John 12:9–26

The Decision to Kill Lazarus

9 Then a large crowd of the Jews learned He was there. They came not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus the one He had raised from the dead. m 10 Therefore the * chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also 11 because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them n and believing in Jesus.

The Triumphal Entry

12 The o next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took palm branches p and went out to meet Him. They kept shouting: “* Hosanna! q He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One r s—the King of Israel!” t

14 Jesus found a young donkey u and sat on it, just as it is written: 15 Fear no more, v Daughter * Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt. w x

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him y and that they had done these things to Him. 17 Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb z and raised him from the dead, continued to testify. a 18 This is also why the crowd met Him, because they heard He had done this sign.

19 Then the * Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You’ve accomplished nothing. Look—the world has gone after Him!” b

Jesus Predicts His Crucifixion

20 Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 So they came to Philip, c who was from Bethsaida d in Galilee, e and requested of him, “Sir, f we want to see Jesus.”

22 Philip went and told Andrew; g then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the * Son of Man h to be glorified.

24 “* I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat i falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop. j k 25 The one who loves his life will lose it, l and the one who hates m his life n in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant o also will be. p If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor q him.