John 12
Jesus’ Anointing
12:1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom he1 had raised from the dead. 12:2 So they prepared a dinner for Jesus2 there. Martha3 was serving, and Lazarus was among those present at the table4 with him. 12:3 Then Mary took three quarters of a pound5 of expensive aromatic oil from pure nard6 and anointed the feet of Jesus. She7 then wiped his feet dry with her hair. (Now the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfumed oil.)8 12:4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him)9 said, 12:5 “Why wasn’t this oil sold for three hundred silver coins10 and the money11 given to the poor?” 12:6 (Now Judas12 said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box,13 he used to steal what was put into it.)14 12:7 So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial.15 12:8 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!”16
12:9 Now a large crowd of Judeans17 learned18 that Jesus19 was there, and so they came not only because of him20 but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. 12:10 So the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus too,21 12:11 for on account of him many of the Jewish people from Jerusalem22 were going away and believing in Jesus.
The Triumphal Entry
12:12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.23 12:13 So they took branches of palm trees24 and went out to meet him. They began to shout,25 “Hosanna!26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!27 Blessed is28 the king of Israel!” 12:14 Jesus found a young donkey29 and sat on it, just as it is written, 12:15 “Do not be afraid, people of Zion;30 look, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt!”31 12:16 (His disciples did not understand these things when they first happened,32 but when Jesus was glorified,33 then they remembered that these things were written about him and that these things had happened34 to him.)35
12:17 So the crowd who had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were continuing to testify about it.36 12:18 Because they had heard that Jesus37 had performed this miraculous sign, the crowd went out to meet him. 12:19 Thus the Pharisees38 said to one another, “You see that you can do nothing. Look, the world has run off after him!”
Seekers
12:20 Now some Greeks39 were among those who had gone up to worship at the feast. 12:21 So these approached Philip,40 who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested,41 “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” 12:22 Philip went and told Andrew, and they both42 went and told Jesus. 12:23 Jesus replied,43 “The time44 has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.45 12:24 I tell you the solemn truth,46 unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone.47 But if it dies, it produces48 much grain.49 12:25 The one who loves his life50 destroys51 it, and the one who hates his life in this world guards52 it for eternal life. 12:26 If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow53 me, and where I am, my servant will be too.54 If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
12:27 “Now my soul is greatly distressed. And what should I say? ‘Father, deliver me55 from this hour’?56 No, but for this very reason I have come to this hour.57 12:28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven,58 “I have glorified it,59 and I will glorify it60 again.” 12:29 The crowd that stood there and heard the voice61 said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to him.62 12:30 Jesus said,63 “This voice has not come for my benefit64 but for yours. 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world65 will be driven out.66 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people67 to myself.” 12:33 (Now he said this to indicate clearly what kind of death he was going to die.)68
12:34 Then the crowd responded,69 “We have heard from the law that the Christ70 will remain forever.71 How72 can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” 12:35 Jesus replied,73 “The light is with you for a little while longer.74 Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you.75 The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 12:36 While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.”76 When Jesus had said these things, he went away and hid himself from them.
The Outcome of Jesus’ Public Ministry Foretold
12:37 Although Jesus77 had performed78 so many miraculous signs before them, they still refused to believe in him, 12:38 so that the word79 of Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled. He said,80 “Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord81 been revealed?”82 12:39 For this reason they could not believe,83 because again Isaiah said,
12:40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,84
so that they would not see with their eyes
and understand with their heart,85
and turn to me,86 and I would heal them.”87
12:41 Isaiah said these things because he saw Christ’s88 glory, and spoke about him.
12:42 Nevertheless, even among the rulers89 many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees90 they would not confess Jesus to be the Christ,91 so that they would not be put out of92 the synagogue.93 12:43 For they loved praise94 from men more than praise95 from God.
Jesus’ Final Public Words
12:44 But Jesus shouted out,96 “The one who believes in me does not believe in me, but in the one who sent me,97 12:45 and the one who sees me sees the one who sent me.98 12:46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness. 12:47 If anyone99 hears my words and does not obey them,100 I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.101 12:48 The one who rejects me and does not accept102 my words has a judge;103 the word104 I have spoken will judge him at the last day. 12:49 For I have not spoken from my own authority,105 but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me106 what I should say and what I should speak. 12:50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life.107 Thus the things I say, I say just as the Father has told me.”108