The Testimony of Yeshua

Mark 10: He got up and went to the region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed Him there and He taught them as He had been doing.

2 The Pharisees came to Him and tested Him by asking, “Does it violate the Torah for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He asked them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They replied, “Moses allowed us to write a bill of divorce and send her away.” 5 Yeshua (Jesus) told them, “It was because of your hardened attitudes that Moses wrote this rule for you. 6 But from the beginning, ‘Yehovah made them male and female.’ 7 That’s why a man should leave his father and mother and be glued to his wife, 8 and the two will be one 'entity'. So they are no longer two, but one 'entity'. 9 So no one should separate what Yehovah has joined together.”

10 In the house the disciples asked Him about this again. 11 He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another is committing adultery. 12 If a woman leaves her husband and marries another, she’s committing adultery.”

Yeshua Blesses the Children

13 People brought little children to Him so that He could touch them. But His disciples scolded those who brought them. 14 When Yeshua saw it, He was very displeased and He said, “Allow the little children to come to Me. Don’t stop them! The Kingdom of Yehovah [1] is for people like them. 15 I am certain that whoever doesn’t receive the Kingdom of Yehovah like a little child won’t enter at all.” 16 Then He took them in His arms and laid His hands on them and blessed them.

How to Inherit Eternal Life!

17 As He was beginning His journey, someone ran and fell to his knees and asked Him, “Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal Life? [2]” 18 Yeshua replied, “Why call Me good? No one is good but Aloha [God] alone. 19 You know the Commandments: Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t murder. Don’t give false testimony. Don’t cheat. Honor your father and your mother.”

20 The man replied, “Master, I’ve obeyed all of these from my childhood.” 21 Yeshua looked at him and loved him and told him, “There’s one thing you haven’t done. Go and sell everything that you own and give the money to the poor and there will be a treasure for you in Heaven. Then pick up your cross and follow Me.” 22 He lamented those words and went away grieving because he was very rich. 23 Yeshua looked around and said to His disciples, “It is very hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Yehovah!”

24 The disciples were astonished at His remark. Then Yeshua added, “Children, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Yehovah. 25 It is easier to put a rope [3] thru the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Yehovah.”

26 They were even more astonished and asked each other, “Then who can receive eternal Life?” 27 Yeshua looked at them again and said, “With people it’s not possible, but with Yehovah it is, because everything is possible with Yehovah.” 28 Cephas replied, “Look, we have given up everything to follow You.”

29 Yeshua said, “I am certain that no man who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or 'farms' for My sake, and for the sake of My Good News 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much here in the present time, including houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and farms, along with persecution, and in the world to come, eternal Life. 31 But many who are now first in influence will be last, and many who are now last will be first.”

Yeshua’s Third Prediction of His Death and Resurrection

32 While they were on their way up the road to Jerusalem, Yeshua was leading the way. They were amazed as they followed Him—trembling as He took His twelve and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him there. 33 He said, “We’re going to Jerusalem, and the Human Son will be handed over to the high priests and the Torah teachers, and they’ll condemn Him to death and hand Him over to the heathen [ethnos]! 34 They’ll mock Him and scourge Him and spit in His face and kill Him, but after three days He’ll rise.”

Servant Leadership

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him and asked, “Master, we want You to grant us whatever request we ask of You.” 36 He asked them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They replied, “Allow one of us to sit on Your right side and the other on Your left side in Your splendor.” 38 But He told them, “You don’t know what you’re asking for. Are you able to drink from the same cup that I drink from and be immersed with the same immersion that I’m immersed with?” 39 They told Him, “We are able”. So Yeshua told them, “You will drink the from cup that I drink from and you will be immersed with the same kind of immersion that I’m immersed with. 40 But I don’t have the authority to seat you on My right side or on My left. Those positions were previously 'reserved'.”

41 When the other ten heard this they began to mutter about James and John. 42 Yeshua called them and said, “You know that those who are considered the rulers of the nations are tyrants and their great men have authority over them. 43 But it must NEVER be like that with you, because whoever wants to be great among you should be a servant, 44 and whoever who wants to be the most influential must become a servant to everyone. 45 The Human Son didn’t come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as the ransom for many.”

