John 12

Mary Prepares Jesus’ Body for the Tomb—Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9

1 Six days before Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany. Lazarus, whom Jesus had brought back to life, lived there.

2 Dinner was prepared for Jesus in Bethany. Martha served the dinner, and Lazarus was one of the people eating with Jesus.
3 Mary took a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard and poured it on Jesus’ feet. Then she dried his feet with her hair. The fragrance of the perfume filled the house.4 One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray him, asked,5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for a high price and the money given to the poor?”6 (Judas didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the moneybag and carried the contributions.)7 Jesus said to Judas, “Leave her alone! She has done this to prepare me for the day I will be placed in a tomb.

8 You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me with you.”
9 A large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was in Bethany. So they went there not only to see Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had brought back to life.10 The chief priests planned to kill Lazarus too.

11 Lazarus was the reason why many people were leaving the Jews and believing in Jesus.

The King Comes to Jerusalem—Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:29–44

12 On the next day the large crowd that had come to the Passover festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.

13 So they took palm branches and went to meet him. They were shouting,
“Hosanna!Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord,the king of Israel!”14 Jesus obtained a donkey and sat on it, as Scripture says:15 “Don’t be afraid, people of Zion!Your king is coming.He is riding on a donkey’s colt.”16 At first Jesus’ disciples didn’t know what these prophecies meant. However, when Jesus was glorified, the disciples remembered that these prophecies had been written about him. The disciples remembered that they had taken part in fulfilling the prophecies.17 The people who had been with Jesus when he called Lazarus from the tomb and brought him back to life reported what they had seen.

18 Because the crowd heard that Jesus had performed this miracle, they came to meet him.
19 The Pharisees said to each other, “This is getting us nowhere. Look! The whole world is following him!”

Some Greeks Ask to See Jesus

20 Some Greeks were among those who came to worship during the Passover festival.21 They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, “Sir, we would like to meet Jesus.”

22 Philip told Andrew, and they told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied to them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24 I can guarantee this truth: A single grain of wheat doesn’t produce anything unless it is planted in the ground and dies. If it dies, it will produce a lot of grain.25 Those who love their lives will destroy them, and those who hate their lives in this world will guard them for everlasting life.

26 Those who serve me must follow me. My servants will be with me wherever I will be. If people serve me, the Father will honor them.
27 “I am too deeply troubled now to know how to express my feelings. Should I say, ‘Father, save me from this time of suffering’? No! I came for this time of suffering.

28 Father, give glory to your name.”
A voice from heaven said, “I have given it glory, and I will give it glory again.”29 The crowd standing there heard the voice and said that it had thundered. Others in the crowd said that an angel had talked to him.

30 Jesus replied, “That voice wasn’t for my benefit but for yours.
31 “This world is being judged now. The ruler of this world will be thrown out now.32 When I have been lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people toward me.”

33 By saying this, he indicated how he was going to die.
34 The crowd responded to him, “We have heard from the Scriptures that the Messiah will remain here forever. So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up from the earth’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”35 Jesus answered the crowd, “The light will still be with you for a little while. Walk while you have light so that darkness won’t defeat you. Those who walk in the dark don’t know where they’re going.

36 While you have the light, believe in the light so that you will become people whose lives show the light.”
After Jesus had said this, he was concealed as he left.37 Although they had seen Jesus perform so many miracles, they wouldn’t believe in him.

38 In this way the words of the prophet Isaiah came true:
“Lord, who has believed our message?To whom has the Lord’s power been revealed?”39 So the people couldn’t believe because, as Isaiah also said,40 “God blinded themand made them close-mindedso that their eyes don’t seeand their minds don’t understand.And they never turn to me for healing!”41 Isaiah said this because he had seen Jesus’ glory and had spoken about him.42 Many rulers believed in Jesus. However, they wouldn’t admit it publicly because the Pharisees would have thrown them out of the synagogue.

43 They were more concerned about what people thought of them than about what God thought of them.
44 Then Jesus said loudly, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me.45 Whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.46 I am the light that has come into the world so that everyone who believes in me will not live in the dark.47 If anyone hears my words and doesn’t follow them, I don’t condemn them. I didn’t come to condemn the world but to save the world.48 Those who reject me by not accepting what I say have a judge appointed for them. The words that I have spoken will judge them on the last day.49 I have not spoken on my own. Instead, the Father who sent me told me what I should say and how I should say it.

50 I know that what he commands is eternal life. Whatever I say is what the Father told me to say.”

John 12

1 Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead.2 So they made him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him.3 Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, that should betray him, saith,5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred shillings, and given to the poor?6 Now this he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the bag took away what was put therein.7 Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying.8 For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always.9 The common people therefore of the Jews learned that he was there: and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.10 But the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus also to death;11 because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.12 On the morrow a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,13 took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried out, Hosanna: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.14 And Jesus, having found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,15 Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.17 The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, bare witness.18 For this cause also the multitude went and met him, for that they heard that he had done this sign.19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Behold how ye prevail nothing: lo, the world is gone after him.20 Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast:21 these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: Andrew cometh, and Philip, and they tell Jesus.23 And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.25 He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour.28 Father, glorify thy name. There came therefore a voice out of heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.29 The multitude therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it had thundered: others said, An angel hath spoken to him.30 Jesus answered and said, This voice hath not come for my sake, but for your sakes.31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.33 But this he said, signifying by what manner of death he should die.34 The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?35 Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.36 While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them.37 But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they believed not on him:38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

39 For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah said again,

40 He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart; Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, And should turn, And I should heal them.

41 These things said Isaiah, because he saw his glory; and he spake of him.42 Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:43 for they loved the glory that is of men more than the glory that is of God.44 And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.45 And he that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me.46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness.47 And if any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.49 For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.50 And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak.