Mark 14:23-72 ▼

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

24 He told them, |This is my blood of the covenant that is being poured out for many people.

25 I tell all of you with certainty, I'll never again drink the product of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.|

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

27 Then Jesus told them, |All of you will turn against me, because it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'

28 However, after I've been raised, I'll go to Galilee ahead of you.|

29 But Peter told him, |Even if everyone else turns against you, I certainly won't.|

30 Jesus told him, |I tell you with certainty, today, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you'll deny me three times.|

31 But Peter kept saying emphatically, |Even if I have to die with you, I'll never deny you!| And all the others kept saying the same thing.

32 Then they came to a place called Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, |Sit down here while I pray.|

33 He took Peter, James, and John along with him, and he began to feel distressed and troubled.

34 So he told them, |I'm deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Wait here and stay awake.|

35 Going on a little farther, he fell to the ground and kept praying that if it were possible the hour might pass from him.

36 He kept repeating, |Abba! Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I want but what you want.|

37 When he went back, he found his disciples asleep. |Simon, are you asleep?| he asked Peter. |You couldn't stay awake for one hour, could you?

38 All of you must stay awake and pray that you won't be tempted. The spirit is indeed willing, but the body is weak.|

39 He went away again and prayed the same prayer as before.

40 Again he came back and found them asleep, because they could not keep their eyes open. They didn't even know what they should say to him.

41 He came back a third time. |Are you still sleeping and resting?| he asked. |Enough of that! The time has come. Look! The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

42 Get up! Let's go! See, the one who is betraying me is near!|

43 Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A crowd armed with swords and clubs was with him. They were from the high priests, the scribes, and the elders.

44 Now the betrayer personally had given them a signal, saying, |The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him, and lead him safely away.|

45 So Judas immediately went up to Jesus and said, |Rabbi,| and kissed him tenderly.

46 Then the men took hold of Jesus and arrested him.

47 But one of those standing there drew his sword and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear.

48 Jesus asked them, |Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a bandit?

49 Day after day I was with you in the Temple teaching, yet you didn't arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.|

50 Then all the disciples deserted Jesus and ran away.

51 A certain young man, who was wearing nothing but a linen sheet, was following Jesus. When the men grabbed him,

52 he left the linen sheet behind and ran away naked.

53 Then they took Jesus to the high priest. All the high priests, elders, and scribes had gathered together.

54 Peter followed Jesus at a distance as far as the high priest's courtyard. He was sitting with the servants and warming himself at the fire.

55 Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council were looking for some testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death, but they couldn't find any.

56 Although many people gave false testimony against him, their testimony didn't agree.

57 Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,

58 |We ourselves heard him say, 'I will destroy this sanctuary made by human hands, and in three days I will build another one not made by human hands.'|

59 But even on this point their testimony didn't agree.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, |Don't you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?|

61 But he kept silent and didn't answer at all. The high priest asked him again, |Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?|

62 Jesus said, |I AM, and 'you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power' and 'coming with the clouds of heaven.'|

63 Then the high priest tore his clothes. |Why do we still need witnesses?| he asked.

64 |You have heard his blasphemy! What is your verdict?| All of them condemned him as deserving death.

65 Some of them began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and kept hitting him with their fists and telling him, |Prophesy!| Even the servants took him and slapped him around.

66 While Peter was down in the courtyard, one of the high priest's servant girls came by.

67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she glared at him and said, |You, too, were with Jesus from Nazareth.|

68 But he denied it, saying, |I don't know—or even understand—what you're talking about!| Then he went out into the entryway. Just then a rooster crowed.

69 The servant girl saw him and again told those who were standing around, |This man is one of them!|

70 Again he denied it. After a little while, the people who were standing there began to say to Peter again, |Obviously you're one of them, because you are a Galilean!|

71 Then he began to invoke a divine curse and to swear with an oath, |I don't know this man you're talking about!|

72 Just then a rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered that Jesus told him, |Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.| Then he broke down and cried.