor.” So they grumbled against her.

But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me.

For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will not always have me.

She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying.

Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News may be preached throughout the whole world, that which this woman has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

(Matthew 26:14–16; Luke 22:3–6)

Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests, that he might deliver him to them.

They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. He sought how he might conveniently deliver him.

Preparing the Passover

(Matthew 26:17–19; Luke 22:7–13)

On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?”

He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and there a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him,

and wherever he enters in, tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’

He will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Get ready for us there.”

His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found things as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

The Last Supper

(Matthew 26:20–30; Luke 22:14–23; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)

When it was evening he came with the twelve.

As they sat and were eating, Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, one of you will betray me—he who eats with me.”

They began to be sorrowful, and to ask him one by one, “Surely not I?” And another said, “Surely not I?”

He answered them, “It is one of the twelve, he who dips with me in the dish.

For the Son of Man goes as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”

As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had blessed it, he broke it and gave to them, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body.”

He took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them. They all drank of it.

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

Most certainly I tell you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in God’s Kingdom.”

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

(Zechariah 13:7–9; Matthew 26:31–35; Luke 22:31–38; John 13:36–38)

Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ (b)

However, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.”

But Peter said to him, “Although all will be offended, yet I will not.”

Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

But he spoke all the more, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” They all said the same thing.

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane

(Matthew 26:36–46; Luke 22:39–46)

They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed.

He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”

He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.

He said, “Abba, (c) Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.”

He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you watch one hour?

Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.

Again he returned and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they didn’t know what to answer him.

He came the third time and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Arise! Let’s get going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.”

The Betrayal of Jesus

(Matthew 26:47–56; Luke 22:47–53; John 18:1–14)

Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came—and with him a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.

Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely.”

When he had come, immediately he came to him and said, “Rabbi! Rabbi!” and kissed him.

They laid their hands on him and seized him.

But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Jesus answered them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me?

I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. But this is so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.”

They all left him, and fled.

A certain young man followed him, having a linen cloth thrown around himself over his naked body. The young men grabbed him,

but he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin

(Matthew 26:57–68; Luke 22:66–71; John 18:19–24)

They led Jesus away to the high priest. All the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes came together with him.

Peter had followed him from a distance, until he came into the court of the high priest. He was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire.

Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witnesses against Jesus to put him to death, and found none.

For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony didn’t agree with each other.

Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,

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

Even so, their testimony didn’t agree.

The high priest stood up in the middle, and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it which these testify against you?”

But he stayed quiet, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”

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

The high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need have we of witnesses?

You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” They all condemned him to be worthy of death.

Some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to beat him with fists, and to tell him, “Prophesy!” The officers struck him with the palms of their hands.

Peter Denies Jesus

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

As Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the maids of the high priest came,

and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus!”

But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” He went out on the porch, and the rooster crowed.

The maid saw him and began again to tell those who stood by, “This is one of them.”

But he again denied it. After a little while again those who stood by said to Peter, “You truly are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.”

But he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know this man of whom you speak!”

The rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered the words that Jesus said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” When he thought about that, he wept.

Footnotes

(a)14:5 300 denarii was about a year’s wages for an agricultural laborer.

(b)14:27 ℘ Zechariah 13:7

(c)14:36 Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for “Father” or “Daddy” used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way.