“Learn this parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.

so, whenever you see this happen, you may be sure He is at hand, at the very door.

Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

Now the Passover Festival and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were held two days later. [Note: This was the annual Jewish Festival week commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage under Moses' leadership. The unleavened bread was specially baked bread containing no yeast, which was eaten for seven days as part of the celebration]. And the leading priests and experts in the law of Moses were looking for a way to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him.

because they kept saying, "This must not happen during the festival. Otherwise, there'll be a riot among the people."

And while Jesus was in Bethany [Note: This was a small village fewer than two miles east of Jerusalem], sitting at the dinner table in the house of Simon, the man with an infectious skin disease [Note: This man had probably been healed by now], a woman with an alabaster [i.e., stone] jar of very expensive perfume came to Him, broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head.

And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

For this ointment might have been sold for above three hundred shillings, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why are you bothering this woman? For she has done a kind deed to me.

She has done what she could. She has applied this aromatic oil to my body in anticipation of my burial.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

After this, Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the Chief Priests, to betray Jesus to them.

And [when] they heard [this], they were delighted, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how he could betray him conveniently.

They were grieved at this, and began to say to him, one after another: "Can it be I?"

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

Truly I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine [i.e., grape juice] any more until that day when I will drink it again [i.e., figuratively] in the kingdom of God."

And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Jesus and His disciples came to a place called Gethsemene [Note: This was an olive orchard on a hillside just east of Jerusalem]. He said to His disciples, "You sit here while I [go away and] pray."

then advancing a little further, he fell on the ground, and prayed, that this anxiety might pass from him.

And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

When he came back for the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough of this! The time has come. See! the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of wicked men.

And the traitor had given them this signal, saying, Whom I shall kiss, he is the one; take him, and lead him away safely.

I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but this is done that the scriptures might be fulfilled.

And a certain young man [Note: Some think this is a reference to Mark himself], who had a linen outer garment thrown over his scantily clad body, was following Jesus until they [i.e., the soldiers and officers] took hold of him. [Note: The wording here does not indicate total nakedness, but rather the wearing of underclothing only]

Some stood up and gave this false testimony against him:

We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent.

The high priest stood up and came forward and asked Jesus, “Have You no answer to give [in response] to what these men are testifying against You?”

At this the High Priest tore his vestments. "Why do we want any more witnesses?" he exclaimed.

And seeing Peter warming himself by the fire, she gave him a look, and said, You were with this Nazarene, even Jesus.

And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.

But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

And in the same minute, the cock gave a second cry. And it came to Peter's mind how Jesus had said to him, Before the cock's second cry, you will say three times that you have no knowledge of me. And at this thought he was overcome with weeping.

and at this time a man named Barabbas was in prison among the insurgents--persons who in the insurrection had committed murder.

[So], Pilate again asked them, "Then what shall I do to this one you call the king of the Jews?"

They placed a purple robe on Him [Note: Matt. 27:28 calls this a "scarlet" robe. In that day, any color with a mixture of "red" in it was often called "purple"], and making a wreath out of thorns, they placed it on His head.

They forced a passerby, named Simon of Cyrene [Note: This was a city in the northern African country of Libya], the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the countryside, to go with them so he could carry Jesus' cross [i.e., probably only the cross-beam portion].

They offered Him wine, mixed with aromatic spices, but He refused to accept it. [Note: Matt. 27:34 calls this "gall," a bitter drug for the purpose of dulling the pain of crucifixion].

Then they crucified Him. This done, they divided His garments among them, drawing lots to decide what each should take.

It was nine o'clock in the morning and they crucified Him. [Note: John 19:14 indicates that the crucifixion took place about noon. This can be harmonized if we take Mark's account to mean when the entire process began].

so that this passage of scripture was fulfill'd, "and he was numbred with the transgressors."

This Christ, the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Even the men who were being crucified with Him heaped insults on Him.

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Look, He’s calling for Elijah!”

