1In two days it would be the feast of the Passover and of unleavened bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to take him by trickery and put him to death.
2But they said, "Not during the feast, or the people may riot."
3He was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper. As he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of spikenard. She broke the jar and poured the ointment on his head.
4Some of them were angry among themselves, and said, "Why has this ointment been wasted?"
5"It could have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and the money given to the poor." And they spoke against her.
6But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why are you troubling her? She has done a good work for me."
7You always have the poor with you, and you can do good to them whenever you want. But you will not always have me.
8She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint my body for burial.
9"I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached 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 hand Jesus over to them.
11When they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he looked for a good chance to hand him over.
12On the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and get things ready for you to eat the Passover?"
13He sent out two of his disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city. A man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him."
14Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'
15"He will show you a large upstairs room, furnished and ready. Prepare the meal for us there."
16His disciples went out and came into the city. They found everything as he had told them, and they got the Passover ready.
17In the evening he came with the twelve.
18As they sat and ate, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, one of you who is eating with me will hand me over."
19They became sad, and said to him one by one, "Is it I?" And another said, "Is it I?"
20He answered them, "It is one of the twelve, one who dips with me in the dish."
21"The Son of man is going away, as it is written about him. But how terrible for that man who hands over the Son of man. It would have been better for that man if he had never been born."
22As they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it. He broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take it, eat. This is my body."
23Then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24And he said to them, "This is my blood of the new testament, which is poured out for many."
25"I tell you the truth, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
26When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the mount of Olives.
27Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me tonight. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'"
28"But after I am raised, I will go before you into Galilee."
29But Peter said to him, "Even if everyone else falls away, I will not."
30Jesus said to him, "I tell you the truth, today, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times."
31But he spoke all the more strongly, "Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you." And they all said the same.
32They came to a place named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."
34He said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and keep watch."
35He went on a little way, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want."
37He came back and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not keep watch for one hour?"
38"Watch and pray, so that you do not come into temptation. The spirit is indeed ready, but the flesh is weak."
39Again he went away and prayed, and said the same words.
40When he came back, he found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. And they did not know what to answer him.
41He came the third time, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The hour has come. Look, the Son of man is handed over into the hands of sinners."
42"Get up, let us go. Look, the one who hands me over is near."
43At once, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve. With him was a great crowd with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
44The one who handed him over had given them a sign, saying, "The one I kiss is the man. Take him, and lead him away safely."
45As soon as he came, he went straight to Jesus and said, "Master, master," and kissed him.
46Then they laid their hands on him and took him.
47One of those standing by drew a sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
48Jesus said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to take me, as if I were a thief?"
49"I was with you every day in the temple, teaching, and you did not take me. But the scriptures must be fulfilled."
50Then they all left him and ran away.
51A certain young man followed him, with a linen cloth wrapped round his naked body. The young men caught hold of him,
52but he left the linen cloth behind and ran from them naked.
53They led Jesus away to the high priest. All the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together with him.
54Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. He sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.
55The chief priests and the whole council looked for evidence against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none.
56Many gave false evidence against him, but their statements did not agree.
57Then some stood up and gave false evidence against him, saying,
58"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.'"
59But even then their evidence did not agree.
60The high priest stood up in the middle of them and asked Jesus, "Do you answer nothing? What is this that these men say against you?"
61But he kept silent, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"
62Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."
63Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "Why do we need any more witnesses?"
64"You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" And they all condemned him as deserving death.
65Some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to hit him with their fists, and to say to him, "Prophesy." And the servants struck him with the palms of their hands.
66Peter was below in the courtyard. One of the servant girls of the high priest came there.
67When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus of Nazareth."
68But he denied it, saying, "I do not know, and I do not understand what you are saying." And he went out into the porch, and the cock crowed.
69The servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those standing there, "This is one of them."
70He denied it again. A little later, those standing there said again to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilaean, and your speech is like theirs."
71But he began to curse and to swear, saying, "I do not know this man you are talking about."