A Woman Pours Perfume on Jesus at Bethany

14 The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were plotting to arrest Jesus secretly. They wanted to kill him. ² “But not during the feast,” they said. “The people may stir up trouble.”

³ Jesus was in Bethany. He was at the table in the home of Simon, who had a skin disease. A woman came with a special sealed jar. It contained very expensive perfume made out of pure nard. She broke the jar open and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head.

⁴ Some of the people there became angry. They said to one another, “Why waste this perfume? ⁵ It could have been sold for more than a year’s pay. The money could have been given to poor people.” So they found fault with the woman.

⁶ “Leave her alone,” Jesus said. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷ You will always have poor people with you. You can help them any time you want to. But you will not always have me. ⁸ She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body to prepare me to be buried. ⁹ What I’m about to tell you is true. What she has done will be told anywhere the good news is preached all over the world. It will be told in memory of her.”

¹⁰ Judas Iscariot was one of the 12 disciples. He went to the chief priests to hand Jesus over to them. ¹¹ They were delighted to hear that he would do this. They promised to give Judas money. So he watched for the right time to hand Jesus over to them.

The Last Supper

¹² It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. That was the time to sacrifice the Passover lamb. Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?”

¹³ So he sent out two of his disciples. He told them, “Go into the city. A man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. ¹⁴ He will enter a house. Say to its owner, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is my guest room? Where can I eat the Passover meal with my disciples?” ’ ¹⁵ He will show you a large upstairs room. It will have furniture and will be ready. Prepare for us to eat there.”

¹⁶ The disciples left and went into the city. They found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover meal.

¹⁷ When evening came, Jesus arrived with the 12 disciples. ¹⁸ While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “What I’m about to tell you is true. One of you who is eating with me will hand me over to my enemies.”

¹⁹ The disciples became sad. One by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

²⁰ “It is one of you,” Jesus replied. “It is the one who dips bread into the bowl with me. ²¹ The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But how terrible it will be for the one who hands over the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

²² While they were eating, Jesus took bread. He gave thanks and broke it. He handed it to his disciples and said, “Take it. This is my body.”

²³ Then he took a cup. He gave thanks and handed it to them. All of them drank from it.

²⁴ “This is my blood of the covenant,” he said to them. “It is poured out for many. ²⁵ What I’m about to tell you is true. I won’t drink wine with you again until the day I drink it in God’s kingdom.”

²⁶ Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Says That the Disciples Will Turn Away

²⁷ “You will all turn away,” Jesus told the disciples. “It is written,

²⁸ But after I rise from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

²⁹ Peter said, “All the others may turn away. But I will not.”

³⁰ “What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus answered. “It will happen today, in fact tonight. Before the rooster crows twice, you yourself will say three times that you don’t know me.”

³¹ But Peter would not give in. He said, “I may have to die with you. But I will never say I don’t know you.” And all the others said the same thing.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

³² Jesus and his disciples went to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to them, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ He took Peter, James and John along with him. He began to be very upset and troubled. ³⁴ “My soul is very sad. I feel close to death,” he said to them. “Stay here. Keep watch.”

³⁵ He went a little farther. Then he fell to the ground. He prayed that, if possible, the hour might pass by him. ³⁶ “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want.”

³⁷ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray. Then you won’t fall into sin when you are tempted. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

³⁹ Once more Jesus went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰ Then he came back. Again he found them sleeping. They couldn’t keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to him.

⁴¹ Jesus returned the third time. He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look! The Son of Man is about to be handed over to sinners. ⁴² Get up! Let us go! Here comes the one who is handing me over to them!”

Jesus Is Arrested

⁴³ Just as Jesus was speaking, Judas appeared. He was one of the 12 disciples. A crowd was with him. They were carrying swords and clubs. The chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders had sent them.

⁴⁴ Judas, who was going to hand Jesus over, had arranged a signal with them. “The one I kiss is the man,” he said. “Arrest him and have the guards lead him away.” ⁴⁵ So Judas went to Jesus at once. Judas said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed Jesus. ⁴⁶ The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him. ⁴⁷ Then one of those standing nearby pulled his sword out. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

⁴⁸ “Am I leading a band of armed men against you?” asked Jesus. “Do you have to come out with swords and clubs to capture me? ⁴⁹ Every day I was with you. I taught in the temple courtyard, and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures must come true.” ⁵⁰ Then everyone left him and ran away.

⁵¹ A young man was following Jesus. The man was wearing nothing but a piece of linen cloth. When the crowd grabbed him, ⁵² he ran away naked. He left his clothing behind.

Jesus Is Taken to the Sanhedrin

⁵³ The crowd took Jesus to the high priest. All the chief priests, the elders, and the teachers of the law came together. ⁵⁴ Not too far away, Peter followed Jesus. He went right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards. He warmed himself at the fire.

