Yohane 12
1 Aka nnansia na Twam Afahyɛ no adu no, Yesu kɔɔ Betania, kurow a na Lasaro a Yesu nyan no fii awufo mu no te mu no mu.
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 Wɔtoo Yesu pon. Marta na ɔsomee wɔ saa aponto yi ase. Lasaro tenaa Yesu nkyɛn pɛɛ wɔ ɔpon no ho.
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 Wɔredidi no, Maria faa ngohuam bi a ne bo yɛ den behwie guu Yesu nan ase de ne tinwi pepae. Ngo no hua gyee fie hɔ nyinaa.
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 Yuda Iskariot a ɔyɛ asuafo no mu baako a akyiri no obeyi Yesu ama no ani annye nea ɔbea yi yɛe no ho,
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 enti ɔkae se, “Adɛn nti na woantɔn saa ngohuam yi na yɛamfa sika no amma ahiafo?”
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 Ɛnyɛ sɛ na odwen ahiafo ho nti na ɔkaa saa asɛm yi, na mmom, na ɔyɛ ɔkorɔmfo, na esiane sɛ na ɔhwɛ asuafo no sika so nti, na owiawia bi.
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 Yesu kae se, “Munnyaa ɔbea yi haw! Nea ɔbea yi ayɛ yi, ɔde asiesie me ama me wu.
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 Mo ne ahiafo na ɛwɔ hɔ bere biara, na me de, me ne mo rentena hɔ daa.”
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 Bere a Yudafo no tee sɛ Yesu wɔ Betania no, wɔn mu pii kɔɔ hɔ. Ɛnyɛ Yesu nko nti na wɔkɔɔ hɔ, na mmom, wɔkɔɔ hɔ sɛ wɔrekɔhwɛ Lasaro a Yesu nyan no fii awufo mu no nso.
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 Afei, asɔfo mpanyin no bɔɔ pɔw sɛ wobekum Lasaro nso,
So the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also,
11 efisɛ esiane Lasaro wusɔre no nti, na nnipa bebree retwe wɔn ho afi Yudafo mpanyin no ho abedi Yesu akyi.
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 Ade kyee no, nnipadɔm a wɔaba Twam Afahyɛ no tee sɛ Yesu reba Yerusalem no,
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 wobubuu berɛw de kohyiaa no kwan de ahurusi teɛteɛɛ mu se, “Hosiana!” “Nhyira nka nea ɔreba wɔ Awurade din mu no!” “Nhyira nka Israelhene!”
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 Yesu rekɔ no, na ɔte afurum ba bi so sɛnea Kyerɛwsɛm hyɛɛ ho nkɔm se,
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 “Nsuro, Ɔbabea Sion! Hwɛ sɛ wo hene te afurum ba so reba wo nkyɛn.”
You people of Jerusalem, do not be afraid! Look! Your king is coming! He is riding on a donkey’s colt!
16 Mfiase no, asuafo no ante eyinom nyinaa ase kosii sɛ wɔhyɛɛ Yesu anuonyam no ansa na wɔrekae se, Kyerɛwsɛm no aka saa asɛm yi nyinaa afa ne ho dedaw, na ɛno ara ne nea wɔayɛ no.
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 Nnipa a na wɔwɔ hɔ a wohuu sɛ Yesu nyan Lasaro fii awufo mu no kaa asɛm a esii no kyerɛɛ afoforo.
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 Eyi nti na nnipa bebree kɔɔ se wɔrekohyia Yesu kwan no, efisɛ na wɔate sɛ wayɛ anwonwade.
Because of that, many people, because they heard [others say] that he had performed this miracle, went to meet him.
19 Farisifo no huu nea ɛrekɔ so no, wɔkae se, “Anyɛ yiye! Monhwɛ sɛ nnipa no nyinaa atu adi nʼakyi!”
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 Afahyɛbere no mu no, Helafo bi nso kɔɔ Yerusalem sɛ wɔrekɔsom.
Among those who went up [to Jerusalem] to worship [God] during the [Passover] celebration were some Greeks.
21 Wɔkɔɔ Filipo a ofi Betsaida no nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Owura, yɛpɛ sɛ yehu Yesu.”
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 Filipo kɔbɔɔ Andrea amanneɛ ma wɔn baanu kɔka kyerɛɛ Yesu.
So after Philip went and told that to Andrew, they both went and told Jesus.
23 Yesu ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Bere no aso sɛ wɔbɛhyɛ Onipa Ba no anuonyam.
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 Mereka nokware akyerɛ mo se, sɛ wɔamfa burofua anhyɛ fam amma amporɔw na amfifi a, ɛda so yɛ burofua no ara, nanso sɛ ɛporɔw na efifi a, ɛsow aba pii.
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 Obiara a ɔdɔ ne kra no bɛhwere ne nkwa, na nea ɔnnɔ ne kra no benya nkwa a enni awiei. (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 Obiara a ɔpɛ sɛ ɔsom me no, ɛsɛ sɛ odi mʼakyi, na baabiara a mewɔ no, ɛsɛ sɛ mʼasomfo nso wɔ hɔ bi.”
