John 12
1 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.
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, the man who had died and whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 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.
They prepared a supper for Jesus there. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was one of the people reclining at the table with him.
3 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.
Then Mary took a pound of expensive ointment made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
4 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.
Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who was about to betray him, said,
5 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!”
“Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
6 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.
(He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he was the keeper of the moneybag and would pilfer what was put into it.)
7 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].
So Jesus said, “Leave her alone; she has kept this ointment for the day of my burial.
8 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].”
For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.”
9 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.
Meanwhile a large crowd of the Jews found out that Jesus was there, so they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 So the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also,
So the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus also,
11 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].
because on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
12 The next day the huge crowd of people that had come [to Jerusalem] for the [Passover] celebration heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
On the next day, when a large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 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!”
they took palm branches and went out to meet him. They were crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”
14 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],
Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, just as it is written,
15 You people of Jerusalem, do not be afraid! Look! Your king is coming! He is riding on a donkey’s colt!
“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, yoʋr king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt.”
16 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].
(His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things were written about him, and that these things had been done to him.)
17 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].
Now the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead was testifying about it.
18 Because of that, many people, because they heard [others say] that he had performed this miracle, went to meet him.
That is why a crowd went out to meet him, because they heard he had done this sign.
19 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!”
So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are achieving nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.”
20 Among those who went up [to Jerusalem] to worship [God] during the [Passover] celebration were some Greeks.
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast.
21 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.”
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”
22 So after Philip went and told that to Andrew, they both went and told Jesus.
Philip went and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
23 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].
Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 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.
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
25 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)
Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
26 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.
If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”
27 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.
“My soul is now troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.
28 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!”
Father, glorify yoʋr name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
29 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.
When the crowd standing there heard the voice, they said it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”
30 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!
Jesus responded, “This voice has come not for my sake, but for your sake.
31 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.
Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
32 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.”
And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.”
33 He said this to show us the way in which he was going to die.
(He said this to indicate the kind of death he was going to die.)
34 [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)
The crowd responded to him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever, so how can yoʋ say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” (aiōn g165)
35 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!
Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness will not overtake you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
36 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.
While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you will become sons of light.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.
37 Although he had done many miracles while people were watching, [most of] them refused to believe that he [is] ([the Messiah/from God]).
Although he had done so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him.
38 [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!
This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 That was the reason why they were unable to believe. [It was like] Isaiah wrote somewhere else that God said:
For this reason they could not believe, for again Isaiah said,
40 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!
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their hearts and turn back, and I would heal them.”
41 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.
Isaiah said these things when he saw the Lord's glory and spoke about him.
42 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.
Nevertheless, many even among the rulers believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they would not declare it openly, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue.
43 They wanted people to praise them more than they wanted God to praise them.
For they loved the glory that comes from men more than the glory that comes from God.
44 [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.
Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.
45 When they see me [and what I am doing, it is as though] they are seeing the one who sent me.
And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.
46 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].
I have come into the world as light, so that no one who believes in me will remain in darkness.
47 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].
If anyone hears my words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 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.
He who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
49 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.
For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me gave me a commandment as to what I should say and what I should speak.
50 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)
And I know that his commandment leads to eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.” (aiōnios g166)
