John 12  Holman 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 fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair.^(E) So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

⁴ Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot^(F) (who was about to betray Him), said, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 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} Therefore the chief priests 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: “Hosanna!^(N) He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One^(O)[d]—the King of Israel!”^(P)

¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey^(Q) and sat on it, just as it is written: ¹⁵ Fear no more,^(R) Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.^(S)[e]

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 “I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat^(AC) falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop.^{[g](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!”^[h](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 that an angel had 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^[i] from the earth I will draw all people to Myself.”^{(AT) 33} He said this to signify what kind of death He was about to die.^(AU)

³⁴ Then the crowd replied to Him, “We have heard from the scripture that the Messiah will remain forever.^(AV) So how can You say, ‘The Son of Man^(AW) must be lifted up’?^[j] 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 sons 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 But this was to fulfill^(BD) the word of Isaiah^(BE) the prophet, who said:^[k]

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

⁴¹ Isaiah said these things because^[n] 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 they would not be banned from the synagogue. ⁴³ For they loved praise from men^(BN) more than praise from God.^[o](BO)

A Summary of Jesus’ Mission

⁴⁴ Then 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 a 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 accept My sayings has this as his judge:^[p] 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 as to what I should say and what I should speak. 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)