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 Yesu kae se, “Afei de, me kra ho yeraw no na asɛm bɛn na menka? Menka se, ‘Agya, gye me fi saa amanehunu yi mu ana?’ Nanso, eyi nti na wosomaa me baa wiase sɛ mimmehu amane.
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 Agya, hyɛ wo din anuonyam!” Ɔkasa wiee no, nne bi fi ɔsoro kae se, “Mahyɛ no anuonyam dedaw na mɛsan mahyɛ no bio.”
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 Nnipakuw a na wɔwɔ hɔ no tee nne no, wɔkae se aprannaa na ɛrebobɔ mu. Ebinom nso kae se, ɔsoro ɔbɔfo na ɔkasa kyerɛɛ no.
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 Nanso Yesu ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mo nti na saa nne yi kasae na ɛnyɛ me nti.
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 Afei, bere adu sɛ wobu wiase atɛn na wotu ɔbonsam a odi wiase so no gu.
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 Sɛ wonya ma me so fi asase so a, mɛtwe nnipa nyinaa aba me nkyɛn.”
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 Ɔkaa eyi de kyerɛɛ owu ko a obewu no.
He said this to show us the way in which he was going to die.
34 Nnipa no kae se, “Kyerɛwsɛm no di adanse sɛ, Agyenkwa no renwu da. Adɛn nti na woka kyerɛ yɛn se, ‘Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔma Onipa Ba no so’. Hena ne saa Onipa Ba no?” (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 Yesu buaa wɔn se, “Me hann no bɛhyerɛn ama mo mmere tiaa bi mu. Ɛno nti, monnantew mu bere a mowɔ saa hann no mu yi nkɔ baabiara a mopɛ sɛ mokɔ, ansa na sum aduru; anyɛ saa a morenhu kwan.
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 Bere a mowɔ hann mu yi, munnye hann no nni na moayɛ hann no mma.” Yesu kaa nsɛm yi wiee no, ofii hɔ de ne ho kohintawee.
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 Ɛwɔ mu sɛ na Yesu ayɛ anwonwade ahorow ama Yudafo no ahu de, nanso na wonnye no nni ara.
Although he had done many miracles while people were watching, [most of] them refused to believe that he [is] ([the Messiah/from God]).
38 Eyi ne Odiyifo Yesaia asɛm a ɔkae se, “Awurade, hena na wagye yɛn asɛnka adi? Na hena nso na Awurade wʼanwonwadwuma no ada adi akyerɛ no?”
[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 Yudafo no annye anni efisɛ, na Odiyifo Yesaia asan aka se,
That was the reason why they were unable to believe. [It was like] Isaiah wrote somewhere else that God said:
40 “Onyankopɔn afura wɔn ani, na wapirim wɔn koma, sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a wɔrentumi nnan mma me nkyɛn na masa wɔn yare.”
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 Yesaia kaa eyi faa Yesu anuonyam a daakye obenya a Onyankopɔn yi kyerɛɛ no no ho.
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 Mpo, na Yudafo mpanyimfo no mu pii gye Yesu di, nanso na wosuro sɛ, sɛ Farisifo no hu wɔn a, wɔremma wɔmma asɔredan no mu bio.
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 Na wɔpɛ sɛ nnipa bɛkamfo wɔn sen sɛ Onyankopɔn bɛhyɛ wɔn anuonyam.
They wanted people to praise them more than they wanted God to praise them.
44 Yesu teɛɛ mu se, “Obiara a ogye me di no, ɛnyɛ me nko na ogye me di, na ogye nea ɔsomaa me no nso di.
[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 Na nea ohu me no hu nea ɔsomaa me no nso.
When they see me [and what I am doing, it is as though] they are seeing the one who sent me.
46 Maba wiase sɛ hann, na obiara a ogye me di no ankɔ so antena sum mu.
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 “Obiara a ɔte mʼasɛm na onni so no, meremmu no atɛn. Efisɛ mamma sɛ merebebu nnipa atɛn, na mmom, mebae sɛ merebegye wɔn nkwa.
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 Obiara a ɔpo me na onnye mʼasɛm nni no, otemmufo bi wɔ hɔ a obebu no atɛn. Me nsɛm a maka akyerɛ mo no na atemmuda no ebebu mo atɛn.
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 Nsɛm a maka no nyinaa, ɛnyɛ mʼankasa mʼadwene na mede ka kyerɛɛ mo, na mmom ɛyɛ nea Agya no ka kyerɛɛ me se menka nkyerɛ mo no.
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 Minim sɛ asɛm biara a Agya no ahyɛ me sɛ menka no de nnipa kɔ nkwa a enni awiei mu; enti asɛm a ɔbɛka akyerɛ me sɛ menka biara no, ɛno na meka!” (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)
