Worthy.Bible » Parallel » John » Chapter 12 » Verse 1-50

John 12:1-50 King James Version (KJV)

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

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

3 Then 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.

4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

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

6 This 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.

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

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

9 Much 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.

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

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

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

13 Took 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.

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

15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

16 These 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24 Verily, 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.

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

26 If 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

34 The 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?

35 Then 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.

36 While 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.

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

38 That 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?

39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

40 He 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.

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

42 Nevertheless 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:

43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

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

45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

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

47 And 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.

48 He 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.

49 For 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.

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


John 12:1-50 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Then G3767 Jesus G2424 six G1803 days G2250 before G4253 the passover G3957 came G2064 to G1519 Bethany, G963 where G3699 Lazarus G2976 was G2258 which G3588 had been dead, G2348 whom G3739 he raised G1453 from G1537 the dead. G3498

2 There G1563 G3767 they made G4160 him G846 a supper; G1173 and G2532 Martha G3136 served: G1247 but G1161 Lazarus G2976 was G2258 one G1520 of them that sat at the table G4873 with him. G846

3 Then G3767 took G2983 Mary G3137 a pound G3046 of ointment G3464 of spikenard, G3487 G4101 very costly, G4186 and anointed G218 the feet G4228 of Jesus, G2424 and G2532 wiped G1591 his G846 feet G4228 with her G846 hair: G2359 and G1161 the house G3614 was filled G4137 with G1537 the odour G3744 of the ointment. G3464

4 Then G3767 saith G3004 one G1520 of G1537 his G846 disciples, G3101 Judas G2455 Iscariot, G2469 Simon's G4613 son, which G3588 should G3195 betray G3860 him, G846

5 Why G1302 was G4097 not G3756 this G5124 ointment G3464 sold G4097 for three hundred G5145 pence, G1220 and G2532 given G1325 to the poor? G4434

6 G1161 This G5124 he said, G2036 not G3756 that G3754 he G846 cared G3199 for G4012 the poor; G4434 but G235 because G3754 he was G2258 a thief, G2812 and G2532 had G2192 the bag, G1101 and G2532 bare G941 what was put therein. G906

7 Then G3767 said G2036 Jesus, G2424 Let G863 her G846 alone: G863 against G1519 the day G2250 of my G3450 burying G1780 hath she kept G5083 this. G846

8 For G1063 the poor G4434 always G3842 ye have G2192 with G3326 you; G1438 but G1161 me G1691 ye have G2192 not G3756 always. G3842

9 Much G4183 people G3793 of G1537 the Jews G2453 therefore G3767 knew G1097 that G3754 he was G2076 there: G1563 and G2532 they came G2064 not G3756 for G1223 Jesus' G2424 sake only, G3440 but G235 that G2443 they might see G1492 Lazarus G2976 also, G2532 whom G3739 he had raised G1453 from G1537 the dead. G3498

10 But G1161 the chief priests G749 consulted G1011 that G2443 they might put G615 Lazarus G2976 also G2532 to death; G615

11 Because G3754 that by reason G1223 of him G846 many G4183 of the Jews G2453 went away, G5217 and G2532 believed G4100 on G1519 Jesus. G2424

12 On the next day G1887 much G4183 people G3793 that were come G2064 to G1519 the feast, G1859 when they heard G191 that G3754 Jesus G2424 was coming G2064 to G1519 Jerusalem, G2414

13 Took G2983 branches G902 of palm trees, G5404 and G2532 went forth G1831 to G1519 meet G5222 him, G846 and G2532 cried, G2896 Hosanna: G5614 Blessed G2127 is the King G935 of Israel G2474 that cometh G2064 in G1722 the name G3686 of the Lord. G2962

14 And G1161 Jesus, G2424 when he had found G2147 a young ass, G3678 sat G2523 thereon; G1909 G846 as G2531 it is G2076 written, G1125

15 Fear G5399 not, G3361 daughter G2364 of Sion: G4622 behold, G2400 thy G4675 King G935 cometh, G2064 sitting G2521 on G1909 an ass's G3688 colt. G4454

16 G1161 These things G5023 understood G1097 not G3756 his G846 disciples G3101 at the first: G4412 but G235 when G3753 Jesus G2424 was glorified, G1392 then G5119 remembered they G3415 that G3754 these things G5023 were G2258 written G1125 of G1909 him, G846 and G2532 that they had done G4160 these things G5023 unto him. G846

17 The people G3793 therefore G3767 that was G5607 with G3326 him G846 when G3753 he called G5455 Lazarus G2976 out of G1537 his grave, G3419 and G2532 raised G1453 him G846 from G1537 the dead, G3498 bare record. G3140

18 For this G5124 cause G1223 the people G3793 also G2532 met G5221 him, G846 for that G3754 they heard G191 that G846 he had done G4160 this G5124 miracle. G4592

19 The Pharisees G5330 therefore G3767 said G2036 among G4314 themselves, G1438 Perceive ye G2334 how G3754 ye prevail G5623 nothing? G3756 G3762 behold, G2396 the world G2889 is gone G565 after G3694 him. G846

20 And G1161 there were G2258 certain G5100 Greeks G1672 among G1537 them that came up G305 to G2443 worship G4352 at G1722 the feast: G1859

21 The same G3778 came G4334 therefore G3767 to Philip, G5376 which was of G575 Bethsaida G966 of Galilee, G1056 and G2532 desired G2065 him, G846 saying, G3004 Sir, G2962 we would G2309 see G1492 Jesus. G2424

