在伯大尼被膏抹

12 逾越节前六天,耶稣来到[a]拉撒路所在的伯大尼,就是他使拉撒路从死人中复活的地方。 有些人在那里为耶稣预备晚餐,玛妲正伺候着。拉撒路也在与耶稣坐席的人当中。 这时候,玛丽亚拿了一斤[b]极其贵重的纯哪哒香液,膏抹耶稣的脚,又用自己的头发擦干,屋子里就充满了香液的气味。

他的一个门徒,就是后来要出卖耶稣的那个加略犹大却说: “为什么不把这香液卖三百个银币[c]去分给穷人呢?” 他说这话,并不是因为顾念穷人,而是因为他是个贼。他管钱包,常常拿走其中所存的。

耶稣说:“由她吧!她是为我安葬的日子而保存的。 要知道,你们总是有穷人与你们在一起,但你们不总是有我。”

决定杀害拉撒路

有一大群犹太人知道耶稣在那里,就来了。他们不仅是为了耶稣的缘故,也是为了看拉撒路,就是耶稣使他从死人中复活的那个人。 10 于是祭司长们就商议,连拉撒路也要杀掉, 11 因为有许多犹太人为了拉撒路的缘故,离开他们,信了耶稣。

光荣进圣城

12 第二天,一大群上来过节的人听说耶稣要来到耶路撒冷 13 就拿着棕榈树枝出去迎接他,欢呼说:

“和散那!
奉主名而来的那一位,
以色列的王啊,
是蒙祝福的!”[d]

14 耶稣找来一头驴驹,骑在上面,正如经上所记: 15 锡安的女儿啊,不要怕!看哪,你的王骑着驴驹来了!”[e]

16 耶稣的门徒们当初不明白这些事,等到耶稣得了荣耀以后,才想起这些话是指着他写的,人们果然向他做了这些事。 17 当耶稣呼唤拉撒路从坟墓中出来,使他从死人中复活的时候,那些与耶稣在一起的众人就见证了这件事。 18 众人之所以也去迎接他,是因为他们听说他行了这神迹。

19 于是法利赛人互相说:“可见你们真没用!看,这世界都跟随他去了。”

预言受难

20 当时,上来过节敬拜的人中,有一些希腊人。 21 这些人来到加利利伯赛达腓力那里,求他说:“先生,我们想见耶稣。”

22 腓力去告诉安得烈安得烈腓力就去告诉耶稣。 23 耶稣回答他们,说:“人子得荣耀的时候到了! 24 我确确实实地告诉你们:一粒麦子如果不落在地里死去,它仍然是一粒;如果死了,就结出很多子粒[f]来。 25 爱惜自己生命的,就失去生命;在这世上恨恶自己生命的,将保全生命到永生。 26 一个人如果要服事我,就当跟从我;我在哪里,我的仆人也将要在哪里。如果有人服事我,父将尊重他。

27 “现在我的灵魂烦扰。我该说什么呢?说‘父啊,救我脱离这时刻’吗?但我正是为了这时刻而来的。 28 父啊,愿你荣耀你的名[g]!”

这时候,有声音从天上传来:“我已经荣耀了我的名,还要再荣耀!”

29 站在那里的众人听见了,就说:“打雷了。”另有人说:“是天使在对他说话。”

30 耶稣就回答说:“这声音不是为我,而是为你们来的。 31 现在,是这世界受审判的时候了;现在,世界的那掌权者要被赶出去了。 32 至于我,当我从地上被举起来的时候,就会吸引所有的人归向我。” 33 耶稣说这话是指自己将要怎样死。

34 众人回答他:“我们从律法中听到,基督是永远长存的。你怎么说‘人子必须被举起来’呢?这‘人子’到底是谁?”

