John 12

Jesus with Friends in Bethany

1Six days before the Passover Feast, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus lived. (Lazarus is the man Jesus raised from death.) 2There they had a dinner for Jesus. Martha served the food. Lazarus was one of the people eating with Jesus. 3Mary brought in a pint of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She poured the perfume on Jesus’ feet, and then she wiped his feet with her hair. And the sweet smell from the perfume filled the whole house.

4Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ followers, was there. (He was the one who would later turn against Jesus.) Judas said, 5“This perfume was worth an entire year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6But 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, and he often stole money from it.

7Jesus answered, “Let her alone. It was right for her to save this perfume for today—the day for me to be prepared for burial. 8The poor will always be with you, but you will not always have me.”

The Plot Against Lazarus

9A large crowd of Jews heard that Jesus was in Bethany. So they went there to see not only Jesus but also Lazarus. Lazarus was the one Jesus raised from death. 10So the leading priests made plans to kill Lazarus, too. 11Because of Lazarus many Jews were leaving them and believing in Jesus.

Jesus Enters Jerusalem

12The next day a great crowd in Jerusalem heard that Jesus was coming there. These were the people who had come to the Passover Feast. 13They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Jesus. They shouted,

“Praise# Literally, “Hosanna,” a Hebrew word used at first in praying to God for help, but at this time it was probably a shout of joy used in praising God or his Messiah. God!

God bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord!

God bless the King of Israel!” Psalm 118:25-26

14Jesus found a colt and sat on it. This was as the Scripture says,

15“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem!

Your king is coming.

He is sitting on the colt of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9

16The followers of Jesus did not understand this at first. But after Jesus was raised to glory, they remembered that this had been written about him. And they remembered that they had done these things to him.

People Tell About Jesus

17There had been many people with Jesus when he raised Lazarus from death and told him to come out of the tomb. Now they were telling others about what Jesus did. 18Many people went out to meet Jesus, because they had heard about this miracle. 19So the Pharisees said to each other, “You can see that nothing is going right for us. Look! The whole world is following him.”

Jesus Talks About His Death

20There were some Greek people, too, who came to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover Feast. 21They went to Philip. (Philip was from Bethsaida, in Galilee.) They said, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” 22Philip told Andrew. Then Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

23Jesus said to them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to receive his glory. 24I tell you the truth. A grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die. Then it makes many seeds. But if it never dies, it remains only a single seed. 25The person who loves his life will give up true life. But the person who hates his life in this world will keep true life forever. 26Whoever 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 troubled. What should I say? Should I say, ‘Father, save me from this time’? No, I came to this time so that I could suffer. 28Father, bring glory to your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have brought glory to it, and I will do it again.”

29The crowd standing there heard the voice. They said it was thunder.

But others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”

30Jesus said, “That voice was for you, not for me. 31Now is the time for the world to be judged. Now the ruler of this world will be thrown down. 32I will be lifted up from the earth. And when this happens, I will draw all people toward me.” 33Jesus said this to show how he would die.

34The crowd said, “We have heard from the law that the Christ will live forever. So why do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35Then Jesus said, “The light will be with you for a little longer. So walk while you have the light. Then the darkness will not catch you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36So believe in the light while you still have it. Then you will become sons of light.” When Jesus had said this, he left and hid himself from them.

Some Don’t Believe in Jesus

37Though Jesus had done many miracles before the people, they still did not believe in him. 38This was to make clear the full meaning of what Isaiah the prophet said:

“Lord, who believed the things we told them?

Who has seen the Lord’s power?” Isaiah 53:1

39This is why the people could not believe: Isaiah also said,

40“He has blinded their eyes.

He has closed their minds.

This is so that they will not see with their eyes

nor understand in their minds.

This is so they will not

come back to me and be forgiven.” Isaiah 6:10

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

42But many people believed in Jesus, even many of the leaders. But because of the Pharisees, they did not say that they believed in him. They were afraid that they would be put out of the synagogue. 43They loved praise from men more than praise from God.

44Then Jesus cried out, “He who believes in me is really believing in the One who sent me. 45He who sees me sees the One who sent me. 46I have come as light into the world. I came so that whoever believes in me would not stay in darkness.

47“If anyone hears my words and does not obey them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48There is a judge for the one who refuses to believe in me and does not accept my words. The word I have taught will be his judge on the last day. 49The things I taught were not from myself. The Father who sent me told me what to say and what to teach. 50And I know that eternal life comes from what the Father commands. So whatever I say is what the Father told me to say.”

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John 12: ICB

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