John 12
Expanded Bible
Jesus with Friends in Bethany
12 [L Therefore] Six days before the Passover Feast, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus lived. (Lazarus is the man Jesus raised from the dead.) 2 There they had a dinner for Jesus. Martha served the food, and Lazarus was one of the people ·eating [L reclining; C it was customary to eat formal meals while reclining around a low table] with Jesus. 3 [L Then] Mary brought in a pint [C Greek litra; about eleven ounces, weighing just under a pound] of very expensive ·perfume [ointment/fragrant oil] made from pure nard. She ·poured the perfume on [anointed; C not the word for royal or priestly anointing, but for hospitality or care] Jesus’ feet, and then she wiped his feet with her hair. And the ·sweet smell [fragrance] from the perfume filled the whole house.
4 Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ ·followers [disciples] who would later ·turn against [betray] him, was there. Judas said, 5 “This ·perfume [ointment/fragrant oil] was worth an ·entire year’s wages [L three hundred denarii]. Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” 6 But Judas did not really care about the poor; he said this because he was a thief. He was the one who kept the money ·box [or bag], and he often stole from it.
7 [L Therefore] Jesus answered, “Leave her alone. It was right for her to save this perfume for today, the day for me to be prepared for burial. 8 [L For] You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.”
The Plot Against Lazarus
9 A large crowd of ·people [L Jews] ·heard [learned; came to know] that Jesus was ·in Bethany [L there]. So they went there to see not only Jesus but Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. 10 So the leading [T chief] priests ·made plans [plotted; counseled together] to kill Lazarus too. 11 Because of Lazarus many of the Jews were ·leaving [going away from; deserting] them and believing in Jesus.
Jesus Enters Jerusalem(A)
12 The next day a great crowd who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast [C the annual festival celebrating God’s rescue of Israel from Egypt; Ex. 12; John 2:13] heard that Jesus was coming there. 13 So they took branches of palm trees [C a symbol of the nation of Israel] and went out to meet Jesus, shouting,
“·Praise God [L Hosanna; C an Aramaic cry to God for salvation, which became a shout of praise]!
·God bless [L Blessed is] the One who comes in the name of the Lord [Ps. 118:25–26]!
·God bless [L Blessed is] the King of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a ·colt [young donkey] and sat on it. ·This was as the Scripture says [L As it is written],
15 “Don’t be afraid, ·people of Jerusalem [L Daughter of Zion; C a term of endearment for the people of Jerusalem]!
Your king is coming,
sitting on the colt of a donkey [Zech. 9:9; C riding a donkey rather than a warhorse, perhaps signaling that he was a different sort of king than their nationalist expectations anticipated].”
16 The ·followers [disciples] of Jesus did not understand this at first. But after Jesus was ·raised to glory [L glorified], they remembered that this had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.
People Tell About Jesus
17 There had been ·many people [a crowd] with Jesus when he raised Lazarus from the dead and told him to come out of the tomb. Now they were ·telling others [testifying; witnessing] about what Jesus did. 18 ·Many people [A crowd] went out to meet Jesus, because they had heard ·about this miracle [L that he had done this sign]. 19 So the Pharisees said to each other, “You can see that ·nothing is going right for us [we are getting nowhere; L you are gaining nothing]. Look! The whole world ·is following [has gone after] him.”
Jesus Talks About His Death
20 There were some Greek people [C Gentiles—here meant to represent people from all over the world; 12:19], too, who came to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover Feast. 21 [L So] They went to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and ·said [requested], “Sir, we would like to ·see [meet] Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew, and then Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
23 Jesus ·said to [answered; replied to] them, “The ·time [L hour] has come for the Son of Man [C a title for the Messiah; Dan. 7:13–14] to ·receive his glory [be glorified; C through his death, resurrection, and ascension]. 24 ·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to make ·many seeds [L much fruit]. But if it never dies, it remains only a single ·seed [grain]. 25 ·Those who [L The one who…] love their lives will lose them, but those who hate their lives in this world will ·keep [guard; preserve] ·true life forever [L it for eternal life]. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me. Then my servant will be with me everywhere I am. My Father will honor anyone who serves me.
27 “Now ·I am very [L my soul is] troubled. Should I say, ‘Father, save me from this ·time [L hour]’? No, ·I came to this time so I could suffer [L for this reason I have come to this hour]. 28 Father, ·bring glory to [glorify; honor] your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have ·brought glory to [glorified] it, and I will ·do [L glorify; honor] it again.”
29 The crowd standing there, who heard the voice, said it was thunder.
But others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”
30 Jesus ·said [responded], “That voice was for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the time for the world to be judged; now the ·ruler [prince] of this world [C Satan] will be ·thrown down [L cast/driven out]. 32 ·If [or When] I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people ·toward me [to myself].” 33 Jesus said this to show ·how [what kind of death] he would die.
34 The crowd ·said [responded to him], “We have heard from the ·law [C the Old Testament] that the ·Christ [Messiah] will ·live [remain] forever [Ps. 89:35–37; Is. 9:7; Ezek. 37:25]. So why do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus said, “The light will be ·with [among] you for a little longer, so walk while you have the light. Then the darkness will not ·catch [overtake] you. ·If you walk [L The one who walks] in the darkness, you will not know where you are going. 36 ·Believe [Put your trust] in the light while you still have it so that you will become children of light.” When Jesus had said this, he left and hid himself from them.