22 Philip G5376 cometh G2064 and G2532 telleth G3004 Andrew: G406 and G2532 again G3825 Andrew G406 and G2532 Philip G5376 tell G3004 Jesus. G2424

23 And G1161 Jesus G2424 answered G611 them, G846 saying, G3004 The hour G5610 is come, G2064 that G2443 the Son G5207 of man G444 should be glorified. G1392

24 Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Except G3362 a corn G2848 of wheat G4621 fall G4098 into G1519 the ground G1093 and die, G599 it G846 abideth G3306 alone: G3441 but G1161 if G1437 it die, G599 it bringeth forth G5342 much G4183 fruit. G2590

25 He that loveth G5368 his G846 life G5590 shall lose G622 it; G846 and G2532 he that hateth G3404 his G846 life G5590 in G1722 this G5129 world G2889 shall keep G5442 it G846 unto G1519 life G2222 eternal. G166

26 If G1437 any man G5100 serve G1247 me, G1698 let him follow G190 me; G1698 and G2532 where G3699 I G1473 am, G1510 there G1563 shall G2071 also G2532 my G1699 servant G1249 be: G2071 G2532 if G1437 any man G5100 serve G1247 me, G1698 him G846 will G5091 my Father G3962 honour. G5091

27 Now G3568 is G5015 my G3450 soul G5590 troubled; G5015 and G2532 what G5101 shall I say? G2036 Father, G3962 save G4982 me G3165 from G1537 this G5026 hour: G5610 but G235 for this G5124 cause G1223 came I G2064 unto G1519 this G5026 hour. G5610

28 Father, G3962 glorify G1392 thy G4675 name. G3686 Then G3767 came there G2064 a voice G5456 from G1537 heaven, G3772 saying, I have G1392 both G2532 glorified G1392 it, and G2532 will glorify G1392 it again. G3825

29 The people G3793 therefore, G3767 that stood by, G2476 and G2532 heard G191 it, said G3004 that it thundered: G1096 G1027 others G243 said, G3004 An angel G32 spake G2980 to him. G846

30 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and G2532 said, G2036 This G3778 voice G5456 came G1096 not G3756 because of G1223 me, G1691 but G235 for G1223 your sakes. G5209 G1223

31 Now G3568 is G2076 the judgment G2920 of this G5127 world: G2889 now G3568 shall G1544 the prince G758 of this G5127 world G2889 be cast G1544 out. G1854

32 And I, G2504 if G1437 I be lifted up G5312 from G1537 the earth, G1093 will draw G1670 all G3956 men unto G4314 me. G1683

33 G1161 This G5124 he said, G3004 signifying G4591 what G4169 death G2288 he should G3195 die. G599

34 The people G3793 answered G611 him, G846 We G2249 have heard G191 out of G1537 the law G3551 that G3754 Christ G5547 abideth G3306 for G1519 ever: G165 and G2532 how G4459 sayest G3004 thou, G4771 G3754 The Son G5207 of man G444 must G1163 be lifted up? G5312 who G5101 is G2076 this G3778 Son G5207 of man? G444

35 Then G3767 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 Yet G2089 a little G3398 while G5550 is G2076 the light G5457 with G3326 you. G5216 Walk G4043 while G2193 ye have G2192 the light, G5457 lest G3363 darkness G4653 come upon G2638 you: G5209 for G2532 he that walketh G4043 in G1722 darkness G4653 knoweth G1492 not G3756 whither G4226 he goeth. G5217

36 While G2193 ye have G2192 light, G5457 believe G4100 in G1519 the light, G5457 that G2443 ye may be G1096 the children G5207 of light. G5457 These things G5023 spake G2980 Jesus, G2424 and departed, G565 and G2532 did hide himself G2928 from G575 them. G846

37 But G1161 though he G846 had done G4160 so many G5118 miracles G4592 before G1715 them, G846 yet they believed G4100 not G3756 on G1519 him: G846

38 That G2443 the saying G3056 of Esaias G2268 the prophet G4396 might be fulfilled, G4137 which G3739 he spake, G2036 Lord, G2962 who G5101 hath believed G4100 our G2257 report? G189 and G2532 to whom G5101 hath the arm G1023 of the Lord G2962 been revealed? G601

39 Therefore G5124 G1223 they could G1410 not G3756 believe, G4100 because G3754 that Esaias G2268 said G2036 again, G3825

40 He hath blinded G5186 their G846 eyes, G3788 and G2532 hardened G4456 their G846 heart; G2588 that G3363 they should G1492 not G3363 see G1492 with their eyes, G3788 nor G2532 understand G3539 with their heart, G2588 and G2532 be converted, G1994 and G2532 I should heal G2390 them. G846

41 These things G5023 said G2036 Esaias, G2268 when G3753 he saw G1492 his G846 glory, G1391 and G2532 spake G2980 of G4012 him. G846

42 Nevertheless G3676 G3305 among G1537 the chief rulers G758 also G2532 many G4183 believed G4100 on G1519 him; G846 but G235 because G1223 of the Pharisees G5330 they did G3670 not G3756 confess G3670 him, lest G3363 they should be G1096 put out of the synagogue: G656

43 For G1063 they loved G25 the praise G1391 of men G444 more G3123 than G2260 the praise G1391 of God. G2316

44 G1161 Jesus G2424 cried G2896 and G2532 said, G2036 He that believeth G4100 on G1519 me, G1691 believeth G4100 not G3756 on G1519 me, G1691 but G235 on G1519 him that sent G3992 me. G3165

