John 12
Good News Translation
Jesus Is Anointed at Bethany(A)
12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, the man he had raised from death. 2 They prepared a dinner for him there, which Martha helped serve; Lazarus was one of those who were sitting at the table with Jesus. 3 (B)Then Mary took a whole pint of a very expensive perfume made of pure nard, poured it on Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The sweet smell of the perfume filled the whole house. 4 One of Jesus' disciples, Judas Iscariot—the one who was going to betray him—said, 5 “Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred silver coins[a] and the money given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would help himself from it.
7 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Let her keep what she has for the day of my burial. 8 (C)You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me.”
The Plot against Lazarus
9 A large number of people heard that Jesus was in Bethany, so they went there, not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from death. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus too, 11 because on his account many Jews were rejecting them and believing in Jesus.
The Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem(D)
12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the Passover Festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 (E)So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Praise God! God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the King of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a donkey and rode on it, just as the scripture says,
15 (F)“Do not be afraid, city of Zion!
Here comes your king,
riding on a young donkey.”
16 His disciples did not understand this at the time; but when Jesus had been raised to glory, they remembered that the scripture said this about him and that they had done this for him.
17 The people who had been with Jesus when he called Lazarus out of the grave and raised him from death had reported what had happened. 18 That was why the crowd met him—because they heard that he had performed this miracle. 19 The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, we are not succeeding at all! Look, the whole world is following him!”
Some Greeks Seek Jesus
20 Some Greeks were among those who had gone to Jerusalem to worship during the festival. 21 They went to Philip (he was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and said, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
22 Philip went and told Andrew, and the two of them went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has now come for the Son of Man to receive great glory. 24 I am telling you the truth: a grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it is dropped into the ground and dies. If it does die, then it produces many grains. 25 (G)Those who love their own life will lose it; those who hate their own life in this world will keep it for life eternal. 26 Whoever wants to serve me must follow me, so that my servant will be with me where I am. And my Father will honor anyone who serves me.
Jesus Speaks about His Death
27 “Now my heart is troubled—and what shall I say? Shall I say, ‘Father, do not let this hour come upon me’? But that is why I came—so that I might go through this hour of suffering. 28 Father, bring glory to your name!”
Then a voice spoke from heaven, “I have brought glory to it, and I will do so again.”
29 The crowd standing there heard the voice, and some of them said it was thunder, while others said, “An angel spoke to him!”
30 But Jesus said to them, “It was not for my sake that this voice spoke, but for yours. 31 Now is the time for this world to be judged; now the ruler of this world will be overthrown. 32 When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.” (33 In saying this he indicated the kind of death he was going to suffer.)
34 (H)The crowd answered, “Our Law tells us that the Messiah will live forever. How, then, can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”
35 Jesus answered, “The light will be among you a little longer. Continue on your way while you have the light, so that the darkness will not come upon you; for the one who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Believe in the light, then, while you have it, so that you will be the people of the light.”
The Unbelief of the People
After Jesus said this, he went off and hid himself from them. 37 Even though he had performed all these miracles in their presence, they did not believe in him, 38 (I)so that what the prophet Isaiah had said might come true:
“Lord, who believed the message we told?
To whom did the Lord reveal his power?”
39 And so they were not able to believe, because Isaiah also said,
40 (J)“God has blinded their eyes
and closed their minds,
so that their eyes would not see,
and their minds would not understand,
and they would not turn to me, says God,
for me to heal them.”
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.
42 Even then, many Jewish authorities believed in Jesus; but because of the Pharisees they did not talk about it openly, so as not to be expelled from the synagogue. 43 They loved human approval rather than the approval of God.
Judgment by Jesus' Words
44 Jesus said in a loud voice, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in him who sent me. 45 Whoever sees me sees also him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. 47 If people hear my message and do not obey it, I will not judge them. I came, not to judge the world, but to save it. 48 Those who reject me and do not accept my message have one who will judge them. The words I have spoken will be their judge on the last day! 49 This is true, because I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has commanded me what I must say and speak. 50 And I know that his command brings eternal life. What I say, then, is what the Father has told me to say.”
Footnotes
- John 12:5 See 6.7.
