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.
Jesus, however, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was whom He 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.
So they gave a dinner there in honour of Jesus, at which Martha waited at table, but Lazarus was one of the guests who were 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.
Availing herself of the opportunity, Mary took a pound weight of pure spikenard, very costly, and poured it over His feet, and wiped His feet with her hair, so that the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
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 said Judas (the Iscariot, one of the Twelve--the one who afterwards betrayed Jesus),
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 not that perfume sold for 300 shillings 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.
The reason he said this was not that he cared for the poor, but that he was a thief, and that being in charge of the money-box, he used to steal 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].
But Jesus interposed. "Do not blame her," He said, "allow her to have kept it for the time of my preparation for 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 the poor you always have with you, but you have not me always."
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.
Now it became widely known among the Jews that Jesus was there; but they came not only on His account, but also in order to see Lazarus whom He had brought back to life.
10 So the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also,
The High Priests, however, consulted together to put Lazarus also to death,
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].
for because of him many of the Jews left them and became believers in Jesus.
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.
The next day a great crowd of those who had come to the Festival, hearing 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!”
took branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, shouting as they went, "God save him! Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord--even on 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],
And Jesus, having procured a young ass, sat upon it, just as the Scripture says,
15 You people of Jerusalem, do not be afraid! Look! Your king is coming! He is riding on a donkey’s colt!
"Fear not, Daughter of Zion! See, thy King is coming riding on an ass'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].
The meaning of this His disciples did not understand at the time; but after Jesus was glorified they recollected that this was written about Him, and that they had done this 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].
The large number of people, however, who had been present when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and brought him back to life, related what they had witnessed.
18 Because of that, many people, because they heard [others say] that he had performed this miracle, went to meet him.
This was also why the crowd came to meet Him, because they had heard of His having performed that miracle.
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!”
The result was that the Pharisees said among themselves, "Observe how idle all your efforts are! The world is gone after him!"
20 Among those who went up [to Jerusalem] to worship [God] during the [Passover] celebration were some Greeks.
Now some of those who used to come up to worship at the Festival were Greeks.
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, of Bethsaida in Galilee, with the request, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
22 So after Philip went and told that to Andrew, they both went and told Jesus.
Philip came and told Andrew: 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].
His answer was, "The time 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.
In most solemn truth I tell you that unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains what it was--a single grain; but that if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.
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)
He who holds his life dear, is destroying it; and he who makes his life of no account in this world shall keep it to the Life of the Ages. (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 a man wishes to be my servant, let him follow me; and where I am, there too shall my servant be. If a man wishes to be my servant, the Father will honour 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.
Now is my soul full of trouble; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this purpose 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 Thy name." Thereupon there came a voice from the sky, "I have glorified it and will also 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.
The crowd that stood by and heard it, said that there had been thunder. Others said, "An angel spoke 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!
"It is not for my sake," said Jesus, "that that voice came, but for your sakes.
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 a judgement of this world: now will the Prince of this world be driven 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 I-- if I am lifted up from the earth--will draw all men to me."
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 would 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 answered Him, "We have heard out of the Law that the Christ remains for ever. In what sense do you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is that 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!
"Yet a little while," He replied, "the light is among you. Be faithful to the light that you have, for fear darkness should overtake you; for a man who walks in the dark 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.
In the degree that you have light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." Jesus said this, and went away and hid Himself 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]).
But though He had performed such great miracles 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!
in order that the words of Isaiah the Prophet might be fulfilled, "Lord, who has believed our preaching? And the arm of the Lord--to whom has it been unveiled?"
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 were unable to believe--because Isaiah said again,
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 made their minds callous, lest they should see with their eyes and perceive with their minds, and should turn, and I should 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 uttered these words because he saw His glory; and he spoke of 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 even from among the Rulers many believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not avow their belief, for fear they should be shut out from 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 rather 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.
But Jesus cried aloud, "He who believes in me, believes not so much in me, as 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 he who 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 like light into the world, in order that no one who believes in me may remain in the dark.
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].
And if any one hears my teachings and regards them not, 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 sets me at naught and does not receive my teachings is not left without a judge: the Message which 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.
Because I have not spoken on my own authority; but the Father who sent me, Himself gave me a command what to say and in what words to 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 command is the Life of the Ages. What therefore I speak, I speak just as the Father has bidden me." (aiōnios g166)
