Mark 14:22–52

The Lord’s Supper

²²While they were eating, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples. “Take it,” he said, “this is my body.”

²³Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God, and handed it to them; and they all drank from it. ^24*Jesus said, “This is my blood which is poured out for many, my blood which seals God’s covenant. ²⁵I tell you, I will never again drink this wine until the day I drink the new wine in the Kingdom of God.”

²⁶Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

^27*Jesus said to them, “All of you will run away and leave me, for the scripture says, ‘God will kill the shepherd, and the sheep will all be scattered.’ ^28*But after I am raised to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.”

²⁹Peter answered, “I will never leave you, even though all the rest do!”

³⁰Jesus said to Peter, “I tell you that before the cock crows twice tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me.”

³¹Peter answered even more strongly, “I will never say that, even if I have to die with you!” And all the other disciples said the same thing.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

³²They came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³He took Peter, James, and John with him. Distress and anguish came over him, ³⁴and he said to them, “The sorrow in my heart is so great that it almost crushes me. Stay here and keep watch.”

³⁵He went a little farther on, threw himself on the ground, and prayed that, if possible, he might not have to go through that time of suffering. ³⁶“Father,” he prayed, “my Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want.”

³⁷Then he returned and found the three disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Weren’t you able to stay awake even for one hour?” ³⁸And he said to them, “Keep watch, and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

³⁹He went away once more and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰Then he came back to the disciples and found them asleep; they could not keep their eyes open. And they did not know what to say to him.

⁴¹When he came back the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come! Look, the Son of Man is now being handed over to the power of sinners. ⁴²Get up, let us go. Look, here is the man who is betraying me!”

The Arrest of Jesus

⁴³Jesus was still speaking when Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, and sent by the chief priests, the teachers of the Law, and the elders. ⁴⁴The traitor had given the crowd a signal: “The man I kiss is the one you want. Arrest him and take him away under guard.”

⁴⁵As soon as Judas arrived, he went up to Jesus and said, “Teacher!” and kissed him. ⁴⁶So they arrested Jesus and held him tight. ⁴⁷But one of those standing there drew his sword and struck at the High Priest’s slave, cutting off his ear. ⁴⁸Then Jesus spoke up and said to them, “Did you have to come with swords and clubs to capture me, as though I were an outlaw? ^49*Day after day I was with you teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must come true.”

⁵⁰Then all the disciples left him and ran away. ⁵¹A certain young man, dressed only in a linen cloth, was following Jesus. They tried to arrest him, ⁵²but he ran away naked, leaving the cloth behind.