1 T hen Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

It was six days before the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus lived. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead.

2 T here they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

They made supper for Him. Martha put the food on the table. Lazarus was at the table with Him.

3 T hen took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Mary took a jar of special perfume that cost much money and poured it on the feet of Jesus. She dried His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the smell of the special perfume.

4 T hen saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,

Judas Iscariot was one of the followers. He was about to hand Jesus over to the leaders of the country. He said,

5 W hy was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

“Why was not this special perfume sold for much money and given to poor people?”

6 T his he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

He did not say this because he cared for poor people. He said this because he was a robber. He carried the bag of money and would steal some of it for himself.

7 T hen said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

Jesus said, “Let her alone. She has kept it for the time when I will be buried.

8 F or the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

You will always have poor people with you. You will not always have Me.” The Jews Talk about Having Lazarus Killed

9 M uch people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

Many Jews came to the place because they knew Jesus was there. They came not only to see Jesus, but to see Lazarus also. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead.

10 B ut the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

The religious leaders of the Jews talked together about having Lazarus killed also.

11 b ecause that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

Because of Lazarus, many Jews were leaving their own religion. They were putting their trust in Jesus. The Last Time Jesus Goes to Jerusalem

12 O n the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

The next day many people were in Jerusalem for the religious gathering. They heard Jesus was coming.

13 t ook branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

They took branches of trees and went to meet Him. They spoke with a loud voice, “Greatest One! Great and honored is He Who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of the Jews!”

14 A nd Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it. The Holy Writings say,

15 F ear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

“Do not be afraid, people of Jerusalem. See! Your King comes sitting on a young donkey!”

16 T hese things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

His followers did not understand what this meant at first. When Jesus had gone back to heaven to receive great honor, they remembered these things were written about Him. They remembered they had done this to Him.

17 T he people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

The people who had been with Jesus when He had called Lazarus from the grave kept telling of this powerful work to others. They had seen Lazarus raised from the dead.

18 F or this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

Because of this the people went to meet Jesus. They had heard He had done this powerful work.

19 T he Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

The proud religious law-keepers said among themselves, “Look, we are losing followers. Everyone is following Jesus!” The Greek People Want to See Jesus

20 A nd there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:

Some Greek people had come to worship at the religious gathering. They were among the others who had come to worship.

21 t he same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

These Greek people came to Philip. He was from the city of Bethsaida in the country of Galilee. They said to him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus!”

22 P hilip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

Philip went and told Andrew. Then Andrew and Philip told Jesus. The Law of Life

23 A nd Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

Jesus said to them, “The hour is near for the Son of Man to be taken to heaven to receive great honor.

24 V erily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

For sure, I tell you, unless a seed falls into the ground and dies, it will only be a seed. If it dies, it will give much grain.

25 H e that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Anyone who loves his life will lose it. Anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it forever.

26 I f any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

If anyone wants to serve Me, he must follow Me. So where I am, the one who wants to serve Me will be there also. If anyone serves Me, My Father will honor him.

27 N ow is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

“Now My soul is troubled. Should I say, ‘Father, save Me from this time of trouble and pain’? No, this is why I came to this time.

28 F ather, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

Father, honor Your name!” The People Hear the Voice of God Then a voice from heaven came, saying, “I have already honored My name. I will honor it again!”

29 T he people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

The people heard the voice. Some who stood there said, “It was thunder.” Others said, “An angel spoke to Him.”

30 J esus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

Jesus said, “The voice did not come for Me, but it came to be a help to you. Jesus Tells How He Will Die

31 N ow is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

“Now this world is being told it is guilty. Now the leader of this world will be thrown out.

32 A nd I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will attract all people toward Me.”

33 T his he said, signifying what death he should die.

He said this to tell the kind of death He was going to die.

34 T he people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

The people said to Him, “The Law of Moses says that the Christ is to live forever. Why do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

35 T hen Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

Jesus said to them, “The Light will be with you for a little while yet. Go on your way while you have the Light so you will not be in the dark. When a man is walking in the dark, he does not know where he is going.

36 W hile ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

While you have the Light, put your trust in the Light. Then you will be the sons of the Light.” Jesus said these things and then went away. He hid Himself from them. The People Do Not Believe

37 B ut though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

Jesus had done many powerful works in front of them, but they did not put their trust in Him.

38 t hat the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

This happened as the words of the early preacher Isaiah said it would happen. He had said, “Lord, has anyone believed our preaching? Has the Lord shown His power to anyone?”

39 T herefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

The reason they could not believe is written again in Isaiah.

40 H e hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

It says, “He has blinded their eyes and made their hearts hard. Then they would not see with their eyes. They would not understand with their heart. They would not turn to Me. I could not heal them.”

41 T hese things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

This is what Isaiah said when he saw the shining-greatness of Jesus and spoke of Him.

42 N evertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

Even among the leaders of the people there were many who believed in Jesus. But because of the proud religious law-keepers, they did not tell about it. If they had, they would have been put out of the Jewish place of worship.

43 f or they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

They loved to have the respect from men more than honor from God. Jesus and His Father Are One

44 J esus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

Then Jesus spoke with a loud voice, “Anyone who puts his trust in Me, puts his trust not only in Me, but in Him Who sent Me.

45 A nd he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

Anyone who sees Me, sees Him Who sent Me.

46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

I came to the world to be a Light. Anyone who puts his trust in Me will not be in darkness.

47 A nd if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

If anyone hears My Words but does not believe them, I do not say he is guilty. I did not come to say the world is guilty. I came to save the world from the punishment of sin.

48 H e that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Anyone who does not receive Me and does not receive My teaching has One Who will say he is guilty. The Word that I have spoken will say he is guilty on the last day.

49 F or I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

I have not spoken by My own power. The Father Who sent Me has told Me what to say and speak.

50 A nd I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

I know that His Word is life that lasts forever. I speak the things the Father has told Me to speak.”