⁵⁵ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for something to use against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death. But they did not find any proof. ⁵⁶ Many witnesses lied about him. But their stories did not agree.

⁵⁷ Then some of them stood up. Here is what those false witnesses said about him. ⁵⁸ “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made by human hands. In three days I will build another temple, not made by human hands.’ ” ⁵⁹ But what they said did not agree.

⁶⁰ Then the high priest stood up in front of them. He asked Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer? What are these charges these men are bringing against you?” ⁶¹ But Jesus remained silent. He gave no answer.

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah? Are you the Son of the Blessed One?”

⁶² “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One. You will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶³ The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. ⁶⁴ “You have heard him say a very evil thing against God. What do you think?”

They all found him guilty and said he must die. ⁶⁵ Then some began to spit at him. They blindfolded him. They hit him with their fists. They said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

Peter Says He Does Not Know Jesus

⁶⁶ Peter was below in the courtyard. One of the high priest’s female servants came by. ⁶⁷ When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.

“You also were with Jesus, that Nazarene,” she said.

⁶⁸ But Peter said he had not been with him. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said. He went out to the entrance to the courtyard.

⁶⁹ The servant saw him there. She said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” ⁷⁰ Again he said he was not.

After a little while, those standing nearby said to Peter, “You must be one of them. You are from Galilee.”

⁷¹ Then Peter began to curse. He said to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

⁷² Right away the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had spoken to him. “The rooster will crow twice,” he had said. “Before it does, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Peter broke down and cried.

A Roman Commander Has Faith

7 Jesus finished saying all these things to the people who were listening. Then he entered Capernaum. ² There the servant of a Roman commander was sick and about to die. His master thought highly of him. ³ The commander heard about Jesus. So he sent some elders of the Jews to him. He told them to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant. ⁴ They came to Jesus and begged him, “This man deserves to have you do this. ⁵ He loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” ⁶ So Jesus went with them.

When Jesus came near the house, the Roman commander sent friends to him. He told them to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself. I am not good enough to have you come into my house. ⁷ That is why I did not even think I was fit to come to you. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁸ I myself am a man who is under authority. And I have soldiers who obey my orders. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes. I tell that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

⁹ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at the commander. Jesus turned to the crowd that was following him. He said, “I tell you, even in Israel I have not found anyone whose faith is so strong.” ¹⁰ Then the men who had been sent to Jesus returned to the house. They found that the servant was healed.

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son From the Dead

¹¹ Some time later, Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd went along with him. ¹² He approached the town gate. Just then, a dead person was being carried out. He was the only son of his mother. She was a widow. A large crowd from the town was with her. ¹³ When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her. So he said, “Don’t cry.”

¹⁴ Then he went up and touched the coffin. Those carrying it stood still. Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” ¹⁵ The dead man sat up and began to talk. Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.

¹⁶ The people were all filled with wonder and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” ¹⁷ This news about Jesus spread all through Judea and the whole country.

Jesus and John the Baptist

¹⁸ John’s disciples told him about all these things. So he chose two of them. ¹⁹ He sent them to the Lord. John told them to ask him, “Are you the one who is supposed to come? Or should we look for someone else?”

²⁰ The men came to Jesus. They said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the one who is supposed to come? Or should we look for someone else?’ ”

²¹ At that time Jesus healed many people. They had illnesses, sicknesses and evil spirits. He also gave sight to many who were blind. ²² So Jesus replied to the messengers, “Go back to John. Tell him what you have seen and heard. Blind people receive sight. Disabled people walk. Those who have skin diseases are made ‘clean.’ Deaf people hear. Those who are dead are raised to life. And the good news is announced to those who are poor. ²³ Blessed is anyone who does not give up their faith because of me.”

²⁴ So John’s messengers left. Then Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. He said, “What did you go out into the desert to see? Tall grass waving in the wind? ²⁵ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. Those who wear fine clothes and have many expensive things are in palaces. ²⁶ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ He is the one written about in Scripture. It says,

²⁸ I tell you, no one more important than John has ever been born. But the least important person in God’s kingdom is more important than John is.”

²⁹ All the people who heard Jesus’ words agreed that God’s way was right. Even the tax collectors agreed. These people had all been baptized by John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and the authorities on the law did not accept for themselves God’s purpose. So they had not been baptized by John.

³¹ Jesus went on to say, “What can I compare today’s people to? What are they like? ³² They are like children sitting in the market and calling out to each other. They say,

³³ That is how it has been with John the Baptist. When he came to you, he didn’t eat bread or drink wine. And you say, ‘He has a demon.’ ³⁴ But when the Son of Man came, he ate and drank as you do. And you say, ‘This fellow is always eating and drinking far too much. He’s a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ ³⁵ All who follow wisdom prove that wisdom is right.”

