Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from the Gospel
of Mark, Chapter 14, the Gospel of Luke, Chapter
22, and the Gospel of John, Chapter 13. Mark,
Chapter 14. After two days it was the Passover
and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief
priests and the scribes sought how they might
take him by trickery and put him to death. but
they said not during the feast lest there be
an uproar of the people and being in bethany
at the house of simon the leper as he sat at
the table a woman came having in a lepaster flask
a very costly oil of spikenard then she broke
the flask and poured it on his head but there
were some who were indignant among themselves
and said why was this fragrant oil wasted for
it might have been sold for more than three hundred
denarii and given to the poor and they criticized
her sharply. But Jesus said, Let her alone. Why
do you trouble her? She has done a good work
for me. For you have the poor with you always,
and whenever you wish, you may do them good.
But me you do not have always. She has done what
she could. She has come beforehand to anoint
my body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you,
wherever this gospel is preached in the whole
world, what this woman has done will also be
told as a memorial to her. Then Judas Iscariot,
one of the twelve, went to the chief priests
to betray him to them. And when they heard it,
they were glad and promised to give him money.
So he sought how he might conveniently betray
him. Now on the first day of unleavened bread,
when they killed the Passover lamb, his disciples
said to him, Where do you want us to go and prepare
that you may eat the Passover? And he sent out
two of his disciples and said to them, Go into
the city, and a man will meet you carrying a
pitcher of water. So his disciples went out and
came into the city, and found it just as he had
said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
In the evening he came with the twelve. Now as
they sat and ate, Jesus said, Assuredly I say
to you, one of you who eats with me will betray
me. And they began to be sorrowful and to say
to him one by one, Is it I? And another said,
Is it I? He answered and said to them, It is
one of the twelve who dips with me in a dish.
The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written
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 never been born. And as they
were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke
it, and gave it to them and said, Take, eat,
this is my body. Then he took the cup, and when
he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and
they all drank from it. And he said to them,
This is my blood, of the new covenant, which
is shed for many. Assuredly I say to you, I will
no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until
that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of
God. And when they had sung a hymn, They went
out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to
them, you will deny me three times. But he spoke
more vehemently, If I have to die with you, I
will not deny you. And they all said likewise.
Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane.
And he said to his disciples, Sit here while
I pray. And he took Peter, James, and John with
him, and he began to be troubled and deeply distressed.
Then he said to them, My soul is exceedingly
sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.
He went a little farther and fell on the ground
and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour
might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father,
all things are possible for you. Take this cup
away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will,
but what you will. Then he came and found them
sleeping and said to Peter, Simon, are you sleeping?
Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray,
lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is
indeed willing, but the flesh is weak. Again
he went away and prayed, and spoke the same words.
And when he returned, he found them asleep again,
for their eyes were heavy, and they did not know
what to answer him. Then he came the third time,
and said to them, Are you still sleeping and
resting? It is enough, the hour has come. Behold,
the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands
of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, my betrayer
is at hand. And immediately, while he was still
speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great
multitude with swords and clubs, came from the
chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
Now his betrayer had given them a signal, saying,
Whomever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him and
lead him away safely. As soon as he had come,
immediately he went up to him and said to him,
Rabbi, Rabbi, and kissed him. Then they laid
their hands on him and took him. And one of those
who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant
of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then
Jesus answered and said to them, Have you come
out as against a robber with swords and clubs
to take me? I was daily with you in the temple
teaching and you did not seize me, but the scriptures
must be fulfilled. Then they all forsook him
and fled. Now a certain young man followed him,
having a linen cloth thrown around his naked
body. And a young man laid hold of him. And he
left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.
And they led Jesus away to the high priest. And
with him were assembled all the chief priests,
the elders, and the scribes. But Peter followed
him at a distance, right into the courtyard of
the high priest. And he sat with the servants
and warned himself at the fire. Now the chief
priests and all the council sought testimony
against Jesus to put him to death, but found
none. For many bore false witness against him.
but their testimonies did not agree. Then some
rose up and bore false witness against him, saying,
We heard him say, I will destroy this temple
made with hands, and within three days I will
build another made without hands. But not even
then did their testimony agree. And the high
priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus,
saying, Do you answer nothing? What is it these
men testify against you? But he kept silent and
answered nothing. Again the high priest asked
him, saying to him, Are you the Christ, the Son
of the Blessed? Jesus said, I am. And you will
see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand
of the power and coming with the clouds of heaven.