45 And G2532 he that seeth G2334 me G1691 seeth G2334 him that sent G3992 me. G3165

46 I G1473 am come G2064 a light G5457 into G1519 the world, G2889 that G3363 whosoever G3956 believeth G4100 on G1519 me G1691 should G3306 not G3363 abide G3306 in G1722 darkness. G4653

47 And G2532 if G3362 any man G5100 hear G191 my G3450 words, G4487 and G2532 believe G4100 not, G3362 I G1473 judge G2919 him G846 not: G3756 for G1063 I came G2064 not G3756 to G2443 judge G2919 the world, G2889 but G235 to G2443 save G4982 the world. G2889

48 He that rejecteth G114 me, G1691 and G2532 receiveth G2983 not G3361 my G3450 words, G4487 hath G2192 one that judgeth G2919 him: G846 the word G3056 that G3739 I have spoken, G2980 the same G1565 shall judge G2919 him G846 in G1722 the last G2078 day. G2250

49 For G3754 I G1473 have G2980 not G3756 spoken G2980 of G1537 myself; G1683 but G235 the Father G3962 which sent G3992 me, G3165 he G846 gave G1325 me G3427 a commandment, G1785 what G5101 I should say, G2036 and G2532 what G5101 I should speak. G2980

50 And G2532 I know G1492 that G3754 his G846 commandment G1785 is G2076 life G2222 everlasting: G166 whatsoever G3739 I G1473 speak G2980 therefore, G3767 even as G2531 the Father G3962 said G2046 unto me, G3427 so G3779 I speak. G2980


John 12:1-50 American Standard (ASV)

1 Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead.

2 So they made him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him.

3 Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.

4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, that should betray him, saith,

5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred shillings, and given to the poor?

6 Now this he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the bag took away what was put therein.

7 Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying.

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

9 The common people therefore of the Jews learned 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.

10 But the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus also to death;

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

12 On the morrow a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried out, Hosanna: Blessed `is' he that cometh in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.

14 And Jesus, having found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

15 Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

16 These 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.

17 The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, bare witness.

18 For this cause also the multitude went and met him, for that they heard that he had done this sign.

19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Behold how ye prevail nothing: lo, the world is gone after him.

20 Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast:

21 these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: Andrew cometh, and Philip, and they tell Jesus.

23 And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.

25 He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

26 If 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 the Father honor.

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

28 Father, glorify thy name. There came therefore a voice out of heaven, `saying', I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

29 The multitude therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it had thundered: others said, An angel hath spoken to him.

30 Jesus answered and said, This voice hath not come for my sake, but for your sakes.

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

32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.

33 But this he said, signifying by what manner of death he should die.

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

35 Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

36 While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them.

37 But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they believed not on him:

38 that the word of Isaiah 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?

39 For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah said again,

40 He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart; Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, And should turn, And I should heal them.

41 These things said Isaiah, because he saw his glory; and he spake of him.

42 Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess `it', lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

43 for they loved the glory `that is' of men more than the glory `that is' of God.

44 And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

45 And he that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me.

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

47 And if any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.

49 For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

50 And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak.


John 12:1-50 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Jesus, therefore, six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where was Lazarus, who had died, whom he raised out of the dead;

2 they made, therefore, to him a supper there, and Martha was ministering, and Lazarus was one of those reclining together (at meat) with him;

3 Mary, therefore, having taken a pound of ointment of spikenard, of great price, anointed the feet of Jesus and did wipe with her hair his feet, and the house was filled from the fragrance of the ointment.

4 Therefore saith one of his disciples -- Judas Iscariot, of Simon, who is about to deliver him up --

5 `Wherefore was not this ointment sold for three hundred denaries, and given to the poor?'

6 and he said this, not because he was caring for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and what things were put in he was carrying.

7 Jesus, therefore, said, `Suffer her; for the day of my embalming she hath kept it,

8 for the poor ye have always with yourselves, and me ye have not always.'

9 A great multitude, therefore, of the Jews knew that he is there, and they came, not because of Jesus only, but that Lazarus also they may see, whom he raised out of the dead;

10 and the chief priests took counsel, that also Lazarus they may kill,

11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away, and were believing in Jesus.

12 On the morrow, a great multitude that came to the feast, having heard that Jesus doth come to Jerusalem,

13 took the branches of the palms, and went forth to meet him, and were crying, `Hosanna, blessed `is' he who is coming in the name of the Lord -- the king of Israel;'

14 and Jesus having found a young ass did sit upon it, according as it is written,

15 `Fear not, daughter of Sion, lo, thy king doth come, sitting on an ass' colt.'

16 And these things his disciples did not know at the first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were having been written about him, and these things they did to him.

17 The multitude, therefore, who are with him, were testifying that he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and did raise him out of the dead;

18 because of this also did the multitude meet him, because they heard of his having done this sign,

19 the Pharisees, therefore, said among themselves, `Ye see that ye do not gain anything, lo, the world did go after him.'

20 And there were certain Greeks out of those coming up that they may worship in the feast,

21 these then came near to Philip, who `is' from Bethsaida of Galilee, and were asking him, saying, `Sir, we wish to see Jesus;'

22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew, and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

23 And Jesus responded to them, saying, `The hour hath come that the Son of Man may be glorified;

24 verily, verily, I say to you, if the grain of the wheat, having fallen to the earth, may not die, itself remaineth alone; and if it may die, it doth bear much fruit;

25 he who is loving his life shall lose it, and he who is hating his life in this world -- to life age-during shall keep it;

26 if any one may minister to me, let him follow me, and where I am, there also my ministrant shall be; and if any one may minister to me -- honour him will the Father.

