Jesus Anointed at Bethany^(A)

12 Six days before the Passover,^(B) Jesus came to Bethany,^(C) where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served,^(D) while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³ Then Mary took about a pint^[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume;^(E) she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.^(F) And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴ But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him,^(G) objected, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.^[b]” ⁶ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag,^(H) he used to help himself to what was put into it.

⁷ “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.^{(I) 8} You will always have the poor among you,^[c](J) but you will not always have me.”

⁹ 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.^{(K) 10} So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, ¹¹ for on account of him^(L) many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.^(M)

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.

The Coming of Zion’s King

²⁰ For no matter how many promises^(A) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”^(B) is spoken by us to the glory of God.^(C)

²³ Jesus replied, “The hour^(A) has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.^{(B) 24} Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,^(C) 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^(D) for eternal life.^{(E) 26} Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.^(F) My Father will honor the one who serves me.

²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled,^(G) and what shall I say? ‘Father,^(H) save me from this hour’?^(I) No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!”

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

³⁴ The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law^(Q) that the Messiah will remain forever,^(R) so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man^(S) must be lifted up’?^(T) Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

³⁵ Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light^(U) just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,^(V) before darkness overtakes you.^(W) 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.”^(X) When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.^(Y)

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

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

Jesus Prays to Be Glorified

17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven^(A) and prayed:

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

³⁷ Even after Jesus had performed so many signs^(A) 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^(D) and spoke about him.^(E)

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

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