Yeshua Heals Bartimaeus

46 Then they went to Jericho. As Yeshua was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting beside the road. 47 When he heard that it was Yeshua the Nazarene passing by, he began to shout, “Son of David, have mercy on me.”

48 People criticized him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me.” 49 Yeshua stood there and had them call for him. They called the blind man and told him, “Cheer up and get up. He’s calling for you!” 50 The blind man threw off his coat and got up and came to Yeshua. 51 Yeshua asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man told him, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 Yeshua told him, “Go, your faith has restored you.” Immediately he could see again and he followed Him down the road.

Mark 11: As they approached Jerusalem, near Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples 2 and told them, “Go into the village ahead of us, and as soon as you enter you’ll find a colt tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie him and bring him here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ Tell them, ‘Because our Master needs him.’ He’ll send him here right away.”

4 They went and found the colt tied by a door out by the street. As they were untying him 5 some people standing there asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?” 6 They told them what Yeshua had said, and they allowed them to take him. 7 They brought the colt to Yeshua and threw their coats over him, and Yeshua sat on him. 8 Many spread their coats on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Those ahead of Him and those following Him shouted, “Aloha save Him [Aramaic Ushana]! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of Yehovah. 10 Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David. Save Him now in the highest Heaven”[Aramaic Ushana bamraumee] !

11 Yeshua went into the Temple in Jerusalem and looked around at everything. That evening He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

The Fig Tree Withers

12 The next day as He was leaving Bethany, He was hungry. 13 He saw a fig tree in full leaf in the distance, and He went to see if He could find something on it to eat. When He got to it, He found nothing on it but leaves because it was too early for fruit. 14 He said to it, “From now on, no one will ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples heard Him.

Bankers Booted

15 When they came to Jerusalem, Yeshua entered Yehovah’s Temple and began to throw out everyone who bought and sold in the Temple, and He overturned the tables of the bankers [1] and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 He wouldn’t allow anyone to carry goods thru the Temple. 17 As He taught them, He asked, “Isn’t it written, ‘My 'temple' will be called the 'temple' of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves.’”

18 The high priests and the Torah teachers heard Him, and they began looking for a way to destroy Him. They were afraid of Him because all the people were amazed at His teaching. 19 That evening they left the city.

20 In the morning as they passed by the fig tree, they saw that it had dried up down to the roots. 21 Remembering what Yeshua had said, Simon remarked, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you doomed has dried up.”

22 Yeshua replied, “Have faith in Yehovah. 23 And believe Me, whoever tells this mountain, ‘Rise up and fall into the sea’, having no doubts in their mind, but believing that what they said will happen for them, then whatever they spoke will be done for them.

Prayer and Forgiveness

24 That’s why I’m telling you that whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you will receive it and it will be yours. 25 Whenever you stand up to pray, disregard whatever you have against anyone, so that your Heavenly Father can also disregard and acquit your offenses.” 26 But if you don’t disregard offenses, then your heavenly Father won’t acquit your offenses [2].

27 They came to Jerusalem again. As He was walking in the Temple courtyard, the high priests and Torah teachers and elders came to Him 28 and asked Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You the authority to do them?” 29 Yeshua replied, “I’ll also ask you a question, answer Me, and I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Did the immersion of John come from Heaven or from men? Tell Me.”

31 Then began considering their options, and said, “If we say, ‘From Heaven’, He’ll ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘From men’—we are afraid of what the people would do, because they all believe that John was truly a prophet.” 33 So they told Yeshua, ‘We don’t know.’ So He told them, ‘Nor will I tell you by what authority I’m doing these things.’”

Mark 12: He began talking to them in analogies: “A man planted a vineyard and enclosed it with a hedge and dug out a wine press and built a tower in it. Then he entrusted it to sharecroppers before going on a journey. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the sharecroppers to collect his share of the vintage. 3 But they beat him and sent him away empty handed. 4 So he sent another servant to them, and they threw stones at him also, injuring him, and sent him away after treating him shamefully. 5 He sent another, and they killed him. He sent many other servants. Some they beat and some they killed. 6 Finally, having only a dear son left, he sent him to them, thinking, ‘Perhaps they’ll be ashamed when my son shows up.’ 7 But the sharecroppers said to each other, ‘This is the heir. We should kill him, and his inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they took him and killed him and threw his body out of the vineyard.

