John 12

King James Version

Full text for John 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.

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

3Then 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.

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

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

6This 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.

7Then 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.›

9Much 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.

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

11Because 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,

13Took 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.

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

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

16These 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.

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

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

19The 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:

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

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

23And 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.

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

30Jesus 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.›

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

34The 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?

35Then 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:

38That 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?

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

40He 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.

41These 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:

43For 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.›

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

John chapter 12 details Jesus' final public ministry before the Passover. Mary anoints Jesus' feet, an act Jesus interprets as preparation for His burial, while Judas objects. Jesus then makes a triumphal entry into Jerusalem, acclaimed by crowds, which further incites the chief priests to plot against Him and Lazarus. He teaches about His impending death as a glorification, likening it to a seed dying to bear fruit, and urges belief in Him as the light of the world, despite widespread unbelief.

Medium Summary

Six days before the Passover, Jesus is in Bethany, where Mary anoints His feet with costly spikenard, an act Jesus defends as preparation for His burial. This event, along with the presence of Lazarus whom Jesus raised, draws many Jews, prompting the chief priests to plot Lazarus's death. The next day, Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly, met by crowds waving palm branches and hailing Him as King, fulfilling prophecy. Certain Greeks seek Jesus, leading Him to speak of His glorification through death, likening it to a grain of wheat dying to produce much fruit. He declares that His being "lifted up" will draw all men to Him, signifying His crucifixion. Despite His miracles and teachings about being the light, many do not believe, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy, though some rulers believe secretly due to fear of the Pharisees. Jesus concludes by affirming His divine commission, stating He came to save, not judge, and that His words will judge those who reject Him.

Long Summary

John chapter 12 opens with Jesus in Bethany six days before the Passover, where a supper is held. Mary anoints Jesus' feet with a pound of costly spikenard ointment and wipes them with her hair, filling the house with its fragrance. Judas Iscariot objects, feigning concern for the poor, but Jesus defends Mary's act as a preparation for His burial, noting that the poor will always be present, but He will not. The presence of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, draws many Jews, leading the chief priests to conspire to kill Lazarus as well, because he was a catalyst for many believing in Jesus. The following day, Jesus makes His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Large crowds, having heard of His coming, meet Him with palm branches, crying "Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord," fulfilling the prophecy of Him riding on a young ass. The disciples initially do not understand the significance of these events until after Jesus' glorification. The people who witnessed Lazarus's resurrection attest to it, further fueling the crowds' enthusiasm and the Pharisees' dismay that "the world is gone after him." Later, certain Greeks desire to see Jesus, prompting Him to declare that the hour for the Son of Man to be glorified has come. He teaches that a grain of wheat must die to bear much fruit, illustrating His own impending death and resurrection. He speaks of losing one's life to gain eternal life and promises honor from the Father to those who serve Him. Jesus expresses His troubled soul but resolves to glorify the Father's name, to which a voice from heaven responds. He explains this voice is for the people's sake, announcing the judgment of this world and the casting out of its prince. Jesus then declares that if He is "lifted up from the earth," He will draw all men unto Him, signifying His crucifixion. The people question this, citing the law that Christ abides forever, but Jesus urges them to walk in the light while they have it, lest darkness overtake them, and then hides Himself. Despite numerous miracles, many Jews remain unbelieving, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy regarding blinded eyes and hardened hearts. Nevertheless, some chief rulers believe but do not confess Him, fearing excommunication from the synagogue, as they valued human praise over God's. Jesus concludes His public ministry by affirming that belief in Him is belief in the Father who sent Him, and that He is the light come to save the world, not to judge it. He warns that His words, not He, will judge those who reject Him on the last day, emphasizing that He speaks only what the Father commanded, which is everlasting life.

Core Concepts

  • Anointing for BurialMary's costly anointing of Jesus' feet is interpreted by Jesus as an act of preparation for His impending burial, highlighting His awareness of His approaching death.
  • Triumphal EntryJesus' entry into Jerusalem on a young ass, met by crowds waving palm branches and proclaiming Him King, fulfills Old Testament prophecy and publicly acknowledges His messianic claims.
  • Grain of Wheat PrincipleJesus uses the metaphor of a grain of wheat dying to produce much fruit to explain that His own death is necessary for His glorification and to bring forth spiritual life for many.
  • The Light and DarknessJesus repeatedly presents Himself as the "light of the world," urging people to believe in Him while He is present, lest they remain in spiritual darkness.
  • Glorification through DeathJesus speaks of His "hour" of glorification, which paradoxically involves His "lifting up" on the cross, signifying His sacrificial death as the means to draw all men to Himself and fulfill God's plan.
  • Unbelief and ProphecyThe chapter notes that despite Jesus' many miracles, many did not believe, fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah concerning hardened hearts and blinded eyes, demonstrating a divine foreknowledge of human resistance.
  • Divine Commission and JudgmentJesus emphasizes that He speaks and acts not of His own accord, but as commanded by the Father, and that His words, which are life everlasting, will serve as the standard of judgment for those who reject them.