John 12  Christian Standard Bible

The Anointing at Bethany

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany^(A) where Lazarus^[a] was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.^{(B) 2} So^(C) they gave a dinner for him there; Martha^(D) was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with him. ³ Then Mary took a pound of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped his feet with her hair.^(E) So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴ Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot^(F) (who was about to betray him), said, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii^[b](G) and given to the poor?” ⁶ He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.^(H) He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

⁷ Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial.^{(I) 8} For you always have the poor with you,^(J) but you do not always have me.”

The Decision to Kill Lazarus

⁹ Then a large crowd of the Jews learned he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the one he had raised from the dead.^{(K) 10} But the chief priests had decided to kill Lazarus also, ¹¹ because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them^[c] and believing in Jesus.

The Triumphal Entry

¹² The^(L) next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ they took palm branches^(M) and went out to meet him. They kept shouting:

¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey^(Q) and sat on it, just as it is written:

¹⁶ His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him^(T) and that they had done these things to him.

¹⁷ Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb^(U) and raised him from the dead, continued to testify.^{[f] 18} This is also why the crowd met him, because they heard he had done this sign. ¹⁹ Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You’ve accomplished nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!” ^(V)

Jesus Predicts His Crucifixion

²⁰ Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹ So they came to Philip,^(W) who was from Bethsaida^(X) in Galilee,^(Y) and requested of him, “Sir,^(Z) we want to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went and told Andrew;^(AA) then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

²³ Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man^(AB) to be glorified. ²⁴ Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat^(AC) falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.^{(AD) 25} The one who loves his life will lose it,^(AE) and the one who hates^(AF) his life^(AG) in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant^(AH) also will be.^(AI) If anyone serves me, the Father will honor^(AJ) him.

²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save me^(AK) from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name.”^[g](AL)

Then a voice^(AM) came from heaven: ^(AN) “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”^(AO)

²⁹ The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”

³⁰ Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for me, but for you.^{(AP) 31} Now is the judgment of this world.^(AQ) Now the ruler of this world^(AR) will be cast out.^{(AS) 32} As for me, if I am lifted up^[h] from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”^{(AT) 33} He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.^(AU)

³⁴ Then the crowd replied to him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah will remain forever.^(AV) So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man^(AW) must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

³⁵ Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer.^(AX) Walk while you have the light^(AY) so that darkness doesn’t overtake you.^(AZ) The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going.^{(BA) 36} While you have the light,^(BB) believe in the light so that you may become children of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.^(BC)

Isaiah’s Prophecies Fulfilled

³⁷ Even though he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. ³⁸ This was to fulfill^(BD) the word of Isaiah^(BE) the prophet, who said:^[i]

³⁹ This is why they were unable to believe, because Isaiah also said:

⁴¹ Isaiah said these things because^[l] he saw his glory^(BL) and spoke about him.

⁴² Nevertheless, many did believe in him even among the rulers,^(BM) but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, so that they would not be banned from the synagogue. ⁴³ For they loved human praise^(BN) more than praise from God.^(BO)

A Summary of Jesus’s Mission

⁴⁴ Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in me^(BP) believes not in me, but in him who sent me. ⁴⁵ And the one who sees me sees him^(BQ) who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me would not remain in darkness. ⁴⁷ If anyone hears my words and doesn’t keep^(BR) them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world^(BS) but to save the world.^{(BT) 48} The one who rejects me^(BU) and doesn’t receive my sayings has this as his judge: ^[m] The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day.^{(BV) 49} For I have not spoken on my own, but the Father^(BW) himself who sent me has given me a command to say everything I have said. ⁵⁰ I know that his command is eternal life.^(BX) So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told me.”^(BY)