9 So what will the owner of the vineyard do? He’ll come and put those sharecroppers to death and lease the vineyard to others. 10 Haven’t you read this Scripture, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone?’ 11 This is from Yehovah, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”

12 They looked for an excuse to arrest Him, but were afraid of the people. They realized that He had spoken this analogy in reference to them. So they left Him alone and went away.

13 Then they sent some Torah teachers and Herodians to Him in order to entrap Him by His own words. 14 They came and asked Him, “Master, we know that You are truthful and without favoritism toward anyone. You don’t consider anyone’s position, but teach the way of Yehovah in truth. Does the Torah permit giving tribute money to Caesar or not? Should we pay the tax or not?” 15 He understood their treachery, and asked them, “Why are you trying to ensnare Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” 16 So they brought one to Him. Then He asked them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied, “It’s Caesar’s”.

17 Then Yeshua said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to Yehovah what is Yehovah’s.” They were amazed at Him.

Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection

18 Then some Sadducees, who claim that there is no resurrection, came to Him with a question: 19 “Master, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a widow and leaves no children, his brother should 'marry' his widow and raise up 'children' for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers. The first married and died without leaving any children. 21 The second married her and died, and he also left no children, and so did the third. 22 All seven married her and none left any children. Last of all the woman died too. 23 So in the resurrection, which of them will she be married to, since all seven had married her?”

24 Yeshua replied, “Aren’t you mistaken because you don’t understand the Scriptures or Yehovah’s power?” 25 When they rise from the dead, they don’t take wives nor are wives given to husbands. Rather, they are like the spirit messengers in Heaven. 26 But as for the dead rising, haven’t you read in a scroll of Moses, how Yehovah said to him from the bush, ‘I’m the Aloha of Abraham, the Aloha of Isaac, and the Aloha of Jacob?’ 27 He’s not the Aloha of the dead, but of the living. So you are 'gravely' mistaken.

The Most Important Commandment

28 One of the Torah teachers came near and heard the dialog. He realized that He had given them an excellent answer. So he asked Him, “Which Commandment is the most important of all?”

29 Yeshua replied, “The most important of all the Commandments is, ‘Hear, O Israel; Yehovah our Aloha is One Yehovah, 30 and you must love Yehovah your Aloha with all of your intellectual endeavors, with all of your consciousness [psyche, Gr: psuche], with all of your understanding, and with all your ability.’ This is the most important Commandment. 31 The second is similar, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other Commandment is greater than these.”

32 The Torah teacher replied, “An excellent answer Rabbi. You’ve spoken the truth in saying that there is one Aloha, and there are none other than Him. 33 For a person to love Yehovah with all of their intellectual endeavors and with all their consciousnesses, with all of their understanding, with their ability, and to love their neighbors as themselves is far better than all the burnt offerings and ze’bakim [sacrifices].”

34 Then Yeshua, noting the wisdom of his reply, told him, “You aren’t far from the Kingdom of Yehovah.” No one dared to question Him again after that.

David and the Messiah

35 Later, while Yeshua was teaching in the Temple courtyard, He asked, “How can the Torah teachers say that the Messiah is David’s son? 36 Because David himself, inspired by the 'special' spirit, said, “Yehovah said to His Word [Targum of Jonathan (Aramaic) Psalm 110:1]—Gill’s Commentary], ‘Seat Yourself on My right hand side until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’”

37 So if David calls Him Master, how could He be his Son?” The crowd was delighted to hear this.

Watch Out For Torah Teachers

38 Continuing to teach, He said, “Watch out for the Torah teachers. They love to strut around in long robes and be greeted [Aramaic shlama] in public places, 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and the best seating arrangements at banquets.” 40 They devour widow’s houses and offer long prayers for appearance’s sake. They will receive a harsher condemnation.”