And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

And there were also some women watching all this from a distance. Among them were Mary from Magdala; Mary the mother of the younger James and [his brother] Joseph [i.e., probably the wife of Clopas. See John 19:25]; and Salome [i.e., the mother of James and John and wife of Zebedee. See Matt. 27:56].

By this time it was evening, and as it was the day of Preparation (that is, the day before the sabbath)

Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead.

And ascertaining this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.

But he said to them, "Do not be terrified. It is Jesus you are looking for--the Nazarene who has been crucified. He has come back to life: He is not here: this is the place where they laid Him.

So, they left, running out of the cave, [and] trembling with amazement. And they said nothing to anyone about this for they were afraid.

After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them as they were walking along the way to the country.

Afterwards he appeared at table to the eleven themselves and reproached them for their unbelief and dulness of mind, because they had not believed those who saw him risen from the dead. [But they excused themselves, saying, "This age of lawlessness and unbelief lies under the sway of Satan, who will not allow what lies under the unclean spirits to understand the truth and power of God; therefore," they said to Christ, "reveal your righteousness now." Christ answered them, "The term of years for Satan's power has now expired, but other terrors are at hand. I was delivered to death on behalf of sinners, that they might return to the truth and sin no more, that they might inherit that glory of righteousness which is spiritual and imperishable in heaven."]

And these [miraculous] signs will attend [the conversion of] those who believe. [Note: This refers to the supernatural miracles performed by the apostles and their associates during the apostolic age. See verse

to perform his customary duties as a priest before God, he drew the responsibility [that day] of entering the Temple of the Lord to burn the incense offering. [Note: This was done on a golden Altar in the Temple by a priest twice a day].

And seeing this, Zacharias was troubled, and fear fell on him.

This will bring gladness and delight to you, and many will rejoice over his birth.

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and he will not drink any wine or intoxicating drinks [Note: This restriction suggests that John may have taken the special vow of consecration making him a "Nazarite"]. And he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the time he is born.

And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

The angel replied and said to him, “I am Gabriel; I stand and minister in the [very] presence of God, and I have been sent [by Him] to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

And now you will be dumb and unable to speak until the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words--words which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."

Now after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she secluded herself completely, saying,

“The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.”

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And consider this, you will become pregnant and give birth to a son and you will name Him Jesus.

This one will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called 'the Son of God.'

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

So Mary said, "Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste into the hill country to a town in Judah.

and Elizabeth divinely inspired, broke out into this acclamation.

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

How blessed is this woman for believing that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled!"

Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,

And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

All their neighbors were awe-struck at this; and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about;

And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Just as He promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient times—

He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant --

the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants

Just at this time an edict was issued by Caesar Augustus for the registration of the whole Empire.

(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

but the angel said to them, "Have no fear. This is good news I am bringing you, news of a great joy that is meant for all the People.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Then when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed [Note: This was a set procedure required for a Jewish mother on the birth of a child. See Lev. 12:1-8], Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

“Now, Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to leave [this world] in peace,
According to Your word;

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

and this woman was a widow to eighty-four years), who did not depart from the temple, serving with fastings and supplications night and day.

And she came up at this very time, and gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Now Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem every year to attend the Passover Festival. [Note: This was the annual Jewish festival commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage under Moses' leadership].

and as they were returning [to Nazareth], after spending the required number of days [at the Feast], the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. Now His parents did not know this,

When they saw Him, they were overwhelmed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Listen, Your father and I have been [greatly distressed and] anxiously looking for You.”

Now it was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip was ruler of the regions of Ituraea and Trachonitus [Note: These two men were sons of Herod the Great (See Matt. 2:1) and ruled over provinces east of the Jordan River] and Lysanias was ruler of Abilene [Note: This was a province just north of the two previously mentioned ones].

[During this time], while Annas and Caiaphas [Note: This man was Annas' son-in-law. See John 18:13] were head priests, God's message came to John [the Immerser], son of Zacharias, [when he was] in the desert [of Judea].