Some People Won’t Believe in Jesus
37 Though Jesus had done many ·miracles [L signs; 2:11] in front of the people, they still did not believe in him. 38 This was to ·bring about [L fulfill] ·what [L the message/word that] Isaiah the prophet had said:
“Lord, who believed ·what we told them [L our message/report]?
Who saw the Lord’s ·power [L arm; C a symbol of his power] in this [Is. 53:1]?”
39 This is why the people could not believe: Isaiah also had said,
40 “He has blinded their eyes,
and he has ·closed their minds [L hardened their heart].
Otherwise they would see with their eyes
and understand in their ·minds [L heart]
and ·come back to me and be healed [L turn/repent, and I would heal them; Is. 6:10].”
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42 But many believed in Jesus, even many of the ·leaders [authorities]. But because of the Pharisees, they did not ·say they believed in him [L confess/proclaim him/it] for fear they would be put out of the synagogue. 43 They loved ·praise [glory] from people more than ·praise [glory] from God.
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me is really believing in the One who sent me. 45 Whoever sees me sees the One who sent me. 46 I have come as light into the world so that whoever believes in me would not ·stay [remain] in darkness.
47 “Anyone who hears my words and does not ·obey [keep] them, I do not judge, because I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for those who ·refuse to believe in [reject] me and do not accept my words. The word I have ·taught [spoken] will ·be their judge [judge them] on the last day. 49 The things I ·taught [spoke] were not from myself. The Father who sent me ·told [commanded] me what to say and what to ·teach [speak]. 50 And I know that eternal life comes from what the Father commands. So whatever I say is what the Father told me to say.”
John 12
Christian Standard Bible
The Anointing at Bethany
12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany(A) where Lazarus[a] was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.(B) 2 So(C) they gave a dinner for him there; Martha(D) 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.(E) So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot(F) (who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii[b](G) and given to the poor?” 6 He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.(H) 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.(I) 8 For you always have the poor with you,(J) 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.(K) 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.
The Triumphal Entry
12 The(L) next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took palm branches(M) and went out to meet him. They kept shouting:
14 Jesus found a young donkey(Q) and sat on it, just as it is written:
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him(T) and that they had done these things to him.
17 Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb(U) and raised him from the dead, continued to testify.[f] 18 This is also why the crowd met him, because they heard he had done this sign. 19 Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You’ve accomplished nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!” (V)
Jesus Predicts His Crucifixion
20 Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 So they came to Philip,(W) who was from Bethsaida(X) in Galilee,(Y) and requested of him, “Sir,(Z) we want to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew;(AA) then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man(AB) to be glorified. 24 Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat(AC) falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.(AD) 25 The one who loves his life will lose it,(AE) and the one who hates(AF) his life(AG) in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant(AH) also will be.(AI) If anyone serves me, the Father will honor(AJ) him.
27 “Now my soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save me(AK) from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.”[g](AL)
Then a voice(AM) came from heaven: (AN) “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”(AO)
29 The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”
30 Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for me, but for you.(AP) 31 Now is the judgment of this world.(AQ) Now the ruler of this world(AR) will be cast out.(AS) 32 As for me, if I am lifted up[h] from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”(AT) 33 He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.(AU)
34 Then the crowd replied to him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah will remain forever.(AV) So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man(AW) must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
35 Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer.(AX) Walk while you have the light(AY) so that darkness doesn’t overtake you.(AZ) The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going.(BA) 36 While you have the light,(BB) believe in the light so that you may become children of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.(BC)
Isaiah’s Prophecies Fulfilled
37 Even though he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill(BD) the word of Isaiah(BE) the prophet, who said:[i]
39 This is why they were unable to believe, because Isaiah also said:
40 He has blinded(BH) their eyes
and hardened their hearts,(BI)
so that they would not see with their eyes
or understand with their hearts,
and turn,(BJ)
and I would heal them.[k](BK)
41 Isaiah said these things because[l] he saw his glory(BL) and spoke about him.
42 Nevertheless, many did believe in him even among the rulers,(BM) but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, so that they would not be banned from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise(BN) more than praise from God.(BO)
A Summary of Jesus’s Mission
44 Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in me(BP) believes not in me, but in him who sent me. 45 And the one who sees me sees him(BQ) who sent me. 46 I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me would not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and doesn’t keep(BR) them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world(BS) but to save the world.(BT) 48 The one who rejects me(BU) and doesn’t receive my sayings has this as his judge: [m] The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day.(BV) 49 For I have not spoken on my own, but the Father(BW) himself who sent me has given me a command to say everything I have said. 50 I know that his command is eternal life.(BX) So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told me.”(BY)
Footnotes
- 12:1 Other mss read Lazarus who died
- 12:5 A denarius = one day’s wage
- 12:11 Lit going away
- 12:13 Ps 118:25–26
- 12:15 Zch 9:9
- 12:17 Other mss read Meanwhile the crowd, which had been with him, continued to testify that he had called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead.
- 12:28 Other mss read your Son
- 12:32 Or exalted, also in v. 34
- 12:38 Lit which he said
- 12:38 Is 53:1
- 12:40 Is 6:10
- 12:41 Other mss read when
- 12:48 Lit has the one judging him
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The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.