John 12 :: New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

(Mat 26:6–13; Mar 14:3–9 )

Jhn 12:1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

Jhn 12:2Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.

Jhn 12:3

Jhn 12:3Then Mary took about a pint[fn] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Jhn 12:4

Jhn 12:4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,

Jhn 12:5

Jhn 12:5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[fn]”

Jhn 12:6

Jhn 12:6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Jhn 12:7

Jhn 12:7“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.

Jhn 12:8

Jhn 12:8You will always have the poor among you,[fn] but you will not always have me.”

Jhn 12:9

Jhn 12:9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

Jhn 12:10

Jhn 12:10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,

Jhn 12:11

Jhn 12:11for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

(Mat 21:1–11; Mar 11:1–11; Luk 19:28–40 )

Jhn 12:12

Jhn 12:12The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.

Jhn 12:13

Jhn 12:13They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna![fn]” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[fn] “Blessed is the king of Israel!”

Jhn 12:14

Jhn 12:14Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

Jhn 12:15

Jhn 12:15“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”[fn]

Jhn 12:16

Jhn 12:16At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

Jhn 12:17

Jhn 12:17Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.

Jhn 12:18

Jhn 12:18Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him.

Jhn 12:19

Jhn 12:19So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Jesus Predicts His Death

Jhn 12:20

Jhn 12:20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival.

Jhn 12:21

Jhn 12:21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”

Jhn 12:22

Jhn 12:22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

Jhn 12:23

Jhn 12:23Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Jhn 12:24

Jhn 12:24Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Jhn 12:25

Jhn 12:25Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Jhn 12:26

Jhn 12:26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Jhn 12:27

Jhn 12:27“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

Jhn 12:28

Jhn 12:28Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

Jhn 12:29

Jhn 12:29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

Jhn 12:30

Jhn 12:30Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.

Jhn 12:31

Jhn 12:31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.

Jhn 12:32

Jhn 12:32And I, when I am lifted up[fn] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Jhn 12:33

Jhn 12:33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

Jhn 12:34

Jhn 12:34The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

Jhn 12:35

Jhn 12:35Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.

Jhn 12:36

Jhn 12:36Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

Jhn 12:37

Jhn 12:37Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

Jhn 12:38

Jhn 12:38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[fn]

Jhn 12:39

Jhn 12:39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

Jhn 12:40

Jhn 12:40“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.”[fn]

Jhn 12:41

Jhn 12:41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

Jhn 12:42

Jhn 12:42Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;

Jhn 12:43

Jhn 12:43for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

Jhn 12:44

Jhn 12:44Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.

Jhn 12:45

Jhn 12:45The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.

Jhn 12:46

Jhn 12:46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

Jhn 12:47

Jhn 12:47“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

Jhn 12:48

Jhn 12:48There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.

Jhn 12:49

Jhn 12:49For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.

Jhn 12:50

Jhn 12:50I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

See the NIV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NIV Footnotes

(12:3)

Or about 0.5 liter

(12:5)

Greek three hundred denarii

(12:8)

See Deut. 15:11.

(12:13)

A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise

The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the NIV Preface.