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12 Jesus, therefore, six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where was Lazarus, who had died, whom he raised out of the dead;

they made, therefore, to him a supper there, and Martha was ministering, and Lazarus was one of those reclining together (at meat) with him;

Mary, therefore, having taken a pound of ointment of spikenard, of great price, anointed the feet of Jesus and did wipe with her hair his feet, and the house was filled from the fragrance of the ointment.

Therefore saith one of his disciples -- Judas Iscariot, of Simon, who is about to deliver him up --

`Wherefore was not this ointment sold for three hundred denaries, and given to the poor?'

and he said this, not because he was caring for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and what things were put in he was carrying.

Jesus, therefore, said, `Suffer her; for the day of my embalming she hath kept it,

for the poor ye have always with yourselves, and me ye have not always.'

A great multitude, therefore, of the Jews knew that he is there, and they came, not because of Jesus only, but that Lazarus also they may see, whom he raised out of the dead;

10 and the chief priests took counsel, that also Lazarus they may kill,

11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away, and were believing in Jesus.

12 On the morrow, a great multitude that came to the feast, having heard that Jesus doth come to Jerusalem,

13 took the branches of the palms, and went forth to meet him, and were crying, `Hosanna, blessed [is] he who is coming in the name of the Lord -- the king of Israel;'

14 and Jesus having found a young ass did sit upon it, according as it is written,

15 `Fear not, daughter of Sion, lo, thy king doth come, sitting on an ass' colt.'

16 And these things his disciples did not know at the first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were having been written about him, and these things they did to him.

17 The multitude, therefore, who are with him, were testifying that he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and did raise him out of the dead;

18 because of this also did the multitude meet him, because they heard of his having done this sign,

19 the Pharisees, therefore, said among themselves, `Ye see that ye do not gain anything, lo, the world did go after him.'

20 And there were certain Greeks out of those coming up that they may worship in the feast,

21 these then came near to Philip, who [is] from Bethsaida of Galilee, and were asking him, saying, `Sir, we wish to see Jesus;'

22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew, and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

23 And Jesus responded to them, saying, `The hour hath come that the Son of Man may be glorified;

24 verily, verily, I say to you, if the grain of the wheat, having fallen to the earth, may not die, itself remaineth alone; and if it may die, it doth bear much fruit;

25 he who is loving his life shall lose it, and he who is hating his life in this world -- to life age-during shall keep it;

26 if any one may minister to me, let him follow me, and where I am, there also my ministrant shall be; and if any one may minister to me -- honour him will the Father.

27 `Now hath my soul been troubled, and what? shall I say -- Father, save me from this hour? -- but because of this I came to this hour;

28 Father, glorify Thy name.' There came, therefore, a voice out of the heaven, `I both glorified, and again I will glorify [it];'

29 the multitude, therefore, having stood and heard, were saying that there hath been thunder; others said, `A messenger hath spoken to him.'

30 Jesus answered and said, `Not because of me hath this voice come, but because of you;

31 now is a judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast forth;

32 and I, if I may be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.'

33 And this he said signifying by what death he was about to die;

34 the multitude answered him, `We heard out of the law that the Christ doth remain -- to the age; and how dost thou say, That it behoveth the Son of Man to be lifted up? who is this -- the Son of Man?'

35 Jesus, therefore, said to them, `Yet a little time is the light with you; walk while ye have the light, that darkness may not overtake you; and he who is walking in the darkness hath not known where he goeth;

36 while ye have the light, believe in the light, that sons of light ye may become.' These things spake Jesus, and having gone away, he was hid from them,

37 yet he having done so many signs before them, they were not believing in him,

38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he said, `Lord, who gave credence to our report? and the arm of the Lord -- to whom was it revealed?'

39 Because of this they were not able to believe, that again Isaiah said,

40 `He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, that they might not see with the eyes, and understand with the heart, and turn back, and I might heal them;'

41 these things said Isaiah, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

42 Still, however, also out of the rulers did many believe in him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing, that they might not be put out of the synagogue,

43 for they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God.