27 `Now hath my soul been troubled, and what? shall I say -- Father, save me from this hour? -- but because of this I came to this hour;

28 Father, glorify Thy name.' There came, therefore, a voice out of the heaven, `I both glorified, and again I will glorify `it';'

29 the multitude, therefore, having stood and heard, were saying that there hath been thunder; others said, `A messenger hath spoken to him.'

30 Jesus answered and said, `Not because of me hath this voice come, but because of you;

31 now is a judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast forth;

32 and I, if I may be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.'

33 And this he said signifying by what death he was about to die;

34 the multitude answered him, `We heard out of the law that the Christ doth remain -- to the age; and how dost thou say, That it behoveth the Son of Man to be lifted up? who is this -- the Son of Man?'

35 Jesus, therefore, said to them, `Yet a little time is the light with you; walk while ye have the light, that darkness may not overtake you; and he who is walking in the darkness hath not known where he goeth;

36 while ye have the light, believe in the light, that sons of light ye may become.' These things spake Jesus, and having gone away, he was hid from them,

37 yet he having done so many signs before them, they were not believing in him,

38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he said, `Lord, who gave credence to our report? and the arm of the Lord -- to whom was it revealed?'

39 Because of this they were not able to believe, that again Isaiah said,

40 `He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, that they might not see with the eyes, and understand with the heart, and turn back, and I might heal them;'

41 these things said Isaiah, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

42 Still, however, also out of the rulers did many believe in him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing, that they might not be put out of the synagogue,

43 for they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God.

44 And Jesus cried and said, `He who is believing in me, doth not believe in me, but in Him who sent me;

45 and he who is beholding me, doth behold Him who sent me;

46 I a light to the world have come, that every one who is believing in me -- in the darkness may not remain;

47 and if any one may hear my sayings, and not believe, I -- I do not judge him, for I came not that I might judge the world, but that I might save the world.

48 `He who is rejecting me, and not receiving my sayings, hath one who is judging him, the word that I spake, that will judge him in the last day,

49 because I spake not from myself, but the Father who sent me, He did give me a command, what I may say, and what I may speak,

50 and I have known that His command is life age-during; what, therefore, I speak, according as the Father hath said to me, so I speak.'


John 12:1-50 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 Jesus therefore, six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where was the dead [man] Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from among [the] dead.

2 There therefore they made him a supper, and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those at table with him.

3 Mary therefore, having taken a pound of ointment of pure nard of great price, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

4 One of his disciples therefore, Judas [son] of Simon, Iscariote, who was about to deliver him up, says,

5 Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?

6 But he said this, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the bag, and carried what was put into [it].

7 Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to have kept this for the day of my preparation for burial;

8 for ye have the poor always with you, but me ye have not always.

9 A great crowd therefore of the Jews knew that he was there; and they came, not because of Jesus only, but also that they might see Lazarus whom he raised from among [the] dead.

10 But the chief priests took counsel that they might kill Lazarus also,

11 because many of the Jews went away on his account and believed on Jesus.

12 On the morrow a great crowd who came to the feast, having heard that Jesus is coming into Jerusalem,

13 took branches of palms and went out to meet him, and cried, Hosanna, blessed [is] he that comes in the name of [the] Lord, the King of Israel.

14 And Jesus, having found a young ass, sat upon it; as it is written,

15 Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

16 [Now] his disciples knew not these things at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things to him.

17 The crowd therefore that was with him bore witness because he had called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from among [the] dead.

18 Therefore also the crowd met him because they had heard that he had done this sign.

19 The Pharisees therefore said to one another, Ye see that ye profit nothing: behold, the world is gone after him.

20 And there were certain Greeks among those who came up that they might worship in the feast;

21 these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and they asked him saying, Sir, we desire to see Jesus.

22 Philip comes and tells Andrew, [and again] Andrew comes and Philip, and they tell Jesus.

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

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, it abides alone; but if it die, it bears much fruit.

25 He that loves his life shall lose it, and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.

26 If any one serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there also shall be *my* servant. [And] if any one serve me, him shall the Father honour.

27 Now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But on account of this have I come to this hour.

28 Father, glorify thy name. There came therefore a voice out of heaven, I both have glorified and will glorify [it] again.

29 The crowd therefore, which stood [there] and heard [it], said that it had thundered. Others said, An angel has spoken to him.

30 Jesus answered and said, Not on my account has this voice come, but on yours.

31 Now is [the] judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out:

32 and I, if I be lifted up out of the earth, will draw all to me.

33 But this he said signifying by what death he was about to die.

34 The crowd answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abides for ever; and how sayest thou that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who *is* this, the Son of man?

35 Jesus therefore said to them, Yet a little while is the light amongst you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness may not overtake you. And he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.

36 While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may become sons of light. Jesus said these things, and going away hid himself from them.

37 But though he had done so many signs before them, they believed not on him,

38 that the word of the prophet Esaias which he said might be fulfilled, Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

39 On this account they could not believe, because Esaias said again,

40 He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, that they may not see with their eyes, and understand with their heart and be converted, and I should heal them.

41 These things said Esaias because he saw his glory and spoke of him.

42 Although indeed from among the rulers also many believed on him, but on account of the Pharisees did not confess [him], that they might not be put out of the synagogue:

43 for they loved glory from men rather than glory from God.

44 But Jesus cried and said, He that believes on me, believes not on me, but on him that sent me;

45 and he that beholds me, beholds him that sent me.

