The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 In only two days the eight-day Festival of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread would begin. The high priests and religion scholars were looking for a way they could seize Jesus by stealth and kill him.
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After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
2 They agreed that it should not be done during Passover Week. "We don't want the crowds up in arms," they said.
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But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.
3 Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper. While he was eating dinner, a woman came up carrying a bottle of very expensive perfume. Opening the bottle, she poured it on his head.
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And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
4 Some of the guests became furious among themselves. "That's criminal! A sheer waste!
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And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
5 This perfume could have been sold for well over a year's wages and handed out to the poor." They swelled up in anger, nearly bursting with indignation over her.
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For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why are you giving her a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me.
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And Jesus said,Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
7 You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives. Whenever you feel like it, you can do something for them. Not so with me.
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For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
8 She did what she could when she could - she pre-anointed my body for burial.
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She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
9 And you can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she just did is going to be talked about admiringly."
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Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
10 Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the cabal of high priests, determined to betray him.
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And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
11 They couldn't believe their ears, and promised to pay him well. He started looking for just the right moment to hand him over.
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And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
12 On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the day they prepare the Passover sacrifice, his disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations so you can eat the Passover meal?"
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And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
13 He directed two of his disciples, "Go into the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him.
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And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them,Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.
14 Ask the owner of whichever house he enters, 'The Teacher wants to know, Where is my guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?'
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And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
15 He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare for us there."
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And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.
16 The disciples left, came to the city, found everything just as he had told them, and prepared the Passover meal.
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And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
17 After sunset he came with the Twelve.
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And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.
18 As they were at the supper table eating, Jesus said, "I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators, one who at this moment is eating with me."
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And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said,Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.
19 Stunned, they started asking, one after another, "It isn't me, is it?"
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And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
20 He said, "It's one of the Twelve, one who eats with me out of the same bowl.
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And he answered and said unto them,It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.
21 In one sense, it turns out that the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures - no surprises here. In another sense, the man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man - better never to have been born than do this!" "This Is My Body"
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The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
22 In the course of their meal, having taken and blessed the bread, he broke it and gave it to them. Then he said, Take, this is my body.
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And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said,Take, eat: this is my body.
23 Taking the chalice, he gave it to them, thanking God, and they all drank from it.
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And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
24 He said, This is my blood, God's new covenant, Poured out for many people.
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And he said unto them,This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
25 "I'll not be drinking wine again until the new day when I drink it in the kingdom of God."
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Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
26 They sang a hymn and then went directly to Mount Olives.
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And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
27 Jesus told them, "You're all going to feel that your world is falling apart and that it's my fault. There's a Scripture that says, I will strike the shepherd; The sheep will go helter-skelter.
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And Jesus saith unto them,All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
28 "But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee."
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But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
29 Peter blurted out, "Even if everyone else is ashamed of you when things fall to pieces, I won't be."
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But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
30 Jesus said, "Don't be so sure. Today, this very night in fact, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times."
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And Jesus saith unto him,Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
31 He blustered in protest, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you." All the others said the same thing.
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But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
32 They came to an area called Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."
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And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples,Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
33 He took Peter, James, and John with him. He plunged into a sinkhole of dreadful agony.
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And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
34 He told them, "I feel bad enough right now to die. Stay here and keep vigil with me."
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And saith unto them,My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
35 Going a little ahead, he fell to the ground and prayed for a way out:
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And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36 "Papa, Father, you can - can't you? - get me out of this. Take this cup away from me. But please, not what I want - what do you want?"
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And he said,Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
37 He came back and found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, you went to sleep on me? Can't you stick it out with me a single hour?
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And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter,Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
38 Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don't enter the danger zone without even knowing it. Don't be naive. Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."
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Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
39 He then went back and prayed the same prayer.
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And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.
40 Returning, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn't keep their eyes open, and they didn't have a plausible excuse.
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And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
41 He came back a third time and said, "Are you going to sleep all night? No - you've slept long enough. Time's up. The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of sinners.
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And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them,Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42 Get up. Let's get going. My betrayer has arrived."
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Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.
43 No sooner were the words out of his mouth when Judas, the one out of the Twelve, showed up, and with him a gang of ruffians, sent by the high priests, religion scholars, and leaders, brandishing swords and clubs.
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And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
44 The betrayer had worked out a signal with them: "The one I kiss, that's the one - seize him. Make sure he doesn't get away."
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And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.
45 He went straight to Jesus and said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him.
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And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
46 The others then grabbed him and roughed him up.
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And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
47 One of the men standing there unsheathed his sword, swung, and came down on the Chief Priest's servant, lopping off the man's ear.
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And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
48 Jesus said to them, "What is this, coming after me with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous criminal?
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And Jesus answered and said unto them,Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?
49 Day after day I've been sitting in the Temple teaching, and you never so much as lifted a hand against me. What you in fact have done is confirm the prophetic writings."
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I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
50 All the disciples cut and ran.
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And they all forsook him, and fled.
51 A young man was following along. All he had on was a bedsheet. Some of the men grabbed him
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And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
52 but he got away, running off naked, leaving them holding the sheet.
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And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
53 They led Jesus to the Chief Priest, where the high priests, religious leaders, and scholars had gathered together.
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And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
54 Peter followed at a safe distance until they got to the Chief Priest's courtyard, where he mingled with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.
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And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
55 The high priests conspiring with the Jewish Council looked high and low for evidence against Jesus by which they could sentence him to death. They found nothing.
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And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
56 Plenty of people were willing to bring in false charges, but nothing added up, and they ended up canceling each other out.
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For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
57 Then a few of them stood up and lied:
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And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,
58 "We heard him say, 'I am going to tear down this Temple, built by hard labor, and in three days build another without lifting a hand.'"
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We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
59 But even they couldn't agree exactly.
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But neither so did their witness agree together.
60 In the middle of this, the Chief Priest stood up and asked Jesus, "What do you have to say to the accusation?"
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And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
61 Jesus was silent. He said nothing. The Chief Priest tried again, this time asking, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed?"
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But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
62 Jesus said, "Yes, I am, and you'll see it yourself: The Son of Man seated At the right hand of the Mighty One, Arriving on the clouds of heaven."
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And Jesus said,I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
63 The Chief Priest lost his temper. Ripping his clothes, he yelled, "Did you hear that? After that do we need witnesses?
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Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
64 You heard the blasphemy. Are you going to stand for it?" They condemned him, one and all. The sentence: death.
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Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
65 Some of them started spitting at him. They blindfolded his eyes, then hit him, saying, "Who hit you? Prophesy!" The guards, punching and slapping, took him away.
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And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
66 While all this was going on, Peter was down in the courtyard. One of the Chief Priest's servant girls came in
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And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
67 and, seeing Peter warming himself there, looked hard at him and said, "You were with the Nazarene, Jesus."
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And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
68 He denied it: "I don't know what you're talking about." He went out on the porch. A rooster crowed.
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But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
69 The girl spotted him and began telling the people standing around, "He's one of them."
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And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
70 He denied it again. After a little while, the bystanders brought it up again. "You've got to be one of them. You've got 'Galilean' written all over you."
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And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
71 Now Peter got really nervous and swore, "I never laid eyes on this man you're talking about."
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But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
72 Just then the rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered how Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows twice, you'll deny me three times." He collapsed in tears.
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And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him,Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.