41 As Yeshua sat before the treasury room of the Temple, He watched how the people were tossing money into the treasury. Many rich people tossed in a large amounts. 42 Then a poor widow came and tossed in two mites, small brass coins.

43 Yeshua called His disciples together and told them, “I am certain that this poor widow has tossed more into the treasury than all the others who are tossing money in. 44 They all throw in portions of their surplus, but she, in her poverty, has thrown in all she had—everything she owned.”

Mark 13: As Yeshua was leaving the Temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Master, look at these stones and these buildings!”

2 Yeshua asked him, “Do you see these large buildings? There won’t be a single stone left on another here that will not be knocked down.”

Signs of the End of the Age

3 As Yeshua sat on the Mount of Olives facing the Temple, Cephas and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign that these things are about to happen?”

5 Yeshua replied, “Be careful that no one misleads you. 6 Many will come in My name and say, ‘I AM’, [no ‘He’ in Ar. or Gr.], and they’ll deceive many. 7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of battles, don’t be afraid because these things must happen, but it’s not the end yet. 8 Nations will rise against other nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms. There will be earthquakes in various places and famines and insurrections. These are like the earliest pains of childbirth.

9 Be very careful, because they’ll hand you over to judges, and you’ll be beaten in the synagogues [Gr. sunagoge]. You’ll stand before kings and governors for My sake as witnesses to them for Me. 10 But first the Good News must be proclaimed in every nation. 11 When they arrest you and hand you over to stand trial, don’t worry beforehand about what you’ll say or premeditate your words. Say what is given to you spontaneously, because it won’t be you speaking, but the kadosh spirit.

12 Brothers will betray brothers to death and fathers their children. Children will stand up against their parents and have them put to death. 13 Everyone will hate you because of My name. But whoever endures to the end will be Rescued.

The Great Tribulation

14 When you see the sign of the idolatrous abomination of desolation that was mentioned by Daniel the prophet standing where it should never be—the reader must understand— [1] then you who are in Judea should flee to the mountain [2]. 15 No one who is on the roof should go down to get anything from their house. 16 No one in the fields should return to get their clothes. 17 It will be a terrible time for pregnant and nursing women during those days! 18 Pray that your exodus' won’t be during the foul weather. 19 In those days there will be tribulation on a scale that has never happened since the beginning of Yehovah’s creation until now—and certainly never again! 20 If it weren’t for Yehovah terminating those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the select who have chosen [3] [to remain faithful], those days are terminated [4]. 21 During this time if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah’, or ‘Look, He’s over there’, don’t believe it. 22 False Messiahs and lying prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles in order to deceive, if possible, even the select. 23 So watch out! I’ve told you everything in advance.

After the Tribulation

24 Now in the days AFTER the Tribulation [5a], ‘The sun will be darkened; and the moon won’t give her light. 25 Stars will fall from the sky [Isaiah 12:, Joel 3:], and the dynamism [Gr. dunamis] of the heavens will be shaken.’

26 Then they’ll see the Human Son coming in the clouds [Daniel 7] with great power and splendor. 27 Then He’ll send out His spirit messengers to gather His select people from the four winds [north, south, east and west], from the furthermost bounds of the land to the furthermost bounds of the sky.

28 Learn an analogy from a fig tree. When its twigs become tender and its leaves begin to bud, you know that warm weather is coming. 29 Similarly, when you see these things happening, you’ll know that it [the Day of Yehovah [5b]] is near—right at your opened door! 30 I’m sure that this perverse nation [6] won’t pass away [7a] until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will arrive [7b], but My Word won’t disappear [7c].

32 But no one knows the exact day and hour [8], not the spirit messengers in heaven, not even the Son, only the Father. 33 Be careful, watch and pray, because you don’t know when the exact time is. 34 The Human Son is like a man who left home and went on a journey. He gave guardianship to his servants, each had their assignments, and he instructed the doorkeeper to stay on the alert.

35 So stay alert, because you don’t know when the master of the house is returning, whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. 36 Make sure He doesn’t come unexpectedly and find you asleep! 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone—‘Stay alert’!

Mark 14: It was two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The high priests and the Torah teachers were bent on finding a stratagem to arrest Him and kill Him. 2 But they said, “Not during the Feast, because the people might begin to riot.”