35 耶稣说:“光在你们当中的时候不多了。要趁着有光的时候行走,免得黑暗抓住你们!因为在黑暗里行走的人,不知道自己往哪里去。 36 你们要趁着有光的时候信这光,好使你们成为光明的儿女。”耶稣说了这些话,就离开他们被隐藏了。

应验以赛亚的预言

37 耶稣虽然在他们面前行了这么多神迹,他们仍然不信他。 38 这是为要应验先知以赛亚所说的话:

“主啊,我们所传的,有谁相信了?
主的膀臂[h],向谁显示了?”[i]

39 他们之所以不能相信,是因为以赛亚又说过:

40 “神使他们瞎了眼,
硬了心,
免得他们眼睛看见,
心里明白,
回转过来,
我就使他们痊愈。”[j]

41 以赛亚说了这些话,是因为看见了耶稣的荣耀[k],就讲论他的事。

42 不过甚至是首领当中也有许多信耶稣的。但是为了法利赛人的缘故,他们不敢承认,免得被赶出会堂, 43 这是因为他们喜爱人的荣耀,胜过喜爱神的荣耀。

耶稣宣告使命

44 耶稣喊着说:“信我的人,不是信我,而是信派我来的那一位。 45 谁看见我,就是看见派我来的那一位。 46 我就是光。我来到世上,好让所有信我的人不住在黑暗里。 47 如果有人听了我的话却不遵守[l],我不定他的罪;因为我来,不是为了定世人的罪,而是为了拯救世人。 48 拒绝我,又不接受我话的人,自有定他罪的:我所讲的话语,在末日要定他的罪。 49 这是因为我没有凭自己讲话,而是派我来的父给了我命令,要我说什么和讲什么。 50 我知道他的命令就是永恒的生命。所以我所讲的,正是照着父所告诉我的来讲的。”

Footnotes

  1. 约翰福音 12:1 有古抄本附“曾经死过的”。
  2. 约翰福音 12:3 一斤——原文为“1力揣”;或译作“1磅”。力揣=罗马磅;1力揣=0.34公斤。
  3. 约翰福音 12:5 三百个银币——原文为“300得拿利”。1得拿利=约1日工资的罗马银币。
  4. 约翰福音 12:13 《诗篇》118:25-26。
  5. 约翰福音 12:15 《撒迦利亚书》9:9。
  6. 约翰福音 12:24 子粒——或译作“果实”。
  7. 约翰福音 12:28 名——有古抄本作“儿子”。
  8. 约翰福音 12:38 膀臂——意义为“大能”。
  9. 约翰福音 12:38 《以赛亚书》53:1。
  10. 约翰福音 12:40 《以赛亚书》6:10。
  11. 约翰福音 12:41 是因为看见了耶稣的荣耀——有古抄本作“是在他看见了耶稣的荣耀的时候”。
  12. 约翰福音 12:47 遵守——有古抄本作“相信”。

Jesus with Friends in Bethany

12 [L Therefore] Six days before the Passover Feast, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus lived. (Lazarus is the man Jesus raised from the dead.) There they had a dinner for Jesus. Martha served the food, and Lazarus was one of the people ·eating [L reclining; C it was customary to eat formal meals while reclining around a low table] with Jesus. [L Then] Mary brought in a pint [C Greek litra; about eleven ounces, weighing just under a pound] of very expensive ·perfume [ointment/fragrant oil] made from pure nard. She ·poured the perfume on [anointed; C not the word for royal or priestly anointing, but for hospitality or care] Jesus’ feet, and then she wiped his feet with her hair. And the ·sweet smell [fragrance] from the perfume filled the whole house.

Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ ·followers [disciples] who would later ·turn against [betray] him, was there. Judas said, “This ·perfume [ointment/fragrant oil] was worth an ·entire year’s wages [L three hundred denarii]. Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” But Judas did not really care about the poor; he said this because he was a thief. He was the one who kept the money ·box [or bag], and he often stole from it.

[L Therefore] Jesus answered, “Leave her alone. It was right for her to save this perfume for today, the day for me to be prepared for burial. [L For] You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.”

The Plot Against Lazarus

A large crowd of ·people [L Jews] ·heard [learned; came to know] that Jesus was ·in Bethany [L there]. So they went there to see not only Jesus but Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. 10 So the leading [T chief] priests ·made plans [plotted; counseled together] to kill Lazarus too. 11 Because of Lazarus many of the Jews were ·leaving [going away from; deserting] them and believing in Jesus.

Jesus Enters Jerusalem(A)

12 The next day a great crowd who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast [C the annual festival celebrating God’s rescue of Israel from Egypt; Ex. 12; John 2:13] heard that Jesus was coming there. 13 So they took branches of palm trees [C a symbol of the nation of Israel] and went out to meet Jesus, shouting,

“·Praise God [L Hosanna; C an Aramaic cry to God for salvation, which became a shout of praise]!
·God bless [L Blessed is] the One who comes in the name of the Lord [Ps. 118:25–26]!
·God bless [L Blessed is] the King of Israel!”

