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Una mujer echa perfume sobre Jesús

(Mt 26:6-13; Mr 14:3-9)

12 Seis días antes de la Pascua Jesús fue a Betania, donde vivía Lázaro, el hombre que Jesús había resucitado de la muerte. Allí le prepararon una comida y Marta servía. Lázaro era uno de los hombres que estaban con él a la mesa. Luego María tomó casi medio litro de perfume en aceite muy caro, hecho de nardo puro. Derramó el aceite en los pies de Jesús y los secó con su cabello. La casa se llenó con el olor del perfume en aceite.

Judas Iscariote, uno de los seguidores de Jesús, el que después lo traicionaría, dijo:

—¿Por qué no se vendió ese perfume que vale tanto como el salario de un año[a], y se les dio el dinero a los pobres?

Judas no dijo esto porque le importaran los pobres, sino porque era ladrón. Él tenía a su cargo la bolsa del dinero y se robaba lo que había adentro. Entonces Jesús dijo:

—No la molestes. Deja que haga esto como preparación para el día de mi entierro. Pues siempre tendrán a los pobres con ustedes,[b] pero no siempre me tendrán a mí.

El plan en contra de Lázaro

La gran multitud de judíos supo que Jesús estaba en Betania, y fueron a ver a Jesús y también a Lázaro, al que Jesús había resucitado. 10 Entonces los jefes de los sacerdotes hicieron planes para matar también a Lázaro, 11 pues por causa de Lázaro muchos judíos los dejaban y estaban creyendo en Jesús.

Jesús entra a Jerusalén

(Mt 21:1-11; Mr 11:1-11; Lc 19:28-40)

12 Al día siguiente, la gran multitud que había venido a la fiesta oyó que Jesús iba a venir a Jerusalén. 13 (A)Tomaron ramas de los árboles y salieron a recibirlo, gritando:

—¡Viva el Salvador![c]
    ¡Bendito el que viene en el nombre del Señor, el rey de Israel![d]

14 Jesús encontró un burro y se montó en él, como está escrito:

15 (B)«No temas gente de Sion[e].
    Mira, viene tu rey montado en un burro».[f]

16 Al principio sus seguidores no entendían nada de esto, pero cuando Jesús fue llevado de vuelta a su esplendor en el cielo, cayeron en cuenta de que esto estaba escrito acerca de él y que ellos lo habían hecho para él.

17 Había mucha gente cuando Jesús le dijo a Lázaro que saliera del sepulcro y lo resucitó de la muerte. Ellos les contaban a los demás lo que había pasado. 18 Por eso la multitud salió a recibirlo. Había escuchado que Jesús era el que había hecho la señal milagrosa. 19 Entonces los fariseos se decían entre sí: «Miren, ¡todo el mundo lo sigue! Así y todo, no hay nada que hacer».

Jesús habla sobre su muerte

20 Algunos de los que tenían la costumbre de ir a adorar en la fiesta de la Pascua eran griegos. 21 Ellos se acercaron a Felipe, que era de Betsaida de Galilea, y le rogaron:

—Señor, queremos ver a Jesús.

Felipe vino a contarle eso a Andrés, y 22 los dos fueron y se lo dijeron a Jesús. 23 Él les contestó:

—Ha llegado la hora de que el Hijo del hombre reciba honor. 24 Te digo la verdad: si un grano de trigo no cae en la tierra y muere, sigue siendo el mismo grano. Pero si cae en la tierra y muere, produce muchos granos. 25 El que ama su vida, la perderá, pero el que no se aferre a su vida en este mundo, la salvará. Tendrá vida para siempre. 26 El que quiera servirme, que me siga. Donde yo esté, allí también estará mi siervo. Al que me sirva, el Padre lo honrará.

27 »Ahora estoy muy angustiado y no sé qué decir. ¿Qué podría decir? ¿Diré: “Padre, sálvame de esta hora de sufrimiento”? ¡Pero si para eso vine, a sufrir! 28 Padre, da gloria a tu nombre.