44 And Jesus cried and said, `He who is believing in me, doth not believe in me, but in Him who sent me;

45 and he who is beholding me, doth behold Him who sent me;

46 I a light to the world have come, that every one who is believing in me -- in the darkness may not remain;

47 and if any one may hear my sayings, and not believe, I -- I do not judge him, for I came not that I might judge the world, but that I might save the world.

48 `He who is rejecting me, and not receiving my sayings, hath one who is judging him, the word that I spake, that will judge him in the last day,

49 because I spake not from myself, but the Father who sent me, He did give me a command, what I may say, and what I may speak,

50 and I have known that His command is life age-during; what, therefore, I speak, according as the Father hath said to me, so I speak.'

Chúa Được Xức Dầu(A)

12 Nhưng sáu ngày trước lễ Vượt Qua, Đức Giê-su vẫn đến Bê-tha-ni, nơi có La-xa-rơ, người mà Đức Giê-su đã khiến sống lại. Người ta làm tiệc đãi Chúa tại đó. Ma-thê hầu bàn, còn La-xa-rơ cùng những người khác dự tiệc với Ngài. Lúc ấy, Ma-ri lấy ra một cân dầu cam tùng tinh chất quý giá xức chân Đức Giê-su và lấy tóc mình lau chân Ngài. Mùi thơm tỏa khắp nhà.

Nhưng Giu-đa Ích-ca-ri-ốt, môn đệ sau này phản Chúa, lên tiếng: “Sao không đem dầu này đi bán, lấy ba trăm đồng đê-na-ri để bố thí cho kẻ nghèo?” Anh ta nói vậy chẳng phải vì quan tâm gì đến người nghèo, nhưng vì vốn là tay trộm cắp mà lại giữ túi tiền, nên hễ có tiền vào là lấy bớt.

Nhưng Đức Giê-su bảo: “Cứ để yên nàng, vì nàng đã để dành dầu này cho ngày tẩm liệm Ta! Các ngươi lúc nào cũng có người nghèo bên mình, nhưng không có Ta luôn đâu!”

Khi người Do Thái biết Đức Giê-su đang có mặt ở đó, họ liền kéo đến thật đông, không những để gặp Ngài, mà cũng để xem La-xa-rơ, người mà Ngài đã khiến sống lại. 10 Nhưng các thượng tế bàn định với nhau để giết cả La-xa-rơ nữa, 11 vì tại ông, nhiều người Do Thái đã bỏ họ mà tin theo Đức Giê-su.

Chúa Giê-su Vào Thành Giê-ru-sa-lem(B)

12 Hôm sau, nghe tin Đức Giê-su cũng lên Giê-ru-sa-lem, đoàn người đông đảo đã về dự lễ, 13 lấy tàu lá chà là ra đón Ngài, tung hô:

“Hô-sa-na!
Phước cho Đấng nhân danh Chúa mà đến!
Vua của Y-sơ-ra-ên!”[a]

14 Tìm được một con lừa con, Đức Giê-su cưỡi lên đúng như Kinh Thánh chép:

15 “Con gái thành Si-ôn đừng sợ nữa!
    Kìa, Vua ngươi ngự đến,
    Cưỡi lừa con!”[b]

16 Lúc đầu các môn đệ Ngài chưa hiểu rõ, nhưng về sau, khi Đức Giê-su được hiển vinh, họ mới nhớ lại câu Kinh Thánh trên viết về Ngài và thấy ứng nghiệm đúng cho Ngài.

17 Nhóm người có mặt lúc Ngài gọi La-xa-rơ ra khỏi mộ và khiến ông sống lại cứ tiếp tục làm chứng về việc này. 18 Cũng chính vì nghe nói Ngài làm dấu lạ đó mà đoàn dân đông đảo đã ra nghênh đón Ngài. 19 Nhưng nhóm Pha-ri-si bảo nhau: “Thấy chưa? Các ông chẳng được tích sự gì! Kìa, cả thiên hạ đều kéo theo hắn!”

