The Good News by John 12

<< John 11

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Perfume on the Feet of Isa

1 Six days before the Passover Festival, Isa came to Bethany, where Lazarus was living* — the one whom he had raised from death — 2 and they made supper for him there. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was one of those sitting with him at the dinner table. 3 Then Maryam got a bottle of expensive perfume made from pure nard and anointed the feet of Isa; then she wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed him, said, 5 “What?! This perfume could have been sold for an amount equal to a year's wages* and the proceeds given to the poor!” 6 He said this, not because he was concerned for the poor, but because he was a thief. The money box was kept with him, and he would steal from what was put in it. 7 Isa said, “Leave her [alone], for she has kept this perfume for this day, the day of my preparation for burial. 8 The poor are always with you, but I won't always remain [here] with you.”

A Plot to Kill Lazarus

9 A large crowd of people learned that Isa was there, and they came, not only because of Isa, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from death. 10 So the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 because on account of him many people were leaving them and believing in Isa.

Jerusalem Welcomes Isa

12 The next day, the huge crowd that had come for the festival heard that Isa was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 So they carried palm branches and went out to welcome him, cheering: “Glory!” “Blessed is the one coming in the name of Allah.” “Blessed is the King of the Children of Israel.” 14 Isa found a donkey colt and got on it, as it is written in the Scriptures, 15 “Don't be afraid, people of Jerusalem! This is your king coming, riding on a donkey colt, the foal of a pack animal.”*

16 At first, his disciples didn't understand all of this, but after Isa was glorified,* they realized that the Scriptures had said these things about him and that they had been fulfilled in him. 17 Now the people who had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from death had been spreading the news about what had happened. 18 That's why many people went out to welcome him: because they had heard that he had done this miraculous sign. 19 The Pharisees said to one another, “You see? We have completely failed. The whole world is following him!”

Isa Prophesies About His Death and Resurrection

20 Among the people who came to Jerusalem to worship at the festival were some foreigners. 21 They went to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we want to see Isa.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew, and then Andrew and Philip went and told Isa.

23 Isa answered them, “The hour has come when the One Who Became Man will be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, if a grain of wheat doesn't fall into the ground and die, it remains a single grain, but if it dies, it produces many grains. 25 Anyone whose life in this world is precious to him will lose it, but anyone who doesn't love it will gain it, and he will have eternal life.* 26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because [any] servant of mine should be wherever I am. And my father will honor everyone who serves me.

27 “My heart is now troubled. Shall I say, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, I came for this [very] reason. 28 Father, glorify your name.” A voice came from heaven, saying, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there heard the voice, and [some] said, “There was thunder.” Others said, “An angel spoke to him.” 30 Isa said, “This voice came, not for my sake, but for your own sake. 31 Now has come the time of judgment upon this world. Now the leader of this world* will be expelled. 32 And when I've been lifted up from the ground, I will draw all people to myself.”* 33 With these words, he indicated the way he was going to die.

34 The crowd responded to him, “We heard from the Scriptures that the Messiah will remain forever,* so how can you say, ‘It's necessary for the One Who Became Man to be lifted up’? Who is this ‘One Who Became Man’?” 35 Isa said to them, “The light is with you for a short time. So then, keep going as long as the light shines on you, so that darkness does not come over you. For the one who walks in darkness doesn't know where he's going. 36 As long as the light is with you, believe in the light so you may become people of the light.” [After] Isa said this, he left and was hidden from them.

They Did Not Believe in Him

37 Even though he had done many miraculous signs in front of them, they still didn't believe in him. 38 And this fulfilled the word which Isaiah the prophet had said: “Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom was the power of Allah's arm apparent?”* 39 They were unable to believe, just as Isaiah also said: 40 “He blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts; otherwise, they could see with their eyes and understand with their hearts and return to me so that I would heal them.”* 41 Isaiah said this because he saw the glory of Isa and spoke about it.

42 Even so, a large number of the leaders believed in him, but they did not declare their faith, for fear of the Pharisees; otherwise, they would have expelled them from the houses of worship. 43 For they loved to receive praise from people more than the praise that comes from Allah.

44 Isa said in a loud voice, “Anyone who believes in me believes in the one who sent me, not just in me alone. 45 And anyone who has seen me has seen the one who sent me. 46 I am the light that has come into the world; everyone who has put his faith in me will not remain in darkness.

47 “[If] anyone hears my words and doesn't comply with them, I don't judge him, because I haven't come to judge people, but to save people. 48 Anyone who rejects me and doesn't accept my message will have one to judge him: my word, which I am proclaiming, will judge him on the Last Day. 49 For I have not spoken it on my own; rather the Father, who sent me, has himself commanded me what I should say and speak. 50 And I know that what he has commanded guides [people] to eternal life. The words that I speak are what the Father has said to me.”

<< John 11

Definitions

 *12:5 an amount equal to a year's wages: three hundred dinars (Latin denarii).

 *12:15 This is a quotation from the Book of the Prophet Zakariya 9:9.

 *12:16 was glorified: This is a reference to the resurrection of Isa and his ascension to heaven.

 *12:25 See the Injil, Luke 9:24: “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, whereas anyone who loses his life in my cause will save it.”

 *12:31 the leader of this world: Satan, who rules by accusing, tempting, and deceiving. After Isa conquered sin and death and brought Allah's forgiveness to his followers, Satan lost his power over them. See Colossians 2:13-15.

 *12:32 See the Book of Revelation 5:9, which describes how those in heaven praise Isa the Messiah, saying “You were sacrificed, and with your blood which you shed you purchased for Allah persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

 *12:38 This is a quotation from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 53:1.

 *12:40 This is a quotation from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 6:10. People rejected the light of Christ.