Mary Anoints Jesus (Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50)
1 UDB Jesus arrived in Bethany six days before the Passover Festival began. Bethany was the village where Lazarus lived, the man Jesus made alive again after he had died. BSB BSB: Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
2 UDB There in Bethany, they gave a dinner to honor Jesus. Martha made preparations for the dinner, and Lazarus was among those who were sitting together and eating. BSB BSB: So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.
3 UDB Then Mary took a bottle of expensive perfume (called nard) and, to honor Jesus, she poured it out on his feet and then wiped his feet with her hair. The fragrance of the perfume filled the entire house. BSB BSB: Then 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.
4 UDB However, one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (he was the one who broke the trust Jesus had in him, and soon he would give Jesus up to his enemies)—he objected and said, BSB BSB: But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked,
5 UDB "We should have sold this perfume for three hundred days' wages and given the money to the poor." BSB BSB: “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
6 UDB He said this, not because he cared about the poor people but because he was a thief. He kept charge of the bag that held their money, but he would take money for his own use whenever he wanted. BSB BSB: Judas 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 UDB Then Jesus said, "Leave her alone! She bought this perfume for the day when I would die and they would bury me. BSB BSB: “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial.
8 UDB You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me." BSB BSB: The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.”
The Plot to Kill Lazarus 9 UDB A large crowd of Jews in Jerusalem heard that Jesus was in Bethany, so they went there. They came not only because Jesus was there but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had made alive. BSB BSB: Meanwhile 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.
10 UDB Then the chief priests decided it was necessary to also put Lazarus to death, BSB BSB: So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,
11 UDB for it was because of him that many of the Jews were no longer believing in what the chief priests were teaching; instead, they were putting their trust in Jesus. BSB BSB: for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.
The Triumphal Entry (Zechariah 9:9–13; Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:28–40)
12 UDB The next day the large crowd that had come for the Passover Festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. BSB BSB: The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
13 UDB So they cut branches from palm trees and went out to welcome him as he came into the city. They were shouting, "Hosanna! Praise God! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Welcome, King of Israel!" BSB BSB: 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 UDB When Jesus came near to Jerusalem, he found a young donkey and sat on it, riding into the city. By doing this, he fulfilled what had been written in scripture: BSB BSB: Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written:
15 UDB "Do not be afraid, you who live in Jerusalem. Look! Your King is coming. He is riding on a donkey's colt!" BSB BSB: “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.”
16 UDB When this happened, his disciples did not understand that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. However, after Jesus had finished his work and had received again his full powers as God, they looked back and remembered what the prophets had written about him and what people had done to him. BSB BSB: At 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.
17 UDB The crowd that was following along with Jesus kept telling others what they had seen, that Jesus had called Lazarus out of the tomb and had made him alive again. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, many people who had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify.
18 UDB The other crowd of people, those who went out of the city gate to meet Jesus, did so because they heard he had done great things to show them his power. BSB BSB: That is also why the crowd went out to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.
19 UDB So the Pharisees said to each other, "See! We are gaining no advantage here. Look! The whole world is following him!" BSB BSB: Then 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!”
Jesus Predicts His Death 20 UDB Among those who went up to Jerusalem during the Passover Festival were some Greeks. BSB BSB: Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast.
21 UDB They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in the district of Galilee. They had something to ask him; they said, "Sir, would you introduce us to Jesus?" BSB BSB: They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
22 UDB So Philip reported this to Andrew, and they both went and told Jesus. BSB BSB: Philip relayed this appeal to Andrew, and both of them went and told Jesus.
23 UDB Jesus answered Philip and Andrew, "It is time for God to show the people everything that I, the Son of Man, have done and to tell them all that I have said. BSB BSB: But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 UDB I am telling you the truth: Unless a seed of wheat is planted in the earth and dies, it remains only one seed; but after it dies in the ground, then it will grow and produce a harvest of many seeds. BSB BSB: Truly, 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.
