Mark 14:1-26

Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Plot to Kill Jesus

14 After^(A) two days it was the Passover^(B) and the Festival^(C) of Unleavened Bread.^(D) The chief priests and the scribes^(E) were looking for a treacherous^(F) way to arrest and kill Him.^{(G) 2} “Not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be rioting among the people.”

The Anointing at Bethany

³ While^(H) He was in Bethany^(I) at the house of Simon who had a serious skin disease,^(J) as He was reclining at the table,^(K) a woman came with an alabaster jar of pure and expensive fragrant oil of nard. She broke the jar and poured it on His head.^{(L) 4} But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this fragrant oil been wasted? ⁵ For this oil might have been sold for more than 300 denarii^(M) and given to the poor.”^(N) And they began to scold her.

⁶ Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing^(O) for Me. ⁷ You always have the poor^(P) with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have Me.^{(Q) 8} She has done what she could; she has anointed My body^(R) in advance for burial.^{(S) 9} I assure you:^(T) Wherever the gospel^(U) is proclaimed in the whole world,^(V) what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

¹⁰ Then^(W) Judas Iscariot,^(X) one of the Twelve,^(Y) went to the chief priests^(Z) to hand Him over^(AA) to them. ¹¹ And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him silver.^[a](AB) So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray^(AC) Him.

Preparation for Passover

¹² On^(AD) the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb,^(AE) His disciples^(AF) asked Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare the Passover so You may eat it?”

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

Betrayal at the Passover

¹⁷ When^(AI) evening came, He arrived with the Twelve.^{(AJ) 18} While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “I assure you: One of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me!”

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

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

The First Lord’s Supper

²² As^(AO) they were eating, He took bread,^(AP) blessed and broke^(AQ) it, gave it to them,^(AR) and said, “Take it;^[b] this is My body.”^(AS)

²³ Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks,^(AT) He gave it to them, and so they all drank from it. ²⁴ He said to them, “This is My blood that establishes the covenant;^[c](AU) it is shed^(AV) for many.^{(AW) 25} I assure you:^(AX) I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine^(AY) until that day when I drink it in a new^(AZ) way^[d] in the kingdom of God.”^{(BA) 26} After singing psalms,^[e] they went out to the Mount of Olives.^(BB)