1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.2Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.3Then Mary took about half a litre of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,5‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[1]’6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.7‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.8You will always have the poor among you,[2] but you will not always have me.’ (De 15:11)9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,11for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
Jesus comes to Jerusalem as king
12The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.13They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna![3]’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the king of Israel!’ (Ps 118:25; Ps 118:26)14Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written:15‘Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.’ (Zec 9:9)16At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realise that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.17Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.18Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him.19So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!’
Jesus predicts his death
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival.21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus.’22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.23Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.25Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.27‘Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? “Father, save me from this hour”? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.28Father, glorify your name!’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.30Jesus said, ‘This voice was for your benefit, not mine.31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.32And I, when I am lifted up[4] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.34The crowd spoke up, ‘We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain for ever, so how can you say, “The Son of Man must be lifted up”? Who is this “Son of Man”?’35Then Jesus told them, ‘You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.36Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.’ When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Belief and unbelief among the Jews
37Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.38This was to fulfil the word of Isaiah the prophet: ‘Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ (Isa 53:1)39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:40‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn – and I would heal them.’ (Isa 6:10)41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.42Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;43for they loved human praise more than praise from God.44Then Jesus cried out, ‘Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.45The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.46I have come into the world as a light, so that no-one who believes in me should stay in darkness.47‘If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.48There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.49For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.50I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.’
John 12
English Standard Version
Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. (Mt 26:6; Mr 14:3; Joh 11:1; Joh 11:55; Joh 12:12; Joh 12:20)2So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. (Lu 10:38; Lu 10:40)3Mary therefore took a pound[1] of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (Lu 7:37)4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said,5“Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[2] and given to the poor?” (Joh 13:29)6He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. (Joh 12:5)7Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it[3] for the day of my burial.8For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
The Plot to Kill Lazarus
9When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus[4] was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. (Joh 11:44)10So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, (Lu 16:31)11because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. (Joh 11:45; Joh 12:18)
The Triumphal Entry
12The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. (Mt 21:4; Mr 11:7; Lu 19:35)13So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (Ps 118:25; Joh 1:49; Joh 5:43; Re 7:9)14And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,15“Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” (Zec 9:9)16His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. (Mr 9:32; Joh 2:22; Joh 7:39; Joh 12:23; Joh 13:7)17The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. (Lu 19:37)18The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. (Joh 12:9)19So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” (Joh 3:26; Joh 11:47)
Some Greeks Seek Jesus
20Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. (1Ki 8:41; Mr 7:26; Joh 7:35; Ac 8:27; Ac 17:4)21So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” (Joh 1:44)22Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. (Mr 13:3)23And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. (Mr 14:41; Joh 2:4; Joh 12:16; Joh 12:27; Joh 13:31; Joh 17:1)24Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (1Co 15:36)25Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (Mt 10:39; Lu 14:26; Joh 11:25)26If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (1Sa 2:30; Ps 91:15; Joh 8:12; Joh 14:3; Joh 14:21; Joh 14:23; Joh 16:27; Joh 17:24; Joh 21:18; 2Co 5:8; 1Th 4:17)
36While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. (Lu 10:6)37Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,38so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isa 53:1; Mt 1:22; Ro 10:16)39Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, (Joh 5:44)40“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” (Isa 6:10; Mt 13:14; Mr 6:52)41Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. (Isa 6:1; Joh 5:46)42Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; (Joh 3:1; Joh 7:13; Joh 7:48; Joh 9:22)43for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. (Joh 5:44)
Jesus Came to Save the World
44And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. (Mt 10:40; Joh 5:24; Joh 13:20; Joh 14:1; 1Pe 1:21)45And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. (Joh 6:40; Joh 14:9)46I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. (Joh 1:4; Joh 1:9; Joh 8:12; Joh 12:35)47If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. (Joh 3:17; Joh 3:36; Joh 4:42; Joh 8:15)48The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (De 18:18; Lu 10:16; Ro 2:16)49For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. (Joh 3:17; Joh 5:19; Joh 5:30; Joh 15:10)50And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”