John

Focuses on the divinity of Jesus, presenting Him as the Word made flesh and emphasizing His miraculous signs.

Chapter 12

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

*Then, six days before Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus, who had died, was. Jesus brought Lazarus back to life.

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

*At that place, they had a meal where Martha helped serve. Lazarus was sitting and eating with the others.

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.

*Mary got a very expensive bottle of spikenard oil and used it to massage Jesus' feet, then she wiped his feet with her hair. The whole house smelled wonderful because of the oil.

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

*Then one of Jesus' followers, named Judas Iscariot, who was the son of Simon and would betray him, said...

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

*Why wasn't this oil sold for $4.20 (300 pence) and given to the needy people?

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.

*He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, had the bag, and took what was inside it.

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

*Then Jesus said, "Leave her alone; she has saved this for my burial day."

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

*The poor will always be around, but I won't be here forever.

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.

*Many Jews knew Jesus was nearby, so they came not just to see him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he brought back to life.

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

*But the main priests talked about how they could also kill Lazarus.

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

*Because he made many Jews leave their old ways and believe in Jesus.

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

*The following day, many people who came for the celebration heard that Jesus was going 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.

*They took palm branches and went to greet him, shouting "Hosanna!" which means "Praised is the Jewish King who comes with the Lord's blessing."

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

*And Jesus, after finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it says in the writings.

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

*Don't be afraid, child of Zion: look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey's young animal.

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.

*At first, Jesus' disciples didn't understand these things. But after Jesus was honored, they recalled that these events were about him, and they realized they had done these actions to 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.

*The people with him when he brought Lazarus back to life, who saw it happen, are the ones testifying about it.

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

*People gathered because they heard he performed a miracle.

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

*The Pharisees, noticing their failure to persuade people, commented that everyone was following Jesus instead.

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

*Some Greeks were present, who had come to participate in the festival and worship.

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

*Philip, from Bethsaida in Galilee, was approached by someone who asked him, "Sir, we want to see Jesus."

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

*Philip tells Andrew, and then both Andrew and Philip share the news with Jesus.

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

*And Jesus told them, "The time has arrived for the human Son to be honored."

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.

*Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces 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.

*If you love your life too much, you'll lose it. But if you hate your life here, you'll keep it for eternal life.

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.

*If you serve me, follow me; where I am, my servant will be too. If you serve me, my Father will honor you.

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.

*Now, my soul is worried, and I don't know what to say. Father, rescue me from this time, but I came here for a reason.

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

*Dear God, make your name great. A voice from the sky said, "I already made it great and will do it again."

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

*The people nearby, hearing it, thought it was thunder. Others believed an angel spoke to him.

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

*Jesus replied, "This voice isn't because of me; it's for your benefit."

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

*Now, God's judgment comes for the world; the ruler of this world will be removed.

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

*If I'm raised up, I'll attract everyone to me.

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

*He said this to show how he would 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?

*The people said to him, "We know from the laws that Christ lasts forever. So why do you say, 'The human Son must be raised up?' Who is this Human Son?"

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.

*Then Jesus told them, The light will be with you for a short time. Go while you can see, so darkness doesn't find you. Whoever walks in darkness doesn't know where they are going.

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.

*While you have light, believe in it to be like its children. Jesus said this and then left, hiding from them.

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

*Even though he performed many miracles in front of them, they still didn't believe in 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?

*To make this verse easier to understand, it can be written as: So that the words of the prophet Isaiah would come true, where he asked, "Lord, who has believed what we said?" and "To whom has the power of the Lord been shown?"

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

*So, they couldn't believe because Isaiah said something else, making it harder for them to trust.

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.

*He has made them unable to see and unwilling to understand so they can't be healed and converted.

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

*Isaiah said these words after seeing his greatness and talking about 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:

*Even some important leaders believed in him, but they didn't openly say it because of the Pharisees. They were afraid that if they did, they would be kicked out of their meeting place, the synagogue.

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

*They cared more about people's approval than God's approval.

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

*Jesus said, "If you believe in me, you're actually believing in the one who sent me."

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

*And whoever sees me also sees the one who sent me.

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

*I've come to be a source of light in the world. Anyone who believes in me won't stay 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.

*If someone hears my message but doesn't believe, I won't judge them. I'm here not to judge, 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.

*If someone doesn't accept my teachings, they will be judged by the very words I spoke. This judgment will happen on the final 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.

*I haven't talked about myself; instead, the Father who sent me told me what to say and what to talk about.

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

*I understand that following his orders leads to eternal life. Whatever I say comes from the Father's instructions, so I share them exactly as he told me.

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