Luego vino una voz desde el cielo: «Le he dado gloria y lo haré de nuevo».

29 Entonces la multitud que estaba allí y escuchó, empezó a decir que fue un trueno. Otros decían:

—Un ángel le habló.

30 Jesús respondió:

—Esta voz fue para ustedes, no para mí. 31 Ahora es el momento de juzgar al mundo y de expulsar al que manda en este mundo.[g] 32 Cuando yo sea levantado[h] de la tierra, atraeré a todo el mundo hacia mí.

33 Dijo esto para mostrar qué clase de muerte iba a tener. 34 Entonces alguien entre la multitud le contestó:

—La ley nos dice que el Mesías iba a vivir para siempre. Entonces, ¿por qué dices tú que el Hijo del hombre va a ser levantado? ¿Quién es el “Hijo del hombre”?

35 Luego Jesús les dijo:

—La luz[i] va a estar con ustedes sólo por poco tiempo. Caminen mientras la tienen, y así la oscuridad no los sorprenderá. Pues el que camina en la oscuridad no sabe por dónde va. 36 Mientras que tengan la luz, crean en ella para que se conviertan en hijos de luz.

Jesús dijo esto y se fue lejos escondiéndose de ellos.

Los judíos se niegan a creer en Jesús

37 Aunque Jesús había hecho estas señales milagrosas delante de ellos, todavía no creían. 38 (C)Pues tenía que cumplirse lo que dijo el profeta Isaías:

«Señor Dios, ¿quién ha creído en nuestro mensaje
    y a quién se le ha mostrado tu poder?»[j]

39 Por eso la gente no podía creer, pues Isaías también dijo:

40 (D)«Dios los encegueció
    y cerró su mente
para que ellos no pudieran ver
    ni entender,
ni tampoco volverse a mí
    para que yo los sane».[k]

41 Isaías dijo esto porque vio la gloria de Jesús y habló sobre él.

42 Aun así muchos creían en Jesús. Incluso muchos de los líderes creían en él, pero les tenían miedo a los fariseos. Por eso no se lo contaban a nadie, para que no los echaran de la sinagoga. 43 A ellos les gustaba más el honor que viene de los hombres que el que viene de Dios.

La enseñanza de Jesús juzgará a la gente

44 Jesús dijo con voz fuerte: «El que cree en mí, no cree sólo en mí, sino también en el que me envió. 45 El que me ve a mí, ve también al que me envió. 46 Yo he venido al mundo como una luz para que todos los que creen en mí no estén en la oscuridad. 47 Si alguno oye lo que digo y no lo obedece, yo no lo voy a juzgar. No vine a juzgar al mundo, sino a salvarlo. 48 El que me rechace y no acepte lo que digo, tiene quien lo juzgue: el mensaje que he dicho lo va a juzgar en el día final. 49 Porque yo no he hablado por mi cuenta, sino el Padre mismo que me envió me dijo lo que debo decir y enseñar. 50 Sé que lo que ordena el Padre da vida eterna. Por eso lo que hablo, lo digo como el Padre me lo dijo».

Footnotes

  1. 12:5 el salario de un año Textualmente 300 denarios. Un denario era el valor promedio de un día de trabajo.
  2. 12:8 pobres con ustedes Ver Dt 15:11.
  3. 12:13 ¡Viva el Salvador! Textualmente Hosana, Sálvanos. Es una palabra hebrea usada en oración para pedir la ayuda de Dios. Para esta época su significado probablemente estaba asociado con una exclamación de alabanza a Dios o al Mesías.
  4. 12:13 Cita de Sal 118:25-26.
  5. 12:15 gente de Sion Textualmente hija de Sion. Se refiere a los habitantes de la ciudad de Jerusalén.
  6. 12:15 Cita de Zac 9:9.
  7. 12:31 al que manda en este mundo Se refiere a Satanás. También en 14:30; 16:11.
  8. 12:32 sea levantado Se refiere a ser clavado en la cruz y «levantado» para morir en ella. Un segundo significado puede ser el de ser «levantado» de la muerte al cielo. Igual en el versículo 34.
  9. 12:35 La luz Se refiere a Cristo, como en Jn 1:5-9. Es también símbolo de la bondad y la verdad, cualidades de Cristo y de su reino.
  10. 12:38 Cita de Is 53:1.
  11. 12:40 Cita de Is 6:10.

Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany

12 Six days before (A)the Passover, (B)Jesus therefore came to Bethany, (C)where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. (D)Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. (E)Mary therefore took a pound[a] 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[b] and (F)given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and (G)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[c] 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[d] was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, (H)whom he had raised from the dead. 10 (I)So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because (J)on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

The Triumphal Entry

12 The next day (K)the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of (L)palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, (M)“Hosanna! Blessed is (N)he who comes in the name of the Lord, even (O)the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

15 (P)“Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
    sitting on a donkey's colt!”

16 (Q)His disciples did not understand these things at first, but (R)when Jesus was glorified, then (S)they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 (T)The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him (U)was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, (V)“You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, (W)the world has gone after him.”

Some Greeks Seek Jesus

20 Now (X)among those who went up to worship at the feast were some (Y)Greeks. 21 So these came to (Z)Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told (AA)Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, (AB)“The hour has come (AC)for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, (AD)unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 (AE)Whoever loves his life loses it, and (AF)whoever (AG)hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must (AH)follow me; and (AI)where I am, there will my servant be also. (AJ)If anyone serves me, (AK)the Father will honor him.

The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up

27 (AL)“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, (AM)save me from (AN)this hour’? But (AO)for this purpose I have come to (AP)this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then (AQ)a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, (AR)“An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, (AS)“This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 (AT)Now is the judgment of this world; now will (AU)the ruler of this world (AV)be cast out. 32 And I, (AW)when I am lifted up from the earth, (AX)will draw (AY)all people to myself.” 33 He said this (AZ)to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that (BA)the Christ remains forever. How can you say that (BB)the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, (BC)“The light is among you (BD)for a little while longer. (BE)Walk while you have the light, lest darkness (BF)overtake you. (BG)The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become (BH)sons of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 (BI)so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

(BJ)“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they (BK)could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40 (BL)“He has blinded their eyes
    and (BM)hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
    and understand with their heart, and turn,
    and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things because (BN)he saw his glory and (BO)spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, (BP)many even of the authorities believed in him, but (BQ)for fear of the Pharisees they did not (BR)confess it, so that they would not be (BS)put out of the synagogue; 43 (BT)for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Jesus Came to Save the World

44 And Jesus cried out and said, (BU)“Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but (BV)in him who sent me. 45 And (BW)whoever (BX)sees me sees him who sent me. 46 (BY)I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone (BZ)hears my words and does not keep them, (CA)I do not judge him; for (CB)I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 (CC)The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; (CD)the word that I have spoken will judge him (CE)on the last day. 49 For (CF)I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father (CG)who sent me has himself given me (CH)a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Footnotes

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

12 Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. So they made him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that [a]sat at meat with him. Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of [b]pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, that should [c]betray him, saith, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred [d]shillings, and given to the poor? Now this he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the [e]bag [f]took away what was put therein. Jesus therefore said, [g]Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying. For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always.

The common people therefore of the Jews learned that he was there: and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus also to death; 11 because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

12 On the morrow [h]a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried out, Hosanna: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel. 14 And Jesus, having found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, 15 [i]Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt. 16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. 17 The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, bare witness. 18 For this cause also the multitude went and met him, for that they heard that he had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, [j]Behold how ye prevail nothing; lo, the world is gone after him.

20 Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast: 21 these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: Andrew cometh, and Philip, and they tell Jesus. 23 And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his [k]life loseth it; and he that hateth his [l]life in this world shall keep it unto [m]life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this [n]hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. There came therefore a voice out of heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The multitude therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it had thundered: others said, An angel hath spoken to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice hath not come for my sake, but for your sakes. 31 Now is [o]the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up [p]from the earth, will draw all men unto myself. 33 But this he said, signifying by what manner of death he should die. 34 The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? 35 Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light [q]among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36 While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light.