3 While He was in Bethany in Simon the potter’s house [1], as He was eating, a woman came with an alabaster jar of precious spikenard perfume. She opened it and poured it on Yeshua’s head.

4 Some of the disciples there got upset and began asking each other, “Why was this perfume wasted? 5 It could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were angry with her.

6 But Yeshua said, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing something good for Me? 7 You’ll always have the poor with you, and you can do good things for them whenever you want to, but I won’t always be with you. 8 She’s done the best she could in preparation for My burial, by perfuming My body. 9 I’m certain that wherever My Good News is proclaimed thruout the world, what she has done will be mentioned in memory of her.”

Judas Betrays Yeshua

10 Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the high priests in order to betray Yeshua to them. 11 When they heard this they were thrilled, and they promised to pay him off. So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Him.

Preparation For Passover

12 On the First Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Jews present the Passover ze’bak [sacrifice], His disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

13 He sent two of His disciples and told them, “Go to the city, and you’ll meet a man carrying a water jug. Follow him. 14 When he goes into a house, tell the owner of the house that our Rabbi asks, ‘Where is My banquet room where I may [2] eat the Passover with My disciples?’ 15 Then he will show you a large room upstairs, furnished with seating and available. Make preparations for us there.”

16 His disciples left and went into the city, and found things just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 17 When it was evening, He arrived with the twelve. 18 As they were eating, Yeshua said, “I am certain that one of you eating with Me will betray Me.”

19 They were becoming distressed, and began asking Him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He told them, “It is the one of you twelve who dips bread with Me from the bowl.” 21 The Human Son is leaving just as it is written of Him. But how terrible it will be for the man who betrays the Human Son. It would be better for that man if he’d never been born.”

Yeshua’s Supper Instituted

22 As they were eating, Yeshua took a loaf of bread [3] and blessed it. Then He broke it and handed it to them, and said, “Take some, this is My body.” 23 Then He took a cup, praised [Gr. eulogeo] and blessed [4] it, and passed it to them. And they all drank from it.

24 He told them, “This is My blood of the New Covenant [5] that is poured out on behalf of many. 25 I’ll definitely not taste the fruit of the vine again until the day when I drink a new variety [or fresh wine] in the Kingdom of Yehovah.

26 They sang a paschal praise Psalm and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Yeshua Predicts Cephas’ Denial

27 Yeshua told them, “Tonight all of you will abandon Me, because it’s written, ‘I’ll strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of His flock will be widely scattered’. 28 After I have risen to Life, I’ll go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29 Cephas replied, “Even if everyone else considers You to be scandalous [Gr. skandalizo], I won’t.” 30 Yeshua told him, “I am certain that today—this very night—before the rooster crows twice, you’ll deny Me three times.”

31 So he emphatically added, “Even if I have to die with You, I won’t disown You, Master.” All the disciples said similar things.

Yeshua’s Prayer in the Garden

32 They came to a place called Gethsemane, and He told His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Cephas, James and John with Him and began to be sorrowful and distressed. 34 He told them, “My consciousness [psyche, Gr: psuche] is overcome with sorrow to the point of death! Wait for Me here and keep watch.”

35 He went on a little farther, and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour could pass from Him. 36 He said, “O Elohim, My Elohim! You can do anything. Cause this cup to pass from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours.”

37 He returned and found them sleeping, and He said to Cephas, “Are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch with Me for a single hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you don’t yield to temptation. The spirit is willing and ready, but the body is weak.”

39 He went away again and prayed, repeating the same things. 40 He came back again and found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy, and they didn’t know what to say to Him.

41 He came back a third time and said, “So they are already having sleep and rest [6]! The end is near! The hour has come. Look! The Human Son is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up. We’re leaving. My betrayer is coming.”

43 While He was still speaking, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, arrived with a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the high priests, the Torah teachers and the elders.

44 The traitor who betrayed Him had given them a signal. He said, “The One I kiss is the One. Arrest Him and lead Him away under guard.” 45 He stepped right up and said, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” And kissed Him. 46 They grabbed Him and arrested Him. 47 One of those who stood nearby pulled a sword and struck the underling of the high priest and cut off his ear.

