John 12
1 Therefore six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the man who died whom he raised from the dead.
Six days before the Passover [celebration started], Jesus arrived in Bethany [village, along with us]. That was where Lazarus lived. He was the man Jesus [previously] caused to be alive again after he died.
2 So they made a supper for him there, and Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those who sat dining with him.
There they gave a dinner to [honor] Jesus. Martha served the meal. [Her younger brother], Lazarus, was among the people who were eating with Jesus.
3 Mary therefore, after taking a pound of ointment of very costly genuine spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled of the aroma of the ointment.
Then Mary took [a bottle] of expensive perfume [called] nard and poured it on Jesus’ feet [to honor him]. Then she wiped his feet with her hair. The whole house was filled with the [beautiful] smell of the perfume.
4 Therefore one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, the man who was going to betray him, says,
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, (OR, Judas, the man from Kerioth [Town]) objected. He was the one who later enabled Jesus’ enemies to seize him.
5 Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?
He said, “(We should have sold this perfume and given [the money] to poor people!/Why did [we] not sell this perfume and give [the money for it] to the poor people?) [RHQ] We could have gotten 300 days’ wages for it!”
6 Now he said this, not because it was a concern to him about the poor, but because he was a thief, and he had the purse and removed things that were put in.
He said that, not because he cared about the poor people, but instead, because he was a thief. He was the one who kept the bag [of funds that people gave to help Jesus and us his disciples], and he often stole some of the money that was {that [people]} put into it.
7 Jesus therefore said, Let her alone. She has keep it for the day of my burial.
Then Jesus said, “Do not bother her! [She bought this perfume] in order to save it until the day when they will bury me [after I die].
8 For ye always have the poor with you, but ye do not always have me.
There will always be poor people among you, [so you can help them whenever you want to]. But I will not be with you much longer, [so it is good that she showed right now how much she appreciates me].”
9 Therefore a great multitude of the Jews knew that he is there. And they came, not only because of Jesus, but that they might also see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead.
A large crowd of Jews heard [people say] that Jesus was there [in Bethany]. So they came, not only [to see] Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the man whom he had caused to become alive again after he died.
10 But the chief priests decided that they should kill Lazarus also,
So the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also,
11 since because of him many of the Jews were going and were believing in Jesus.
because many of the Jews were [deserting them and] going to Jesus and believing in him because of [Jesus causing] Lazarus [to be alive again].
12 On the morrow a great multitude having come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
The next day the huge crowd of people that had come [to Jerusalem] for the [Passover] celebration heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
13 took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried out, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!
So they [cut] branches from some palm trees and took the branches out [of the city] to [wave them when they] met him. Some of them were shouting things like, “Hooray!” “May the Lord [God] bless the one who is coming with his authority [MTY]!” Some other people were shouting, “[May God bless] the King of Israel!”
14 And Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it, as it is written,
When Jesus [came near to Jerusalem], he got a young donkey and sat on it [as he rode into the city]. By doing this, [he fulfilled] what had been written {what [a prophet] had written} [in Scripture],
15 Fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold, thy King comes, sitting on a donkey's colt.
You people of Jerusalem, do not be afraid! Look! Your king is coming! He is riding on a donkey’s colt!
16 Now his disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these were things written because of him, and they did these things to him.
At first [we] disciples did not understand those things. But after Jesus had returned to heaven, we realized that those things had been written {that [a prophet] had written those things} about him, and that [by] doing those things for him [the people had fulfilled what the prophet prophesied].
17 Therefore the multitude, the one that was with him when he called Lazarus from the sepulcher, and raised him from the dead, testified.
The crowd that was with him continued to tell other people that he called Lazarus to come out of the tomb, [and that Lazarus had then become alive again].
18 Also because of this the multitude met him, because they heard of him doing this sign.
Because of that, many people, because they heard [others say] that he had performed this miracle, went to meet him.
19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Do ye see that ye accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.
So the Pharisees said to each other, “It is obvious that we are making no progress [in trying to stop him! It looks like] [HYP] everyone [MTY] is becoming his disciple!”
20 Now some Greeks were from those who came up so that they might worship at the feast.
Among those who went up [to Jerusalem] to worship [God] during the [Passover] celebration were some Greeks.
21 These men therefore came to Philip, the man from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we want to see Jesus.
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida [town] in Galilee [province]. They [wanted him] to do something for them. They said, “Sir, we would like to talk with Jesus.”
22 Philip comes and tells Andrew, and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
So after Philip went and told that to Andrew, they both went and told Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them saying, The hour has come that the Son of man should be glorified.
Then, [to show them that he must die in order to give eternal life to non-Jews like those Greeks], Jesus replied to them, “It is time for [God] to honor me, the one who came from heaven. [That will happen when I die].
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat that falls into the ground dies, it remains alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit.
Listen to this carefully: [My life is like a seed] [MET]. If [someone] does not plant a kernel of grain in the ground, it does not change. It remains only one [seed]. But if it changes [after it is planted in the ground, it will grow and] produce many seeds.
25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
Anyone who strongly wants to keep on living [here on earth] will surely lose his life forever. But anyone who is willing to die [HYP] [for my sake] will surely gain eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
26 If any man serves me, let him follow me, and where I am, there my helper will also be. And if any man serves me, the Father will honor him.
If [any of these Greeks or] anyone [else] wants to serve me, they must become my disciples. Then, [after they die], they will be where I am, [in heaven]. My Father will honor all those who serve me.
