12 1Six days before the Passovera festival, Jesus went to Bethany. That is where Lazarus lived, the man Jesus raised from death. 2There they had a dinner for Jesus. Martha served the food, and Lazarus was one of the people eating with Jesus. 3Mary brought in a pintb of expensive perfume made of pure nardc. She poured the perfume on Jesus' feet. Then she wiped his feet with her hair. And the sweet smell from the perfume filled the whole house.4Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' followers, was there - the one who would later hand Jesus over to his enemies. Judas said, 5"That perfume was worth a full year's payd. It should have been sold, and the money should have been given to the poor people." 6But Judas did not really care about the poor. He said this because he was a thief. He was the one who kept the moneybag for the group of followers. And he often stole money from the bag. 7Jesus answered, "Don't stop her. It was right for her to save this perfume for today - the day for me to be prepared for burial. 8You will always have those who are poor with you.e But you will not always have me."
17There were many people with Jesus when he raised Lazarus from death and told him to come out of the tombl. Now they were telling others about what Jesus did. 18That's why so many people went out to meet him - because they had heard about this miraculous signm he did. 19So the Phariseesn said to each other, "Look! Our plan is not working. The people are all following him!" 23Jesus said to them, "The time has come for the Son of Manp to receive his gloryk. 24It is a fact that a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die before it can grow and produce much more wheat. If it never dies, it will never be more than a single seed. 25Whoever loves the life they have now will lose it. But whoever is willing to give up their life in this world will keep it. They will have eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me. My servants must be with me everywhere I am. My Father will give honor to anyone who serves me. Then a voice came from heaven, "I have already brought glory to myself. I will do it again." 29The people standing there heard the voice. They said it was thunder. But others said, "An angel spoke to him!" 30Jesus said, "That voice was for you and not for me. 31Now is the time for the world to be judged. Now the ruler of this worldq will be thrown out. 32I will be lifted upr from the earth. When that happens, I will draw all people to myself." 33Jesus said this to show how he would die. 34The people said, "But our law says that the Messiahs will live forever. So why do you say, 'The Son of Manp must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?" 35Then Jesus said, "The lightt will be with you for only a short time more. So walk while you have the light. Then the darknessu will not catch you. People who walk in the darkness don't know where they are going. 36So put your trust in the light while you still have it. Then you will be children of light." When Jesus finished saying these things, he went away to a place where the people could not find him.
42But many people believed in Jesus. Even many of the Jewish leaders believed in him, but they were afraid of the Phariseesn, so they did not say openly that they believed. They were afraid they would be ordered to stay out of the synagoguez. 43They loved praise from people more than praise from God. 47"I did not come into the world to judge people. I came to save the people in the world. So I am not the one who judges those who hear my teaching and do not obey. 48But there is a judge for all those who refuse to believe in me and do not accept what I say. The message I have spoken will judge them on the last day. 49That is because what I taught was not from myself. The Father who sent me told me what to say and what to teach. 50And I know that whatever he says to do will bring eternal life. So the things I say are exactly what the Father told me to say." aPassover A very important holy day for the people of Israel and their descendants. They ate a special meal on this day every year to remember that God made them free from slavery in Egypt in the time of Moses. The name may come from the word in Ex. 12:13, 23, 27 that means “to pass over” or “to protect.” b12:3 pint Literally, “litra,” a Roman pound, equal to 327 grams (11.5 ounces). cnard Very expensive oil from the root of the nard plant. It was used as a perfume. d12:5 a full year’s pay Literally, “300 denarii (silver coins).” One coin, a Roman denarius, was the average pay for one day’s work. e12:8 You will … with you See Deut. 15:11. f12:13 Praise Literally, “Hosanna,” a Hebrew word used in praying to God for help. Here, it was probably a shout of celebration used in praising God or his Messiah. gPsalm 118:25-26 hScripture Part of the Scriptures or “Holy Writings” - the Old Testament. i12:15 people of Zion Literally, “daughter of Zion,” meaning the city of Jerusalem. See “Zion” in the Word List. jZechariah 9:9 kglory A word that refers to the special qualities of God. Often it means brightness, referring to the way he appears to people. Sometimes it means majesty or power, referring to a kind of greatness that cannot be compared to anything in human experience. It can also include the ideas of wealth, honor, fame, or respect, especially in expressions of praise. ltomb A grave dug in a wall of rock or a building where a dead body is buried. It can also be a small building made to show respect for important people who had died. mmiraculous sign An amazing act that demonstrates the power of God. nPharisee A person who belonged to a Jewish religious group that claimed to follow carefully all Jewish laws and customs. oGreek A non-Jewish person anywhere throughout the first century world who was influenced by Greek language and culture. pSon of Man The name that Jesus most often used for himself. The phrase in Hebrew or Aramaic means “human being” or “mankind,” but in Dan. 7:13-14 it is used of a future savior and king, and this was later understood to be the Messiah, the one God would send to save his people. qruler of this world See “Satan.” r12:32 lifted up Meaning to be nailed to a cross and “lifted up” on it to die. It may also have a second meaning: to be “lifted up” from death to heaven. Also in verse 34. sMessiah A Hebrew word that has the same meaning as the Greek word Christ (see “Christ”). It was a title for the kings of God’s people in the Old Testament and for the special king God promised to send as a “savior” to defeat evil and establish the reign of God. Many prophets made it clear that this new kingdom would be eternal; that is, not only would the promised Messiah bring about a time of justice and right living among God’s people here on earth, but also his kingdom would extend beyond this world to life forever with God. However, most Jews of the first century expected the Messiah to be a political ruler here on earth who would defeat the other nations and return the nation of Israel to a position of great glory and power. But God intended his Messiah to establish a new “Israel,” an eternal kingdom that would bless all the nations. t12:35 light This means Christ, as in Jn. 1:5-9. Also, it is a symbol of goodness and truth, qualities associated with Christ and his kingdom. udarkness A symbol for the kinds of things that describe Satan’s kingdom, such as sin and evil. vprophet A person who speaks a message from God. Many of the books in the Old Testament are messages spoken or written by “the prophets,” who were some of those God chose to speak for him. God often used dreams or visions to tell or show his prophets what they should say. wIsaiah 53:1 xIsaiah 6:10 ydivine greatness Literally, “glory,” a word that refers to the special qualities of God. See “glory.” zsynagogue A place in many cities where Jews gathered for prayer, study of the Scriptures, and other public meetings. |