The Plot to Kill Jesus

45 (A)Many of the Jews therefore, (B)who had come with Mary and (C)had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees (D)gathered (E)the council and said, (F)“What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and (G)the Romans will come and take away both our (H)place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, (I)Caiaphas, (J)who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that (K)it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but (L)being high priest that year (M)he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and (N)not for the nation only, but also (O)to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they (P)made plans to put him to death.

54 Jesus therefore (Q)no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.

55 Now (R)the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and (S)many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover (T)to purify themselves. 56 (U)They were looking for[a] Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany

12 Six days before (V)the Passover, (W)Jesus therefore came to Bethany, (X)where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. (Y)Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. (Z)Mary therefore took a pound[b] of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[c] and (AA)given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and (AB)having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it[d] for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

The Plot to Kill Lazarus

When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus[e] was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, (AC)whom he had raised from the dead. 10 (AD)So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because (AE)on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

Footnotes

  1. John 11:56 Greek were seeking for
  2. John 12:3 Greek litra; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams
  3. John 12:5 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
  4. John 12:7 Or Leave her alone; she intended to keep it
  5. John 12:9 Greek he

The Plot to Kill Jesus

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary,(A) and had seen what Jesus did,(B) believed in him.(C) 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees(D) called a meeting(E) of the Sanhedrin.(F)

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs.(G) 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas,(H) who was high priest that year,(I) spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”(J)

51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.(K) 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.(L)

54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea.(M) Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover,(N) many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing(O) before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus,(P) and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

Jesus Anointed at Bethany(Q)

12 Six days before the Passover,(R) Jesus came to Bethany,(S) where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served,(T) while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume;(U) she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.(V) And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him,(W) 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,(X) 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.(Y) You will always have the poor among you,[c](Z) 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.(AA) 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him(AB) many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.(AC)

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.