Jesus anointed at Bethany
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about half a litre 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.
4But 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.12:5 Greek three hundred denarii’ 6He 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. 8You will always have the poor among you,12:8 See Deut. 15:11. but you will not always have me.’
9Meanwhile 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. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
Jesus comes to Jerusalem as king
12The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
‘Hosanna!12:13 A Hebrew expression meaning ‘Save!’ which became an exclamation of praise’
‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’12:13 Psalm 118:25,26
‘Blessed is the king of Israel!’
14Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written:
15‘Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.’12:15 Zech. 9:9
16At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realise that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
17Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19So 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
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus.’ 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour 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. 28Father, glorify your name!’
Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’ 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30Jesus said, ‘This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up12:32 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted. from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ 33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34The crowd spoke up, ‘We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain for ever, so how can you say, “The Son of Man must be lifted up”? Who is this “Son of Man”?’
35Then 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. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36Believe 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
37Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38This was to fulfil the word of Isaiah the prophet:
‘Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’12:38 Isaiah 53:1
39For 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.’12:40 Isaiah 6:10
41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42Yet 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; 43for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
44Then Jesus cried out, ‘Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46I have come into the world as a light, 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. 48There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.’
Mariya Adzoza Mapazi a Yesu
1Masiku asanu ndi limodzi Paska asanafike, Yesu anafika ku Betaniya, kumene kumakhala Lazaro, amene Yesu anamuukitsa kwa akufa. 2Kumeneko anamukonzera Yesu chakudya cha madzulo. Marita anatumikira pamene Lazaro anali mmodzi wa iwo amene anakhala nawo pa chakudyacho. 3Kenaka Mariya anatenga botolo la mafuta a nadi, onunkhira bwino kwambiri, amtengowapatali; Iye anadzoza mapazi a Yesu napukuta ndi tsitsi lake. Ndipo nyumba yonse inadzaza ndi fungo lonunkhira bwino la mafutawo.
4Koma mmodzi wa ophunzira ake, Yudasi Isikarioti, amene pambuyo pake adzamupereka anati, 5“Nʼchifukwa chiyani mafuta awa sanagulitsidwe ndipo ndalama zake nʼkuzipereka kwa osauka?” Mafutawo anali a mtengo wa malipiro a chaka chimodzi. 6Iye sananene izi chifukwa cha kuganizira osauka koma chifukwa anali mbava; ngati wosunga thumba la ndalama, amabamo zomwe ankayikamo.
7Yesu anayankha kuti, “Mulekeni. Mafutawa anayenera kusungidwa mpaka tsiku loyika maliro anga. 8Inu mudzakhala ndi osauka nthawi zonse, koma simudzakhala nane nthawi zonse.”
9Pa nthawi imeneyi gulu lalikulu la Ayuda linadziwa kuti Yesu anali kumeneko, ndipo linabwera, sichifukwa cha Iye yekha koma kudzaonanso Lazaro, amene anamuukitsa kwa akufa. 10Choncho akulu a ansembe anakonza njira yoti aphenso Lazaro, 11pakuti chifukwa cha iye Ayuda ambiri amapita kwa Yesu ndi kumukhulupirira.
Yesu Alowa mu Yerusalemu
12Tsiku lotsatira, gulu lalikulu la anthu lomwe linabwera kuphwando linamva kuti Yesu anali mʼnjira kupita ku Yerusalemu. 13Iwo anatenga nthambi za kanjedza ndi kupita kukakumana naye, akufuwula kuti,
“Hosana!
“Wodala Iye amene akubwera mʼdzina la Ambuye!
“Yodala Mfumu ya Israeli!”
14Yesu anapeza bulu wamngʼono ndi kukwerapo, monga kunalembedwa kuti:
15“Usachite mantha mwana wamkazi wa Ziyoni;
taona mfumu yako ikubwera,
itakhala pa mwana wabulu.”
16Poyamba ophunzira ake sanamvetsetse zonsezi. Koma pomwe Yesu analemekezedwa ndi pamene anazindikira kuti zinthu izi zinalembedwa ndipo kuti anamuchitira Iye.
17Tsopano gulu la anthu lomwe linali naye pa nthawi imene amaukitsidwa Lazaro ku manda linapitiriza kuchitira umboni. 18Anthu ambiri, anapita kukakumana naye, chifukwa iwo anamva kuti Iye anachita chizindikiro chodabwitsachi. 19Choncho Afarisi anati kwa wina ndi mnzake, “Taonani, palibe chimene mwachitapo. Anthu onse akumutsatira Iye!”
Agriki Afuna Kuona Yesu
20Tsopano panali Agriki ena pakati pa amene anapita kukapembedza ku phwando. 21Iwo anabwera kwa Filipo, wochokera ku Betisaida wa ku Galileya, ndi pempho, nati, “Akulu, ife tikufuna kuona Yesu.” 22Filipo anapita kukawuza Andreya; Andreya ndi Filipo pamodzi anakawuza Yesu.