46 I am come into the world [as] light, that every one that believes on me may not abide in darkness;

47 and if any one hear my words and do not keep [them], I judge him not, for I am not come that I might judge the world, but that I might save the world.

48 He that rejects me and does not receive my words, has him who judges him: the word which I have spoken, that shall judge him in the last day.

49 For I have not spoken from myself, but the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what I should say and what I should speak;

50 and I know that his commandment is life eternal. What therefore I speak, as the Father has said to me, so I speak.


John 12:1-50 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

2 So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him.

3 Mary, therefore, took a pound{a Roman pound of 12 ounces, or about 340 grams} of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.

4 Then Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said,

5 "Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred denarii,{300 denarii was about a year's wages for an agricultural laborer.} and given to the poor?"

6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.

7 But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial.

8 For you always have the poor with you, but you don't always have me."

9 A large crowd therefore of the Jews learned 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.

10 But the chief priests conspired to put Lazarus to death also,

11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

12 On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 they took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet him, and cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!"

14 Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written,

15 "Don't be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey's colt."

16 His disciples didn't understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him.

17 The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it.

18 For this cause also the multitude went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign.

19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him."

20 Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast.

21 These, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we want to see Jesus."

22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus.

23 Jesus answered them, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

24 Most assuredly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.

25 He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.

26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

27 "Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? 'Father, save me from this time?' But for this cause I came to this time.

28 Father, glorify your name!" Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."

29 The multitude therefore, who stood by and heard it, said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him."

30 Jesus answered, "This voice hasn't come for my sake, but for your sakes.

31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out.

32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."

33 But he said this, signifying by what kind of death he should die.

34 The multitude answered him, "We have heard out of the law that the Christ remains forever. How do you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up?' Who is this Son of Man?"

35 Jesus therefore said to them, "Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn't overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn't know where he is going.

36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light." Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.

37 But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn't believe in him,

38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, "Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

39 For this cause they couldn't believe, for Isaiah said again,

40 "He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, Lest they should see with their eyes, And perceive with their heart, And would turn, And I would heal them."

41 Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.

42 Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn't confess it, so that they wouldn't be put out of the synagogue,

43 for they loved men's praise more than God's praise.

44 Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me.

45 He who sees me sees him who sent me.

46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness.

47 If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn't believe, I don't judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

48 He who rejects me, and doesn't receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day.

49 For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

50 I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak."


John 12:1-50 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had made to come back from the dead.

2 So they made him a meal there, and he was waited on by Martha, and Lazarus was among those who were seated with him at table.

3 Then Mary, taking a pound of perfumed oil of great value, put it on the feet of Jesus and made them dry with her hair: and the house became full of the smell of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was to give him up), said,

5 Why was not this perfume traded for three hundred pence, and the money given to the poor?

6 (He said this, not because he had any love for the poor; but because he was a thief, and, having the money-bag, took for himself what was put into it.)

7 Then Jesus said, Let her be. Let her keep what she has for the day of my death.

8 The poor you have ever with you, but me you have not for ever.

9 Then a great number of the Jews had news that he was there: and they came, not only because of Jesus, but so that they might see Lazarus who had been dead and to whom he had given life.

10 Now there was talk among the chief priests of putting Lazarus to death;

11 For because of him a great number of the Jews went away and had belief in Jesus.

12 The day after, a great number of people who were there for the feast, when they had the news that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 Took branches of palm-trees and went out to him, crying, A blessing on him who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!

14 And Jesus saw a young ass and took his seat on it; as the Writings say,

15 Have no fear, daughter of Zion: see your King is coming, seated on a young ass.

16 (These things were not clear to his disciples at first: but when Jesus had been lifted up into his glory, then it came to their minds that these things in the Writings were about him and that they had been done to him.)

17 Now the people who were with him when his voice came to Lazarus in the place of the dead, and gave him life again, had been talking about it.

18 And that was the reason the people went out to him, because it had come to their ears that he had done this sign.

19 Then the Pharisees said one to another, You see, you are unable to do anything: the world has gone after him.

20 Now there were some Greeks among the people who had come up to give worship at the feast:

21 They came to Philip, who was of Beth-saida in Galilee, and made a request, saying, Sir, we have a desire to see Jesus.

22 Philip went and gave word of it to Andrew; and Andrew went with Philip to Jesus.

23 And Jesus said to them in answer, The hour of the glory of the Son of man has come.

24 Truly I say to you, If a seed of grain does not go into the earth and come to an end, it is still a seed and no more; but through its death it gives much fruit.

25 He who is in love with life will have it taken from him; and he who has no care for his life in this world will keep it for ever and ever.

26 If any man is my servant, let him come after me; and where I am, there will my servant be. If any man becomes my servant, my Father will give him honour.

27 Now is my soul troubled; and what am I to say? Father, keep me from this hour. No: for this purpose have I come to this hour.

28 Father, give glory to your name. Then there came a voice out of heaven, saying, I have given it glory, and I will give it glory again.

29 Hearing the sound, a number of people who were there said that it was thunder: others said, An angel was talking to him.

30 Jesus said in answer, This voice came not for me but for you.

31 Now is this world to be judged: now will the ruler of this world be sent out.

32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will make all men come to me.

33 (This he said, pointing to the sort of death he would have.)

34 Then the people in answer said to him, The law says that the Christ will have life without end: how say you then that it is necessary for the Son of man to be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?

35 Jesus said to them, For a little time longer the light will be among you; while you have the light go on walking in it, so that the dark may not overtake you: one walking in the dark has no knowledge of where he is going.

