< John 12 >
1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead, was living.
Six days before the Passover Jesus went to Bethany, to the home of Lazarus who had been raised from the dead.
2 There a supper was given in his honor at which Martha waited, while Lazarus was one of those present at the table.
There a dinner was arranged in his honor. Martha helped serve the food while Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus and the others guests.
3 So Mary took a pound of choice spikenard perfume of great value, and anointed the feet of Jesus with it, and then wiped them with her hair. The whole house was filled with the scent of the perfume.
Mary brought a pint of pure nard perfume and anointed Jesus' feet, wiping them dry with her hair. The scent of the perfume filled the whole house.
4 One of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was about to betray Jesus, asked,
But one of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who would later betray Jesus, asked,
5 “Why was not this perfume sold for a year’s wages, and the money given to poor people?”
“Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth three hundred denarii.”
6 He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and, being in charge of the purse, used to take what was put in it.
He wasn't saying this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was the one who looked after the disciples' money and he often took some for himself.
7 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus, “so that she may keep it until the day when my body is being prepared for burial.
“Don't criticize her,” Jesus replied. “She did this in preparation for the day of my burial.
8 The poor you always have with you, but you will not always have me.”
You'll always have the poor here with you, but you won't always have me here.”
9 Now great numbers of people found out that Jesus was at Bethany; and they came there, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
A large crowd had found out that he was there. They came there not just to see Jesus but because they wanted to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead.
10 The chief priests, however, plotted to put Lazarus, as well as Jesus, to death,
So the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus as well,
11 because it was owing to him that many of the people had left them, and were becoming believers in Jesus.
since it was because of him that many Jews were no longer following them but putting their trust in Jesus.
12 On the following day great numbers of people who had come to the Festival, hearing that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, took palm branches,
The following day the crowds of people who had come for the Passover festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
13 and went out to meet him, shouting as they went, “God save him! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord – the king of Israel!”
They cut off palm branches and went to welcome him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one coming in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel.”
14 Having found a young donkey, Jesus seated himself on it, in accordance with the passage of scripture –
Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, as Scripture says:
15 ‘Fear not, people of Zion. Your king is coming to you, sitting on the foal of a donkey.’
“Don't be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, riding a donkey's colt.”
16 His disciples did not understand all this at first; but, when Jesus had been exalted, then they remembered that these things had been said of him in scripture, and that they had done these things for him.
At the time, Jesus' disciples did not understand what these things meant. It was only later when he was glorified that they realized what had happened had been prophesied and applied to him.
17 Meanwhile the people who were with him, when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, were telling what they had seen.
Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb and raise him from the dead and were telling the story.
18 This, indeed, was why the crowd met him – because people had heard that he had given this sign of his mission.
That was the reason so many people went to meet Jesus—because they had heard about this miracle.
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing! Why, all the world has run after him!”
The Pharisees said to one other, “Look, we're getting nowhere. Everyone's running after him.”
20 Among those who were going up to worship at the Festival were some Greeks,
Now some Greeks had come to the festival to worship.
21 who went to Philip of Bethsaida in Galilee, and said, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
They came to Philip of Bethsaida in Galilee, and said, “Sir, we'd like to see Jesus.”
22 Philip went and told Andrew, and then together they went and told Jesus.
Philip went and told Andrew. Then they both went to Jesus and told him.
23 This was his reply – “The time has come for the Son of Man to be exalted.
Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of man to be glorified.
24 In truth I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains solitary; but, if it dies, it becomes fruitful.
I tell you the truth: unless a grain of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains just one grain. But if it dies, it produces many more grains of wheat.
25 A person who loves their life loses it; while someone who hates their life in the present world will preserve it for eternal life. (aiōnios )
If you love your own life you will lose it, but if you don't love your own life in this world you will keep your life forever. (aiōnios )
26 If someone is ready to serve me, let them follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If a person is ready to serve me, my Father will honor them.
If you want to serve me you need to follow me. My servants will be where I am, and my Father will honor anyone who serves for me.
27 Now I am distressed at heart and what can I say? Father, bring me safe through this hour – yet it was for this reason that I came to this hour –
Now I am troubled. What should I say? ‘Father, save me from this coming time of suffering?’ No, for this is why I came—to go through this time of suffering.
