Mark 14:12-42

On the first day [of the festival] of Unleavened Bread, when [as was customary] they sacrificed the Passover lamb, His disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” [Matt 26:17-19; Luke 22:7-13] And He sent two of His disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him; and say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ He will show you a large upstairs room, furnished and ready [with carpets and dining couches]; prepare [the supper] for us there.” The disciples left and went to the city and found everything just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, He came with the twelve [disciples]. [Matt 26:20-25] While they were reclining at the table, Jesus said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you that one of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me.” [Ps 41:9] They began to be grieved and deeply distressed and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?” And He replied, “It is one of the twelve [disciples], one who is dipping bread in the bowl with Me. For the Son of Man goes [to the cross] just as it is written [in Scripture] of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it [giving thanks and praise], and He broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take it. This is My body.” [Matt 26:26-29; Luke 22:17-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25] And when He had taken a cup [of wine] and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. [Ex 24:8] And He said to them, “This is My blood of the [new] covenant, [My blood] which is being poured out for many [for the forgiveness of sins]. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” After they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away [and be ashamed and be afraid to be associated with Me as disciples], because it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP WILL BE SCATTERED.’ [Zech 13:7] But after I have been raised [from the dead], I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” But Peter said to Him, “Even if they all fall away [and desert You, ashamed and afraid of being associated with You], yet I will not [do so]!” Jesus said to him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you will deny [that you even know] Me three times.” [Matt 26:34; John 13:38] But Peter kept saying insistently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing as well. Then they went to a place called Gethsemane; and Jesus said to His disciples, “Sit down here until I have prayed.” [Matt 26:36-46; Luke 22:40-46] He took Peter and James and John with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled [extremely anguished at the prospect of what was to come]. And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved and overwhelmed with sorrow, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” After going a little farther, He fell to the ground [distressed by the weight of His spiritual burden] and began to pray that if it were possible [in the Father’s will], the hour [of suffering and death for the sins of mankind] might pass from Him. He was saying, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for You; take this cup [of judgment] away from Me; but not what I will, but what You will.” And He came back and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Were you unable to keep watch for one hour? Keep [actively] watching and praying so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” He went away again and prayed, saying the same words. And again He came back and found them sleeping, because their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know how to answer Him. He came back a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough [of that]! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is near!”

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