36 In so far as you have the light, put your faith in the light so that you may become sons of light. With these words Jesus went away and for a time was not seen again by them.

37 But though he had done such a number of signs before them, they still had no belief in him:

38 So that the words of the prophet Isaiah might come true, when he said, Lord, who has any belief in our preaching? and the arm of the Lord, to whom has it been unveiled?

39 For this reason they were unable to have belief, because Isaiah said again,

40 He has made their eyes blind, and their hearts hard; for fear that they might see with their eyes and get knowledge with their hearts, and be changed, and I might make them well.

41 (Isaiah said these words because he saw his glory. His words were about him.)

42 However, a number even of the rulers had belief in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not say so openly for fear that they might be shut out from the Synagogue:

43 For the praise of men was dearer to them than the approval of God.

44 Then Jesus said with a loud voice, He who has faith in me, has faith not in me, but in him who sent me.

45 And he who sees me, sees him who sent me.

46 I have come as a light into the world, so that no one who has faith in me will go on living in the dark.

47 And if any man gives ear to my words and does not keep them, I am not his judge: I did not come to be judge of the world but to give salvation to the world.

48 He who puts me on one side and does not take my words to heart, is not without a judge: the word which I have said will be his judge on the last day.

49 For I have not said it on my authority, but the Father who sent me gave me orders what to say and how to say it.

50 And I have knowledge that his order is eternal life: so that the things which I say, I say them even as the Father says them to me.

Commentary on John 12 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 12

Joh 12:1-11. The Anointing at Bethany.

(See on Mt 26:6-13).

1-8. six days before the passover—that is, on the sixth day before it; probably after sunset on Friday evening, or the commencement of the Jewish sabbath preceding the passover.

2. Martha served—This, with what is afterwards said of Mary's way of honoring her Lord, is so true to the character in which those two women appear in Lu 10:38-42, as to constitute one of the strongest and most delightful confirmations of the truth of both narratives. (See also on Joh 11:20).

Lazarus … sat at the table—"Between the raised Lazarus and the healed leper (Simon, Mr 14:3), the Lord probably sits as between two trophies of His glory" [Stier].

3. spikenard—or pure nard, a celebrated aromatic (So 1:12).

anointed the feet of Jesus—and "poured it on His head" (Mt 26:7; Mr 14:3). The only use of this was to refresh and exhilarate—a grateful compliment in the East, amidst the closeness of a heated atmosphere, with many guests at a feast. Such was the form in which Mary's love to Christ, at so much cost to herself, poured itself out.

4. Judas … who should betray him—For the reason why this is here mentioned, see on Mr 14:11.

5. three hundred pence—between nine and ten pounds sterling.

6. had the bag—the purse.

bare what was put therein—not, bare it off by theft, though that he did; but simply, had charge of its contents, was treasurer to Jesus and the Twelve. How worthy of notice is this arrangement, by which an avaricious and dishonest person was not only taken into the number of the Twelve, but entrusted with the custody of their little property! The purposes which this served are obvious enough; but it is further noticeable, that the remotest hint was never given to the eleven of His true character, nor did the disciples most favored with the intimacy of Jesus ever suspect him, till a few minutes before he voluntarily separated himself from their company—for ever!

7. said Jesus, Let her alone, against the day of my burying hath she done this—not that she thought of His burial, much less reserved any of her nard to anoint her dead Lord. But as the time was so near at hand when that office would have to be performed, and she was not to have that privilege even alter the spices were brought for the purpose (Mr 16:1), He lovingly regards it as done now.

8. the poor always … with you—referring to De 15:11.

but me … not always—a gentle hint of His approaching departure. He adds (Mr 14:8), "She hath done what she could," a noble testimony, embodying a principle of immense importance. "Verily, I say unto you, Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her" (Mt 26:13; Mr 14:9). "In the act of love done to Him she had erected to herself an eternal monument, as lasting as the Gospel, the eternal word of God. From generation to generation this remarkable prophecy of the Lord has been fulfilled; and even we, in explaining this saying of the Redeemer, of necessity contribute to its accomplishment" [Olshausen]. "Who but Himself had the power to ensure to any work of man, even if resounding in his own time through the whole earth, an imperishable remembrance in the stream of history? Behold once more here, the majesty of His royal judicial supremacy in the government of the world, in this, Verily I say unto you" [Stier]. Beautiful are the lessons here: (1) Love to Christ transfigures the humblest services. All, indeed, who have themselves a heart value its least outgoings beyond the most costly mechanical performances; but how does it endear the Saviour to us to find Him endorsing the principle as His own standard in judging of character and deeds!

What though in poor and humble guise

Thou here didst sojourn, cottage-born,

Yet from Thy glory in the skies

Our earthly gold Thou didst not scorn.

For Love delights to bring her best,

And where Love is, that offering evermore is blest.

Love on the Saviour's dying head

Her spikenard drops unblam'd may pour,

May mount His cross, and wrap Him dead

In spices from the golden shore.

Keble

(2) Works of utility should never be set in opposition to the promptings of self-sacrificing love, and the sincerity of those who do so is to be suspected. Under the mask of concern for the poor at home, how many excuse themselves from all care of the perishing heathen abroad. (3) Amidst conflicting duties, that which our "hand (presently) findeth to do" is to be preferred, and even a less duty only to be done now to a greater that can be done at any time. (4) "If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not" (2Co 8:12).—"She hath done what she could" (Mr 14:8). (5) As Jesus beheld in spirit the universal diffusion of His Gospel, while His lowest depth of humiliation was only approaching, so He regards the facts of His earthly history as constituting the substance of this Gospel, and the relation of them as just the "preaching of this Gospel." Not that preachers are to confine themselves to a bare narration of these facts, but that they are to make their whole preaching turn upon them as its grand center, and derive from them its proper vitality; all that goes before this in the Bible being but the preparation for them, and all that follows but the sequel.

