John 12
1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
Six days before the Passover Jesus went to Bethany, to the home of Lazarus who had been raised from the dead.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
There a dinner was arranged in his honor. Martha helped serve the food while Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus and the others guests.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Mary brought a pint of pure nard perfume and anointed Jesus' feet, wiping them dry with her hair. The scent of the perfume filled the whole house.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s [son], which should betray him,
But one of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who would later betray Jesus, asked,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
“Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth three hundred denarii.”
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
He wasn't saying this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was the one who looked after the disciples' money and he often took some for himself.
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
“Don't criticize her,” Jesus replied. “She did this in preparation for the day of my burial.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
You'll always have the poor here with you, but you won't always have me here.”
9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew 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.
A large crowd had found out that he was there. They came there not just to see Jesus but because they wanted to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
So the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus as well,
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
since it was because of him that many Jews were no longer following them but putting their trust in Jesus.
12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
The following day the crowds of people who had come for the Passover festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed [is] the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
They cut off palm branches and went to welcome him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one coming in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel.”
14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, as Scripture says:
15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.
“Don't be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, riding a donkey'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.
At the time, Jesus' disciples did not understand what these things meant. It was only later when he was glorified that they realized what had happened had been prophesied and applied to him.
17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb and raise him from the dead and were telling the story.
18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
That was the reason so many people went to meet Jesus—because they had heard about this miracle.
19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
The Pharisees said to one other, “Look, we're getting nowhere. Everyone's running after him.”
20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
Now some Greeks had come to the festival to worship.
21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
They came to Philip of Bethsaida in Galilee, and said, “Sir, we'd like to see Jesus.”
22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
Philip went and told Andrew. Then they both went to Jesus and told him.
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of man to be glorified.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
I tell you the truth: unless a grain of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains just one grain. But if it dies, it produces many more grains of wheat.
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (aiōnios g166)
If you love your own life you will lose it, but if you don't love your own life in this world you will keep your life forever. (aiōnios g166)
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 [my] Father honour.
If you want to serve me you need to follow me. My servants will be where I am, and my Father will honor anyone who serves for me.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
Now I am troubled. What should I say? ‘Father, save me from this coming time of suffering?’ No, for this is why I came—to go through this time of suffering.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, [saying], I have both glorified [it], and will glorify [it] again.
Father, show the glory of your character.” A voice came from heaven, saying, “I have shown its glory, and I will show it again.”
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard [it], said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
The crowd that was standing there heard it. Some said it thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
Jesus told them, “This voice spoke not for my sake, but for yours.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Now is the judgment of this world; now the prince of this world will be thrown out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me.
But when I am lifted up from the earth I will attract everyone to me.”
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
(He said this to point out the kind of death he was going to die.)
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? (aiōn g165)
The crowd responded, “The Law tells us that the Messiah will live forever, so how can you say the Son of man must be ‘lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of man’?” (aiōn g165)
35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Jesus replied, “The light is here with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that the darkness doesn't overtake you. Those who walk in the dark don't know where they're going.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
Put your trust in the light while you still have it so that you can become children of light.” When Jesus had told them this, he left and hid himself from them.
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
But despite all the miracles he had done in their presence, they still did not trust in Jesus.
38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
This fulfilled the message of Isaiah the prophet who said, “Lord, who has believed what we told them? To whom has the Lord's power been revealed?”
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
They were not able to trust him, and as a result they fulfilled what Isaiah also said:
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with [their] eyes, nor understand with [their] heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
“He blinded their eyes, and made their minds dull, so that their eyes would not see, and their minds would not think, and they would not turn to me—for if they did I would heal them.”
41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
Isaiah saw Jesus' glory and said this in reference to him.
42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess [him], lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
Even so many of the leaders did trust in him. However, they did not openly admit it because they did not want the Pharisees to expel them from the synagogue,
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
loving human admiration more than God's approval.
44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
Jesus called out, “If you trust in me you're not just trusting in me but also in the one who sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
When you see me, you're seeing the one who sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
I have come as a light shining into the world, so if you trust in me you won't remain in the dark.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
I don't judge anyone who hears my words but doesn't do what I say. I came to save the world, not to judge it.
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Anyone who rejects me and does not accept my words will be judged at the end-time judgment in accordance with what I have said.
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
For I'm not speaking for myself but for my Father who sent me. He is the one who instructed me what to say and how to say it.