23Yesu anayankha kuti, “Nthawi yafika yakuti Mwana wa Munthu alemekezedwe. 24Zoonadi, Ine ndikukuwuzani kuti, ‘Mbewu ya tirigu imakhala imodzi yokha ngati sikugwa mʼnthaka ndi kufa. Koma ngati imfa, imabereka mbewu zambiri.’ 25Munthu amene amakonda moyo wake adzawutaya, pamene munthu amene amadana ndi moyo wake mʼdziko lino lapansi adzawusungira ku moyo wosatha. 26Aliyense amene atumikira Ine ayenera kunditsata; ndipo kumene Ine ndili, wotumikira wanga adzakhalanso komweko. Atate anga adzalemekeza amene atumikira Ine.
27“Moyo wanga ukuvutika tsopano, kodi ndidzanena chiyani? Ndinene kuti Atate pulumutseni ku nthawi ino? Ayi. Chifukwa chimene Ine ndinabwera pa nthawi iyi ndi chimenechi. 28Atate, lemekezani dzina lanu!”
Kenaka mawu anabwera kuchokera kumwamba, “Ine ndalilemekeza, ndipo ndidzalilemekezanso.” 29Gulu la anthu lomwe linali pamenepo litamva linati, “Kwagunda bingu,” ena anati, “Mngelo wayankhula kwa Iye.”
30Yesu anati, “Mawu awa abwera chifukwa cha inu osati chifukwa cha Ine. 31Ino tsopano ndi nthawi yachiweruzo pa dziko lapansi; tsopano olamulira wa dziko lapansi adzathamangitsidwa. 32Koma Ine, akadzandipachika pa dziko lapansi, ndidzakokera anthu onse kwa Ine.” 33Iye ananena izi kuti aonetse mmene adzafere.
34Gulu la anthu linayankha kuti, “Ife tinamva kuchokera mʼmalamulo kuti Khristu adzakhala kwamuyaya, nanga bwanji Inu mukunena kuti, ‘Mwana wa Munthu ayenera kukwezedwa?’ Kodi Mwana wa Munthuyu ndani?”
35Kenaka Yesu anawawuza kuti, “Inu mukhala ndi kuwunika kwa nthawi pangʼono. Yendani pamene mukanali ndi kuwunika, kuti mdima usakupitirireni. Munthu amene amayenda mu mdima sadziwa kumene akupita. 36Khulupirirani kuwunika, pamene mukanali ndi kuwunika, kuti mukhale ana a kuwunika.” Yesu atamaliza kuyankhula izi, Iye anachoka nabisala kuti asamuone.
Ayuda Apitirira Kusakhulupirira
37Ngakhale Yesu anachita zizindikiro zodabwitsa zonsezi pamaso pawo, sanamukhulupirirebe. 38Izi zinakwaniritsa mawu a mneneri Yesaya kuti:
“Ambuye, wakhulupirira uthenga wathu ndani,
ndipo ndi kwa yani komwe mkono wa Ambuye wavumbulutsidwa?”
39Pa chifukwa cha ichi iwo sanakhulupirire, chifukwa Yesaya ananenanso kuti:
40“Iye wachititsa khungu maso awo
ndi kuwumitsa mitima yawo,
kotero kuti iwo sangathe kuona ndi maso awo,
kapena kuzindikira ndi mitima yawo,
kapena kutembenuka kuti Ine ndikanawachiza.”
41Yesaya ananena izi chifukwa anaona ulemerero wa Yesu ndi kuyankhula za Iye.
42Komabe pa nthawi yomweyi ambiri ngakhale atsogoleri anakhulupirira Iye. Koma chifukwa cha Afarisi iwo sanavomereze chikhulupiriro chawo chifukwa amaopa kuti angawatulutse mʼsunagoge; 43pakuti iwo amakonda kuyamikiridwa ndi anthu kuposa kuyamikiridwa ndi Mulungu.
44Kenaka Yesu anafuwula nati, “Munthu aliyense amene akhulupirira Ine, sakhulupirira Ine ndekha, komanso Iye amene anandituma Ine. 45Iye amene waona Ine, waonanso Iye amene anandituma Ine. 46Ine ndabwera mʼdziko lapansi monga kuwunika, kotero palibe amene amakhulupirira Ine nʼkumakhalabe mu mdima.
47“Ndipo munthu amene amva mawu anga koma osawasunga, Ine sindimuweruza. Pakuti Ine sindinabwere kudzaweruza dziko lapansi, koma kudzapulumutsa. 48Iye amene akana Ine ndipo salandira mawu anga ali ndi womuweruza. Tsiku lomaliza mawu amene ndiyankhulawa adzamutsutsa. 49Pakuti Ine sindiyankhula mwa Ine ndekha, koma Atate amene anandituma amandilamulira choti ndinene ndi momwe ndinenere. 50Ine ndikudziwa kuti lamulo lake ndi moyo wosatha. Choncho chilichonse chimene Ine ndinena ndi chimene Atate andiwuza.”
