Study Desk

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you."

"Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."

I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."

He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation,

and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover.

They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple area they asked one another, "What do you think? Isn't he coming to the Feast at all?"

"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.

for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.

Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

"Now my heart 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.

Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine.

Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.

For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;

for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.