John 12 : 1 (NLV)
It was six days before the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus lived. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead.
John 12 : 2 (NLV)
They made supper for Him. Martha put the food on the table. Lazarus was at the table with Him.
John 12 : 3 (NLV)
Mary took a jar of special perfume that cost much money and poured it on the feet of Jesus. She dried His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the smell of the special perfume.
John 12 : 4 (NLV)
Judas Iscariot was one of the followers. He was about to hand Jesus over to the leaders of the country. He said,
John 12 : 5 (NLV)
"Why was not this special perfume sold for much money and given to poor people?"
John 12 : 6 (NLV)
He did not say this because he cared for poor people. He said this because he was a robber. He carried the bag of money and would steal some of it for himself.
John 12 : 7 (NLV)
Jesus said, "Let her alone. She has kept it for the time when I will be buried.
John 12 : 8 (NLV)
You will always have poor people with you. You will not always have Me."
John 12 : 9 (NLV)
Many Jews came to the place because they knew Jesus was there. They came not only to see Jesus, but to see Lazarus also. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead.
John 12 : 10 (NLV)
The religious leaders of the Jews talked together about having Lazarus killed also.
John 12 : 11 (NLV)
Because of Lazarus, many Jews were leaving their own religion. They were putting their trust in Jesus.
John 12 : 12 (NLV)
The next day many people were in Jerusalem for the religious gathering. They heard Jesus was coming.
John 12 : 13 (NLV)
They took branches of trees and went to meet Him. They spoke with a loud voice, "Greatest One! Great and honored is He Who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of the Jews!"
John 12 : 14 (NLV)
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it. The Holy Writings say,
John 12 : 15 (NLV)
"Do not be afraid, people of Jerusalem. See! Your King comes sitting on a young donkey!" (Zechariah 9:9)
John 12 : 16 (NLV)
His followers did not understand what this meant at first. When Jesus had gone back to heaven to receive great honor, they remembered these things were written about Him. They remembered they had done this to Him.
John 12 : 17 (NLV)
The people who had been with Jesus when He had called Lazarus from the grave kept telling of this powerful work to others. They had seen Lazarus raised from the dead.
John 12 : 18 (NLV)
Because of this the people went to meet Jesus. They had heard He had done this powerful work.
John 12 : 19 (NLV)
The proud religious law-keepers said among themselves, "Look, we are losing followers. Everyone is following Jesus!"
John 12 : 20 (NLV)
Some Greek people had come to worship at the religious gathering. They were among the others who had come to worship.
John 12 : 21 (NLV)
These Greek people came to Philip. He was from the city of Bethsaida in the country of Galilee. They said to him, "Sir, we want to see Jesus!"
John 12 : 22 (NLV)
Philip went and told Andrew. Then Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
John 12 : 23 (NLV)
Jesus said to them, "The hour is near for the Son of Man to be taken to heaven to receive great honor.
John 12 : 24 (NLV)
For sure, I tell you, unless a seed falls into the ground and dies, it will only be a seed. If it dies, it will give much grain.
John 12 : 25 (NLV)
Anyone who loves his life will lose it. Anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it forever.
John 12 : 26 (NLV)
If anyone wants to serve Me, he must follow Me. So where I am, the one who wants to serve Me will be there also. If anyone serves Me, My Father will honor him.
John 12 : 27 (NLV)
"Now My soul is troubled. Should I say, 'Father, save Me from this time of trouble and pain'? No, this is why I came to this time.
John 12 : 28 (NLV)
Father, honor Your name!" Then a voice from heaven came, saying, "I have already honored My name. I will honor it again!"
John 12 : 29 (NLV)
The people heard the voice. Some who stood there said, "It was thunder." Others said, "An angel spoke to Him."
John 12 : 30 (NLV)
Jesus said, "The voice did not come for Me, but it came to be a help to you.
John 12 : 31 (NLV)
"Now this world is being told it is guilty. Now the leader of this world will be thrown out.
John 12 : 32 (NLV)
And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will attract all people toward Me."
John 12 : 33 (NLV)
He said this to tell the kind of death He was going to die.
John 12 : 34 (NLV)
The people said to Him, "The Law of Moses says that the Christ is to live forever. Why do you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?"
John 12 : 35 (NLV)
Jesus said to them, "The Light will be with you for a little while yet. Go on your way while you have the Light so you will not be in the dark. When a man is walking in the dark, he does not know where he is going.
John 12 : 36 (NLV)
While you have the Light, put your trust in the Light. Then you will be the sons of the Light." Jesus said these things and then went away. He hid Himself from them.
John 12 : 37 (NLV)
Jesus had done many powerful works in front of them, but they did not put their trust in Him.
John 12 : 38 (NLV)
This happened as the words of the early preacher Isaiah said it would happen. He had said, "Lord, has anyone believed our preaching? Has the Lord shown His power to anyone?"
John 12 : 39 (NLV)
The reason they could not believe is written again in Isaiah.
John 12 : 40 (NLV)
It says, "He has blinded their eyes and made their hearts hard. Then they would not see with their eyes. They would not understand with their heart. They would not turn to Me. I could not heal them." (Isaiah 6:9-10)
John 12 : 41 (NLV)
This is what Isaiah said when he saw the shining-greatness of Jesus and spoke of Him.
John 12 : 42 (NLV)
Even among the leaders of the people there were many who believed in Jesus. But because of the proud religious law-keepers, they did not tell about it. If they had, they would have been put out of the Jewish place of worship.
John 12 : 43 (NLV)
They loved to have the respect from men more than honor from God.
John 12 : 44 (NLV)
Then Jesus spoke with a loud voice, "Anyone who puts his trust in Me, puts his trust not only in Me, but in Him Who sent Me.
John 12 : 45 (NLV)
Anyone who sees Me, sees Him Who sent Me.
John 12 : 46 (NLV)
I came to the world to be a Light. Anyone who puts his trust in Me will not be in darkness.
John 12 : 47 (NLV)
If anyone hears My Words but does not believe them, I do not say he is guilty. I did not come to say the world is guilty. I came to save the world from the punishment of sin.
John 12 : 48 (NLV)
Anyone who does not receive Me and does not receive My teaching has One Who will say he is guilty. The Word that I have spoken will say he is guilty on the last day.
John 12 : 49 (NLV)
I have not spoken by My own power. The Father Who sent Me has told Me what to say and speak.
John 12 : 50 (NLV)
I know that His Word is life that lasts forever. I speak the things the Father has told Me to speak."
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