Mark 11; Mark 12; Mark 13; Mark 14; Mark 15

Mark 11

1 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples

2 and said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it.

3 If anyone says to you, "Why are you doing this?' just say this, "The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.' "

4 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it,

5 some of the bystanders said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?"

6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it.

7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it.

8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields.

9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.

13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

14 He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it.

15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves;

16 and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.

17 He was teaching and saying, "Is it not written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers."

18 And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching.

19 And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

20 In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.

21 Then Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered."

22 Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.

23 Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, "Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.

24 So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

25 "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."

26

27 Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him

28 and said, "By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?"

29 Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

30 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me."

31 They argued with one another, "If we say, "From heaven,' he will say, "Why then did you not believe him?'

32 But shall we say, "Of human origin'?"—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet.

33 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Mark 12

1 Then he began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.

2 When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard.

3 But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.

4 And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted.

5 Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed.

6 He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, "They will respect my son.'

7 But those tenants said to one another, "This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'

8 So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

9 What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.

10 Have you not read this scripture: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;

11 this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'?"

12 When they realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd. So they left him and went away.

13 Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said.

14 And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?

15 Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it."

16 And they brought one. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's."

17 Jesus said to them, "Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were utterly amazed at him.

18 Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying,

19 "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.

20 There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children;

21 and the second married the widow and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise;

22 none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died.

23 In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her."

24 Jesus said to them, "Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God?

25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?

27 He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong."

28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?"

29 Jesus answered, "The first is, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one;

30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'

31 The second is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

32 Then the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that "he is one, and besides him there is no other';

33 and "to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,' and "to love one's neighbor as oneself,'—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that no one dared to ask him any question.

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, "How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David?

36 David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared, "The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet." '

37 David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?" And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

38 As he taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,

39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!

40 They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.

42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.

43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.

44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

Mark 13

1 As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!"

2 Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."

3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,

4 "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?"

5 Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray.

6 Many will come in my name and say, "I am he!' and they will lead many astray.

7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

9 "As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them.

10 And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations.

11 When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death;

13 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

14 "But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains;

15 the one on the housetop must not go down or enter the house to take anything away;

16 the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat.

17 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days!

18 Pray that it may not be in winter.

19 For in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, no, and never will be.

20 And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days.

21 And if anyone says to you at that time, "Look! Here is the Messiah!' or "Look! There he is!'—do not believe it.

22 False messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

23 But be alert; I have already told you everything.

24 "But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,

25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

26 Then they will see "the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory.

27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

28 "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.

29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.

31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

32 "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

33 Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.

34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.

35 Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn,

36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.

37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."

Mark 14

1 It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him;

2 for they said, "Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people."

3 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.

4 But some were there who said to one another in anger, "Why was the ointment wasted in this way?

5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And they scolded her.

6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me.

7 For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me.

8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.

9 Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."

10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.

11 When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

13 So 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,

14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, "The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'

15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."

16 So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

17 When it was evening, he came with the twelve.

18 And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, "Truly I tell 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 after another, "Surely, not I?"

20 He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me.

21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born."

22 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body."

23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.

24 He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

25 Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

26 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

27 And Jesus said to them, "You will all become deserters; for it is written, "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'

28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."

29 Peter said to him, "Even though all become deserters, I will not."

30 Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times."

31 But he said vehemently, "Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you." And all of them said the same.

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."

33 He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated.

34 And he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake."

35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

36 He said, "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want."

37 He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour?

38 Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.

40 And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him.

41 He came a third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

42 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand."

43 Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.

44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard."

45 So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him.

46 Then they laid hands on him and arrested him.

47 But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

48 Then Jesus said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit?

49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled."

50 All of them deserted him and fled.

51 A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him,

52 but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.

53 They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled.

54 Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire.

55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none.

56 For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree.

57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,

58 "We heard him say, "I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.' "

59 But even on this point their testimony did not agree.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?"

61 But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"

62 Jesus said, "I am; and "you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,' and "coming with the clouds of heaven.' "

63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "Why do we still need witnesses?

64 You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?" All of them condemned him as deserving death.

65 Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, "Prophesy!" The guards also took him over and beat him.

66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by.

67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth."

68 But he denied it, saying, "I do not know or understand what you are talking about." And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed.

69 And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them."

70 But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, "Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean."

71 But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, "I do not know this man you are talking about."

72 At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.

Mark 15

1 As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.

2 Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" He answered him, "You say so."

3 Then the chief priests accused him of many things.

4 Pilate asked him again, "Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you."

5 But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.

6 Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked.

7 Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.

8 So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom.

9 Then he answered them, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"

10 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over.

11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead.

12 Pilate spoke to them again, "Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?"

13 They shouted back, "Crucify him!"

14 Pilate asked them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify him!"

15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

16 Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters ); and they called together the whole cohort.

17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him.

18 And they began saluting him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

19 They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him.

20 After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

21 They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.

22 Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull).

23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it.

24 And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.

25 It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him.

26 The inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews."

27 And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left.

28

29 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days,

30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!"

31 In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself.

32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.

33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

34 At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah."

36 And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down."

37 Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.

38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

39 Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was God's Son!"

40 There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

41 These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

42 When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

44 Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time.

45 When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph.

46 Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.

47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.