9-11. Crowds of the Jerusalem Jews hastened to Bethany, not so much to see Jesus, whom they knew to be there, as to see dead Lazarus alive; and this, issuing in their accession to Christ, led to a plot against the life of Lazarus also, as the only means of arresting the triumphs of Jesus (see Joh 12:19)—to such a pitch had these chief priests come of diabolical determination to shut out the light from themselves, and quench it from the earth!

Joh 12:12-19. Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.

(See on Mt 21:1-9; and Lu 19:29-36).

12. On the next day—the Lord's day, or Sunday (see on Joh 12:1); the tenth day of the Jewish month Nisan, on which the paschal lamb was set apart to be "kept up until the fourteenth day of the same month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel were to kill it in the evening" (Ex 12:3, 6). Even so, from the day of this solemn entry into Jerusalem, "Christ our Passover" was virtually set apart to be "sacrificed for us" (1Co 5:7).

16. when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, &c.—The Spirit, descending on them from the glorified Saviour at Pentecost, opened their eyes suddenly to the true sense of the Old Testament, brought vividly to their recollection this and other Messianic predictions, and to their unspeakable astonishment showed them that they, and all the actors in these scenes, had been unconsciously fulfilling those predictions.

Joh 12:20-36. Some Greeks Desire to See JesusThe Discourse and Scene Thereupon.

20-22. Greeks—Not Grecian Jews, but Greek proselytes to the Jewish faith, who were wont to attend the annual festivals, particularly this primary one, the Passover.

The same came therefore to Philip … of Bethsaida—possibly as being from the same quarter.

saying, Sir, we would see Jesus—certainly in a far better sense than Zaccheus (Lu 19:3). Perhaps He was then in that part of the temple court to which Gentile proselytes had no access. "These men from the west represent, at the end of Christ's life, what the wise men from the east represented at its beginning; but those come to the cross of the King, even as these to His manger" [Stier].

22. Philip … telleth Andrew—As follow townsmen of Bethsaida (Joh 1:44), these two seem to have drawn to each other.

Andrew and Philip tell Jesus—The minuteness of these details, while they add to the graphic force of the narrative, serves to prepare us for something important to come out of this introduction.

23-26. Jesus answered them, The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified—that is, They would see Jesus, would they? Yet a little moment, and they shall see Him so as now they dream not of. The middle wall of partition that keeps them out from the commonwealth of Israel is on the eve of breaking down, "and I, if I be lifted up from the earth, shall draw all men unto Me"; I see them "flying as a cloud, and as doves to their cotes"—a glorious event that will be for the Son of man, by which this is to be brought about. It is His death He thus sublimely and delicately alluded to. Lost in the scenes of triumph which this desire of the Greeks to see Him called up before His view, He gives no direct answer to their petition for an interview, but sees the cross which was to bring them gilded with glory.

24. Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit—The necessity of His death is here brightly expressed, and its proper operation and fruit—life springing forth out of death—imaged forth by a beautiful and deeply significant law of the vegetable kingdom. For a double reason, no doubt, this was uttered—to explain what he had said of His death, as the hour of His own glorification, and to sustain His own Spirit under the agitation which was mysteriously coming over it in the view of that death.

25. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal—(See on Lu 9:24). Did our Lord mean to exclude Himself from the operation of the great principle here expressed—self-renunciation, the law of self-preservation; and its converse, self-preservation, the law of self-destruction? On the contrary, as He became Man to exemplify this fundamental law of the Kingdom of God in its most sublime form, so the very utterance of it on this occasion served to sustain His own Spirit in the double prospect to which He had just alluded.

26. If 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—Jesus here claims the same absolute subjection to Himself, as the law of men's exaltation to honor, as He yielded to the Father.

27, 28. Now is my soul troubled—He means at the prospect of His death, just alluded to. Strange view of the Cross this, immediately after representing it as the hour of His glory! (Joh 12:23). But the two views naturally meet, and blend into one. It was the Greeks, one might say, that troubled Him. Ah! they shall see Jesus, but to Him it shall be a costly sight.

and what shall I say?—He is in a strait betwixt two. The death of the cross was, and could not but be, appalling to His spirit. But to shrink from absolute subjection to the Father, was worse still. In asking Himself, "What shall I say?" He seems as if thinking aloud, feeling His way between two dread alternatives, looking both of them sternly in the face, measuring, weighing them, in order that the choice actually made might be seen, and even by himself the more vividly felt, to be a profound, deliberate, spontaneous election.

Father, save me from this hour—To take this as a question—"Shall I say, Father, save me," &c.—as some eminent editors and interpreters do, is unnatural and jejune. It is a real petition, like that in Gethsemane, "Let this cup pass from Me"; only whereas there He prefaces the prayer with an "If it be possible," here He follows it up with what is tantamount to that—"Nevertheless for this cause came I unto this hour." The sentiment conveyed, then, by the prayer, in both cases, is twofold: (1) that only one thing could reconcile Him to the death of the cross—its being His Father's will He should endure it—and (2) that in this view of it He yielded Himself freely to it. What He recoils from is not subjection to His Father's will: but to show how tremendous a self-sacrifice that obedience involved, He first asks the Father to save Him from it, and then signifies how perfectly He knows that He is there for the very purpose of enduring it. Only by letting these mysterious words speak their full meaning do they become intelligible and consistent. As for those who see no bitter elements in the death of Christ—nothing beyond mere dying—what can they make of such a scene? and when they place it over against the feelings with which thousands of His adoring followers have welcomed death for His sake, how can they hold Him up to the admiration of men?