These things spake Jesus, and he departed and [r]hid himself from them. 37 But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they believed not on him: 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake,

[s]Lord, who hath believed our report?
And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

39 For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah said again,

40 [t]He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart;
Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart,
And should turn,
And I should heal them.

41 These things said Isaiah, because he saw his glory; and he spake of him. 42 Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess [u]it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 for they loved the glory that is of men more than the glory that is of God.

44 And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me. 46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness. 47 And if any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49 For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life eternal; the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak.

Footnotes

  1. John 12:2 Greek reclined.
  2. John 12:3 Or, liquid nard
  3. John 12:4 Or, deliver him up
  4. John 12:5 See marginal note on 6:7.
  5. John 12:6 Or, box
  6. John 12:6 Or, carried what was put therein
  7. John 12:7 Or, Let her alone: it was that she might keep it
  8. John 12:12 Some ancient authorities read the common people. See verse 9.
  9. John 12:15 Zech. 9:9.
  10. John 12:19 Or, Ye behold
  11. John 12:25 life in these places represents two different Greek words.
  12. John 12:25 life in these places represents two different Greek words.
  13. John 12:25 life in these places represents two different Greek words.
  14. John 12:27 Or, hour?
  15. John 12:31 Or, a judgment
  16. John 12:32 Or, out of
  17. John 12:35 Or, in
  18. John 12:36 Or, was hidden from them
  19. John 12:38 Isa. 53:1.
  20. John 12:40 Isa. 6:10.
  21. John 12:42 Or, him

12 Six days before Pesach, Yeshua came to Beit-Anyah, where El‘azar lived, the man Yeshua had raised from the dead; so they gave a dinner there in his honor. Marta served the meal, and El‘azar was among those at the table with him. Miryam took a whole pint of pure oil of spikenard, which is very expensive, poured it on Yeshua’s feet and wiped his feet with her hair, so that the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of the talmidim, Y’hudah from K’riot, the one who was about to betray him, said, “This perfume is worth a year’s wages! Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” Now he said this not out of concern for the poor, but because he was a thief — he was in charge of the common purse and used to steal from it. Yeshua said, “Leave her alone! She kept this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

A large crowd of Judeans learned that he was there; and they came not only because of Yeshua, but also so that they could see El‘azar, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 The head cohanim then decided to do away with El‘azar too, 11 since it was because of him that large numbers of the Judeans were leaving their leaders and putting their trust in Yeshua.

12 The next day, the large crowd that had come for the festival heard that Yeshua was on his way into Yerushalayim. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

Deliver us![a]

Blessed is he who comes in the name of Adonai,[b] the King of Isra’el!”

14 After finding a donkey colt, Yeshua mounted it, just as the Tanakh says —

15 Daughter of Tziyon, don’t be afraid!
Look! your King is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt.[c]

16 His talmidim did not understand this at first; but after Yeshua had been glorified, then they remembered that the Tanakh said this about him, and that they had done this for him. 17 The group that had been with him when he called El‘azar out of the tomb and raised him from the dead had been telling about it. 18 It was because of this too that the crowd came out to meet him — they had heard that he had performed this miracle. 19 The P’rushim said to each other, “Look, you’re getting nowhere! Why, the whole world has gone after him!”

20 Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greek-speaking Jews. 21 They approached Philip, the one from Beit-Tzaidah in the Galil, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Yeshua.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Yeshua. 23 Yeshua gave them this answer: “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Yes, indeed! I tell you that unless a grain of wheat that falls to the ground dies, it stays just a grain; but if it dies, it produces a big harvest. 25 He who loves his life loses it, but he who hates his life in this world will keep it safe right on into eternal life! 26 If someone is serving me, let him follow me; wherever I am, my servant will be there too. My Father will honor anyone who serves me.