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said,
What further need do we have of witnesses? You
have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?
And they all condemned him to be deserving of
death. Then some began to spit on him and to
blindfold him and to beat him and to say to him,
Prophesy. And the officers struck him with the
palms of their hands. Now as Peter was below
in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of
the high priest came. And when she saw Peter
warming himself, she looked at him and said,
You also were with Jesus of Nazareth. But he
denied it, saying, I neither know nor understand
what you are saying. And he went out on the porch,
and a rooster crowed. And the servant girls saw
him again, and began to say to those who stood
by, This is one of them. But he denied it again.
And a little later, those who stood by said to
Peter again, Surely you are one of them, for
you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.
Then he began to curse and swear, I do not know
this man of whom you speak. A second time the
rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the
word that Jesus had said to him, Before the rooster
crows twice, you will deny me three times. And
when he thought about it, he wept. Now the feast
of unleavened bread drew near, which is called
Passover, and the chief priests and the scribes
sought how they might kill him, for they feared
the people. Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed
Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.
So he went his way and conferred with the chief
priests and captains how he might betray him
to them, and they were glad and agreed to give
him money. So he promised and sought opportunity
to betray him to them in the absence of the multitude.
Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the
Passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and
John, saying, Go and prepare the Passover for
us, that we may eat. So they said to him, Where
do you want us to prepare? And he said to them,
Behold, when you have entered the city, a man
will meet you carrying a pitcher of water. Follow
him into the house which he enters. Then you
shall say to the master of the house, The teacher
says to you, Where is the guest room where I
may eat the Passover with my disciples? Then
he will show you a large furnished upper room
there, make ready. So they went and found it
just as he had said to them, and they prepared
the Passover. When the hour had come, he sat
down and the twelve apostles with him. Then he
said to them, With fervent desire, I have desired
to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
For I say to you, I will no longer... Eat of
it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
Then he took the cup and gave thanks and said,
Take this and divide it among yourselves. For
I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of
the vine until the kingdom of God comes. And
he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and
gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which
is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
likewise he also took the cup after supper saying
this cup is the new covenant in my blood which
is shed for you but behold the hand of my betrayer
is with me on the table and truly the son of
man goes as it has been determined but woe to
that man by whom he is betrayed then they began
to question among themselves which of them it
was who would do this thing Now there was also
a dispute among them as to which of them should
be considered the greatest. And he said to them,
The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over
them, and those who exercise authority over them
are called benefactors. But not so among you.
On the contrary, he who is greatest among you,
let him be as the younger. and he who governs
as he who serves. For who is greater, he who
sits at the table or he who serves? Is it not
he who sits at the table? Yet I among you as
the one who serves. But you are those who have
continued with me in my trials, and I bestow
upon you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed
one upon me, that you may eat and drink at my
table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging
the twelve tribes of Israel. And the Lord said,
Simon, Simon, indeed Satan has asked for you,
that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed
for you, that your faith should not fail. And
when you have returned to me, strengthen your
brethren. But he said to him, Lord, I am ready
to go with you, both to prison and to death.
Then he said, I tell you, Peter, the rooster
shall not crow this day, before you will deny
me three times that you know me. And he said
to them, When I sent you without money bag, knapsack,
and sandals, did you lack anything? So they said,
Nothing. Then he said to them, But now he who
has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise
a knapsack. And he who has no sword, let him
sell his garment and buy one. For I say to you
that this which is written must still be accomplished
in me. And he was numbered with the transgressors.
For the things concerning me have an end. So
they said, Lord, look, here are two swords. And
he said to them, It is enough. Coming out, he
went to the Mount of Olives, as he was accustomed,
and his disciples also followed him. When he
came to the place, he said to them, Pray that
you may not enter into temptation. And he was
withdrawn from them about a stone's throw. And
he knelt down and prayed, saying, Father, if
it is your will, take this cup away from me.
Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.
Then an angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening
him. And being in agony, he prayed more earnestly.
Then his sweat became like drops of blood, falling
down to the ground. When he rose up from prayer
and had come to his disciples, he found them
sleeping from sorrow. Then he said to them, Why
do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into
temptation. And while he was still speaking,
behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas,
one of the twelve, went before them and drew
near to Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to
him, Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man
with a kiss? When those around him saw what was
going to happen, they said to him, Lord, shall
we strike with the sword? And one of them struck
the servant of the high priest and cut off his
right ear. But Jesus answered and said, Permit
even this. And he touched his ear and healed
him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains
of the temple and the elders who had come to
him, Have you come out as against a robber with
swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in
the temple, you did not try to seize me, but
this is your hour and the power of darkness.
