The Anointing at Bethany
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived — the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 2There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took a pound of pure nard, a costly perfume, anointed the feet of Jesus, and dried his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples — the one who was going to betray him — said, 5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief: he kept the money box, and he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7Jesus said, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial. 8The poor you always have with you; me you do not always have.” 9A great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, and they came — not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus as well, 11since because of him many of the Jews were going over and believing in Jesus.
The Entry into Jerusalem
12The next day, the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord — the King of Israel!” 14Jesus found a young donkey and mounted it, as it is written: 15“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion: look, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16At first his disciples did not understand this; but when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things had been written about him, and that these things had been done to him. 17The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead kept telling what they had seen. 18That was also why the crowd went out to meet him: they had heard that he had performed this sign. 19So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You are getting nowhere. Look — the whole world has gone after him.”
The Grain of Wheat
20Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request: “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26If anyone would serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be too. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. 27Now my soul is in turmoil. And what shall I say — ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No: it was for this very hour that I came. 28Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29The crowd standing there heard it. Some said it had thundered; others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30Jesus answered, “That voice came not for my sake, but for yours. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to myself.” 33He said this to show what kind of death he was going to die. 34The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35Jesus said to them, “The light is among you a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” Jesus said this, and then he went away and hid from them.
Unbelief and Judgment
37Though he had performed so many signs before their eyes, they did not believe in him, 38so that the word of the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed our message? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39This is why they could not believe, for Isaiah also said: 40“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not see with their eyes or understand with their heart, and turn — and I would heal them.” 41Isaiah said this because he saw his glory, and he spoke about him. 42Even so, many believed in him, even among the authorities. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess it, for fear of being expelled from the synagogue; 43for they loved the glory that comes from people more than the glory of God. 44But Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me believes not in me, but in the one who sent me; 45and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. 46I have come into the world as light, so that no one who believes in me should remain in darkness. 47If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48Whoever rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge already: the word I have spoken — that will judge him on the last day. 49For I have not spoken on my own. The Father who sent me has himself commanded me what to say and how to speak. 50And I know that his command is eternal life. So whatever I say, I say it just as the Father has told me.”
