Chapter Text
Mary Anoints Jesus
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.
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.
The Triumphal Entry
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.
Jesus Predicts His Death
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.
Belief and Unbelief
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.
Jesus' Final Public Appeal
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.
Summary
Six days before Passover, Jesus dines in Bethany where Mary anoints His feet with costly spikenard and wipes them with her hair. Judas objects to the expense, but Jesus defends her act as preparation for His burial. The chief priests plot to kill Lazarus as well because many believe because of him.
Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a young donkey as crowds wave palm branches and cry Hosanna. Greeks seek to see Jesus, prompting Him to declare that His hour has come. He teaches that a grain of wheat must fall into the ground and die to bear much fruit. A voice from heaven confirms Him. He speaks of His death drawing all men to Himself.
Meaning
Mary's anointing is an act of worship that Jesus connects directly with His approaching burial. While the others did not yet understand the nearness of His death, Mary's devotion, whether fully conscious of its prophetic significance or not, was preserved as a memorial.
The arrival of the Greeks marks a turning point. Their desire to see Jesus signals that the gospel is about to break beyond Israel to the whole world. Jesus' response about the grain of wheat reveals the principle at the heart of the gospel: life comes through death. His death will not be defeat but the means by which He draws all people to Himself.
Background
The spikenard ointment was worth approximately three hundred denarii, nearly a year's wages. John notes that Judas' objection arose not from concern for the poor but because he was a thief who managed the common purse.
The palm branches waved at the triumphal entry were symbols of Jewish nationalism, associated with the Maccabean victory. The crowd's cry of Hosanna to the King of Israel expressed messianic hope for political liberation from Rome.
Chapter Outline
- vv. 1-8Mary anoints Jesus at Bethany
- vv. 9-11The plot against Lazarus
- vv. 12-19The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
- vv. 20-26Greeks seek Jesus; the grain of wheat
- vv. 27-36The voice from heaven and the hour of glory
- vv. 37-43Israel's unbelief foretold by Isaiah
- vv. 44-50Jesus' final public appeal
Key Verses
“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.”— 12:24
Christ's parable of the seed reveals the necessity of His death to bring forth eternal life for many, and establishes a pattern of fruitful self-sacrifice for all who follow Him.
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”— 12:32
A direct prediction of the manner of Christ's death (crucifixion) and its universal saving reach, drawing people of every nation to Himself.
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”— 12:25
One of the most paradoxical sayings of Jesus, calling disciples to surrender earthly attachments for the sake of eternal life.
“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”— 12:46
Jesus reaffirms His identity as the Light of the World, a central Johannine theme tying belief to deliverance from spiritual darkness.
People & Places
People
- Jesus — The Son of God, anointed at Bethany and entering Jerusalem as the prophesied King.
- Lazarus — Raised from the dead by Jesus; his presence draws crowds and provokes the chief priests to plot his death.
- Martha — Sister of Lazarus and Mary, who serves at the supper in Bethany.
- Mary — Sister of Lazarus who anoints Jesus' feet with costly spikenard and wipes them with her hair.
- Judas Iscariot — The disciple and treasurer who objects to Mary's gift; identified as a thief and future betrayer.
- Philip — Disciple from Bethsaida approached by inquiring Greeks seeking Jesus.
- Andrew — Disciple who, with Philip, brings the Greeks' request to Jesus.
- The Pharisees — Religious leaders alarmed at Jesus' growing popularity, lamenting that 'the world is gone after him.'
- The chief priests — Temple authorities plotting to kill both Jesus and Lazarus to stop the people from believing.
- Esaias (Isaiah) — The prophet quoted to explain Israel's unbelief, who 'saw his glory, and spake of him.'
Places
- Bethany — Village near Jerusalem, home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, where Jesus is anointed six days before Passover.
- Jerusalem — The holy city Jesus enters in triumph, where He will be crucified during the Passover feast.
- Sion (Zion) — Poetic name for Jerusalem, addressed in the prophecy of the King coming on an ass's colt.
- Bethsaida of Galilee — Hometown of Philip, mentioned as the Greek inquirers approach him.
Prophecy & Fulfillment
This chapter is saturated with prophetic fulfillment. The Triumphal Entry on a donkey (vv. 14-15) fulfills Zechariah 9:9, declaring Jesus the long-awaited King of Zion. Israel's widespread unbelief despite His miracles (vv. 37-41) fulfills both Isaiah 53:1 and Isaiah 6:9-10, with John remarkably noting that Isaiah 'saw his glory, and spake of him.' Jesus Himself prophesies the manner of His death in verse 32, signifying crucifixion ('lifted up') as the means by which He would draw all people to Himself.
Devotional
John 12 puts extravagance and self-giving side by side. Mary pours out a year's wages in worship, while Jesus prepares to pour out His life. Both gestures look wasteful to onlookers, yet both fill the house with fragrance the world cannot manufacture.
Jesus tells us that the seed must fall into the ground to bear fruit. The things we cling to most tightly are often the very things keeping us small. Where might He be inviting you to release your grip — a fear, an ambition, a hidden idol — so that something far greater can grow?
Walk while you have the light.
Literary Style
Narrative gospel prose interwoven with prophetic citation, dialogue, and discourse. John blends historical scene-setting (anointing, entry) with theological commentary, Old Testament fulfillment quotations from Zechariah and Isaiah, and a climactic monologue rich in Johannine dualisms of light and darkness, belief and unbelief.