Having arrested him, they led him and brought
him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed
at a distance. Now, when they had kindled a fire
in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together,
Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl,
seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently
at him and said, This man was also with him.
But he denied him, saying, Woman, I do not know
him. And after a little while, another saw him
and said, You also are of them. But Peter said,
Man, I am not. Then after about an hour had passed,
another confidently affirmed, saying, Surely
this fellow also was with him, for he is a Galilean.
But Peter said, Man, I do not know what you are
saying. Immediately, while he was still speaking,
the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked
at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the
Lord, how he had said to him before the rooster
crows, You will deny me three times. So Peter
went out and wept bitterly. Now the men who held
Jesus mocked him and beat him, and having blindfolded
him, they struck him on the face and asked him,
saying, Prophesy, who is the one who struck you?
And many other things they blasphemously spoke
against him. And as soon as it was day, the elders
of the people, both chief priests and scribes,
came together and led him into their council,
saying, If you are the Christ, tell us. But he
said to them, If I tell you, you will by no means
believe. And if I also ask you, you will by no
means answer me or let me go. Hereafter the Son
of Man will sit on the right hand of the power
of God. Then they all said, Are you then the
Son of God? So he said to them, You rightly say
that I am. And they said, What further testimony
do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from
his own mouth. Now before the feast of the Passover,
when Jesus knew that his hour had come, that
he should depart from this world to the Father,
having loved his own who were in the world, he
loved them to the end. And supper being ended,
the devil having already put it into the heart
of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things
into his hands, and that he had come from God
and was going to God, rose from supper and laid
aside his garments. took a towel and girded himself.
After that, he poured water into a basin and
began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe
them with the towel with which he was girded.
Then he came to Simon Peter, and Peter said to
him, Lord, are you washing my feet? Jesus answered
and said to him, What I am doing you do not understand
now, but you will know after this. Peter said
to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered
him, If I do not wash you, you have no part with
me. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet
only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said
to him, He who is bathed needs only to wash his
feet, but is completely clean, and you are clean,
but not all of you. For he knew who would betray
him, therefore he said, You are not all clean.
So when he had washed their feet, taken his garments,
and sat down again, he said to them, Do you know
what I have done to you? You call me teacher
and Lord, and you say, well, for so I am. If
I then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your
feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
For I have given you an example that you should
do as I have done to you. Most assuredly I say
to you, a servant is not greater than his master,
nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent
him. If you know these things, blessed are you
if you do them. I do not speak concerning all
of you. I know whom I have chosen, but that the
scripture may be fulfilled. He who eats bread
with me has lifted up his heel against me. Now
I tell you before it comes, that when it does
come to pass, you may believe that I am he. Most
assuredly I say to you, he who receives whomever
I send, receives me, and he who receives me,
receives him who sent me. When Jesus had said
these things, He was troubled in spirit and testified
and said, Most assuredly I say to you, one of
you will betray me. Then the disciples looked
at one another, perplexed about whom he spoke.
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of
his disciples whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore
motioned to him to ask who it was of whom he
spoke. Then leaning back on Jesus' breast, he
said to him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered,
It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread
when I have dipped it. And having dipped the
bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son
of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan
entered him. Then Jesus said to him, What you
do, do quickly. But no one at the table knew
for what reason he said this to him. For some
thought, because Judas had the money box, that
Jesus had said to him, Buy those things we need
for the feast, or that he should give something
to the poor. Having received the piece of bread,
he then went out immediately, and it was night.
So when he had gone out, Jesus said, Now the
Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified
in him. If God is glorified in him, God will
also glorify him in himself, and glorify him
immediately. Little children, I shall be with
you a little while longer. You will seek me,
and as I said to the Jews, where I am going you
cannot follow. So now I say to you, A new commandment
I give to you, that you love one another as I
have loved you, that you also love one another.
By this all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another. Simon Peter
said to him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus
answered him, Where I am going you cannot follow
me now, but you shall follow me afterward. Peter
said to him, Lord, why can I not follow you now?
I will lay down my life for your sake. Jesus
answered him, Will you lay down your life for
my sake? Most assuredly I say to you, the rooster
shall not crow till you have denied me three
times. I hope you enjoyed today's reading as
much as I did, and I look forward to seeing you
again tomorrow to continue on our journey. God
bless you and have a great day.