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<DIV>GOSPEL: Mark 14: 1 - 15: 47 (longer version, RCL
& Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV>
Mark 15: 1 - 39 (shorter version, all)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Mark 14:1 (NRSV) 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." </DIV>
<DIV>3 While he was at Beth'any 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." </DIV>
<DIV>10 Then Judas Iscar'iot, 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. </DIV>
<DIV>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.
</DIV>
<DIV>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." </DIV>
<DIV>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." </DIV>
<DIV>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,
</DIV>
<DIV>"I will strike the shepherd, </DIV>
<DIV>and the sheep will be scattered.' </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV>32 They went to a place called Gethsem'ane; 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." </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV>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 </DIV>
<DIV>"you will see the Son of Man </DIV>
<DIV>seated at the right hand of the Power,' </DIV>
<DIV>and "coming with the clouds of heaven.'" </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV>6 Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for
whom they asked. 7 Now a man called Barab'bas 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 Barab'bas 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 Barab'bas for them;
and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV>21 They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry
his cross; it was Simon of Cyre'ne, the father of Alexander and Rufus. 22 Then
they brought Jesus to the place called Gol'gotha (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. </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV>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, "E'loi, E'loi,
lema' sabach'thani?" 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
Eli'jah." 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 Eli'jah 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!" </DIV>
<DIV>40 There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary
Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Jo'ses, and Salo'me.
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. </DIV>
<DIV>42 When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is,
the day before the sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathe'a, 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 Mag'dalene and Mary the mother of Jo'ses saw where the body was laid.
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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Chad
Wohlers<BR>Woodbury, VT
USA<BR>chadwohl@satucket.com<BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>