The Gospels · New Testament
John 12
John 12: the anointing at Bethany and the last public words
General context
Six days before the passover Jesus comes to Bethany, where a supper is made, Martha serves and Lazarus sits at table. Mary anoints his feet with costly spikenard and wipes them with her hair. Judas Iscariot objects that the ointment might have been sold for the poor, and the narrator says he was a thief who carried the bag. Jesus says she has kept it against the day of his burying. Crowds come to see Lazarus as well, and the chief priests consider putting Lazarus to death. The next day people take palm branches and meet him crying Hosanna, and he sits on a young ass; the narrator says the disciples understood this only later. Certain Greeks ask Philip to see Jesus, and Jesus answers that the hour is come, speaks of a corn of wheat that must die, and says his soul is troubled. A voice from heaven is heard, and the crowd calls it thunder or an angel. He speaks of being lifted up, then hides himself. The narrator says they did not believe though they had seen many miracles, and quotes Esaias.
Cited passages: John 12:1, John 12:2, John 12:3, John 12:5, John 12:6, John 12:7, John 12:9, John 12:10, John 12:13, John 12:14, John 12:16, John 12:20, John 12:21, John 12:23, John 12:24, John 12:27, John 12:28, John 12:29, John 12:32, John 12:36, John 12:37
John 12 (KJV)
1Then 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.
8For 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.
12On 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.
20And 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.
24Verily, 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.
25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26If 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.
27Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28Father, 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.
31Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32And 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.
36While 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.
37But 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.
42Nevertheless 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.
44Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47And 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.
48He 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.
49For 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.
50And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
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Historical context
The anointing here is placed six days before the passover at Bethany, which is the same act the narrator referred to earlier when introducing Mary. Judas Iscariot is identified as Simon's son and as the one who would betray him, and his motive is supplied by the narrator, not by anything he says. Two comments state that understanding came later: the disciples did not grasp the entry until Jesus was glorified, and the narrator explains that the saying about being lifted up signified what death he should die. The quotations from Esaias are given as the reason the people could not believe, and the narrator says Esaias saw his glory. The chapter also reports rulers who believed but did not confess it for fear of being put out of the synagogue.
Cited passages: John 12:1, John 12:3, John 12:4, John 12:6, John 12:16, John 12:33, John 12:38, John 12:41, John 12:42, John 12:43
Literary context
The chapter gathers the book's earlier threads before the long private speeches begin. A raised man sits at the table while the chief priests consult about putting him to death as well, and the ointment kept for burial sits beside the palm branches of a welcome. Glory is the recurring word, spoken by the heavenly voice, applied to the hour, and used by the narrator to date the disciples' understanding. The request of the Greeks to see Jesus is answered not with a meeting but with the saying about the grain that must fall and die. Light and darkness return one last time in public, and the section closes with him hiding himself, followed by a summary of unbelief and a final cry that repeats what he has said all along.
Cited passages: John 12:2, John 12:10, John 12:7, John 12:13, John 12:23, John 12:28, John 12:16, John 12:21, John 12:24, John 12:35, John 12:36, John 12:44, John 12:49
Key moments
- Ointment poured out (John 12:3). Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with costly spikenard and wipes them with her hair.
- The objection and its motive (John 12:6). The narrator says Judas raised the cost of the ointment because he was a thief.
- A plan against Lazarus (John 12:10). The chief priests consider putting the raised man to death as well.
- Palm branches (John 12:13). Crowds meet him with palms and call him the King of Israel.
- Greeks ask for him (John 12:21). Certain Greeks come to Philip asking to see Jesus.
- A voice from heaven (John 12:28). A voice answers his prayer, and the crowd takes it for thunder.
- He hides himself (John 12:36). After speaking of the light he departs and hides from them.
For reflection
The disciples are said to have understood the entry into Jerusalem only afterward. What does it change to read a scene knowing that those inside it did not follow what was happening?
People in this chapter
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