John 12 : 1 (ERVEN)
Six days before the Passover festival, Jesus went to Bethany. That is where Lazarus lived, the man Jesus raised from death.
John 12 : 2 (ERVEN)
There they had a dinner for Jesus. Martha served the food, and Lazarus was one of the people eating with Jesus.
John 12 : 3 (ERVEN)
Mary brought in a pint of expensive perfume made of pure nard. She poured the perfume on Jesus' feet. Then she wiped his feet with her hair. And the sweet smell from the perfume filled the whole house.
John 12 : 4 (ERVEN)
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' followers, was there�the one who would later hand Jesus over to his enemies. Judas said,
John 12 : 5 (ERVEN)
"That perfume was worth a full year's pay. It should have been sold, and the money should have been given to the poor people."
John 12 : 6 (ERVEN)
But Judas did not really care about the poor. He said this because he was a thief. He was the one who kept the money bag for the group of followers. And he often stole money from the bag.
John 12 : 7 (ERVEN)
Jesus answered, "Don't stop her. It was right for her to save this perfume for today�the day for me to be prepared for burial.
John 12 : 8 (ERVEN)
You will always have those who are poor with you. But you will not always have me."
John 12 : 9 (ERVEN)
Many of the Jews heard that Jesus was in Bethany, so they went there to see him. They also went there to see Lazarus, the one Jesus raised from death.
John 12 : 10 (ERVEN)
So the leading priests made plans to kill Lazarus too.
John 12 : 11 (ERVEN)
Because of him, many Jews were leaving them and believing in Jesus. That is why they wanted to kill Lazarus too.
John 12 : 12 (ERVEN)
The next day the people in Jerusalem heard that Jesus was coming there. These were the crowds of people who had come to the Passover festival.
John 12 : 13 (ERVEN)
They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Jesus. They shouted, "'Praise Him!' 'Welcome! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!' God bless the King of Israel!"
John 12 : 14 (ERVEN)
Jesus found a donkey and rode on it, as the Scriptures say,
John 12 : 15 (ERVEN)
"Do not be afraid, people of Zion! Look! Your king is coming. He is riding on a young donkey."
John 12 : 16 (ERVEN)
The followers of Jesus did not understand at that time what was happening. But after he was raised to glory, they understood that this was written about him. Then they remembered that they had done these things for him.
John 12 : 17 (ERVEN)
There were 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.
John 12 : 18 (ERVEN)
That's why so many people went out to meet him�because they had heard about this miraculous sign he did.
John 12 : 19 (ERVEN)
So the Pharisees said to each other, "Look! Our plan is not working. The people are all following him!"
John 12 : 20 (ERVEN)
There were some Greeks there too. These were some of the people who went to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover festival.
John 12 : 21 (ERVEN)
They went to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, "Sir, we want to meet Jesus."
John 12 : 22 (ERVEN)
Philip went and told Andrew. Then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
John 12 : 23 (ERVEN)
Jesus said to them, "The time has come for the Son of Man to receive his glory.
John 12 : 24 (ERVEN)
It is a fact that a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die before it can grow and produce much more wheat. If it never dies, it will never be more than a single seed.
John 12 : 25 (ERVEN)
Whoever loves the life they have now will lose it. But whoever is willing to give up their life in this world will keep it. They will have eternal life.
John 12 : 26 (ERVEN)
Whoever serves me must follow me. My servants must be with me everywhere I am. My Father will give honor to anyone who serves me.
John 12 : 27 (ERVEN)
"Now I am very troubled. What should I say? Should I say, 'Father save me from this time of suffering'? No, I came to this time so that I could suffer.
John 12 : 28 (ERVEN)
Father, do what will bring you glory!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have already brought glory to myself. I will do it again."
John 12 : 29 (ERVEN)
The people standing there heard the voice. They said it was thunder. But others said, "An angel spoke to him!"
John 12 : 30 (ERVEN)
Jesus said, "That voice was for you and not for me.
John 12 : 31 (ERVEN)
Now is the time for the world to be judged. Now the ruler of this world will be thrown out.
John 12 : 32 (ERVEN)
I will be lifted up from the earth. When that happens, I will draw all people to myself."
John 12 : 33 (ERVEN)
Jesus said this to show how he would die.
John 12 : 34 (ERVEN)
The people said, "But our law says 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'?"
John 12 : 35 (ERVEN)
Then Jesus said, "The light will be with you for only a short time more. So walk while you have the light. Then the darkness will not catch you. People who walk in the darkness don't know where they are going.
John 12 : 36 (ERVEN)
So put your trust in the light while you still have it. Then you will be children of light." When Jesus finished saying these things, he went away to a place where the people could not find him.
John 12 : 37 (ERVEN)
The people saw all these miraculous signs Jesus did, but they still did not believe in him.
John 12 : 38 (ERVEN)
This was to give full meaning to what Isaiah the prophet said, "Lord, who believed what we told them? Who has seen the Lord's power?"
John 12 : 39 (ERVEN)
This is why the people could not believe. Because Isaiah also said,
John 12 : 40 (ERVEN)
"God made the people blind. He closed their minds. He did this so that they would not see with their eyes and understand with their minds. He did it so that they would not turn and be healed."
John 12 : 41 (ERVEN)
Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' divine greatness. So he spoke about him.
John 12 : 42 (ERVEN)
But many people believed in Jesus. Even many of the Jewish leaders believed in him, but they were afraid of the Pharisees, so they did not say openly that they believed. They were afraid they would be ordered to stay out of the synagogue.
John 12 : 43 (ERVEN)
They loved praise from people more than praise from God.
John 12 : 44 (ERVEN)
Then Jesus said loudly, "Everyone who believes in me is really believing in the one who sent me.
John 12 : 45 (ERVEN)
Everyone who sees me is really seeing the one who sent me.
John 12 : 46 (ERVEN)
I came into this world as a light. I came so that everyone who believes in me would not stay in darkness.
John 12 : 47 (ERVEN)
"I did not come into the world to judge people. I came to save the people in the world. So I am not the one who judges those who hear my teaching and do not obey.
John 12 : 48 (ERVEN)
But there is a judge for all those who refuse to believe in me and do not accept what I say. The message I have spoken will judge them on the last day.
John 12 : 49 (ERVEN)
That is because what I taught was not from myself. The Father who sent me told me what to say and what to teach.
John 12 : 50 (ERVEN)
And I know that whatever he says to do will bring eternal life. So the things I say are exactly what the Father told me to say."
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