John 12-15

Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Anointing at Bethany

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany^(A) where Lazarus^[a] was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.^{(B) 2} So^(C) they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha^(D) was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. ³ Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair.^(E) So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

⁴ Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot^(F) (who was about to betray Him), said, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii^[b](G) and given to the poor?” ⁶ He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.^(H) He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

⁷ Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of My burial.^{(I) 8} For you always have the poor with you,^(J) but you do not always have Me.”

The Decision to Kill Lazarus

⁹ Then a large crowd of the Jews learned He was there. They came not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus the one He had raised from the dead.^{(K) 10} Therefore the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also ¹¹ because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them^[c] and believing in Jesus.

The Triumphal Entry

¹² The^(L) next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ they took palm branches^(M) and went out to meet Him. They kept shouting: “Hosanna!^(N) He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One^(O)[d]—the King of Israel!”^(P)

¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey^(Q) and sat on it, just as it is written: ¹⁵ Fear no more,^(R) Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.^(S)[e]

¹⁶ His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him^(T) and that they had done these things to Him. ¹⁷ Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb^(U) and raised him from the dead, continued to testify.^{[f] 18} This is also why the crowd met Him, because they heard He had done this sign.

¹⁹ Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You’ve accomplished nothing. Look—the world has gone after Him!”^(V)

Jesus Predicts His Crucifixion

²⁰ Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹ So they came to Philip,^(W) who was from Bethsaida^(X) in Galilee,^(Y) and requested of him, “Sir,^(Z) we want to see Jesus.”

²² Philip went and told Andrew;^(AA) then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. ²³ Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man^(AB) to be glorified.

²⁴ “I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat^(AC) falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop.^{[g](AD) 25} The one who loves his life will lose it,^(AE) and the one who hates^(AF) his life^(AG) in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant^(AH) also will be.^(AI) If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor^(AJ) him.

²⁷ “Now My soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save Me^(AK) from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify Your name!”^[h](AL)

Then a voice^(AM) came from heaven:^(AN) “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again!”^(AO)

²⁹ The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.

³⁰ Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for Me, but for you.^{(AP) 31} Now is the judgment of this world.^(AQ) Now the ruler of this world^(AR) will be cast out.^{(AS) 32} As for Me, if I am lifted up^[i] from the earth I will draw all people to Myself.”^{(AT) 33} He said this to signify what kind of death He was about to die.^(AU)

³⁴ Then the crowd replied to Him, “We have heard from the scripture that the Messiah will remain forever.^(AV) So how can You say, ‘The Son of Man^(AW) must be lifted up’?^[j] Who is this Son of Man?”

³⁵ Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer.^(AX) Walk while you have the light^(AY) so that darkness doesn’t overtake you.^(AZ) The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going.^{(BA) 36} While you have the light,^(BB) believe in the light so that you may become sons of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.^(BC)

Isaiah’s Prophecies Fulfilled

³⁷ Even though He had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in Him. ³⁸ But this was to fulfill^(BD) the word of Isaiah^(BE) the prophet, who said:^[k]

³⁹ This is why they were unable to believe, because Isaiah also said:

⁴¹ Isaiah said these things because^[n] he saw His glory^(BL) and spoke about Him.

⁴² Nevertheless, many did believe in Him even among the rulers,^(BM) but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, so they would not be banned from the synagogue. ⁴³ For they loved praise from men^(BN) more than praise from God.^[o](BO)

A Summary of Jesus’ Mission

⁴⁴ Then Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in Me^(BP) believes not in Me, but in Him who sent Me. ⁴⁵ And the one who sees Me sees Him^(BQ) who sent Me. ⁴⁶ I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness. ⁴⁷ If anyone hears My words and doesn’t keep^(BR) them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world^(BS) but to save the world.^{(BT) 48} The one who rejects Me^(BU) and doesn’t accept My sayings has this as his judge:^[p] The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day.^{(BV) 49} For I have not spoken on My own, but the Father^(BW) Himself who sent Me has given Me a command as to what I should say and what I should speak. ⁵⁰ I know that His command is eternal life.^(BX) So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”^(BY)

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father.^(BZ) Having loved His own who were in the world,^(CA) He loved them to the end.^[q]

² Now by the time of supper, the Devil^(CB) had already put it into the heart of Judas,^(CC) Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray^(CD) Him. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands,^(CE) that He had come from God,^(CF) and that He was going back to God.^{(CG) 4} So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe,^(CH) took a towel, and tied it around Himself.^{(CI) 5} Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.

⁶ He came to Simon Peter,^(CJ) who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t understand now, but afterward you will know.”^(CK)

⁸ “You will never wash my feet—ever!” Peter said.

Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with Me.”

⁹ Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”

¹⁰ “One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” ¹¹ For He knew who would betray Him. This is why He said, “You are not all clean.”

The Meaning of Footwashing

¹² When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined^[r] again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? ¹³ You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. ¹⁴ So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.^{(CL) 15} For I have given you an example^(CM) that you also should do just as I have done for you.

¹⁶ “I assure you: A slave is not greater than his master,^[s](CN) and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.^{(CO) 18} I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen.^(CP) But the Scripture^(CQ) must be fulfilled:^(CR) The one who eats My bread^[t] has raised his heel against Me.^(CS)[u]

¹⁹ “I am telling you now before it happens,^(CT) so that when it does happen you will believe^(CU) that I am He.^{(CV) 20} I assure you: Whoever receives anyone I send receives Me, and the one who receives^(CW) Me receives Him who sent Me.”

