Mark 14:12-72.

Mark 14:12-72
Jesus Eats with His Disciples

It was the first day of the Festival of Thin Bread, and the Passover
lambs were being killed. Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you
want us to prepare the Passover meal?" Jesus said to two of the
disciples, "Go into the city, where you will meet a man carrying a jar
of water. Follow him, and when he goes into a house, say to the
owner, 'Our teacher wants to know if you have a room where he can eat
the Passover meal with his disciples.' The owner will take you
upstairs and show you a large room furnished and ready for you to use.
Prepare the meal there."
The two disciples went into the city and found everything just as
Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover meal. While Jesus
and the twelve disciples were eating together that evening, he said,
"The one who will betray me is now eating with me."This made the
disciples sad, and one after another they said to Jesus, "You surely
don't mean me!" He answered, "It is one of you twelve men who is
eating from this dish with me. The Son of Man will die, just as the
Scriptures say. But it is going to be terrible for the one who betrays
me. That man would be better off if he had never been born."

The Lord's Supper

During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the
bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, "Take
this. It is my body." Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to
God. He gave it to his disciples, and they all drank some. Then he
said, "This is my blood, which is poured out for many people, and with
it God makes his agreement. From now on I will not drink any wine,
until I drink new wine in God's kingdom." Then they sang a hymn and
went out to the Mount of Olives.

Peter's Promise

Jesus said to his disciples, "All of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say,
'I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
But after I am raised to life, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."
Peter spoke up, "Even if all the others reject you, I never will!"
Jesus replied, "This very night before a rooster crows twice, you will
say three times that you don't know me." But Peter was so sure of
himself that he said, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never
say that I don't know you!" All the others said the same thing.

Jesus Prays

Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he
told them, "Sit here while I pray."
Jesus took along Peter, James, and John. He was sad and troubled and
told them, "I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and
keep awake with me." Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt down
on the ground and prayed, "Father, if it is possible, don't let this
happen to me! Father, you can do anything. Don't make me suffer by
having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I
want." When Jesus came back and found the disciples sleeping, he said
to Simon Peter, "Are you asleep? Can't you stay awake for just one
hour? Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do
what is right, but you are weak."Jesus went back and prayed the same
prayer. But when he returned to the disciples, he found them sleeping
again. They simply could not keep their eyes open, and they did not
know what to say. When Jesus returned to the disciples the third time,
he said, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough of that! The time
has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. Get up!
Let's go. The one who will betray me is already here."

Jesus Is Arrested

Jesus was still speaking, when Judas the betrayer came up. He was one
of the twelve disciples, and a mob of men armed with swords and clubs
were with him. They had been sent by the chief priests, the nation's
leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses. Judas had told them
ahead of time, "Arrest the man I greet with a kiss. Tie him up tight
and lead him away."Judas walked right up to Jesus and said, "Teacher!"
Then Judas kissed him, and the men grabbed Jesus and arrested
him.Someone standing there pulled out a sword. He struck the servant
of the high priest and cut off his ear.Jesus said to the mob, "Why do
you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like a criminal? Day
after day I was with you and taught in the temple, and you didn't
arrest me. But what the Scriptures say must come true." All of Jesus'
disciples ran off and left him. One of them was a young man who was
wearing only a linen cloth. And when the men grabbed him, he left the
cloth behind and ran away naked.

Jesus Is Questioned by the Council

Jesus was led off to the high priest. Then the chief priests, the
nation's leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses all met
together. Peter had followed at a distance. And when he reached the
courtyard of the high priest's house, he sat down with the guards to
warm himself beside a fire. The chief priests and the whole council
tried to find someone to accuse Jesus of a crime, so they could put
him to death. But they could not find anyone to accuse him. Many
people did tell lies against Jesus, but they did not agree on what
they said. Finally, some men stood up and lied about him. They said,
"We heard him say he would tear down this temple that we built. He
also claimed that in three days he would build another one without any
help." But even then they did not agree on what they said. The high
priest stood up in the council and asked Jesus, "Why don't you say
something in your own defense? Don't you hear the charges they are
making against you?" But Jesus kept quiet and did not say a word. The
high priest asked him another question, "Are you the Messiah, the Son
of the glorious God?"
"Yes, I am!" Jesus answered."Soon you will see the Son of Man sitting
at the right side of God All-Powerful, and coming with the clouds of
heaven." At once the high priest ripped his robe apart and shouted,
"Why do we need more witnesses? You heard him claim to be God! What
is your decision?" They all agreed that he should be put to death.
Some of the people started spitting on Jesus. They blindfolded him,
hit him with their fists, and said, "Tell us who hit you!" Then the
guards took charge of Jesus and beat him.

Peter Says He Doesn't Know Jesus

While Peter was still in the courtyard, a servant girl of the high
priest came up and saw Peter warming himself by the fire. She stared
at him and said, "You were with Jesus from Nazareth!" Peter replied,
"That isn't true! I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have
any idea what you mean." He went out to the gate, and a rooster
crowed. The servant girl saw Peter again and said to the people
standing there, "This man is one of them!"

"No, I'm not!" Peter replied.A little while later some of the people
said to Peter, "You certainly are one of them. You're a Galilean!"
This time Peter began to curse and swear, "I don't even know the man
you're talking about!"
Right away the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered
that Jesus had told him, "Before a rooster crows twice, you will say
three times that you don't know me." So Peter started crying.

Father God, forgive my sins. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ down
to die on the cross and for shedding his blood for me. Three days
later you resurrected him. I accept that. I invite Jesus Christ into
my heart as my Lord and savior. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

God bless you.