27 “Now I am in turmoil. What can I say — ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason that I have come to this hour. I will say this: 28 ‘Father, glorify your name!’” At this a bat-kol came out of heaven, “I have glorified it before, and I will glorify it again!” 29 The crowd standing there and hearing it said that it had thundered; others said, “An angel spoke to him.” 30 Yeshua answered, “This bat-kol did not come for my sake but for yours. 31 Now is the time for this world to be judged, now the ruler of this world will be expelled. 32 As for me, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate what kind of death he would die.

34 The crowd answered, “We have learned from the Torah that the Messiah remains forever. How is it that you say the Son of Man has to be ‘lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” 35 Yeshua said to them, “The light will be with you only a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, or the dark will overtake you; he who walks in the dark doesn’t know where he’s going. 36 While you have the light, put your trust in the light, so that you may become people of light.” Yeshua said these things, then went off and kept himself hidden from them.

37 Even though he had performed so many miracles in their presence, they still did not put their trust in him, 38 in order that what Yesha‘yahu the prophet had said might be fulfilled,

Adonai, who has believed our report?
To whom has the arm of Adonai been revealed?”[d]

39 The reason they could not believe was — as Yesha‘yahu said elsewhere —

40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so that they do not see with their eyes,
understand with their hearts,
and do t’shuvah,
so that I could heal them.”[e]

41 (Yesha‘yahu said these things because he saw the Sh’khinah of Yeshua and spoke about him.) 42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders did trust in him; but because of the P’rushim they did not say so openly, out of fear of being banned from the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from other people more than praise from God.

44 Yeshua declared publicly, “Those who put their trust in me are trusting not merely in me, but in the One who sent me. 45 Also those who see me see the One who sent me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who trusts in me might not remain in the dark. 47 If anyone hears what I am saying and does not observe it, I don’t judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 Those who reject me and don’t accept what I say have a judge — the word which I have spoken will judge them on the Last Day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own initiative, but the Father who sent me has given me a command, namely, what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know that his command is eternal life. So what I say is simply what the Father has told me to say.”

Footnotes

  1. John 12:13 Psalm 118:25
  2. John 12:13 Psalm 118:26
  3. John 12:15 Zechariah 9:9
  4. John 12:38 Isaiah 53:1
  5. John 12:40 Isaiah 6:10

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. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served,(D) while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 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.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him,(G) 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,(H) 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.(I) You will always have the poor among you,[c](J) 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.(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(N)

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(O) and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna![d]

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[e](P)

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”(Q)

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

15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
    see, your king is coming,
    seated on a donkey’s colt.”[f](R)

16 At first his disciples did not understand all this.(S) Only after Jesus was glorified(T) 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(U) 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,(V) 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!”(W)

Jesus Predicts His Death

20 Now there were some Greeks(X) among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida(Y) 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(Z) has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.(AA) 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,(AB) 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(AC) for eternal life.(AD) 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.(AE) My Father will honor the one who serves me.

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

Then a voice came from heaven,(AI) “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,(AJ) not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world;(AK) now the prince of this world(AL) will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[g] from the earth,(AM) will draw all people to myself.”(AN) 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.(AO)

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

35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light(AT) just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,(AU) before darkness overtakes you.(AV) 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.”(AW) When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.(AX)

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

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

“Lord, who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[h](AZ)

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

40 “He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
    nor understand with their hearts,
    nor turn—and I would heal them.”[i](BA)

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory(BB) and spoke about him.(BC)

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.(BD) But because of the Pharisees(BE) they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;(BF) 43 for they loved human praise(BG) more than praise from God.(BH)

44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.(BI) 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.(BJ) 46 I have come into the world as a light,(BK) 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.(BL) 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(BM) at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me(BN) to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life.(BO) So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”(BP)

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.
  4. John 12:13 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise
  5. John 12:13 Psalm 118:25,26
  6. John 12:15 Zech. 9:9
  7. John 12:32 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
  8. John 12:38 Isaiah 53:1
  9. John 12:40 Isaiah 6:10