John 12
New American Standard Bible
Mary Anoints Jesus
12 (A)Therefore, six days before (B)the Passover, Jesus came to (C)Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they made Him a dinner there, and (D)Martha was serving; and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. 3 (E)Mary then took a [a]pound of very expensive (F)perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But (G)Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to [b]betray Him, *said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred [c]denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?” 6 Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he (H)kept the money box, he used to [d]steal from (I)what was put into it. 7 Therefore Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it [e]for (J)the day of My burial. 8 (K)For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”
9 The (L)large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not on account of Jesus only, but so that they might also see Lazarus, (M)whom He raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because (N)on account of him (O)many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.
The Triumphal Entry
12 On the next day, when (P)the large crowd that had come to (Q)the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, “(R)Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, indeed, the (S)King of Israel!” 14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 “(T)Do not fear, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 (U)These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus (V)was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things for Him. 17 So (W)the [f]people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. 18 (X)For this reason also the [g]people went to meet Him, (Y)because they heard that He had performed this [h]sign. 19 So the Pharisees said [i]to one another, “You see that you are not accomplishing anything; look, the world has gone after Him!”
Greeks Seek Jesus
20 Now there were some (Z)Greeks among those who were going up to worship at (AA)the feast; 21 these people then came to (AB)Philip, who was from (AC)Bethsaida of Galilee, and were making a request of him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip *came and *told (AD)Andrew; then Andrew and Philip *came and *told Jesus. 23 But Jesus *answered them by saying, “(AE)The hour has come for the Son of Man to (AF)be glorified. 24 Truly, truly I say to you, (AG)unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 (AH)The one who loves his [j]life loses it, and the one who (AI)hates his [k]life in this world will keep it [l]to eternal life. 26 If anyone [m]serves Me, he must follow Me; and (AJ)where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone [n]serves Me, the Father will (AK)honor him.
Jesus Foretells His Death
27 “(AL)Now My soul has become troubled; and what am I to say? ‘(AM)Father, save Me from (AN)this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 (AO)Father, glorify Your name.” Then a (AP)voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 So the crowd who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “(AQ)An angel has spoken to Him!” 30 Jesus responded and said, “(AR)This voice has not come for My sake, but for yours. 31 (AS)Now judgment is upon this world; now (AT)the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I (AU)am lifted up from the earth, will (AV)draw all people to Myself.” 33 Now He was saying this (AW)to indicate what kind of death He was going to die. 34 The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard from (AX)the Law that (AY)the [o]Christ is to remain forever; and how is it that You say, ‘The (AZ)Son of Man must be (BA)lifted up’? Who is this (BB)Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “(BC)For a little while longer (BD)the Light is among you. (BE)Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; also, the one who (BF)walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the Light, (BG)believe in the Light, so that you may become (BH)sons of Light.”
These things Jesus proclaimed, and He went away and (BI)hid Himself from them. 37 But though He had performed so many [p]signs in their sight, they still were not believing in Him. 38 This happened so that the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke would be fulfilled: “(BJ)Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 “(BK)He has blinded their eyes and He (BL)hardened their heart, so that they will not see with their eyes and understand with their heart, and [q]be converted, and so I will not heal them.” 41 These things Isaiah said because (BM)he saw His glory, and (BN)he spoke about Him. 42 Nevertheless (BO)many, even of (BP)the rulers, believed in Him, but (BQ)because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, so that they would not be (BR)excommunicated from the synagogue; 43 (BS)for they loved the [r]approval of people rather than the [s]approval of God.
44 Now Jesus cried out and said, “(BT)The one who believes in Me, does not believe only in Me, but also in Him who sent Me. 45 And (BU)the one who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 (BV)I have come as Light into the world, so that no one who believes in Me will remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears My [t]teachings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for (BW)I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 (BX)The one who rejects Me and does not [u]accept My [v]teachings has one who judges him: (BY)the word which I spoke. That will judge him on (BZ)the last day. 49 (CA)For I did not speak [w]on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me (CB)has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that (CC)His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak (CD)just as the Father has told Me.”
