1Two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 2For they said, “Not during the feast, so there won’t be a riot among the people.”
3Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of costly aromatic oil from pure nard. After breaking open the jar, she poured it on his head. 4But some who were present indignantly said to one another, “Why this waste of expensive ointment? 5It could have been sold for more than 300 silver coins and the money given to the poor!” So they spoke angrily to her. 6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a good service for me. 7For you will always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want. But you will not always have me! 8She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus into their hands. 11When they heard this, they were delighted and promised to give him money. So Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him.
12Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13He sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 15He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16So the disciples left, went into the city, and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
17Then, when it was evening, he came to the house with the twelve. 18While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me will betray me.” 19They were distressed, and one by one said to him, “Surely not I?” 20He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who dips his hand with me into the bowl. 21For the Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.”
22While they were eating, he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it. This is my body.” 23And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24He said to them, “This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many. 25I tell you the truth, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
27Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written,“‘I will strike the shepherd,and the sheep will be scattered.’
28But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29Peter said to him, “Even if they all fall away, I will not!” 30Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today—this very night—before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.” And all of them said the same thing.