48 Yeshua asked them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a robber? 49 I was with you every day teaching in the Temple and you didn’t arrest Me. Yet this is happening to fulfill the Scriptures.” 50 Then His disciples deserted Him and ran away.

51 A young man followed Him who was only wearing a linen cloth on his nearly naked body. When they grabbed him, 52 he slipped free of the linen cloth and ran away naked.

Yeshua Faces the Sanhedrin

53 They led Yeshua to Caiaphas the high priest, and all the high priests and Torah teachers and the elders had gathered with him. 54 Simon followed Him at a distance as far as the high priests’ courtyard. He sat with the underlings warming himself by the fire.

55 The high priests and the entire Sanhedrin were trying to obtain testimony against Yeshua in order to put Him to death, but they couldn’t find any. 56 Tho many gave false testimony against Him, their testimonies were inconsistent.

57 Some false witnesses stood up against Him and said, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I’ll destroy this Temple made with hands, and in three days I’ll build another not made with hands.’” 59 But even then their testimonies were contradictory.

60 The high priest stood with them and asked Yeshua, “Don’t You have an answer? What about these claims against You?” 61 But Yeshua was silent, He wouldn’t reply. Again the high priest demanded an answer, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62 Yeshua replied, “I AM. And you will see the Human Son sitting on the right hand side of the Power, when He comes on the clouds in the sky!” 63 The high priest tore his clothes and asked, “Why do we need more witnesses? 64 Look, you’ve heard the blasphemy from His own lips. What do you think?” And they unanimously condemned Him to death. 65 Some began to spit on Him, and beat Him with their fists. They told Him, “Prophesy”. The underlings slapped His cheeks.

Cephas Denies Yeshua

66 As Simon was below in the courtyard, a servant girl of the high priest came 67 and saw him warming himself. She looked at him and said, “You were also with Yeshua the Nazarene.” 68 But he denied it by saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Then he went out onto the porch and the rooster crowed.

69 The servant girl saw him again and began saying to the bystanders, “This man is also one of them.” 70 He denied it again. A little later other bystanders said to Cephas, “Surely you are one of them, because you are also a Galilean, and your dialect confirms it.” 71 Then He began to curse and swear, “I don’t know this Man you’re talking about.”

72 Immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Simon recalled that Yeshua had told him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you’ll deny Me three times.” And he began to cry.

Mark 15: At dawn, the high priests, the elders, and the Torah teachers held a meeting. They and the entire Sanhedrin bound Yeshua and led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate, the Governor [1].

2 Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He replied, “You said it yourself”.

3 The high priests made many accusations against Him. 4 Pilate asked Him again, “Aren’t You going to reply? Look at all the charges they’re bringing against You!” 5 Pilate was amazed that Yeshua wouldn’t answer him.

Barabbas Replaces Yeshua

6 It was his custom at every Feast to release one prisoner—whoever they wanted. 7 A man named Bar Abas had been imprisoned with the insurgents who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 The people called out demanding that he do what he usually did for them.

9 Pilate answered, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 Pilate knew that the high priests had arrested Him out of envy. 11 But the high priests continued to persuade the crowd to demand that Bar Abas be released to them.

12 Pilate asked them, “What should I do with the One you call the King of the Jews?” 13 They shouted out, “Crucify Him”. 14 Pilate asked them, “Why? What crime has He committed?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him”.

15 Pilate, wanting to pacify the mob, released Bar Abas to them. And after scourging Yeshua, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Soldiers Mock Yeshua

16 The soldiers led Him into the court of the Praetorium, and they called out the entire regiment. 17 They clothed Him in purple, and wove a crown of thorns and put it on Him. 18 Then they began to salute Him with, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 They hit Him on the head with a reed and spit in His face, and bowed down on their knees and pretended to worship Him. 20 After mocking Him, they took the purple robe off of Him and put His own clothes on Him. Then they led Him out to be crucified.

A Cyrenian Carries Yeshua’s Cross

21 They compelled a passerby named Simon the Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the fields, to carry His cross. 22 They brought Him to Golgotha (which means “The Skull”). 23 They offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He refused it. 24 Then they crucified Him and divided His clothes up by casting lots for them, to decide what each man would take.