14 Jesus found a ·colt [young donkey] and sat on it. ·This was as the Scripture says [L As it is written],

15 “Don’t be afraid, ·people of Jerusalem [L Daughter of Zion; C a term of endearment for the people of Jerusalem]!
    Your king is coming,
    sitting on the colt of a donkey [Zech. 9:9; C riding a donkey rather than a warhorse, perhaps signaling that he was a different sort of king than their nationalist expectations anticipated].”

16 The ·followers [disciples] of Jesus did not understand this at first. But after Jesus was ·raised to glory [L glorified], they remembered that this had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

People Tell About Jesus

17 There had been ·many people [a crowd] with Jesus when he raised Lazarus from the dead and told him to come out of the tomb. Now they were ·telling others [testifying; witnessing] about what Jesus did. 18 ·Many people [A crowd] went out to meet Jesus, because they had heard ·about this miracle [L that he had done this sign]. 19 So the Pharisees said to each other, “You can see that ·nothing is going right for us [we are getting nowhere; L you are gaining nothing]. Look! The whole world ·is following [has gone after] him.”

Jesus Talks About His Death

20 There were some Greek people [C Gentiles—here meant to represent people from all over the world; 12:19], too, who came to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover Feast. 21 [L So] They went to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and ·said [requested], “Sir, we would like to ·see [meet] Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew, and then Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

23 Jesus ·said to [answered; replied to] them, “The ·time [L hour] has come for the Son of Man [C a title for the Messiah; Dan. 7:13–14] to ·receive his glory [be glorified; C through his death, resurrection, and ascension]. 24 ·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to make ·many seeds [L much fruit]. But if it never dies, it remains only a single ·seed [grain]. 25 ·Those who [L The one who…] love their lives will lose them, but those who hate their lives in this world will ·keep [guard; preserve] ·true life forever [L it for eternal life]. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me. Then my servant will be with me everywhere I am. My Father will honor anyone who serves me.

27 “Now ·I am very [L my soul is] troubled. Should I say, ‘Father, save me from this ·time [L hour]’? No, ·I came to this time so I could suffer [L for this reason I have come to this hour]. 28 Father, ·bring glory to [glorify; honor] your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have ·brought glory to [glorified] it, and I will ·do [L glorify; honor] it again.”

29 The crowd standing there, who heard the voice, said it was thunder.

But others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”

30 Jesus ·said [responded], “That voice was for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the time for the world to be judged; now the ·ruler [prince] of this world [C Satan] will be ·thrown down [L cast/driven out]. 32 ·If [or When] I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people ·toward me [to myself].” 33 Jesus said this to show ·how [what kind of death] he would die.

34 The crowd ·said [responded to him], “We have heard from the ·law [C the Old Testament] that the ·Christ [Messiah] will ·live [remain] forever [Ps. 89:35–37; Is. 9:7; Ezek. 37:25]. So why do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35 Then Jesus said, “The light will be ·with [among] you for a little longer, so walk while you have the light. Then the darkness will not ·catch [overtake] you. ·If you walk [L The one who walks] in the darkness, you will not know where you are going. 36 ·Believe [Put your trust] in the light while you still have it so that you will become children of light.” When Jesus had said this, he left and hid himself from them.

Some People Won’t Believe in Jesus

37 Though Jesus had done many ·miracles [L signs; 2:11] in front of the people, they still did not believe in him. 38 This was to ·bring about [L fulfill] ·what [L the message/word that] Isaiah the prophet had said:

“Lord, who believed ·what we told them [L our message/report]?
    Who saw the Lord’s ·power [L arm; C a symbol of his power] in this [Is. 53:1]?”
39     This is why the people could not believe: Isaiah also had said,
40 “He has blinded their eyes,
    and he has ·closed their minds [L hardened their heart].
Otherwise they would see with their eyes
    and understand in their ·minds [L heart]
    and ·come back to me and be healed [L turn/repent, and I would heal them; Is. 6:10].”

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

42 But many believed in Jesus, even many of the ·leaders [authorities]. But because of the Pharisees, they did not ·say they believed in him [L confess/proclaim him/it] for fear they would be put out of the synagogue. 43 They loved ·praise [glory] from people more than ·praise [glory] from God.

