1It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him.
3Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating,*14:3 Or reclining. a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head.
4Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked.
6But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me?
10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them.
12On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you?”
13So Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with these instructions: “As you go into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him.
17In the evening Jesus arrived with the Twelve.
19Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one?”
20He replied, “It is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me.
22As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.”
23And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
26Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
27On the way, Jesus told them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,
‘God will strike*14:27 Greek I will strike. Zech 13:7. the Shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
28But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”
29Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.”
30Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
31“No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the others vowed the same.
32They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.”
35He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by.
37Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?
39Then Jesus left them again and prayed the same prayer as before.
41When he returned to them the third time, he said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
43And immediately, even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders.
46Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
48Jesus asked them, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me?
50Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away.
53They took Jesus to the high priest’s home where the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law had gathered.
55Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council*14:55 Greek the Sanhedrin. were trying to find evidence against Jesus, so they could put him to death. But they couldn’t find any.
60Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?”
62Jesus said, “I Am.*14:62a Or The ‘I Am’ is here; or I am the Lord. See Exod 3:14. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand*14:62b Greek seated at the right hand of the power. See Ps 110:1. and coming on the clouds of heaven.*14:62c See Dan 7:13.”
63Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses?
“Guilty!” they all cried. “He deserves to die!”
65Then some of them began to spit at him, and they blindfolded him and beat him with their fists. “Prophesy to us,” they jeered. And the guards slapped him as they took him away.
66Meanwhile, Peter was in the courtyard below. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest came by
68But Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed.*14:68 Some manuscripts do not include Just then, a rooster crowed.
69When the servant girl saw him standing there, she began telling the others, “This man is definitely one of them!”
A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, “You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean.”
71Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”
Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he broke down and wept.