A Sinful Woman Pours Perfume on Jesus

³⁶ One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So he went to the Pharisee’s house. He took his place at the table. ³⁷ There was a woman in that town who had lived a sinful life. She learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house. So she came there with a special jar of perfume. ³⁸ She stood behind Jesus and cried at his feet. And she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair. She kissed them and poured perfume on them.

³⁹ The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this. He said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him. He would know what kind of woman she is. She is a sinner!”

⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

⁴¹ “Two people owed money to a certain lender. One owed him 500 silver coins. The other owed him 50 silver coins. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back. So he let them go without paying. Which of them will love him more?”

⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who owed the most money.”

“You are right,” Jesus said.

⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman. He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water to wash my feet. But she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss. But this woman has not stopped kissing my feet since I came in. ⁴⁶ You did not put any olive oil on my head. But she has poured this perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ So I tell you this. Her many sins have been forgiven. She has shown that she understands this by her great acts of love. But whoever has been forgiven only a little loves only a little.”

⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

⁴⁹ The other guests began to talk about this among themselves. They said, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

⁵⁰ Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Mary Pours Perfume on Jesus at Bethany

12 It was six days before the Passover Feast. Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived. Lazarus was the one Jesus had raised from the dead. ² A dinner was given at Bethany to honor Jesus. Martha served the food. Lazarus was among the people at the table with Jesus. ³ Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard. It was an expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the sweet smell of the perfume.

⁴ But Judas Iscariot didn’t like what Mary did. He was one of Jesus’ disciples. Later he was going to hand Jesus over to his enemies. Judas said, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold? Why wasn’t the money given to poor people? It was worth a year’s pay.” ⁶ He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor. He said it because he was a thief. Judas was in charge of the money bag. He used to help himself to what was in it.

⁷ “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “The perfume was meant for the day I am buried. ⁸ You will always have the poor among you. But you won’t always have me.”

⁹ Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there, so they came. But they did not come only because of Jesus. They also came to see Lazarus. After all, Jesus had raised him from the dead. ¹⁰ So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus too. ¹¹ Because of Lazarus, many of the Jews were starting to follow Jesus. They were believing in him.

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

¹² The next day the large crowd that had come for the feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. ¹³ So they took branches from palm trees and went out to meet him. They shouted,

¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it. This is just as it is written in Scripture. It says,

¹⁶ At first, Jesus’ disciples did not understand all this. They realized it only after he had received glory. Then they realized that these things had been written about him. They realized that these things had been done to him.

¹⁷ A crowd had been with Jesus when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead. So they continued to tell everyone about what had happened. ¹⁸ Many people went out to meet him. They had heard that he had done this sign. ¹⁹ So the Pharisees said to one another, “This isn’t getting us anywhere. Look how the whole world is following him!”

Jesus Tells About His Coming Death

²⁰ There were some Greeks among the people who went up to worship during the feast. ²¹ They came to ask Philip for a favor. Philip was from Bethsaida in Galilee. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went to tell Andrew. Then Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

²³ Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of Man to receive glory. ²⁴ What I’m about to tell you is true. Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only one seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it. But anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it and have eternal life. ²⁶ Anyone who serves me must follow me. And where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

²⁷ “My soul is troubled. What should I say? ‘Father, keep me from having to go through with this’? No. This is the very reason I have come to this point in my life. ²⁸ Father, bring glory to your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven. It said, “I have brought glory to my name. I will bring glory to it again.” ²⁹ The crowd there heard the voice. Some said it was thunder. Others said an angel had spoken to Jesus.

³⁰ Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. ³¹ Now it is time for the world to be judged. Now the prince of this world will be thrown out. ³² And I am going to be lifted up from the earth. When I am, I will bring all people to myself.” ³³ He said this to show them how he was going to die.

³⁴ The crowd spoke up. “The Law tells us that the Messiah will remain forever,” they said. “So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

³⁵ Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light. Do this before darkness catches up with you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. ³⁶ While you have the light, believe in it. Then you can become children of light.” When Jesus had finished speaking, he left and hid from them.

Some Jews Believe and Some Don’t

³⁷ Jesus had performed so many signs in front of them. But they still would not believe in him. ³⁸ This happened as Isaiah the prophet had said it would. He had said,

³⁹ For this reason, they could not believe. As Isaiah says in another place,

⁴¹ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

⁴² At the same time that Jesus did those signs, many of the Jewish leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees, they would not openly admit they believed. They were afraid they would be thrown out of the synagogue. ⁴³ They loved praise from people more than praise from God.

⁴⁴ Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only. They also believe in the one who sent me. ⁴⁵ The one who looks at me sees the one who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come into the world to be its light. So no one who believes in me will stay in darkness.

⁴⁷ “I don’t judge a person who hears my words but does not obey them. I didn’t come to judge the world. I came to save the world. ⁴⁸ But there is a judge for anyone who does not accept me and my words. These words I have spoken will judge them on the last day. ⁴⁹ I did not speak on my own. The Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have said. ⁵⁰ I know that his command leads to eternal life. So everything I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”