28 Father, honor your own name.” At this there came a voice from heaven, which said, “I have already honored it, and I will honor it again.”
Father, show the glory of your character.” A voice came from heaven, saying, “I have shown its glory, and I will show it again.”
29 The crowd of bystanders, who heard the sound, said that it was thundering. Others said, “An angel has been speaking to him.”
The crowd that was standing there heard it. Some said it thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 “It was not for my sake that the voice came,” said Jesus, “but for yours.
Jesus told them, “This voice spoke not for my sake, but for yours.
31 Now this world is on its trial. Now the Spirit that is ruling this world will be driven out;
Now is the judgment of this world; now the prince of this world will be thrown out.
32 and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
But when I am lifted up from the earth I will attract everyone to me.”
33 By these words he indicated what death he was destined to die.
(He said this to point out the kind of death he was going to die.)
34 “We,” replied the people, “have learned from the Law that the Christ is to remain for ever; how is it, then, that you say that the Son of Man must be ‘lifted up’ Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” (aiōn )
The crowd responded, “The Law tells us that the Messiah will live forever, so how can you say the Son of man must be ‘lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of man’?” (aiōn )
35 “Only a little while longer,” answered Jesus, “will you have the light among you. Travel on while you have the light, so that darkness may not overtake you; he who travels in the darkness does not know where he is going.
Jesus replied, “The light is here with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that the darkness doesn't overtake you. Those who walk in the dark don't know where they're going.
36 While you still have the light, believe in the light, so that you may be children of light.” After he had said this, Jesus went away, and hid himself from them.
Put your trust in the light while you still have it so that you can become children of light.” When Jesus had told them this, he left and hid himself from them.
37 But, though Jesus had given so many signs of his mission before their eyes, they still did not believe in him,
But despite all the miracles he had done in their presence, they still did not trust in Jesus.
38 in fulfillment of the words of the prophet Isaiah, where he says – ‘Lord, who has believed our teaching? And to whom has the might of the Lord been revealed?’
This fulfilled the message of Isaiah the prophet who said, “Lord, who has believed what we told them? To whom has the Lord's power been revealed?”
39 The reason why they were unable to believe is given by Isaiah elsewhere, in these words –
They were not able to trust him, and as a result they fulfilled what Isaiah also said:
40 ‘He has blinded their eyes, and blunted their mind, so that they should not see with their eyes, and perceive with their mind, and turn – And I should heal them.’
“He blinded their eyes, and made their minds dull, so that their eyes would not see, and their minds would not think, and they would not turn to me—for if they did I would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said this, because he saw Christ’s glory; and it was of him that he spoke.
Isaiah saw Jesus' glory and said this in reference to him.
42 Yet for all this, even among the leading men there were many who came to believe in Jesus; but, because of the Pharisees, they did not acknowledge it, because they were afraid that they should be expelled from their synagogues;
Even so many of the leaders did trust in him. However, they did not openly admit it because they did not want the Pharisees to expel them from the synagogue,
43 for they valued honor from people more than honor from God.
loving human admiration more than God's approval.
44 But Jesus had proclaimed, “He who believes in me believes, not in me, but in him who sent me;
Jesus called out, “If you trust in me you're not just trusting in me but also in the one who sent me.
45 and he who sees me sees him who sent me.
When you see me, you're seeing the one who sent me.
46 I have come as a light into the world, so that no one who believes in me should remain in the darkness.
I have come as a light shining into the world, so if you trust in me you won't remain in the dark.
47 When anyone hears my teaching and pays no heed to it, I am not his judge; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
I don't judge anyone who hears my words but doesn't do what I say. I came to save the world, not to judge it.
48 He who rejects me, and disregards my teaching, has a judge already – the message which I have delivered will itself be his judge at the Last day.
Anyone who rejects me and does not accept my words will be judged at the end-time judgment in accordance with what I have said.
49 For I have not delivered it on my own authority; but the Father, who sent me, has himself given me his command as to what I should say, and what message I should deliver.
For I'm not speaking for myself but for my Father who sent me. He is the one who instructed me what to say and how to say it.
50 And I know that eternal life lies in keeping his command. Therefore, whatever I say, I say only what the Father has taught me.” (aiōnios )
I know that what he told me to say brings eternal life—so whatever I say is what the Father told me.” (aiōnios )