20 Nhân kỳ lễ này cũng có mấy người Hy Lạp trong số khách hành hương lên thờ phượng Đức Chúa Trời. 21 Họ đến gặp Phi-líp, người thành Bết-sai-đa, vùng Ga-li-lê, mà thỉnh cầu: “Thưa ông, chúng tôi mong được gặp Đức Giê-su!” 22 Phi-líp đi nói với An-rê, rồi cả An-rê và Phi-líp cùng đến thưa lại với Đức Giê-su.

23 Đức Giê-su đáp: “Giờ phút hiển vinh của Con Người đã đến! 24 Thật vậy, Ta bảo các con: Hạt giống lúa mì gieo xuống đất không chết đi thì hạt giống vẫn hoàn hạt giống, còn nếu chết đi thì mới kết quả thêm nhiều! 25 Ai quý chuộng mạng sống mình thì sẽ mất, còn ai liều bỏ mạng sống mình ở đời này sẽ giữ lại được trong cõi sống vĩnh phúc! 26 Người nào phục vụ Ta thì phải theo Ta. Ta ở đâu thì kẻ phục vụ Ta cũng sẽ ở đó. Ai phục vụ Ta sẽ được Cha Ta quý trọng.

27 Giờ đây, tâm hồn Ta phiền não. Ta sẽ nói làm sao? Thưa Cha, xin cứu con khỏi giờ phút này! Nhưng cũng chính vì giờ phút này, nên Con đã đến? 28 Cha ơi, xin hãy tôn vinh danh Ngài!” Bỗng có tiếng đến từ trời rằng: “Ta đã tôn vinh rồi, lại sẽ còn tôn vinh nữa!” 29 Đoàn dân đứng quanh nghe tiếng ấy thì bảo là sấm; những người khác lại nói: “Một thiên sứ vừa nói với Ngài đó!”

30 Đức Giê-su bảo: “Tiếng này đã đến chính vì các con chứ chẳng phải vì Ta! 31 Bây giờ là lúc của sự phán xét thế gian, đây là lúc chúa đời này sẽ phải bị truất quyền. 32 Còn phần Ta, khi thân bị treo lên khỏi đất, Ta sẽ kéo mọi người đến cùng Ta!” 33 Đức Giê-su bảo vậy để ám chỉ Ngài sắp chịu chết cách nào.

34 Đoàn dân lại nói: “Chính chúng tôi có nghe Kinh Luật dạy rằng Chúa Cứu Thế còn mãi muôn đời, sao Thầy lại nói Con Người phải bị treo lên? Con Người đó là ai vậy?”

35 Đức Giê-su đáp: “Sự sáng chỉ còn ở giữa các ngươi ít lâu nữa mà thôi! Hãy bước đi trong khi các ngươi còn có sự sáng kẻo bóng tối bất chợt bao trùm các ngươi! Người đi trong tối tăm không biết mình đi đâu. 36 Hãy tin cậy nơi sự sáng trong khi các ngươi còn có sự sáng để được trở thành con cái của sự sáng.”

Dạy bảo xong, Đức Giê-su ẩn mặt, lánh xa họ.

37 Ngài đã làm bao nhiêu dấu lạ trước mặt họ như vậy mà họ vẫn không chịu tin Ngài, 38 để cho lời tiên tri I-sa được ứng nghiệm:

“Lạy Chúa, ai đã tin nhận lời chúng con tường trình,
    Và cánh tay Chúa đã được tỏ cho ai?”[c]

39 Bởi vì họ không thể nào tin được I-sa đã nói nữa:

40 “Ngài đã làm cho mắt họ mù,
    lòng họ chai,
Để có mắt mà không thấy,
    Có tâm trí mà không hiểu,
    Và chẳng hối cải để Ta chữa lành họ!”[d]

41 I-sa đã nói những điều này khi thấy vinh quang Ngài và nói về Ngài.

42 Dù sao, cũng có nhiều người trong giới lãnh đạo tin Ngài, nhưng vì cớ người Pha-ri-si, họ không dám tuyên xưng, sợ bị khai trừ khỏi hội đường; 43 và vì họ chuộng vinh quang của loài người hơn vinh quang của Đức Chúa Trời.