44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me is really believing in the One who sent me. 45 Whoever sees me sees the One who sent me. 46 I have come as light into the world so that whoever believes in me would not ·stay [remain] in darkness.

47 “Anyone who hears my words and does not ·obey [keep] them, I do not judge, because I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for those who ·refuse to believe in [reject] me and do not accept my words. The word I have ·taught [spoken] will ·be their judge [judge them] on the last day. 49 The things I ·taught [spoke] were not from myself. The Father who sent me ·told [commanded] me what to say and what to ·teach [speak]. 50 And I know that eternal life comes from what the Father commands. So whatever I say is what the Father told me to say.”

Chapter 12

The Anointing at Bethany. Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner there for him. Martha served the meal, and Lazarus was among those at table with him.

Mary brought in a pint[a] of very costly ointment, made from pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and dried them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, the one who was about to betray him, said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and the money given to the poor?” He said this not because he had any concern for the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money bag, and he used to steal from it.

Jesus said in response, “Leave her alone! Let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.”

Meanwhile, a large number of Jews learned that he was there, and they came not only because of Jesus but also because they wanted to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 The chief priests then decided to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 since it was because of him that many of the Jews were leaving and putting their faith in Jesus.

12 The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.[c] The next day the great crowd of people who had come for the feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 Thus, they went out to meet him, carrying branches of palm[d] and shouting,

“Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
the King of Israel.”

14 Jesus found a young donkey and rode it, as it is written,

15 “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.[e]
    Behold, your King is coming,
    riding on a donkey’s colt.”

16 At first, his disciples did not understand this, but later, when Jesus had been glorified, they recalled that these things had been written about him and had happened to him.

17 Now the people who had been present when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify about this.[f] 18 Because the crowd had heard that he had performed this sign, they went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “As you see, we are getting nowhere. The entire world has gone after him.”

20 The Glory of the Cross.[g] Among those who had come up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.[h] 21 They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus. 22 Philip went to tell Andrew of this, and Philip and Andrew informed Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them,

“The hour has come
for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat
falls into the earth and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat.
However, if it dies,
it bears much fruit.
25 “Anyone who loves his life loses it,
but the one who hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
26 If anyone wishes to serve me,
he must follow me.
Where I am,
there also will my servant be.
If anyone serves me,
my Father will honor that person.
27 “Now my soul is troubled.
Yet what should I say:
‘Father, save me from this hour’?
No, it was for this
that I have come to this hour.
28 Father, glorify your name.”

Then a voice came from heaven,

“I have glorified it,
and I will glorify it again.”

29 The crowd that was present heard this, and some of them said that it was thunder, while others asserted, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered,

“This voice did not come for my sake
but for yours.
31 Now is the judgment on this world.
Now the prince of this world[i]
will be driven out.
32 And when I am lifted up from the earth,
I will draw all to myself.”

33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

34 The crowd answered, “Our Law[j] teaches that the Christ will remain forever. How then can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Jesus replied,

“The light will be with you
for only a little longer.
Go on your way
while you still have the light,
so that the darkness
will not overtake you.
“Whoever walks in the darkness
does not know where he is going.
36 While you have the light,
believe in the light
so that you may become children of light.”

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid himself from their sight.

37 The Choice To Believe in the Light.[k] Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of the prophet Isaiah,

“Lord, who has believed our preaching?
    To whom has the power of the Lord been revealed?”

39 They therefore could not believe for as Isaiah said,

40 “He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their hearts,
lest they see with their eyes
    and understand with their hearts,
and thereby be converted,
    so that I could heal them.”[l]

41 Isaiah said this because he saw his glory, and his words referred to him.

42 Nevertheless, there were many, even among the authorities, who believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess their faith in him, for fear of being banned from the synagogue.[m] 43 For they valued human glory more highly than the glory that comes from God.

44 The Choice To Believe in Jesus.[n] Then Jesus cried out,

“Whoever believes in me
believes not only in me
but in him who sent me.
45 And whoever sees me
sees the one who sent me.
46 I have come into the world as light
so that everyone who believes in me
may not have to remain in darkness.
47 [o]“But if anyone listens to my words
and fails to observe them,
I will not pass judgment on him,
for I did not come to judge the world
but to save the world.
48 Anyone who rejects me
and does not accept my words
already has a judge.
On the last day,
the word that I have spoken
will serve as his judge.
49 “For I have not spoken on my own,
but the Father who sent me
has himself given me command
about what I am to say
and how I am to speak.
50 I know that his commandment
is eternal life.
Therefore, what I speak
is what the Father has told me to say.”

