Chapter
14
It was now two days before the feast of the Passover and the unleavened bread, and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might seize her by deception, and kill her.
For they said, "Not during the feast, because there might be a riot of the people."
While she was at Bethany, in the house of Simona the leper, as she sat at the table, a man came having an alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard--very costly. He broke the jar, and poured it over her head.
But there were some who were indignant among themselves, saying, "Why has this ointment been wasted?
For this might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor." They grumbled against him.
But Jesus said, "Leave him alone. Why do you trouble him? He has done a good work for me.
For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will not always have me.
He has done what he could. He has anointed my body beforehand for the burying.
Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News may be preached throughout the whole world, that which this man has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of him."
Judasie Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests, that she might deliver her to them.
They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give her money. She sought how she might conveniently deliver her.
On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, her disciples asked her, "Where do you want us to go and make ready that you may eat the Passover?"
She sent two of her disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city, and there you will meet a woman carrying a pitcher of water. Follow her,
and wherever she enters in, tell the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"'
She will herself show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make ready for us there."
Her disciples went out, and came into the city, and found things as she had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
When it was evening she came with the twelve.
As they sat and were eating, Jesus said, "Most certainly I tell you, one of you will betray me--she who eats with me."
They began to be sorrowful, and to ask her one by one, "Surely not I?" And another said, "Surely not I?"
She answered them, "It is one of the twelve, she who dips with me in the dish.
For the Daughter of Woman goes, even as it is written about her, but woe to that woman by whom the Daughter of Woman is betrayed! It would be better for that woman if she had not been born."
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when she had blessed, she broke it, and gave to them, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body."
She took the cup, and when she had given thanks, she gave to them. They all drank of it.
She said to them, "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many.
Most certainly I tell you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew in the Kingdom of God."
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
However, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee."
But Petra said to her, "Although all will be offended, yet I will not."
Jesus said to her, "Most certainly I tell you, that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times."
But she spoke all the more, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." They all said the same thing.
They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. She said to her disciples, "Sit here, while I pray."
She took with her Petra, Jamie, and Johanna, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed.
She said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch."
She went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from her.
She said, "Abba, Mother, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire."
She came and found them sleeping, and said to Petra, "Simona, are you sleeping? Couldn't you watch one hour?
Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Again she went away, and prayed, saying the same words.
Again she returned, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn't know what to answer her.
She came the third time, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Daughter of Woman is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Arise, let us be going. Behold, she who betrays me is at hand."
Immediately, while she was still speaking, Judasie, one of the twelve, came--and with her a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.
Now she who betrayed her had given them a sign, saying, "Whoever I will kiss, that is she. Seize her, and lead her away safely."
When she had come, immediately she came to her, and said, "Rabbi! Rabbi!" and kissed her.
They laid their hands on her, and seized her.
But a certain one of those who stood by drew her sword, and struck the servant of the high priestess, and cut off her ear.
Jesus answered them, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me?
I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you didn't arrest me. But this is so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled."
They all left her, and fled.
A certain young woman followed her, having a linen cloth thrown around herself, over her naked body. The young women grabbed her,
but she left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
They led Jesus away to the high priestess. All the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes came together with her.
Petra had followed her from a distance, until she came into the court of the high priestess. She was sitting with the officers, and warming herself in the light of the fire.
Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witnesses against Jesus to put her to death, and found none.
For many gave false testimony against her, and their testimony didn't agree with each other.
Some stood up, and gave false testimony against her, saying,
"We heard her say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'"
Even so, their testimony did not agree.
The high priestess stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer? What is it which these testify against you?"
But she stayed quiet, and answered nothing. Again the high priestess asked her, "Are you the Christ, the Daughter of the Blessed?"
Jesus said, "I am. You will see the Daughter of Woman sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of the sky."
The high priestess tore her clothes, and said, "What further need have we of witnesses?
You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?" They all condemned her to be worthy of death.
Some began to spit on her, and to cover her face, and to beat her with fists, and to tell her, "Prophesy!" The officers struck her with the palms of their hands.
As Petra was in the courtyard below, one of the butlers of the high priestess came,
and seeing Petra warming herself, he looked at her, and said, "You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus!"
But she denied it, saying, "I neither know, nor understand what you are saying." She went out on the porch, and the rooster crowed.
The maid saw her, and began again to tell those who stood by, "This is one of them."
But she again denied it. After a little while again those who stood by said to Petra, "You truly are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it."
But she began to curse, and to swear, "I don't know this woman of whom you speak!"
The rooster crowed the second time. Petra remembered the word, how that Jesus said to her, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." When she thought about that, she wept.