New Testament in a Year

12 So six days before the Passover Feast, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had died and whom He had raised from the dead.

² So they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those at the table with Him.

³ Mary took a pound of ointment of pure liquid nard [a rare perfume] that was very expensive, and she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴ But Judas Iscariot, the one of His disciples who was about to betray Him, said,

⁵ Why was this perfume not sold for 300 denarii [a year’s wages for an ordinary workman] and that [money] given to the poor (the destitute)?

⁶ Now he did not say this because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief; and having the bag (the money box, the purse of the Twelve), he took for himself what was put into it [pilfering the collections].

⁷ But Jesus said, Let her alone. It was [intended] that she should keep it for the time of My preparation for burial. [She has kept it that she might have it for the time of My ^[a]embalming.]

⁸ You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.

⁹ Now a great crowd of the Jews heard that He was at Bethany, and they came there, not only because of Jesus but that they also might see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

¹⁰ So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also,

¹¹ Because on account of him many of the Jews were going away [were withdrawing from and leaving the Judeans] and believing in and adhering to Jesus.

¹² The next day a vast crowd of those who had come to the Passover Feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.

¹³ So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him. And as they went, they kept shouting, Hosanna! Blessed is He and praise to Him Who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!^(A)

¹⁴ And Jesus, having found a young donkey, rode upon it, [just] as it is written in the Scriptures,

¹⁵ Do not fear, O Daughter of Zion! Look! Your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!^(B)

¹⁶ His disciples did not understand and could not comprehend the meaning of these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified and exalted, they remembered that these things had been written about Him and had been done to Him.

¹⁷ The group that had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from among the dead kept telling it [bearing witness] to others.

¹⁸ It was for this reason that the crowd went out to meet Him, because they had heard that He had performed this sign (proof, miracle).

¹⁹ Then the Pharisees said among themselves, You see how futile your efforts are and how you accomplish nothing. See! The whole world is running after Him!

²⁰ Now among those who went up to worship at the Feast were some Greeks.

²¹ These came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and they made this request, Sir, we desire to see Jesus.

²² Philip came and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip together [went] and told Jesus.

²³ And Jesus answered them, The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified and exalted.

²⁴ I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains [just one grain; it never becomes more but lives] by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest.

²⁵ Anyone who loves his life loses it, but anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. [Whoever has no love for, no concern for, no regard for his life here on earth, but despises it, preserves his life forever and ever.]

²⁶ If anyone serves Me, he must continue to follow Me [^[b]to cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying] and wherever I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.