John 12

Devotionals, Articles, and Bible Study Resources on John 12

1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
2So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.
3Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked,
5“Why wasn’ t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
6Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.
7“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial.
8The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.”
9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was there. And they came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,
11for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.
12The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
13They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting:
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the King of Israel!”
14Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written:
15“Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion.
See, your King is coming,
seated on the colt of a donkey.”
16At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.
17Meanwhile, many people continued to testify that they had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead.
18That is also why the crowd went out to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.
19Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You can see that this is doing you no good. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!”
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast.
21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
22Philip relayed this appeal to Andrew, and both of them went and told Jesus.
23But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
25Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
27Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour.
28Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.
30In response, Jesus said, “This voice was not for My benefit, but yours.
31Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.”
33He said this to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.
34The crowd replied, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever. So how can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”
35Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
36While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.
37Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.
38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says:
40“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so that they cannot see with their eyes,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn,
and I would heal them.”
41Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him.
42Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.
43For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
44Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me.
45And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me.
46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
47As for anyone who hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
48There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
49I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.
50And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.”
— John 12

Related Resources from Heartlight

Casting Out the Evil Prince
Illustration of John 12:31-46

Inspirational illustration of John 12:31-46 -- Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

Couldn't Believe
Illustration of John 12:37-41 NLT

Illustration of John 12:37-41 NLT -- But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: "Lord, who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?" But the people couldn't believe, for as Isaiah also said, "The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts — so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and have me heal them." Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah's glory.

A Seed Until the Resurrection!
Illustration of John 12:14-16 NLT

Illustration of John 12:14-16 NLT -- Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: "Don't be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey's colt." His disciples didn't understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.

Darkness Is Defeated
Illustration of John 12:31-33 NLT

Illustration of John 12:31-33 NLT -- [Jesus said,] "The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." He said this to indicate how he was going to die.

I Could Never Do That!
Illustration of John 12:9-11 NLT

Illustration of John 12:9-11 NLT -- When all the people heard of Jesus' arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

Memories of Extravagance
Illustration of John 12:1-3 NLT

Illustration of John 12:1-3 NLT -- Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus — the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus' honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus' feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

Pious Sounding Critics
Illustration of John 12:4-6 NLT

Illustration of John 12:4-6 NLT -- But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray [Jesus], said, "That perfume was worth a year's wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor." Not that he cared for the poor — he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples' money, he often stole some for himself.

Clearly Praised for a Few Days
Illustration of John 12:12-13 NLT

Illustration of John 12:12-13 NLT -- The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, "Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!"

If You Trust Me, You're Trusting God
Illustration of John 12:44-45 NLT

Illustration of John 12:44-45 NLT -- Jesus shouted to the crowds, "If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me."

Are you still in darkness?
Illustration of John 12:46

Inspirational illustration of John 12:46 NIV -- I have come into the world as light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

Escape from Darkness
Illustration of John 12:46 NLT

Illustration of John 12:46 NLT -- [Jesus said,] "I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark."

Follow!
Illustration of John 12:26

Inspirational illustration of John 12:26 -- Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Hail to the King!
Illustration of John 12:13 MESSAGE

Illustration of John 12:13 MESSAGE -- Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in God's name! Yes! The King of Israel!

I have come into the world as a light,...
Illustration of John 12:46

Illustration of John 12:46 -- I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel...
Illustration of John 12:24

Illustration of John 12:24 -- I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Life from Death
Illustration of John 12:24

Inspirational illustration of John 12:24 -- I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Whoever serves me must follow me; and...
Illustration of John 12:26

Illustration of John 12:26 -- Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Cross References for John 12

Cross References Provided by Open Bible

The Berean Standard Bible

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a modern, clear, and faithful translation based on the best available Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Ideal for reading, study, and sharing, it entered the public domain in 2023. For more information, visit berean.bible.