1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6 Judas 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 take from what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial. 8 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.” 9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was there. And they came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus. 12 The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” 14 Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.” 16 At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him. 17 Meanwhile, many people continued to testify that they had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead. 18 That is also why the crowd went out to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. 19 Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You can see that this is doing you no good. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!” 20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22 Philip relayed this appeal to Andrew, and both of them went and told Jesus. 23 But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. 27 Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him. 30 In response, Jesus said, “This voice was not for My benefit, but yours. 31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.” 33 He said this to indicate the kind of death He was going to die. 34 The crowd replied, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever. So how can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them. 37 Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. 38 This 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?” 39 For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him. 42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue. 43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me. 45 And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness. 47 As for anyone who hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.”
John 12 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Lazarus
A man of Bethany, brother of Mary and Martha, whom Jesus loved and raised from the dead and who was later at table with Him.
Cited in the guide: John 11:1; John 11:5; John 12:1
Places
Bethany
Bethany was Jesus' lodging near Jerusalem during Passion week and the home of Lazarus. Luke sets the Ascension close by.
Cited in the guide: John 11:1; John 12:1; Luke 24:50
Cross references (50)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Mark 14:3–8; Luke 24:50; John 11:1; Matthew 21:17; John 11:55
- 2 Luke 22:27; Revelation 3:20; Luke 10:38–42; John 12:9–10; Mark 14:3
- 3 Mark 14:3–9; John 11:2; Luke 10:38–39; Luke 7:37–38; Matthew 26:6–13
- 4 Matthew 10:4; 1 Samuel 17:28–29; John 18:2–5; John 13:2; Luke 6:16
- 5 Luke 12:33; Luke 18:22; Mark 14:4–5; Matthew 26:8–9; Luke 6:41
- 6 John 13:29; Psalm 50:16–20; James 2:6; James 2:2; 2 Kings 5:20–27
- 7 Matthew 26:12; Mark 14:6; Matthew 27:57–60; Matthew 26:10; Mark 15:42–47
- 8 Deuteronomy 15:11; Mark 14:7; Matthew 26:11; John 12:35; John 13:33
- 9 Acts 4:14; John 11:43–45; Acts 3:10–11
- 10 Luke 16:31; Genesis 4:4–10; Matthew 2:16; John 11:47–53; Job 40:8–9
- 11 John 11:45; Acts 13:45; James 3:14–16; John 12:18; John 15:18–25
- 12 Mark 11:7–10; Luke 19:35–38; Matthew 21:4–9; John 11:55–56
- 13 Psalm 118:25–26; Revelation 15:3; Luke 19:35–38; Matthew 21:9–11; Revelation 7:9
- 14 Zechariah 9:9; Mark 11:1–7; Matthew 21:1–7; Luke 19:29–35
- 15 Zechariah 9:9; Isaiah 62:11; Zephaniah 3:16–17; Isaiah 35:4–5; 2 Samuel 16:2
- 16 John 2:22; John 14:26; John 7:39; John 12:23; Acts 2:36
- 17 1 John 5:9–12; Revelation 1:2; Acts 1:22; John 12:9; Acts 5:32
- 18 John 12:11
- 19 Acts 17:6; Psalm 22:27; Acts 4:16–17; 1 John 2:2; John 3:26
- 20 John 7:35; Isaiah 11:10; Acts 17:4; 1 Kings 8:41–43; Mark 7:26
- 21 Matthew 2:2; Luke 19:2–4; John 14:8–9; John 6:40; Matthew 11:21
- 22 Luke 9:49–50; John 1:40–41; Mark 10:13–14; John 6:8; Matthew 10:5
- 23 John 13:31–32; John 17:1–5; Mark 14:41; 1 Peter 2:9–10; Isaiah 49:5–6
- 24 1 Corinthians 15:36–38; Hebrews 2:9–10; Isaiah 53:10–12; John 12:32–33; Psalm 72:16
- 25 Matthew 10:39; Luke 9:23–24; Mark 8:35; Luke 17:33; Matthew 16:25
- 26 Colossians 3:24; Galatians 1:10; 1 Samuel 2:30; John 10:27; John 17:24
- 27 John 12:23; Isaiah 38:15; Hebrews 5:7; Mark 14:33–36; Matthew 26:42
- 28 John 13:31–32; Matthew 26:42; Revelation 5:9–14; John 11:40–44; Isaiah 49:3–7
- 29 Job 37:2–5; Revelation 6:1; Revelation 14:2; Exodus 19:16; Ezekiel 10:5
- 30 John 11:42; 2 Corinthians 8:9; John 11:15; John 5:34
- 31 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 3:8; 1 John 5:19; John 14:30; Ephesians 6:12
- 32 John 3:14; John 8:28; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2; John 1:7
- 33 John 18:32; John 21:19
- 34 Ezekiel 37:24–25; Isaiah 9:7; Daniel 7:14; Psalm 110:4; Daniel 2:44
- 35 John 12:46; John 16:16; Ephesians 5:8; 1 John 1:6–7; John 8:12
- 36 Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; John 8:59; Luke 16:8; John 1:7
- 37 Luke 16:31; John 1:11; John 15:24; Matthew 11:20; John 11:42
- 38 Isaiah 53:1; Romans 10:16; Romans 10:20; 1 Corinthians 1:24; 2 Corinthians 4:3–6
- 39 John 5:44; Isaiah 6:9–10; 2 Peter 2:14; John 10:38; John 6:44
- 40 Isaiah 6:10; Matthew 13:13–15; Luke 8:10; Mark 4:12; Isaiah 57:18–19
- 41 Isaiah 6:1–5; John 1:14; Isaiah 6:9–10; John 1:18; John 5:39
- 42 John 7:13; Isaiah 51:7; John 9:22; Proverbs 29:25; Matthew 10:32
- 43 John 5:44; Matthew 23:5–7; John 5:41; Luke 16:15; 2 Corinthians 10:18
- 44 Matthew 10:40; John 5:24; John 13:20; Mark 9:37; John 7:28
- 45 John 14:9–10; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3; John 12:41
- 46 John 8:12; Psalm 36:9; John 9:5; Isaiah 42:7; John 12:35–36
- 47 John 3:17; John 12:48; John 8:15–16; 1 Timothy 1:15–16; 1 John 4:14
- 48 Luke 10:16; Hebrews 9:27–28; Romans 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; John 3:17–20
- 49 John 14:10; John 8:26; John 5:30; John 17:8; Deuteronomy 18:18
- 50 John 17:3; John 6:68; 1 John 5:20; John 6:63; 1 Timothy 1:16
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
What is it, Brethren, which we have heard the Lord saying, "He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me"?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
After our Lord's raising of one to life, who had been four days dead, to the utter amazement of the Jews, some of whom believed on seeing it, and others perished in their envy, because of that sweet savor which is unto life to some, and to others unto death; after He had sat down to meat with Lazarus--the one …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
As wealth is wont to hurl into destruction those who are not heedful, so also is power; the first leads into covetousness, the second into pride.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
… again, was indicated when He said, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death;" her fear by the words, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me;" and her perplexity, too, when He said, "And what I shall say, I know not."
For there is yet a little light in men; let them walk--let them "walk," that the "darkness" seize them not.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)