Mark 14:27-53

Easy-to-Read Version

Jesus Says His Followers Will Leave Him^(A)

²⁷ Then Jesus told the followers, “You will all lose your faith. The Scriptures say,

²⁸ But after I am killed, I will rise from death. Then I will go to Galilee. I will be there before you come.”

²⁹ Peter said, “All the other followers may lose their faith. But my faith will never be shaken.”

³⁰ Jesus answered, “The truth is, tonight you will say you don’t know me. You will say it three times before the rooster crows twice.”

³¹ But Peter strongly protested, “I will never say I don’t know you! I will even die with you!” And all the other followers said the same thing.

Jesus Prays Alone^(C)

³² Jesus and his followers went to a place named Gethsemane. He said to them, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ But he told Peter, James, and John to come with him. He began to be very distressed and troubled, ³⁴ and he said to them, “My heart is so heavy with grief, I feel as if I am dying. Wait here and stay awake.”

³⁵ Jesus went on a little farther away from them, fell to the ground, and prayed. He asked that, if possible, he would not have this time of suffering. ³⁶ He said, “ Abba,^[a] Father! You can do all things. Don’t make me drink from this cup.^[b] But do what you want, not what I want.”

³⁷ Then he went back to his followers and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, why are you sleeping? Could you not stay awake with me for one hour? ³⁸ Stay awake and pray for strength against temptation. Your spirit wants to do what is right, but your body is weak.”

³⁹ Again Jesus went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰ Then he went back to the followers and again found them sleeping. They could not stay awake. They did not know what they should say to him.

⁴¹ After Jesus prayed a third time, he went back to his followers. He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? That’s enough! The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to the control of sinful men. ⁴² Stand up! We must go. Here comes the man who is handing me over to them.”

Jesus Is Arrested^(D)

⁴³ While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, came there. He had a big crowd of people with him, all carrying swords and clubs. They had been sent from the leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the older Jewish leaders.

⁴⁴ Judas^[c] planned to do something to show them which one was Jesus. He said, “The one I kiss will be Jesus. Arrest him and guard him while you lead him away.” ⁴⁵ So Judas went over to Jesus and said, “Teacher!” Then he kissed him. ⁴⁶ The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him. ⁴⁷ One of the followers standing near Jesus grabbed his sword and pulled it out. He swung it at the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

⁴⁸ Then Jesus said, “Why do you come to get me with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal? ⁴⁹ Every day I was with you teaching in the Temple area. You did not arrest me there. But all these things have happened to show the full meaning of what the Scriptures said.” ⁵⁰ Then all of Jesus’ followers left him and ran away.

⁵¹ One of those following Jesus was a young man wearing only a linen cloth. When the people tried to grab him, ⁵² he left the cloth in their hands and ran away naked.

Jesus Before the Jewish Leaders^(E)

⁵³ Those who arrested Jesus led him to the house of the high priest. All the leading priests, the older Jewish leaders, and the teachers of the law were gathered there.