26 UDB If anyone wants to serve me, he must also follow me because my servant must be where I am. The Father will honor everyone who serves me. BSB BSB: If 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.
27 UDB "Now my soul is greatly troubled. Should I say, 'Father, save me from this time when I will suffer and die'? No, for this is the very reason I came into this world. BSB BSB: Now 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.
28 UDB My Father, show how powerful you are in all you have said, in all you have done, and in all you are!" Then God spoke from heaven, "I have already displayed my nature, my words, and my works, and I will do it again!" BSB BSB: Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
29 UDB The crowd that was there heard the voice of God, but some said it was just thunder. Others said an angel had spoken to Jesus. BSB BSB: The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.
30 UDB Jesus replied to them, "The voice you heard speaking was God's voice. However, he spoke not for my benefit, but for yours! BSB BSB: In response, Jesus said, “This voice was not for My benefit, but yours.
31 UDB Now is the time for God to judge the world. Now is the time when he will drive out Satan, the one who rules this world. BSB BSB: Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
32 UDB As for me, when people raise me high on a cross, I will draw everyone to myself." BSB BSB: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.”
33 UDB He said this to let the people know how he would die. BSB BSB: He said this to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.
34 UDB Someone in the crowd answered him, "We understand from the scriptures that the Christ will live forever. So why do you say that the Son of Man will die? Who is this 'Son of Man'?" BSB BSB: The 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?”
35 UDB Jesus answered, "My light will shine on you for just a little longer. Walk in the light while you have my light, or the darkness will overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going! BSB BSB: Then 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.
36 UDB Trust in that light while you have the light; then you will belong to the light. After he said those things, Jesus left them and hid from them. BSB BSB: While 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.
Belief and Unbelief 37 UDB Although Jesus had done many miracles, most of the people did not believe what he had told them. BSB BSB: Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.
38 UDB This was to make come true what Isaiah the prophet had written long ago: "Lord, who has believed anything that they have heard from us? Has anyone seen how powerfully you, our Lord, can rescue us?" BSB BSB: 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 UDB Yet, they could not trust in him for the reason that Isaiah had written: BSB BSB: For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says:
40 UDB "The Lord has made them so they cannot see, and he has made them stubborn; they cannot even see with their eyes. If they could, they would understand; they would repent and pray for me to forgive them. For this reason, I cannot heal them!" BSB BSB: “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.”
41 UDB Isaiah wrote those words long ago because, as a prophet, he could see and understand the glory of Christ and he wrote about him in his prophecy. BSB BSB: Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him.
42 UDB Although this was true, many of the leaders of the Jewish people put their trust in Jesus. Nevertheless, they greatly feared that the Pharisees would ban them from the synagogues, so they did not speak out about trusting in Jesus. BSB BSB: Nevertheless, 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.
43 UDB They preferred that other people honor and respect them rather than that God would honor them. BSB BSB: For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
44 UDB Jesus shouted out to the crowd that had gathered, "Those who put their trust in me are not only putting their trust in me but also are putting their trust in the Father who sent me. BSB BSB: Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me.
45 UDB When you see me, you are also seeing the one who sent me. BSB BSB: And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me.
46 UDB I have come into the world as the light of the world; whoever puts his trust in me will not remain in the darkness. BSB BSB: I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
47 UDB "I do not judge those who listen to my words but refuse to obey me. I did not come into the world to condemn the world. BSB BSB: As 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.
48 UDB Yet, there is something that will condemn those who reject me and do not follow my message. They are condemned by the message I have spoken to them. BSB BSB: There 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.
49 UDB When I taught about God, I was not merely saying what I thought. The Father, who sent me, gave me clear instructions on what I should say and how I should say it. BSB BSB: I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.
50 UDB I know that the Father's most important instructions are the ones that teach people how to live forever, and I have said exactly what my Father has told me to say." BSB BSB: And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.