⁵⁵ Now ^(A)the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and ^(B)many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover ^(C)to purify themselves.

¹³ For if ^(A)the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with ^(B)the ashes of a heifer, sanctify^[a] for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will ^(C)the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit ^(D)offered himself without blemish to God, ^(E)purify our^[b] conscience ^(F)from dead works ^(G)to serve the living God.

¹⁷ For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the Lord. ¹⁸ For a majority of the people, ^(A)many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise ^(B)than as prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord pardon everyone ^19 (C)who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.”^{[a] 20} And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany

12 Six days before ^(A)the Passover, ^(B)Jesus therefore came to Bethany, ^(C)where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

⁴ Now ^(A)the Passover, the ^(B)feast of the Jews, was at hand.