44 Đức Giê-su lên tiếng tuyên bố: “Người nào tin Ta, thật ra không phải chỉ tin Ta, nhưng tin Đấng đã sai Ta đến. 45 Còn người nào thấy Ta chính là thấy Đấng đã sai Ta. 46 Ta là sự sáng đã đến trong thế gian để những ai tin Ta không còn ở trong tối tăm nữa!

47 Nếu ai nghe lời Ta mà không vâng giữ, thì không phải Ta xét xử kẻ ấy, vì Ta đến không phải để xét xử, nhưng để cứu vớt thế gian. 48 Ai khước từ Ta và không tiếp nhận lời Ta thì đã bị xét xử rồi; chính lời Ta phán dạy sẽ kết án họ trong ngày sau cùng. 49 Vì Ta không tự mình giảng dạy, nhưng Cha là Đấng sai Ta đã truyền cho Ta điều răn phải giảng và phải dạy. 50 Ta biết điều răn Ngài là sự sống vĩnh phúc. Vậy, những lời Ta nói đều do Cha truyền bảo Ta phải nói.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany(A)

12 Six days before the Passover,(B) Jesus came to Bethany,(C) where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served,(D) while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume;(E) she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.(F) And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him,(G) objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b] He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag,(H) he used to help himself to what was put into it.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.(I) You will always have the poor among you,[c](J) but you will not always have me.”

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.(K) 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him(L) many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.(M)

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King(N)

12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches(O) and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna![d]

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[e](P)

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”(Q)

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
    see, your king is coming,
    seated on a donkey’s colt.”[f](R)

16 At first his disciples did not understand all this.(S) Only after Jesus was glorified(T) did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

17 Now the crowd that was with him(U) when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign,(V) went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”(W)

Jesus Predicts His Death

20 Now there were some Greeks(X) among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida(Y) in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, “The hour(Z) has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.(AA) 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,(AB) it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it(AC) for eternal life.(AD) 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.(AE) My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27 “Now my soul is troubled,(AF) and what shall I say? ‘Father,(AG) save me from this hour’?(AH) No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven,(AI) “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit,(AJ) not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world;(AK) now the prince of this world(AL) will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[g] from the earth,(AM) will draw all people to myself.”(AN) 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.(AO)

34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law(AP) that the Messiah will remain forever,(AQ) so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man(AR) must be lifted up’?(AS) Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light(AT) just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,(AU) before darkness overtakes you.(AV) Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”(AW) When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.(AX)

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs(AY) in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[h](AZ)

39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

40 “He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
    nor understand with their hearts,
    nor turn—and I would heal them.”[i](BA)

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory(BB) and spoke about him.(BC)

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.(BD) But because of the Pharisees(BE) they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;(BF) 43 for they loved human praise(BG) more than praise from God.(BH)

44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.(BI) 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.(BJ) 46 I have come into the world as a light,(BK) so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.(BL) 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them(BM) at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me(BN) to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life.(BO) So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”(BP)

Footnotes

  1. John 12:3 Or about 0.5 liter
  2. John 12:5 Greek three hundred denarii
  3. John 12:8 See Deut. 15:11.
  4. John 12:13 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise
  5. John 12:13 Psalm 118:25,26
  6. John 12:15 Zech. 9:9
  7. John 12:32 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
  8. John 12:38 Isaiah 53:1
  9. John 12:40 Isaiah 6:10