Judas’s Betrayal Predicted

²¹ When^(CX) Jesus had said this, He was troubled in His spirit^(CY) and testified,^(CZ) “I assure you: One of you will betray Me!”

²² The disciples started looking at one another—uncertain which one He was speaking about. ²³ One of His disciples, the one Jesus loved,^(DA) was reclining close beside Jesus.^{[v] 24} Simon Peter motioned to him to find out who it was He was talking about. ²⁵ So he leaned back against Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, who is it?”

²⁶ Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.”^(DB) When He had dipped the bread,^(DC) He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son.^{[w] 27} After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan^(DD) entered him. Therefore Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.”

²⁸ None of those reclining at the table knew why He told him this. ²⁹ Since Judas^(DE) kept the money-bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,”^(DF) or that he should give something to the poor. ³⁰ After receiving the piece of bread, he went out immediately. And it was night.^(DG)

The New Command

³¹ When^(DH) he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man^(DI) is glorified, and God is glorified^(DJ) in Him.^{(DK) 32} If God is glorified in Him,^[x] God will also glorify Him in Himself and will glorify Him at once.

³³ “Children, I am with you a little while longer.^(DL) You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’^(DM) so now I tell you.

³⁴ “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love^(DN) for one another.”

Peter’s Denials Predicted

³⁶ “Lord,” Simon Peter said to Him, “where are You going?”

Jesus answered, “Where I am going^(DO) you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”

³⁷ “Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life^(DP) for You!”^(DQ)

³⁸ Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

The Way to the Father

14 “Your heart must not be troubled.^(DR) Believe^[y] in God;^(DS) believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many dwelling places;^[z] if not, I would have told you. I am going away^(DT) to prepare a place for you. ³ If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back^(DU) and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.^{(DV) 4} You know the way to where I am going.”^[aa](DW)

⁵ “Lord,” Thomas^(DX) said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus told him, “I am^(DY) the way,^(DZ) the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus Reveals the Father

⁷ “If you know Me, you will also know^[ab] My Father.^(EA) From now on you do know Him^(EB) and have seen Him.”

⁸ “Lord,” said Philip,^(EC) “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father.^(ED) How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?^(EE) The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own.^(EF) The Father who lives in Me does His works.^{(EG) 11} Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe^[ac] because of the works themselves.^(EH)

Praying in Jesus’ Name

¹² “I assure you: The one who believes in Me^(EI) will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these,^(EJ) because I am going to the Father.^{(EK) 13} Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified^(EL) in the Son.^{(EM) 14} If you ask Me^[ad] anything in My name,^(EN) I will do it.^[ae](EO)

Another Counselor Promised

¹⁵ “If you love Me, you will keep^[af] My commands.^{(EP) 16} And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor^(EQ) to be with you forever. ¹⁷ He is the Spirit^(ER) of truth.^(ES) The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be^[ag] in you.^{(ET) 18} I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

¹⁹ “In a little while the world will see Me no longer,^(EU) but you will see Me.^(EV) Because I live, you will live^(EW) too. ²⁰ In that day you will know that I am in My Father,^(EX) you are in Me, and I am in you. ²¹ The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.^(EY) And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father.^(EZ) I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”

²² Judas^(FA) (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it You’re going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”^(FB)

²³ Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.^{(FC) 24} The one who doesn’t love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me.^(FD)

²⁵ “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. ²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit^(FE)—the Father will send^(FF) Him in My name—will teach you all things^(FG) and remind you of everything I have told you.^(FH)

Jesus’ Gift of Peace

²⁷ “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.^{(FI) 28} You have heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away^(FJ) and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father,^(FK) because the Father is greater than I.^{(FL) 29} I have told you now before it happens^(FM) so that when it does happen you may believe. ³⁰ I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world^(FN) is coming. He has no power over Me.^{[ah](FO) 31} On the contrary, I am going away^[ai] so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do.

“Get up; let’s leave this place.

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am^(FP) the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. ² Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes,^(FQ) and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. ³ You are already clean^(FR) because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.^(FS)

⁵ “I am the vine;^(FT) you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit,^(FU) because you can do nothing without Me. ⁶ If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside^(FV) like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire,^(FW) and they are burned.^{(FX) 7} If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.^{(FY) 8} My Father is glorified^(FZ) by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be^[aj] My disciples.

Christlike Love

⁹ “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love.^{(GA) 10} If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.^(GB)

¹¹ “I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.^{(GC) 12} This is My command: Love one another as I have loved^(GD) you. ¹³ No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life^(GE) for his friends. ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master^[ak](GF) is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father. ¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you.^(GG) I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask^(GH) the Father in My name,^(GI) He will give you.^{(GJ) 17} This is what I command you: Love one another.

Persecutions Predicted

¹⁸ “If the world hates^(GK) you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen^(GL) you out of it, the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’^(GM) If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word,^(GN) they will also keep yours. ²¹ But they will do all these things to you on account of My name,^(GO) because they don’t know^(GP) the One who sent Me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin.^[al](GQ) Now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ The one who hates Me also hates My Father.^{(GR) 24} If I had not done the works^(GS) among them that no one else has done,^(GT) they would not have sin.^(GU) Now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. ²⁵ But this happened so that the statement written in their scripture might be fulfilled:^(GV) They hated Me for no reason.^(GW)[am]

Coming Testimony and Rejection

²⁶ “When the Counselor^(GX) comes, the One I will send to you from the Father^(GY)—the Spirit of truth^(GZ) who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me. ²⁷ You also will testify,^(HA) because you have been with Me from the beginning.