John 12:12-16

New International Version

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King^(A)

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^(B) and went out to meet him, shouting,

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

¹⁶ At first his disciples did not understand all this.^(F) Only after Jesus was glorified^(G) 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^(H) 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,^(I) 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!”^(J)

Jesus Predicts His Death

²⁰ Now there were some Greeks^(K) among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹ They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida^(L) 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^(M) has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.^{(N) 24} Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,^(O) 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^(P) for eternal life.^{(Q) 26} Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.^(R) My Father will honor the one who serves me.

²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled,^(S) and what shall I say? ‘Father,^(T) save me from this hour’?^(U) No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven,^(V) “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,^(W) not mine. ³¹ Now is the time for judgment on this world;^(X) now the prince of this world^(Y) will be driven out. ³² And I, when I am lifted up^[d] from the earth,^(Z) will draw all people to myself.”^{(AA) 33} He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.^(AB)

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

³⁵ Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light^(AG) just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,^(AH) before darkness overtakes you.^(AI) 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.”^(AJ) When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.^(AK)

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

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

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

⁴¹ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory^(AO) and spoke about him.^(AP)

⁴² Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.^(AQ) But because of the Pharisees^(AR) they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;^{(AS) 43} for they loved human praise^(AT) more than praise from God.^(AU)

⁴⁴ Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.^{(AV) 45} The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.^{(AW) 46} I have come into the world as a light,^(AX) 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.^{(AY) 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^(AZ) at the last day. ⁴⁹ For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me^(BA) to say all that I have spoken. ⁵⁰ I know that his command leads to eternal life.^(BB) So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”^(BC)

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 It was just before the Passover Festival.^(BD) Jesus knew that the hour had come^(BE) for him to leave this world and go to the Father.^(BF) Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.^{(BG) 3} Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power,^(BH) and that he had come from God^(BI) and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.^{(BJ) 5} After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet,^(BK) drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”^(BL)

⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

⁹ “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

¹⁰ Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean,^(BM) though not every one of you.”^{(BN) 11} For he knew who was going to betray him,^(BO) and that was why he said not every one was clean.

¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’^(BP) and ‘Lord,’^(BQ) and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.^{(BR) 15} I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.^{(BS) 16} Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master,^(BT) nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.^(BU)

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

¹⁸ “I am not referring to all of you;^(BV) I know those I have chosen.^(BW) But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture:^(BX) ‘He who shared my bread^(BY) has turned^[g](BZ) against me.’^[h](CA)

¹⁹ “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe^(CB) that I am who I am.^{(CC) 20} Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”^(CD)

²¹ After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit^(CE) and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”^(CF)

²² His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. ²³ One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved,^(CG) was reclining next to him. ²⁴ Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

²⁵ Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”^(CH)

²⁶ Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas,^(CI) the son of Simon Iscariot. ²⁷ As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.^(CJ)

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” ²⁸ But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. ²⁹ Since Judas had charge of the money,^(CK) some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival,^(CL) or to give something to the poor.^{(CM) 30} As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.^(CN)

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial^(CO)

³¹ When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man^(CP) is glorified^(CQ) and God is glorified in him.^{(CR) 32} If God is glorified in him,^[i] God will glorify the Son in himself,^(CS) and will glorify him at once.

³³ “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.^(CT)

³⁴ “A new command^(CU) I give you: Love one another.^(CV) As I have loved you, so you must love one another.^{(CW) 35} By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”^(CX)

³⁶ Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”^(CY)

Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now,^(CZ) but you will follow later.”^(DA)

³⁷ Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

³⁸ Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!^(DB)

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled.^(DC) You believe^(DD) in God^[j];^(DE) believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there^(DF) to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back^(DG) and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.^{(DH) 4} You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

⁵ Thomas^(DI) said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am^(DJ) the way^(DK) and the truth^(DL) and the life.^(DM) No one comes to the Father except through me.^{(DN) 7} If you really know me, you will know^[k] my Father as well.^(DO) From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

⁸ Philip^(DP) said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.^(DQ) How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?^(DR) The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority.^(DS) Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.^{(DT) 12} Very truly I tell you, whoever believes^(DU) in me will do the works I have been doing,^(DV) and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask^(DW) in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands.^{(DX) 16} And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate^(DY) to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth.^(DZ) The world cannot accept him,^(EA) because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be^[l] in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans;^(EB) I will come to you.^{(EC) 19} Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.^(ED) Because I live, you also will live.^{(EE) 20} On that day^(EF) you will realize that I am in my Father,^(EG) and you are in me, and I am in you.^{(EH) 21} Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.^(EI) The one who loves me will be loved by my Father,^(EJ) and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

²² Then Judas^(EK) (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”^(EL)

²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.^(EM) My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.^{(EN) 24} Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.^(EO)

²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate,^(EP) the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,^(EQ) will teach you all things^(ER) and will remind you of everything I have said to you.^{(ES) 27} Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.^(ET) I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled^(EU) and do not be afraid.

²⁸ “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’^(EV) If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father,^(EW) for the Father is greater than I.^{(EX) 29} I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.^{(EY) 30} I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world^(EZ) is coming. He has no hold over me, ³¹ but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.^(FA)

“Come now; let us leave.

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am^(FB) the true vine,^(FC) and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,^(FD) while every branch that does bear fruit^(FE) he prunes^[m] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.^{(FF) 4} Remain in me, as I also remain in you.^(FG) No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;^(FH) apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.^{(FI) 7} If you remain in me^(FJ) and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.^{(FK) 8} This is to my Father’s glory,^(FL) that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.^(FM)

⁹ “As the Father has loved me,^(FN) so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands,^(FO) you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.^{(FP) 12} My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.^{(FQ) 13} Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.^{(FR) 14} You are my friends^(FS) if you do what I command.^{(FT) 15} I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.^{(FU) 16} You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you^(FV) so that you might go and bear fruit^(FW)—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.^{(FX) 17} This is my command: Love each other.^(FY)

The World Hates the Disciples

¹⁸ “If the world hates you,^(FZ) keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you^(GA) out of the world. That is why the world hates you.^{(GB) 20} Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^[n](GC) If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.^(GD) If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name,^(GE) for they do not know the one who sent me.^{(GF) 22} If I had not come and spoken to them,^(GG) they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.^{(GH) 23} Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works no one else did,^(GI) they would not be guilty of sin.^(GJ) As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law:^(GK) ‘They hated me without reason.’^[o](GL)

The Work of the Holy Spirit

²⁶ “When the Advocate^(GM) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father^(GN)—the Spirit of truth^(GO) who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.^{(GP) 27} And you also must testify,^(GQ) for you have been with me from the beginning.^(GR)

16 “All this^(GS) I have told you so that you will not fall away.^{(GT) 2} They will put you out of the synagogue;^(GU) in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.^{(GV) 3} They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.^{(GW) 4} I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember^(GX) that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you,^{(GY) 5} but now I am going to him who sent me.^(GZ) None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’^{(HA) 6} Rather, you are filled with grief^(HB) because I have said these things. ⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate^(HC) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.^{(HD) 8} When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin,^(HE) because people do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness,^(HF) because I am going to the Father,^(HG) where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the prince of this world^(HH) now stands condemned.

¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.^(HI)