3-5. 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. Some of the guests became furious among themselves. “That’s criminal! A sheer waste! 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.
23-24. Taking the chalice, he gave it to them, thanking God, and they all drank from it. He said,This is my blood,God’s new covenant,Poured out for many people.
25. “I’ll not be drinking wine again until the new day when I drink it in the kingdom of God.”
26. They sang a hymn and then went directly to Mount Olives.
27-28. 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.“But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee.”
29. Peter blurted out, “Even if everyone else is ashamed of you when things fall to pieces, I won’t be.”
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.”
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.