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Jesus Anointed at
Bethany
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where
Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a
dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while
Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive
perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet
with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance
of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to
betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and
the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6
He 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 help himself to what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that
she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You
will always have the poor among you, but you will not always
have me.”
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was
there and came, not only because of him but also to see
Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief
priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on
account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and
putting their faith in him.
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the
festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13
They 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!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is
written:
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is
coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only
after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things
had been written about him and that these things had been
done to him.
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus
from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to
spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that
he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the
Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us
nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
Jesus Predicts His Death
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to
worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was
from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said,
“we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew;
Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to
be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, 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. 25 Those who
love their life will lose it, while those who hate their
life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 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.
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father,
save me from this hour?’ No, it was for this very reason I
came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a
voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will
glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it
said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to
him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.
31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the
prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am
lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to
die.
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the
Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of
Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man?’”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light
just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,
before darkness overtakes you. Those who walk in the dark do
not know where they are going. 36 Put your trust in the
light while you have the light, so that you may become
children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus
left and hid himself from them.
Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their
presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This 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?”
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as
Isaiah says elsewhere:
40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so
they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with
their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke
about him.
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed
in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly
acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of
the synagogue; 43 for they loved human glory more than the
glory of God.
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Those who believe in me do not
believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 When they
look at me, they see the one who sent me. 46 I have come
into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me
should stay in darkness.
47 “As for those who hear my words but do not keep them, I
do not judge them. For I did not come to judge the world,
but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for those who
reject me and do not accept my words; the very words I have
spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not
speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to
say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads
to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father
has told me to say.”
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Cults 
Why Did God Permit Sin?
