Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Jesus came to Bethany six days before the Passover. He had raised Lazarus from the dead, and many Jews followed Jesus because of this miracle.

Martha welcomed Jesus into her home, where they prepared a supper in his honor. Lazarus was one of the guests who sat with Jesus at the table. As they ate, Mary took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard and anointed Jesus' feet with it, wiping them clean with her hair. The aroma of the ointment filled the house.

One of Jesus' twelve apostles, Judas Iscariot, spoke up, criticizing Mary for wasting such valuable ointment on Jesus when it could have been sold to help the poor. But Jesus knew that Judas was a thief who had been entrusted with the money bag and would often steal from it. Jesus said, "Leave her alone; she has kept this perfume for my burial."

Jesus reminded his disciples that they always had opportunities to care for the poor but wouldn't have him among them forever. He then told them about Lazarus' resurrection, which had caused many Jews to follow Jesus.

The chief priests became concerned when they heard that Jesus was staying in Bethany and that many people were following him because of Lazarus. They planned to put Lazarus to death as well, fearing his influence over the crowd.

On the next day, a large crowd went out to meet Jesus as he approached Jerusalem for the festival. They took palm branches and shouted, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!" Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as the prophet had written: "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey's colt."

When Jesus was later glorified, his disciples remembered that these things were written about him and that they had done them to him. They also remembered how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and testified to this miracle.

The people who witnessed Jesus' miracle at Lazarus' tomb bore witness to it, and as a result, many more people gathered around Jesus. However, the Pharisees were concerned, saying, "You're accomplishing nothing; behold, the world has gone after him."

Some Greeks had come to Jerusalem for the festival and expressed their desire to see Jesus, which they asked Philip, one of his twelve apostles, to arrange.

The hour had come for the Son of Man to be glorified, Jesus said. He compared himself to a grain of wheat that must fall into the ground and die in order to produce much fruit. If anyone loved their life more than following him, they would lose it; but if someone hated their life in this world and kept it from earthly desires, they could keep it for eternal life.

Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone serves me, let them follow me; and where I am, my servant will also be. My Father who sent me will honor whoever serves me." Jesus was deeply troubled as he contemplated the events that would unfold.

As Jesus prayed to his Father, a voice came from heaven saying, "I have already glorified it, and I will do so again." The people standing by thought they heard thunder or an angel speaking. Jesus clarified that the voice had come not for him but on behalf of those listening.

Jesus said that this was the time for the ruler of this world to be cast out, and he would draw all people to himself if he were lifted up from the earth. This statement signified the manner of death he was about to face.

The crowd asked Jesus who he meant by "the Son of Man," a title they had heard before but didn't fully understand. They recalled that according to Jewish law, the Messiah would remain forever, yet Jesus said, "The Son of man must be lifted up."

Jesus told his disciples, "Yet a little while is the light with you; walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you: for he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going." He urged them to believe in the light while it was still available.

Despite having witnessed many miracles, Jesus' disciples still didn't fully believe in him. This fulfilled a prophecy from Isaiah that said, "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

Jesus told his disciples that the people couldn't understand or see because God had blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts. But some of the chief rulers did believe in Jesus, although they kept it a secret due to fear of being ostracized by the Pharisees.

Jesus cried out, "The one who believes in me is believing in him who sent me." He emphasized that those who see him are seeing the One who sent him and that he came as a light into the world. Jesus said that if anyone heard his words but didn't believe, he wouldn't judge them; instead, he had come to save them.

However, if someone rejected Jesus' teachings and didn't accept his words, they would be judged by those very words on the last day. Jesus clarified that everything he spoke came from the Father who sent him, and he knew that this was the commandment for eternal life.