Footnotes

  1. John 12:3 Pint: Greek: litra, i.e., about a half-liter.
  2. John 12:5 Three hundred denarii: a year’s wages, a denarius being a day’s wages for a laborer.
  3. John 12:12 To a greater degree than the Synoptics, the fourth Gospel describes this entry as a triumph and stresses above all the theme of the glory of Christ. The raising of Lazarus has provoked the enthusiasm of the crowd, and for the first time Jesus allows himself to be acclaimed “King of Israel”; he lets himself be known as the King-Messiah announced by Zechariah (9:9).
  4. John 12:13 Branches of palm: customarily used in victory celebrations (see 1 Mac 13:51; 2 Mac 10:7). Hosanna: an acclamation meaning “Grant salvation!” The citation is from Ps 118:25. He who comes in the name of the Lord: see note on Mt 21:9. The King of Israel: a reference to the coming king mentioned by Zep 3:14-15 and Zec 9:9. See also note on Mt 21:9.
  5. John 12:15 Daughter of Zion: see note on Mt 21:5.
  6. John 12:17 Another reading for this verse is given in some manuscripts: “Then the crowd that was with him began to bear witness that he had called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead.”
  7. John 12:20 Jesus’ single-day success does not divert him from his hour, nor that of his adversaries, and it is his deciding moment. This page with so many themes gives us a glimpse into his thinking.
    To the crowd, among whom are sympathetic Gentiles, he proposes the image of a grain of wheat that must die. Conscious of the necessity for his death, he realizes the fruitfulness of his approaching sacrifice for the whole world.
    Paradoxically, that death is elevation and glorification: it will show who Jesus is and be the reversal in the fate of human beings. As in the account of the agony in the garden related by the Synoptics (Mt 26:36-46; Mk 14:32-42; Lk 22:39-46), he overcomes his fear in the face of what humans regard as ruin; he dominates the cruel paradox.
    His death transforms the fate of the world: it is defeat for the forces of evil and opens up hope for those called to the communion of Jesus, to life.
    Here is an unexpected Messiah who completes God’s work by his own death; as here, so elsewhere we read constantly of Christ’s invitation to his disciples to share his lot (see Mt 16:25; Mk 8:35; Lk 9:24). Believers may fear death but not lose hope, since for Jesus, in whom they believe, the hour of death was the hour in which he conquered the devil, was glorified by the Father, and showed himself to be the light of the world. This beautiful text leaves us the meditation of the ancient Church on the cross of Christ; it has become the glorious cross.
  8. John 12:20 Greeks: not Jews, but adherents of Judaism, although without embracing its practices.
  9. John 12:31 Prince of this world: Satan, who has the ability to control human beings by drawing them away from God (see Jn 14:30; 16:11; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2; 6:12).
  10. John 12:34 Law: taken here as the entire Old Testament (see Jn 10:34), and referring specifically to Pss 89:37; 110:4; Isa 9:7; Dan 7:14. Son of Man: see notes on Jn 1:51 and Mt 8:20.
  11. John 12:37 The early Christian generations always remained astonished at Israel’s refusal of the light, and they meditated on the text of Isaiah on the blindness of people when faced with an unexpected work of God. To recognize the light is to choose to accept its demands. Such a choice turns a life upside down; it is necessary to accept the risk of being marginalized from the usual social and religious milieu.
  12. John 12:40 This text, like others in the Old Testament, appears to say that hardened hearts and blinded eyes are God’s doing. However, the evangelist is simply assuring Christian readers that even though God would give people every opportunity to convert, many would still choose to stay in their sin.
  13. John 12:42 John is indicating that in the Israel of his time there is, as always, a remnant that believes. But they are not a true People of God because of their fear of being excommunicated by the authorities.
  14. John 12:44 But who is the light? It is Jesus himself, sent by the Father to make known the Father’s love and to save believers. All through the Gospel, Christ has testified how deeply aware he is of this mission because of the unity in which he lives with his Father. What Jesus says in these few verses sums up his entire teaching concerning his mission.
  15. John 12:47 This parallels the statement found at the end of the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 7:24-27). Everything hangs upon a person’s acceptance or rejection of what Jesus has said.

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