27 Now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But because of this I came to this hour.
Now I am deeply disturbed. (I do not know what to say./What shall I say?) [RHQ] Should I say, ‘[My] Father, save me from this time [when I will suffer and die!’]? No, [I should not say that, because] the reason I came ([into this world/from heaven]) was that I would [suffer] [MTY] now.
28 Father, glorify thy name. A voice therefore came out of heaven, saying, I both glorified it, and I will glorify again.
My Father, show how great you are!” John 12:28b-36a Then [God] spoke [EUP] from heaven, saying, “I have already shown how great [I am], and I will do it again!”
29 The multitude therefore that stood by and heard, said thunder occurred, others said, An agent has spoken to him.
The crowd that was there heard [it but they did not understand the words. Some said] it was thunder. Others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice occurred not for my sake, but for your sakes.
Jesus replied to them, “The voice that you heard speaking [was God’s voice, but] it was not for my benefit. It was for your benefit!
31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
Now is the time for [God] to judge [the people in] [MTY] the world. Now is the time when [I] will destroy [the power of Satan], the one who rules this world.
32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.
But as for me, when I am lifted {when [men] lift me} up from the ground [on a cross, I will make a way for] gathering everyone to myself.”
33 And he said this, signifying by what death he was going to die.
He said this to show us the way in which he was going to die.
34 The multitude answered him, We have heard from the law that the Christ remains into the age. And how can thou say, The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man? (aiōn g165)
[Someone in] the crowd answered him, “We understand from the Scriptures that the Messiah will live forever. So why do you say that the one who came from heaven, [who is the Messiah], will be lifted up {that [men] will lift up the one who came from heaven, [who is the Messiah], } on a cross? What kind of man who came from heaven are you [talking about]? (OR, That’s not the [kind] of Messiah [we are expecting]!)” (aiōn g165)
35 Jesus therefore said to them, Yet a little time the light is with you. Walk while ye have the light, so that darkness may not overcome you. And he who walks in the darkness knows not where he is going.
Then Jesus said to them, “[My message is like] [MET] a light for you. [I] will be with you for only a little while longer. Live and act [as you should] while I am still with you, [because suddenly you will have no more opportunity to hear my message! You do not want to be like] [MET] [someone] who cannot see where he is going any more [when it suddenly] becomes dark!
36 While ye have the light, believe in the light, so that ye may become sons of light. Jesus spoke these things, and after departing, he was hid from them.
Believe in my message [MET] while you still have an opportunity to do it, in order that you may become people who have accepted my truth [MET]!” John 12:36b-43 After Jesus said those things, he left them and hid from them.
37 But although having done so many signs before them, they did not believe in him,
Although he had done many miracles while people were watching, [most of] them refused to believe that he [is] ([the Messiah/from God]).
38 so that the word of Isaiah the prophet that he spoke might be fulfilled: Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
[Their stubbornness and refusal to believe was similar to the stubbornness of the people that] the prophet Isaiah wrote about long ago: Lord, (hardly anyone has believed our message!/who has believed our message?) [RHQ] Most people refused to accept it, even though you showed them your power!
39 Because of this they could not believe. Because Isaiah said again,
That was the reason why they were unable to believe. [It was like] Isaiah wrote somewhere else that God said:
40 He has blinded their eyes, and has hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and be turned, and I would heal them.
They have [refused to understand; they acted as though they were] blind people! They were insensible in their inner beings! As a result, they have not perceived [my truth]! They have not understood it in their inner beings! They have not turned [from their sinful lives], and because of that I cannot help them!
41 Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory, and spoke about him.
Isaiah wrote that because [it was as though] he saw [ahead of time] how great Jesus would be, and he prophesied [those things] about him.
42 Yet, nevertheless, even many of the rulers believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess, so that they would not become excommunicated from the synagogue,
Although most of the Jewish [leaders] [SYN] did not believe that Jesus is ([the Messiah/from God]), some of them believed in him. But they would not tell anyone that they believed in him, because [they were afraid that if they said that], the Pharisees would not let them worship in the synagogues.
43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
They wanted people to praise them more than they wanted God to praise them.
44 And Jesus cried out and said, He who believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me.
[Another day, when] Jesus [was teaching the people, he] shouted, “Those who believe in me, they are not believing in [me alone]. Instead, [it is as though] they also believe in the one who sent me.
45 And he who sees me sees him who sent me.
When they see me [and what I am doing, it is as though] they are seeing the one who sent me.
46 I have come a light into the world, so that every man who believes in me may not remain in the darkness.
I have come into the world [to show people God’s truth], as a light [shows people what is around them]. I have come in order that people who believe in me will not remain [ignorant of God’s truth] [MET], [as those who are] in the darkness [are ignorant of what is around them].
47 And if any man hears my sayings, and will not believe, I do not judge him, for I came not so that I might judge the world, but that I might save the world.
As for those who hear my message but do not obey [its commands], I am not [the one who] judges them. [The main reason] that I came ([into the world/from heaven]) was not to judge [the people of] [MTY] the world. Instead, I came to save them [from being punished for their sins].
48 He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings, has that which judges him: the word that I spoke, that will judge him in the last day.
There is something that will judge those who reject me and do not accept my message. On the judgment day [God] will condemn them [because they rejected] the message that I have told them.
49 Because I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
I have not said things from my own [authority]. Instead, [my] Father, the one who sent me, instructed me what to say and how I should say it.
50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Therefore what things I speak, just as the Father has said to me, so I speak. (aiōnios g166)
I know that [paying attention to] what he has instructed us [leads to] eternal life. So whatever I say is exactly (OR, only) what [my] Father has told me to say.” (aiōnios g166)