28. Father, glorify thy name—by a present testimony.

I have both glorified it—referring specially to the voice from heaven at His baptism, and again at His transfiguration.

and will glorify it again—that is, in the yet future scenes of His still deeper necessity; although this promise was a present and sublime testimony, which would irradiate the clouded spirit of the Son of man.

29-33. The people therefore that stood by, said, It thundered; others, An angel spake to him—some hearing only a sound, others an articulate, but to them unintelligible voice.

30. Jesus … said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes—that is, probably, to correct the unfavorable impressions which His momentary agitation and mysterious prayer for deliverance may have produced on the by-standers.

31. Now is the judgment of this world—the world that "crucified the Lord of glory" (1Co 2:8), considered as a vast and complicated kingdom of Satan, breathing his spirit, doing his work, and involved in his doom, which Christ's death by its hands irrevocably sealed.

now shall the prince of this world be cast out—How differently is that fast-approaching "hour" regarded in the kingdoms of darkness and of light! "The hour of relief; from the dread Troubler of our peace—how near it is! Yet a little moment, and the day is ours!" So it was calculated and felt in the one region. "Now shall the prince of this world be cast out," is a somewhat different view of the same event. We know who was right. Though yet under a veil, He sees the triumphs of the Cross in unclouded and transporting light.

32. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me—The "I" here is emphatic—I, taking the place of the world's ejected prince. "If lifted up," means not only after that I have been lifted up, but, through the virtue of that uplifting. And truly, the death of the Cross, in all its significance, revealed in the light, and borne in upon the heart, by the power of the Holy Ghost, possesses an attraction over the wide world—to civilized and savage, learned and illiterate, alike—which breaks down all opposition, assimilates all to itself, and forms out of the most heterogeneous and discordant materials a kingdom of surpassing glory, whose uniting principle is adoring subjection "to Him that loved them." "Will draw all men 'UNTO ME,'" says He. What lips could venture to utter such a word but His, which "dropt as an honeycomb," whose manner of speaking was evermore in the same spirit of conscious equality with the Father?

33. This he said, signifying what death he should die—that is, "by being lifted up from the earth" on "the accursed tree" (Joh 3:14; 8:28).

34. We have heard out of the law—the scriptures of the Old Testament (referring to such places as Ps 89:28, 29; 110:4; Da 2:44; 7:13, 14).

that Christ—the Christ "endureth for ever."

and how sayest thou, The Son of Man must be lifted up, &c.—How can that consist with this "uplifting?" They saw very well both that He was holding Himself up as the Christ and a Christ to die a violent death; and as that ran counter to all their ideas of the Messianic prophecies, they were glad to get this seeming advantage to justify their unyielding attitude.

35, 36. Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, &c.—Instead of answering their question, He warns them, with mingled majesty and tenderness, against trifling with their last brief opportunity, and entreats them to let in the Light while they have it in the midst of them, that they themselves might be "light in the Lord." In this case, all the clouds which hung around His Person and Mission would speedily be dispelled, while if they continued to hate the light, bootless were all His answers to their merely speculative or captious questions. (See on Lu 13:23).

36. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them—He who spake as never man spake, and immediately after words fraught with unspeakable dignity and love, had to "hide Himself" from His auditors! What then must they have been? He retired, probably to Bethany. (The parallels are: Mt 21:17; Lu 21:37).

37-41. It is the manner of this Evangelist alone to record his own reflections on the scenes he describes; but here, having arrived at what was virtually the close of our Lord's public ministry, he casts an affecting glance over the fruitlessness of His whole ministry on the bulk of the now doomed people.

though he had done so many miracles—The word used suggests their nature as well as number.

38. That the saying of Esaias … might be fulfilled—This unbelief did not at all set aside the purposes of God, but, on the contrary, fulfilled them.

39-40. Therefore they could not believe, because Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, that they should not see, &c.—That this expresses a positive divine act, by which those who wilfully close their eyes and harden their hearts against the truth are judicially shut up in their unbelief and impenitence, is admitted by all candid critics [as Olshausen], though many of them think it necessary to contend that this is in no way inconsistent with the liberty of the human will, which of course it is not.

41. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him—a key of immense importance to the opening of Isaiah's vision (Isa 6:1-13), and all similar Old Testament representations. "The Son is the King Jehovah who rules in the Old Testament and appears to the elect, as in the New Testament THE Spirit, the invisible Minister of the Son, is the Director of the Church and the Revealer in the sanctuary of the heart" [Olshausen].

42, 43. among the chief rulers also—rather, "even of the rulers"; such as Nicodemus and Joseph.

because of the Pharisees—that is, the leaders of the sects; for they were of it themselves.

put out of the synagogue—See Joh 9:22, 34.

43. they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God—"a severe remark, considering that several at least of these persons afterwards boldly confessed Christ. It indicates the displeasure with which God regarded their conduct at this time, and with which He continues to regard similar conduct" [Webster and Wilkinson].

44-50. Jesus cried—in a loud tone, and with peculiar solemnity. (Compare Joh 7:37).

and said, He that believeth on me, &c.—This seems to be a supplementary record of some weighty proclamations, for which there had been found no natural place before, and introduced here as a sort of summary and winding up of His whole testimony.