John 11:55-12:11

Christian Standard Bible

⁵⁵ Now the Jewish Passover^(A) was near, and many went up to Jerusalem^(B) from the country to purify themselves before the Passover. ⁵⁶ They were looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple,^(C) “What do you think? He won’t come to the festival,^(D) will he?” ⁵⁷ The chief priests^(E) and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it so that they could arrest him.

The Anointing at Bethany

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany^(F) where Lazarus^[a] was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.^{(G) 2} So^(H) they gave a dinner for him there; Martha^(I) was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with him. ³ Then Mary took a pound of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped his feet with her hair.^(J) So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴ Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot^(K) (who was about to betray him), said, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii^[b](L) and given to the poor?” ⁶ He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.^(M) He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

⁷ Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial.^{(N) 8} For you always have the poor with you,^(O) but you do not always have me.”

The Decision to Kill Lazarus

⁹ Then a large crowd of the Jews learned he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the one he had raised from the dead.^{(P) 10} But the chief priests had decided to kill Lazarus also, ¹¹ because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them^[c] and believing in Jesus.