The Plot to Kill Jesus

1It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a cunning way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2“Not during the festival,” they said, “so that there won’t be a riot among the people.”

The Anointing at Bethany

3While he was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured it on his head. 4But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this perfume been wasted? 5For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they began to scold her.

6Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing for me. 7You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me. 8She has done what she could; she has anointed my body in advance for burial. 9Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole 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. 11And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.

Preparation for Passover

12On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover so that you may eat it?”

13So he sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 15He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” 16So the disciples went out, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

Betrayal at the Passover

17When evening came, he arrived with the Twelve. 18While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me — one who is eating with me.”

19They began to be distressed and to say to him one by one, “Surely not I?”

20He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve — the one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me. 21For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.”

The First Lord’s Supper

22As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” 23Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he 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 new in the kingdom of God.”

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

Peter’s Denial Predicted

27Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away, because 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 to Galilee.”

29Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away, I will not.”

30“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

31But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And they all said the same thing.

The Prayer in the Garden

32Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.” 35He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36And 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.” 37Then he came and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake one hour? 38Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39Once again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing. 40And again he came and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to him. 41Then he came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. See, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”

Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus

43While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44His betrayer had given them a signal. “The one I kiss,” he said, “he’s the one; arrest him and take him away under guard.” 45So when he came, immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46They took hold of him and arrested him. 47One of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear.

48Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture me? 49Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

50Then they all deserted him and ran away. 51Now a certain young man, wearing nothing but a linen cloth, was following him. They caught hold of him, 52but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

53They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes assembled. 54Peter followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants, warming himself by the fire.

55The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any. 56For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree. 57Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, 58“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’” 59Yet their testimony did not agree even on this.

60Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

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

63Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 64You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death.

65Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, “Prophesy!” The temple servants also took him and slapped him.

Peter Denies His Lord

66While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s maidservants came. 67When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”

68But he denied it: “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about.” Then he went out to the entryway, and a rooster crowed.

69When the maidservant saw him again, she began to tell those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”

70But again he denied it. After a little while those standing there said to Peter again, “You certainly are one of them, since you’re also a Galilean.”

71Then he started to curse and swear, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

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