John 11:53–12:3

⁵³So from that day on they plotted to take his life.^c

⁵⁴Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea.^d Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

⁵⁵When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover,^e many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing^f before the Passover. ⁵⁶They kept looking for Jesus,^g and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” ⁵⁷But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

12:1–8Ref—Mt 26:6–13; Mk 14:3–9; Lk 7:37–39

12Six days before the Passover,^h Jesus came to Bethany,ⁱ where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ²Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served,^j while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³Then Mary took about a pint^a of pure nard, an expensive perfume;^k she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.^l And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.