John 12
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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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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John 12
12
Jesus in Bethany With His Friends
(Mt. 26:6–13; Mk. 14:3–9)
1Six days before the Passover festival, Jesus went to Bethany. That is where Lazarus lived, the man Jesus raised from death. 2There they had a dinner for Jesus. Martha served the food, and Lazarus was one of the people eating with Jesus. 3Mary brought in a pint#12:3 pint Literally, “litra,” a Roman pound, equal to 327 grams (11.5 ounces). of expensive perfume made of pure nard. She poured the perfume on Jesus’ feet. Then she wiped his feet with her hair. And the sweet smell from the perfume filled the whole house.
4Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ followers, was there—the one who would later hand Jesus over to his enemies. Judas said, 5“That perfume was worth a full year’s pay.#12:5 a full year’s pay Literally, “300 denarii.” One Roman denarius, a silver coin, was the average pay for one day’s work. It should have been sold, and the money should have been given to the poor people.” 6But Judas did not really care about the poor. He said this because he was a thief. He was the one who kept the moneybag for the group of followers. And he often stole money from the bag.
7Jesus answered, “Don’t stop her. It was right for her to save this perfume for today—the day for me to be prepared for burial. 8You will always have those who are poor with you.#12:8 You will … with you See Deut. 15:11. But you will not always have me.”
The Plot Against Lazarus
9Many of the Jews heard that Jesus was in Bethany, so they went there to see him. They also went there to see Lazarus, the one Jesus raised from death. 10So the leading priests made plans to kill Lazarus too. 11Because of him, many Jews were leaving them and believing in Jesus. That is why they wanted to kill Lazarus too.
Jesus Enters Jerusalem Like a King
(Mt. 21:1–11; Mk. 11:1–11; Lk. 19:28–40)
12The next day the people in Jerusalem heard that Jesus was coming there. These were the crowds of people who had come to the Passover festival. 13They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Jesus. They shouted,
“‘Praise#12:13 Praise Literally, “Hosanna,” a Hebrew word used in praying to God for help. Here, it was probably a shout of celebration used in praising God or his Messiah. Him!’
‘Welcome! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Psalm 118:25-26
God bless the King of Israel!”
14Jesus found a donkey and rode on it, as the Scriptures say,
15“Do not be afraid, people of Zion#12:15 people of Zion Literally, “daughter of Zion,” meaning the city of Jerusalem. See “Zion” in the Word List.!
Look! Your king is coming.
He is riding on a young donkey.” Zechariah 9:9
16The followers of Jesus did not understand at that time what was happening. But after he was raised to glory, they understood that this was written about him. Then they remembered that they had done these things for him.
17There were many people with Jesus when he raised Lazarus from death and told him to come out of the tomb. Now they were telling others about what Jesus did. 18That’s why so many people went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign he did. 19So the Pharisees said to each other, “Look! Our plan is not working. The people are all following him!”
Jesus Talks About Life and Death
20There were some Greeks there too. These were some of the people who went to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover festival. 21They went to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” 22Philip went and told Andrew. Then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
23Jesus said to them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to receive his glory. 24It is a fact that a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die before it can grow and produce much more wheat. If it never dies, it will never be more than a single seed. 25Whoever loves the life they have now will lose it. But whoever is willing to give up their life in this world will keep it. They will have eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me. My servants must be with me everywhere I am. My Father will give honor to anyone who serves me.
Jesus Talks About His Death
27“Now I am very troubled. What should I say? Should I say, ‘Father save me from this time of suffering’? No, I came to this time so that I could suffer. 28Father, do what will bring you glory!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have already brought glory to myself. I will do it again.”
29The people standing there heard the voice. They said it was thunder.
But others said, “An angel spoke to him!”
30Jesus said, “That voice was for you and not for me. 31Now is the time for the world to be judged. Now the ruler of this world will be thrown out. 32I will be lifted up#12:32 lifted up Meaning to be nailed to a cross and “lifted up” on it to die. It may also have a second meaning: to be “lifted up” from death to heaven. Also in verse 34. from the earth. When that happens, I will draw all people to myself.” 33Jesus said this to show how he would die.
34The people said, “But our law says that the Messiah will live forever. So why do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35Then Jesus said, “The light#12:35 light This means Christ, as in Jn. 1:5-9. Also, it is a symbol of goodness and truth, qualities associated with Christ and his kingdom. will be with you for only a short time more. So walk while you have the light. Then the darkness will not catch you. People who walk in the darkness don’t know where they are going. 36So put your trust in the light while you still have it. Then you will be children of light.” When Jesus finished saying these things, he went away to a place where the people could not find him.
Some Jews Refuse to Believe in Jesus
37The people saw all these miraculous signs Jesus did, but they still did not believe in him. 38This was to give full meaning to what Isaiah the prophet said:
“Lord, who believed what we told them?
Who has seen the Lord’s power?” Isaiah 53:1
39This is why the people could not believe. Because Isaiah also said,
40“God made the people blind.
He closed their minds.
He did this so that they would not see with their eyes
and understand with their minds.
He did it so that they would not turn
and be healed.” Isaiah 6:10
41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ divine greatness. So he spoke about him.
42But many people believed in Jesus. Even many of the Jewish leaders believed in him, but they were afraid of the Pharisees, so they did not say openly that they believed. They were afraid they would be ordered to stay out of the synagogue. 43They loved praise from people more than praise from God.
Jesus’ Teaching Will Judge People
44Then Jesus said loudly, “Everyone who believes in me is really believing in the one who sent me. 45Everyone who sees me is really seeing the one who sent me. 46I came into this world as a light. I came so that everyone who believes in me will not stay in darkness.
47“I did not come into the world to judge people. I came to save the people in the world. So I am not the one who judges those who hear my teaching and do not obey. 48But there is a judge for all those who refuse to believe in me and do not accept what I say. The message I have spoken will judge them on the last day. 49That is because what I taught was not from myself. The Father who sent me told me what to say and what to teach. 50And I know that whatever he says to do will bring eternal life. So the things I say are exactly what the Father told me to say.”
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