25 It was the third hour [9:00 AM] when they crucified Him. 26 A sign stating the reason for His death read: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 27 They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and the other on His left. 28 The Scripture was fulfilled that said, “He was numbered among the wicked.” 29 Those passing by also insulted Him, nodding their heads and saying, “Aha! You were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. 30 Rescue Yourself and come down from the cross!”

31 The high priests and the Torah teachers were laughing together and saying, “He gave life to others but He can’t spare His own life. 32 The Messiah, the King of Israel should come down from the cross now, so that we can see it and believe in Him.” Even those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.

33 At the sixth hour [noon] darkness overtook the entire land until the ninth hour. 34 At the ninth hour [3:00] Yeshua called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, Lamana Shabakthani?” That is, “Alohi! Alohi! Why have you spared me?” [2]

35 When some of the bystanders heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah.”

36 Someone ran and soaked a sponge with vinegar and tied it on a reed and offer Him a drink. But others [3] said, “Stop! Let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down.” 37 Yeshua called out loudly and breathed His last.

38 The veil of the Temple door was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion who was standing near Him saw how He had called out and died, he said, “This man was certainly Aloha’s Son.”

40 There were women looking on from a distance, including Mary Magdalena, Mary (the mother of James the Less and Joses), and Salome. 41 When He was in Galilee, they followed Him and supported Him. Many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him were there too.

42 It was the evening of the Preparation Day that precedes the annual Sabbath [4]. 43 Joseph of Arimathaea, a highly respected member of the Sanhedrin, who himself anticipated the Kingdom of Yehovah, boldly went to Pilate and requested Yeshua’s body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that He was already dead. So he called the centurion to verify that He had already died. 45 When he confirmed it, he gave His body to Joseph. 46 Joseph bought some fine linen, took His body down, and wrapped it in the linen and put it in a tomb that was cut out of rock. Then rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalena and Mary Joses’ mother saw where He was laid.

Mark 16: AFTER the [annual] Sabbath [Thursday that year], Mary Magdalena, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought aromatic herbs so that they could go and anoint Him [Friday]. 2 Very early in the morning on the first of the Sabbaths [Gr. Sabbaton] [1], they came to the tomb as the sun was rising. 3 They were asking each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

4 Then they looked and saw that the stone had already been rolled away, tho it was very large. 5 They entered the tomb and saw a young man wearing a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were astonished.

6 But he told them, “Don’t be frightened. You are looking for Yeshua the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen. He isn’t here. Here is the place where He was laid! 7 Now go and tell His disciples, and Cephas, that He is going before you into Galilee. You’ll see Him there, just as He told you.”

8 When they heard this, they fled the tomb, overcome with astonishment and trembling, but they said nothing to anyone because they were afraid.

Yeshua Appears to Mary

9 [2] In the morning of the first of the Sabbaths, after He had risen [3], He appeared first to Mary Magdalena, who He had cast seven demons out of. 10 She went and told those who had been with Him [4], as they were grieving and crying. 11 When they heard the women say that He was alive and that He had appeared to them, they didn’t believe them. 12 After this He appeared in a different form to two of them as they were approaching a neighboring village. 13 They went back and told the others, but they didn’t believe them either.

14 Finally, He appeared to the eleven while they were at the table, and He criticized their lack of faith and their calloused attitudes, because they refused to believe those who had actually seen Him after He’d risen.

15 He told them, “Go into all the world and announce My Good News to the whole creation! 16 Anyone who believes and is immersed will be Rescued, but anyone who refuses to believe [5] will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they’ll cast out demons, and they’ll speak in new [to them] languages. 18 If they happen to pick up a snake or if they drink a deadly poison it won’t hurt them. They’ll lay their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

19 After Yeshua our Master had spoken with them, He was taken up to Heaven and sat on Yehovah’s right hand side. 20 They went out and heralded everywhere, and our Master helped them and confirmed what they said by the miracles they performed.

 

The Testimony of Yeshua was tweaked January 6, 2012