Footnotes
- John 12:3 I.e., a Roman pound, about 12 oz. or 340 gm
- John 12:4 Or hand Him over
- John 12:5 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
- John 12:6 Lit pilfer
- John 12:7 Or in view of
- John 12:17 Lit crowd
- John 12:18 Lit crowd
- John 12:18 I.e., confirming miracle
- John 12:19 I.e., as one group to another
- John 12:25 Lit soul
- John 12:25 Lit soul
- John 12:25 Or for
- John 12:26 Or is serving
- John 12:26 Or is serving
- John 12:34 I.e., Messiah
- John 12:37 I.e., confirming miracles
- John 12:40 Lit be turned; i.e., turn about
- John 12:43 Or honor
- John 12:43 Or honor
- John 12:47 Lit words
- John 12:48 Or receive
- John 12:48 Lit words
- John 12:49 Lit from Myself
John 12
The Message
Anointing His Feet
12 1-3 Six days before Passover, Jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living. Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them. Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus’ feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house.
4-6 Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, “Why wasn’t this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces.” He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them.
7-8 Jesus said, “Let her alone. She’s anticipating and honoring the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you. You don’t always have me.”
9-11 Word got out among the Jews that he was back in town. The people came to take a look, not only at Jesus but also at Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead. So the high priests plotted to kill Lazarus because so many of the Jews were going over and believing in Jesus on account of him.
See How Your King Comes
12-15 The next day the huge crowd that had arrived for the Feast heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem. They broke off palm branches and went out to meet him. And they cheered:
Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!
Yes! The King of Israel!
Jesus got a young donkey and rode it, just as the Scripture has it:
No fear, Daughter Zion:
See how your king comes,
riding a donkey’s colt.
16 The disciples didn’t notice the fulfillment of many Scriptures at the time, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that what was written about him matched what was done to him.
17-19 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts. It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade. The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: “It’s out of control. The world’s in a stampede after him.”
A Grain of Wheat Must Die
20-21 There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the Feast. They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee: “Sir, we want to see Jesus. Can you help us?”
22-23 Philip went and told Andrew. Andrew and Philip together told Jesus. Jesus answered, “Time’s up. The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24-25 “Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.
26 “If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.
27-28 “Right now I am shaken. And what am I going to say? ‘Father, get me out of this’? No, this is why I came in the first place. I’ll say, ‘Father, put your glory on display.’”
A voice came out of the sky: “I have glorified it, and I’ll glorify it again.”
29 The listening crowd said, “Thunder!”
Others said, “An angel spoke to him!”
30-33 Jesus said, “The voice didn’t come for me but for you. At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.
34 Voices from the crowd answered, “We heard from God’s Law that the Messiah lasts forever. How can it be necessary, as you put it, that the Son of Man ‘be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35-36 Jesus said, “For a brief time still, the light is among you. Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn’t destroy you. If you walk in darkness, you don’t know where you’re going. As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.”
Their Eyes Are Blinded
36-40 Jesus said all this, and then went into hiding. All these God-signs he had given them and they still didn’t get it, still wouldn’t trust him. This proved that the prophet Isaiah was right:
God, who believed what we preached?
Who recognized God’s arm, outstretched and ready to act?
First they wouldn’t believe, then they couldn’t—again, just as Isaiah said:
Their eyes are blinded,
their hearts are hardened,
So that they wouldn’t see with their eyes
and perceive with their hearts,
And turn to me, God,
so I could heal them.
41 Isaiah said these things after he got a glimpse of God’s overflowing glory that would pour through the Messiah.
42-43 On the other hand, a considerable number from the ranks of the leaders did believe. But because of the Pharisees, they didn’t come out in the open with it. They were afraid of getting kicked out of the meeting place. When push came to shove they cared more for human approval than for God’s glory.
44-46 Jesus summed it all up when he cried out, “Whoever believes in me, believes not just in me but in the One who sent me. Whoever looks at me is looking, in fact, at the One who sent me. I am Light that has come into the world so that all who believe in me won’t have to stay any longer in the dark.
47-50 “If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn’t take it seriously, I don’t reject him. I didn’t come to reject the world; I came to save the world. But you need to know that whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I’m saying, is willfully choosing rejection. The Word, the Word-made-flesh that I have spoken and that I am, that Word and no other is the last word. I’m not making any of this up on my own. The Father who sent me gave me orders, told me what to say and how to say it. And I know exactly what his command produces: real and eternal life. That’s all I have to say. What the Father told me, I tell you.”
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson