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John 12:27-50
Easy-to-Read Version
John 12:27-50
Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus Talks About His Death
27 “Now I am very troubled. What should I say? Should I say, ‘Father save me from this time of suffering’? No, I came to this time so that I could suffer. 28 Father, do what will bring you glory!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have already brought glory to myself. I will do it again.”
29 The people standing there heard the voice. They said it was thunder.
But others said, “An angel spoke to him!”
30 Jesus said, “That voice was for you and not for me. 31 Now is the time for the world to be judged. Now the ruler of this world will be thrown out. 32 I will be lifted up[a] from the earth. When that happens, I will draw all people to myself.” 33 Jesus said this to show how he would die.
34 The people said, “But our law says that the Messiah will live forever. So why do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus said, “The light[b] will be with you for only a short time more. So walk while you have the light. Then the darkness will not catch you. People who walk in the darkness don’t know where they are going. 36 So put your trust in the light while you still have it. Then you will be children of light.” When Jesus finished saying these things, he went away to a place where the people could not find him.
Some Jews Refuse to Believe in Jesus
37 The people saw all these miraculous signs Jesus did, but they still did not believe in him. 38 This was to give full meaning to what Isaiah the prophet said:
“Lord, who believed what we told them?
Who has seen the Lord’s power?” (A)
39 This is why the people could not believe. Because Isaiah also said,
40 “God made the people blind.
He closed their minds.
He did this so that they would not see with their eyes
and understand with their minds.
He did it so that they would not turn
and be healed.” (B)
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ divine greatness. So he spoke about him.
42 But many people believed in Jesus. Even many of the Jewish leaders believed in him, but they were afraid of the Pharisees, so they did not say openly that they believed. They were afraid they would be ordered to stay out of the synagogue. 43 They loved praise from people more than praise from God.
Jesus’ Teaching Will Judge People
44 Then Jesus said loudly, “Everyone who believes in me is really believing in the one who sent me. 45 Everyone who sees me is really seeing the one who sent me. 46 I came into this world as a light. I came so that everyone who believes in me will not stay in darkness.
47 “I did not come into the world to judge people. I came to save the people in the world. So I am not the one who judges those who hear my teaching and do not obey. 48 But there is a judge for all those who refuse to believe in me and do not accept what I say. The message I have spoken will judge them on the last day. 49 That is because what I taught was not from myself. The Father who sent me told me what to say and what to teach. 50 And I know that whatever he says to do will bring eternal life. So the things I say are exactly what the Father told me to say.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 12:32 lifted up Meaning to be nailed to a cross and “lifted up” on it to die. It may also have a second meaning: to be “lifted up” from death to heaven. Also in verse 34.
- John 12:35 light This means Christ, as in Jn. 1:5-9. Also, it is a symbol of goodness and truth, qualities associated with Christ and his kingdom.
John 12:27-50
New International Version
John 12:27-50
New International Version
27 “Now my soul is troubled,(A) and what shall I say? ‘Father,(B) save me from this hour’?(C) No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven,(D) “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,(E) not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world;(F) now the prince of this world(G) will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[a] from the earth,(H) will draw all people to myself.”(I) 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.(J)
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law(K) that the Messiah will remain forever,(L) so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man(M) must be lifted up’?(N) Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light(O) just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,(P) before darkness overtakes you.(Q) Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”(R) When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.(S)
Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs(T) in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
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.”[c](V)
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory(W) and spoke about him.(X)
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.(Y) But because of the Pharisees(Z) they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;(AA) 43 for they loved human praise(AB) more than praise from God.(AC)
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.(AD) 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.(AE) 46 I have come into the world as a light,(AF) so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.(AG) 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them(AH) at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me(AI) to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life.(AJ) So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”(AK)
Footnotes
- John 12:32 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
- John 12:38 Isaiah 53:1
- John 12:40 Isaiah 6:10
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