Chapter 26

1When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he spoke to his disciples.

2Jesus said, “You know that Passover begins in two days. I, the Son of Man, will be handed over to be crucified.”

3Then the leading priests and the elders who led the people gathered in the courtyard at the home of Caiaphas, the high priest.

4They plotted together to arrest Jesus by deception and kill him.

5But they said, “Not during the festival, or the people may riot.”

6Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, who was known as the man with a serious skin disease.

7A woman came to Jesus carrying an alabaster stone jar filled with extremely expensive perfume. While he was reclining at the table, she poured the perfume on his head.

8When the disciples saw this, they became angry. “Why waste it like that?” they asked.

9They added, “It could have been sold for a great deal of money, which could have been given to the poor.”

10Jesus knew what they were saying and told them, “Why are you troubling this woman? She has done something beautiful for me.

11Jesus continued, “You will always have poor people among you, but you will not always have me.

12By pouring this perfume on my body, she has prepared my body for burial.

13I assure you, wherever this good news is announced throughout the world, people will also tell what she has done and remember her.”

14Then one of the Twelve, Judas Iscariot, went to the leading priests

15and asked, “What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?” They weighed out thirty silver coins for him.

16From then on, Judas looked for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.

17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when people ate bread made without yeast, the disciples came to Jesus. They asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”

18Jesus replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My appointed time is near. I will celebrate Passover at your house with my disciples.”’”

19The disciples did as Jesus directed and prepared the Passover meal.

20When evening came, Jesus settled at the table with the twelve disciples.

21While they were eating, Jesus said, “I assure you, one of you will betray me.”

22They became deeply distressed, and each one began asking him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?”

23Jesus answered, “The one who dipped his hand into the bowl with me is the one who will betray me.

24The Son of Man will go to his death, just as the sacred writings say about him. But disaster awaits the man who betrays the Son of Man! It would have been better for that man if he had never been born.”

25Judas, who was about to betray him, asked, “It isn’t me, is it, Teacher?” Jesus replied, “You said it yourself.”

26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said a blessing over it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples. He said, “Take this and eat. This is my body.”

27Then Jesus took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them. He said, “All of you, drink from it,

28because this is my blood of the covenant—the solemn bond God makes with people. My blood is poured out for many so that their sins may be forgiven.

29Jesus continued, “I tell you, from now on I will not drink this wine, the fruit of the vine, until the day I drink new wine with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

30After they sang a song of praise, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

31Then Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will abandon me because of what happens to me. The sacred writings say, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will scatter.’

32But after I am raised from death, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

33Peter answered, “Even if everyone else abandons you, I never will.”

34Jesus told him, “I assure you, tonight, before a rooster crows, you will deny knowing me three times.”

35Peter replied, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny knowing you!” All the other disciples said the same thing.

36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane. He told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him. Jesus began to feel sorrowful and deeply distressed.

38He told them, “I am overwhelmed with sorrow, almost to the point of death. Stay here and remain awake with me.”

39Jesus went a little farther, fell facedown, and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet do what you want, not what I want.”

40He returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Could none of you remain awake with me for one hour?

41Stay awake and pray so that you do not give in to temptation. You want to do what is right, but your body is weak.”

42Jesus went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if there is no way around this unless I drink it, let your will be done.”

43He returned and again found them sleeping because their eyes were too heavy to keep open.

44He left them, went away again, and prayed for a third time, repeating the same words.

45Then Jesus returned to the disciples and said, “Go ahead—sleep and rest now! Look, the time is near, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinful people.

46Get up. Let us go. Look, my betrayer is approaching.”

47While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A large crowd carrying swords and clubs came with him from the leading priests and the elders who led the people.

48Judas had given the crowd a signal: “The man I kiss is the one you want. Arrest him.”

49Judas immediately approached Jesus and said, “Greetings, Teacher!” Then he kissed him.

50Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” The crowd then moved in, seized Jesus, and arrested him.

51Suddenly, one of the men with Jesus reached for his sword and drew it. He struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his ear.

52Jesus told him, “Put your sword back where it belongs. Everyone who uses a sword will die by a sword.

53Jesus continued, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father and have him immediately send me more than twelve legions of angels—an immense army?

54But then how would what the sacred writings say come true—that this must happen?”

55At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come with swords and clubs to capture me as if I were a bandit? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple grounds, and you did not arrest me.

56Jesus continued, “But all this has happened so that what the prophets wrote would come true.” Then all the disciples abandoned him and fled.

57Those who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the experts in religious law and the elders had gathered.

58Peter followed Jesus at a distance as far as the high priest’s courtyard. He went inside and sat with the attendants to see how everything would end.

59The leading priests and the whole ruling council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death.

60But they found nothing they could use, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two came forward

61and said, “This man claimed, ‘I can tear down God’s temple and rebuild it in three days.’”

62The high priest stood and said to Jesus, “Do you have no answer? What is this testimony these men are giving against you?”

63But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said, “By the living God, I place you under oath: tell us whether you are the Messiah, God’s promised king, and the Son of God.”

64Jesus answered him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell all of you: from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the all-powerful God and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65The high priest tore his clothes in outrage and said, “He has insulted God! Why do we need any more witnesses? You have just heard his insult against God.

66The high priest continued, “What do you think?” The council members answered, “He deserves to die.”

67Then they spat in Jesus’ face and punched him. Others slapped him

68and taunted him, “Tell us as a prophet, Messiah: who hit you?”

69Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A young servant woman approached him and said, “You were also with Jesus from Galilee.”

70But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I do not know what you are talking about,” he said.

71When Peter went out to the gateway, another servant woman saw him. She told the people there, “This man was with Jesus from Nazareth.”

72Peter denied it again, this time with an oath: “I do not know the man!”

73A little later, the people standing there approached Peter and said, “You certainly are one of them. Your accent gives you away.”

74Then Peter put himself under a curse and swore, “I do not know the man!” Immediately, a rooster crowed.

75Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before a rooster crows, you will deny knowing me three times.” Peter went outside and wept bitterly.