John 12:1-26

The Anointing at Bethany

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus^[a] was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.

2 So they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.

3 Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil-pure and expensive nard-anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray Him), said,

5 "Why wasn't this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii^[b] and given to the poor?"

6 He didn't say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

7 Jesus answered, "Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of My burial.

8 For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me."

The Decision to Kill Lazarus

9 Then a large crowd of the Jews learned He was there. They came not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus the one He had raised from the dead.

10 Therefore the chief priests decided to also kill Lazarus,

11 because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them^[c] and believing in Jesus.

The Triumphal Entry

12 The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 they took palm branches and went out to meet Him. They kept shouting: " Hosanna ! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord ^[d]-the King of Israel!"

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

15 Fear no more, Daughter Zion; look! your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt. ^[e]

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

17 Meanwhile the crowd, which had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify.^[f]

18 This is also why the crowd met Him, because they heard He had done this sign.

19 Then the Pharisees said to one another, "You see? You've accomplished nothing. Look-the world has gone after Him!"

Jesus Predicts His Crucifixion

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

21 So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, "Sir, we want to see Jesus."

22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied to them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

24 "I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop. ^[g]

25 The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Other mss read Lazarus who died
• [b]. This amount was about a year's wages for a common worker.
• [c]. Lit going away
• [d]. Ps 118:25-26
• [e]. Zch 9:9
• [f]. Other mss read Meanwhile the crowd, which had been with Him, continued to testify that He had called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead.
• [g]. Lit produces much fruit