UJohane 12
1 Kwasekusele insuku eziyisithupha ukuthi kufike iPhasika, uJesu waya eBhethani, lapho okwakuhlala khona uLazaro owayevuswe kwabafileyo nguJesu.
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 Kwaphekwa ukudla kwakusihlwa kuhlonitshwa yena uJesu. UMatha nguye owayedidizela, uLazaro ehlezi labanye etafuleni loJesu.
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 UMariya wasethatha amafutha enadi acengekileyo njalo adulayo kakhulu, ayengaba yingxenye yelitha, wawathela ezinyaweni zikaJesu wasezesula ngenwele zakhe. Indlu yagcwala ngephunga elimnandi lamakha lawo.
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 Kodwa omunye wabafundi bakhe, uJudasi Iskariyothi owayezamnikela wasola wathi,
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 “Kungani amakha la engathengiswanga imali yaphiwa abampofu? Intengo yawo ibinganela umholo womnyaka wonke.”
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 Kakutshongo lokhu ngoba ebanakekela abampofu, kodwa ngoba elisela; njengomgcinisikhwama wayandise ukuzisiza ngalokho okwakufakwa phakathi kwaso.
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 UJesu waphendula wathi, “Myekele. Kwakuqondwe ukuthi amakha la awabekele usuku lokungcwatshwa kwami.
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 Lizahlala lilabo abampofu phakathi kwenu kodwa mina kaliyikuhlala lilami.”
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 Ngalesosikhathi ixuku elikhulu lamaJuda lezwa ukuthi uJesu wayelapho, leza lingalandanga yena kuphela kodwa lokuthi libone uLazaro ayemvuse kwabafileyo.
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 Ngakho abaphristi abakhulu benza amacebo okuba bambulale laye uLazaro,
So the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also,
11 ngoba ngenxa yakhe amaJuda amanengi ayesiya kuJesu ebeka ukholo lwawo kuye.
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 Ngosuku olulandelayo ixuku elikhulu elalize emkhosini lezwa ukuthi uJesu wayesendleleni esiza eJerusalema.
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 Lathatha amagatsha elala laphuma ukuyamhlangabeza, limemeza lisithi, “Hosana!” “Ubusisiwe lowo obuya ngebizo likaThixo!” “Ubusisiwe oyiNkosi ka-Israyeli!”
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 UJesu wathola inkonyane kababhemi wayigada njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi:
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 “Ungesabi, Oh Ndodakazi yeZiyoni; khangela, inkosi yakho iyeza, ihlezi phezu kwenkonyane kababhemi.”
You people of Jerusalem, do not be afraid! Look! Your king is coming! He is riding on a donkey’s colt!
16 Kuqala abafundi bakhe kabakuzwisisanga konke lokhu. Kwaze kwaba ngemva kokuba uJesu esekhazimulisiwe lapho abananzelela khona ukuba izinto lezi zazilotshwe ngaye lokuthi babezenzile kuye lezozinto.
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 Ngalesosikhathi ixuku elalilaye mhla ebiza uLazaro ethuneni wabuye wamvusa ekufeni laqhubeka lilifakaza ilizwi.
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 Abantu abanengi bahamba ukuyamhlangabeza ngoba basebezwile ukuthi wayewenzile umangaliso lo.
Because of that, many people, because they heard [others say] that he had performed this miracle, went to meet him.
19 AbaFarisi bakhulumisana besithi, “Liyabona, into le izasitshiya esikhaleni. Khangelani ukuthi umhlaba wonke usuthe zalezale kuye!”
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 Kwakukhona amaGrikhi phakathi kwalabo abayakhonza emkhosini.
Among those who went up [to Jerusalem] to worship [God] during the [Passover] celebration were some Greeks.
21 Beza kuFiliphu owayevela eBhethisayida eGalile lesicelo esithi, “Nkosi, sifuna ukubona uJesu.”
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 UFiliphu wayatshela u-Andreya; u-Andreya loFiliphu basebemtshela uJesu.
So after Philip went and told that to Andrew, they both went and told Jesus.
23 UJesu waphendula wathi, “Sesifikile isikhathi sokuba iNdodana yoMuntu ikhazimuliswe.
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 Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi ngaphandle kokuthi uhlamvu lwengqoloyi luwele emhlabathini lufe, lusala lulokhu luluhlamvu olulodwa. Kodwa lungaze lufe luthela inhlamvu ezinengi.
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 Umuntu othanda impilo yakhe izamlahlekela ikanti umuntu ozonda impilo yakhe kulo umhlaba uzayilondolozela ingunaphakade. (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 Lowo ongikhonzayo kumele angilandele, lalapho engikhona lesikhonzi sami sikhona. UBaba uzamdumisa lowo ongikhonzayo.
