John 12:12-50

New International Version

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King^(A)

¹² The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. ¹³ They took palm branches^(B) and went out to meet him, shouting,

¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

¹⁶ At first his disciples did not understand all this.^(F) Only after Jesus was glorified^(G) did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

¹⁷ Now the crowd that was with him^(H) when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. ¹⁸ Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign,^(I) went out to meet him. ¹⁹ So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”^(J)

Jesus Predicts His Death

²⁰ Now there were some Greeks^(K) among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹ They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida^(L) in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

²³ Jesus replied, “The hour^(M) has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.^{(N) 24} Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,^(O) it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it^(P) for eternal life.^{(Q) 26} Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.^(R) My Father will honor the one who serves me.

²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled,^(S) and what shall I say? ‘Father,^(T) save me from this hour’?^(U) No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven,^(V) “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

³⁰ Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit,^(W) not mine. ³¹ Now is the time for judgment on this world;^(X) now the prince of this world^(Y) will be driven out. ³² And I, when I am lifted up^[d] from the earth,^(Z) will draw all people to myself.”^{(AA) 33} He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.^(AB)

³⁴ The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law^(AC) that the Messiah will remain forever,^(AD) so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man^(AE) must be lifted up’?^(AF) Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

³⁵ Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light^(AG) just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,^(AH) before darkness overtakes you.^(AI) Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. ³⁶ Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”^(AJ) When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.^(AK)

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

³⁷ Even after Jesus had performed so many signs^(AL) in their presence, they still would not believe in him. ³⁸ This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

³⁹ For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

⁴¹ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory^(AO) and spoke about him.^(AP)

⁴² Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.^(AQ) But because of the Pharisees^(AR) they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;^{(AS) 43} for they loved human praise^(AT) more than praise from God.^(AU)

⁴⁴ Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.^{(AV) 45} The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.^{(AW) 46} I have come into the world as a light,^(AX) so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

⁴⁷ “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.^{(AY) 48} There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them^(AZ) at the last day. ⁴⁹ For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me^(BA) to say all that I have spoken. ⁵⁰ I know that his command leads to eternal life.^(BB) So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”^(BC)