1  Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead, was living. 2  There a supper was given in his honour at which Martha waited, while Lazarus was one of those present at the table. 3  So Mary took a pound of choice spikenard perfume of great value, and anointed the feet of Jesus with it, and then wiped them with her hair. The whole house was filled with the scent of the perfume. 4  One of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was about to betray Jesus, asked, 5 ‘Why was not this perfume sold for a year’s wages, and the money given to poor people?’ 6  He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and, being in charge of the purse, used to take what was put in it. 7  ‘Leave her alone,’ said Jesus, ‘so that she may keep it until the day when my body is being prepared for burial. 8  The poor you always have with you, but you will not always have me.’

9  Now great numbers of people found out that Jesus was at Bethany; and they came there, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10  The chief priests, however, plotted to put Lazarus, as well as Jesus, to death, 11  because it was owing to him that many of the people had left them, and were becoming believers in Jesus. 12  On the following day great numbers of people who had come to the Festival, hearing that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, took palm branches, 13  and went out to meet him, shouting as they went, ‘God save him! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord – the king of Israel!’ 14  Having found a young donkey, Jesus seated himself on it, in accordance with the passage of scripture – 15 “Fear not, people of Zion. Your king is coming to you, sitting on the foal of a donkey.” 16  His disciples did not understand all this at first; but, when Jesus had been exalted, then they remembered that these things had been said of him in scripture, and that they had done these things for him. 17  Meanwhile the people who were with him, when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, were telling what they had seen. 18  This, indeed, was why the crowd met him – because people had heard that he had given this sign of his mission. 19  So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘You see that you are gaining nothing! Why, all the world has run after him!’

20  Among those who were going up to worship at the Festival were some Greeks, 21  who went to Philip of Bethsaida in Galilee, and said, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ 22  Philip went and told Andrew, and then together they went and told Jesus. 23  This was his reply – ‘The time has come for the Son of Man to be exalted. 24  In truth I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains solitary; but, if it dies, it becomes fruitful. 25  A person who loves their life loses it; while someone who hates their life in the present world will preserve it for eternal life. 26  If someone is ready to serve me, let them follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If a person is ready to serve me, my Father will honour them. 27  Now I am distressed at heart and what can I say? Father, bring me safe through this hour – yet it was for this reason that I came to this hour – 28  Father, honour your own name.’ At this there came a voice from heaven, which said, ‘I have already honoured it, and I will honour it again.’ 29  The crowd of bystanders, who heard the sound, said that it was thundering. Others said, ‘An angel has been speaking to him.’

30  ‘It was not for my sake that the voice came,’ said Jesus, ‘but for yours. 31  Now this world is on its trial. Now the Spirit that is ruling this world will be driven out; 32  and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ 33  By these words he indicated what death he was destined to die. 34 ‘We,’ replied the people, ‘have learned from the Law that the Christ is to remain for ever; how is it, then, that you say that the Son of Man must be “lifted up” Who is this “Son of Man”?’

35  ‘Only a little while longer,’ answered Jesus, ‘will you have the light among you. Travel on while you have the light, so that darkness may not overtake you; he who travels in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36  While you still have the light, believe in the light, so that you may be children of light.’ After he had said this, Jesus went away, and hid himself from them. 37  But, though Jesus had given so many signs of his mission before their eyes, they still did not believe in him, 38  in fulfilment of the words of the prophet Isaiah, where he says – “Lord, who has believed our teaching? And to whom has the might of the Lord been revealed?” 39  The reason why they were unable to believe is given by Isaiah elsewhere, in these words – 40 “He has blinded their eyes, and blunted their mind, so that they should not see with their eyes, and perceive with their mind, and turn – And I should heal them.” 41  Isaiah said this, because he saw Christ’s glory; and it was of him that he spoke. 42  Yet for all this, even among the leading men there were many who came to believe in Jesus; but, because of the Pharisees, they did not acknowledge it, because they were afraid that they should be expelled from their synagogues; 43  for they valued honour from people more than honour from God. 44  But Jesus had proclaimed, ‘He who believes in me believes, 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 believes in me should remain in the darkness. 47  When anyone hears my teaching and pays no heed to it, I am not his judge; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48  He who rejects me, and disregards my teaching, has a judge already – the message which I have delivered will itself be his judge at the Last day. 49  For I have not delivered it on my own authority; but the Father, who sent me, has himself given me his command as to what I should say, and what message I should deliver. 50  And I know that eternal life lies in keeping his command. Therefore, whatever I say, I say only what the Father has taught me.’