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 Khathesi inhliziyo yami ikhathazekile. Kambe ngingatsho na ngithi, ‘Baba, ngihlenga singafiki lesosikhathi’? Hatshi, kwakungenxa yalesisizatho ukuze ngingene kulesisikhathi.
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 Baba, khazimulisa ibizo lakho!” Kwasekufika ilizwi livela ezulwini lisithi, “Sengilikhazimulisile, ngizaphinda ngilikhazimulise.”
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 Ixuku labantu elalilapho elalizwayo ilizwi lathi kube lomdumo wezulu; abanye bathi ingilosi yayikhulume laye.
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 UJesu wathi, “Ilizwi leli belingelokusiza lina, hayi mina.
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 Manje sekuyisikhathi sokwahlulela kulo umhlaba; manje inkosi yalo umhlaba isizaxotshwa.
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 Kodwa mina nxa sengiphakanyisiwe ngisuswa emhlabeni, ngizabadonsela kimi bonke abantu.”
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 Wakutsho lokhu eveza ukuthi wayezakufa ukufa okunjani.
He said this to show us the way in which he was going to die.
34 Ixuku labhoboka lathi, “Sezwa eMthethweni ukuthi uKhristu uzahlala kokuphela, pho ukutsho kanjani ukuthi, ‘INdodana yoMuntu imele iphakanyiswe na’? Ingubani yona ‘iNdodana yoMuntu’ le?” (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 UJesu wabatshela wathi, “Lizakuba lakho ukukhanya okwesikhatshana esithile. Hambani liseselakho ukukhanya, ubumnyama bungakaligubuzeli. Umuntu ophumputha emnyameni kakwazi lapho aya khona.
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 Bekani ithemba lenu ekukhanyeni liseselakho ukuze libe ngamadodana okukhanya.” Wathi eseqedile ukukhuluma uJesu wasuka kubo wayazifihla.
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 Lanxa uJesu wayeseyenze yonke imimangaliso le emehlweni abo babelokhu bengakholwa kuye.
Although he had done many miracles while people were watching, [most of] them refused to believe that he [is] ([the Messiah/from God]).
38 Lokhu kwakugcwalisa ilizwi lika-Isaya umphrofethi elithi: “Nkosi, ngubani olikholiweyo ilizwi lethu na, njalo amandla eNkosi ambulelwe ubani na?”
[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 Ngalesisizatho babengeke bakholwa ngoba u-Isaya uyatsho komunye umbhalo ukuthi:
That was the reason why they were unable to believe. [It was like] Isaiah wrote somewhere else that God said:
40 “Uwafiphazile amehlo abo wathundubeza inhliziyo zabo ukuze bangaboni ngamehlo abo njalo bangezwisisi ngenhliziyo zabo, loba baphenduke, ukuze ngibasilise.”
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 U-Isaya wakutsho lokhu ngoba wayibona inkazimulo kaJesu njalo wayekhuluma ngaye.
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 Kodwa loba kunjalo, abanengi labanye abakhokheli bakholwa kuye. Kodwa ngenxa yabaFarisi kabalufakazanga ukholo lwabo besesaba ukuthi bazaxotshwa esinagogweni;
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 ngoba babethanda ukubukwa ngabantu okwedlula ukubukwa okuvela kuNkulunkulu.
They wanted people to praise them more than they wanted God to praise them.
44 UJesu wasememeza wathi, “Nxa umuntu ekholwa kimi, kakholwa kimi kuphela kodwa kuye lowo ongithumileyo.
[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 Nxa ekhangela mina ubona yena lowo ongithumileyo.
When they see me [and what I am doing, it is as though] they are seeing the one who sent me.
46 Ngibuye emhlabeni ngiyikukhanya ukuze angabikhona okholwa kimi ozahlala ebumnyameni.
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 Nxa umuntu ewezwa amazwi ami kodwa angawagcini, angimahluleli mina. Phela kangilandanga ukuzowahlulela umhlaba kodwa ukuzowusindisa.
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 Ukhona umahluleli walowo ongalayo, ongawemukeliyo amazwi ami; lawomazwi engawakhulumayo uqobo azamlahla ngosuku lokucina.
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 Ngoba kangizikhulumelanga ngokwentando yami kodwa uBaba owangithumayo wangilaya ukuthi ngithini lokuthi ngikutsho kanjani.
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 Ngiyazi ukuthi umlayo wakhe uholela ekuphileni kwaphakade. Ngakho loba kuyini engikutshoyo yikho lokho uBaba angitshele khona ukuthi ngikutsho.” (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)
