John 12

Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany

1Six days before #ver. 12, 20; ch. 11:55 the Passover, #For ver. 1-8, see Matt. 26:6-11; Mark 14:3-8 Jesus therefore came to Bethany, #ch. 11:1where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2So they gave a dinner for him there. #Luke 10:38, 40Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3#[Luke 7:37, 38]Mary therefore took a pound#12:3 Greek litra; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5“Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii#12:5 A denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer and #ch. 13:29given to the poor?” 6He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and #[See ver. 5 above]having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it#12:7 Or Leave her alone; she intended to keep it for the day of my burial. 8For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

The Plot to Kill Lazarus

9When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus#12:9 Greek he was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, #ch. 11:44whom he had raised from the dead. 10#[Luke 16:31]So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11because #ver. 18; ch. 11:45on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

The Triumphal Entry

12The next day #For ver. 12-15, see Matt. 21:4-9; Mark 11:7-10; Luke 19:35-38the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13So they took branches of #[Rev. 7:9] palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, #Ps. 118:25, 26 “Hosanna! Blessed is #[ch. 5:43] he who comes in the name of the Lord, even #See ch. 1:49the King of Israel!” 14And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

15 # Cited from Zech. 9:9 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

behold, your king is coming,

sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

16 # [ch. 13:7 ]; See Mark 9:32 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but #ver. 23; See ch. 7:39 when Jesus was glorified, then #ch. 2:22they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17#[Luke 19:37]The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18The reason why the crowd went to meet him #ver. 9-11was that they heard he had done this sign. 19So the Pharisees said to one another, #ch. 11:47 “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, #[ch. 3:26]the world has gone after him.”

Some Greeks Seek Jesus

20Now #[1 Kgs. 8:41-43; Acts 8:27] among those who went up to worship at the feast were some #Acts 17:4; [Mark 7:26]; See ch. 7:35Greeks. 21So these came to #ch. 1:44Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22Philip went and told #See Mark 13:3Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23And Jesus answered them, #ch. 17:1; [ver. 27; ch. 13:31, 32; Mark 14:41]; See ch. 2:4 “The hour has come #ver. 16for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Truly, truly, I say to you, #1 Cor. 15:36unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25#See Matt. 10:39 Whoever loves his life loses it, and #[ch. 11:25] whoever #See Luke 14:26hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26If anyone serves me, he must #ch. 8:12; 21:18 follow me; and #ch. 14:3; 17:24; [2 Cor. 5:8; 1 Thess. 4:17] where I am, there will my servant be also. #[ch. 14:21, 23; 16:27] If anyone serves me, #1 Sam. 2:30; Ps. 91:15the Father will honor him.

The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up

27 # ch. 11:33; 13:21; [ Luke 22:44 ] “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, # Mark 14:35; [ Heb. 5:7 ] save me from # ver. 23 this hour’? But # [ch. 18:37 ] for this purpose I have come to # ver. 23 this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.” Then #Matt. 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22; 9:35; 2 Pet. 1:17a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, #Acts 23:9“An angel has spoken to him.” 30Jesus answered, #ch. 11:42“This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31#ch. 16:11; [ch. 16:33] Now is the judgment of this world; now will #ch. 14:30; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; 6:12; [Matt. 13:19; Luke 4:6; 1 John 4:4; 5:19] the ruler of this world #[Luke 10:18; Col. 2:15; 1 John 3:8]be cast out. 32And I, #ch. 3:14; 8:28 when I am lifted up from the earth, #See ch. 6:44 will draw #Rom. 5:18; 8:32; 2 Cor. 5:15; 1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 2:9; 1 John 2:2all people to myself.” 33He said this #ch. 18:32to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that #Ps. 89:4; 110:4; Isa. 9:7; Ezek. 37:25; Luke 1:33 the Christ remains forever. How can you say that #ver. 32the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35So Jesus said to them, #ver. 46; See ch. 1:4, 9; 8:12 “The light is among you #See ch. 7:33 for a little while longer. #Jer. 13:16; Eph. 5:8 Walk while you have the light, lest darkness #1 Thess. 5:4 overtake you. #Isa. 9:2; 1 John 1:6; 2:11; [ch. 11:10]The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become #See Luke 10:6sons of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38#[Matt. 1:22] so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

# Rom. 10:16; Cited from Isa. 53:1 “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,

and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39Therefore they #[ch. 5:44]could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40 # [ Isa. 6:10 ]; See Matt. 13:14, 15 “He has blinded their eyes

and #See Mark 6:52hardened their heart,

lest they see with their eyes,

and understand with their heart, and turn,

and I would heal them.”

41Isaiah said these things because #Isa. 6:1 he saw his glory and #[ch. 5:46]spoke of him. 42Nevertheless, #ch. 3:1; [ch. 7:48] many even of the authorities believed in him, but #See ch. 7:13 for fear of the Pharisees they did not #See ch. 9:22confess it, so that they would not be #See ch. 9:22put out of the synagogue; 43#ch. 5:44for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Jesus Came to Save the World

44And Jesus cried out and said, #[ch. 13:20]; See Matt. 10:40 “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but #ch. 14:1; [ch. 5:24; 1 Pet. 1:21]in him who sent me. 45And #ch. 14:9 whoever #ch. 6:40sees me sees him who sent me. 46#ver. 35, 36; See ch. 1:4, 5, 9; 8:12I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47If anyone #[ch. 3:36] hears my words and does not keep them, #ch. 8:15 I do not judge him; for #See ch. 3:17; 4:42I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48#Luke 10:16 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; #Deut. 18:18, 19 the word that I have spoken will judge him #[Rom. 2:16]on the last day. 49For #See ch. 5:19, 30 I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father #See ch. 3:17 who sent me has himself given me #ch. 15:10a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

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John 12: ESV

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John 12

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

1Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate#12:2 Or who reclined. with him. 3Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar#12:3 Greek took 1 litra [327 grams]. of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

4But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5“That perfume was worth a year’s wages.#12:5 Greek worth 300 denarii. A denarius was equivalent to a laborer’s full day’s wage. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

7Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

9When all the people#12:9 Greek Jewish people; also in 12:11. heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them#12:11 Or had deserted their traditions; Greek reads had deserted. and believed in Jesus.

Jesus’ Triumphant Entry

12The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,

“Praise God!#12:13a Greek Hosanna, an exclamation of praise adapted from a Hebrew expression that means “save now.”

Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hail to the King of Israel!”#12:13b Ps 118:25-26; Zeph 3:15.

14Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:

15“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem.#12:15a Greek daughter of Zion.

Look, your King is coming,

riding on a donkey’s colt.”#12:15b Zech 9:9.

16His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.

17Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others#12:17 Greek were testifying. about it. 18That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. 19Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone#12:19 Greek the world. has gone after him!”

Jesus Predicts His Death

20Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration 21paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” 22Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.

23Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man#12:23 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself. to enter into his glory. 24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 26Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” 29When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

30Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33He said this to indicate how he was going to die.

34The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture#12:34 Greek from the law. that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”

35Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. 36Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

The Unbelief of the People

37But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. 38This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:

“Lord, who has believed our message?

To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?”#12:38 Isa 53:1.

39But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,

40“The Lord has blinded their eyes

and hardened their hearts—

so that their eyes cannot see,

and their hearts cannot understand,

and they cannot turn to me

and have me heal them.”#12:40 Isa 6:10.

41Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory. 42Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. 43For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

44Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. 45For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. 46I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 47I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 48But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. 49I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”

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