John 12 1

John 12:1 kjv

Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

John 12:1 nkjv

Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.

John 12:1 niv

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

John 12:1 esv

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

John 12:1 nlt

Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus ? the man he had raised from the dead.

John 12 verses

John 12 1 Meaning

John 12:1 marks a crucial temporal and geographical point in Jesus' final earthly ministry. It states that six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus whom He had recently raised from the dead. This verse establishes the precise timing of events leading up to His crucifixion, positioning Bethany as the significant location where Jesus paused before His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and His ultimate sacrifice. It highlights the living testimony of Lazarus, solidifying Jesus' identity as the Lord of life even as He approaches His own death.

John 12 1 Context

John 12:1 immediately follows the climactic miracle of Lazarus' resurrection in chapter 11, an event so profound it intensified the Jewish religious leaders' resolve to kill Jesus (Jn 11:47-53). Jesus had briefly withdrawn to Ephraim (Jn 11:54) before making this deliberate return to Bethany, strategically positioned just two miles from Jerusalem. The timing "six days before the Passover" is crucial. This situates Jesus' arrival on Nisan 8 or 9 (depending on counting from the day of the Passover meal or the Feast), leading up to the Triumphal Entry often understood to be on Nisan 10 – the traditional day the Passover lamb was selected and set aside according to Old Testament instruction (Ex 12:3). This timing emphasizes Jesus as the designated Passover Lamb, coming into Jerusalem for His sacrifice. Bethany itself, as the home of His dear friends Martha, Mary, and the recently resurrected Lazarus, served as a temporary sanctuary and a visible testament to Jesus' power over death before He entered the volatile environment of Jerusalem for His final week. The verse thus sets the stage for the dramatic final events leading to the Passion, framing them within a divinely orchestrated timeline and amidst personal connections.

John 12 1 Word analysis

• Then: Greek: Oun (Οὖν). A transitional particle, linking back to previous events. It signifies a consequence or continuation, specifically Jesus' move after the high-priestly conspiracy following Lazarus' resurrection. It implies deliberate action and purpose.
• six days before: Greek: Pro hex hēmerōn (πρὸ ἓξ ἡμερῶν). This precise chronological marker is profoundly significant. It situates Jesus' arrival in Bethany on a particular day relative to Passover, suggesting Nisan 8 or 9 in the Jewish calendar. This timing aligns with the ritual of selecting the Passover lamb on the 10th of Nisan (Ex 12:3), highlighting Jesus' identity as the sacrificial Lamb of God. It underlines divine timing and predestination for His Passion.
• the Passover: Greek: Tou Pascha (τοῦ Πάσχα). The annual Jewish festival commemorating liberation from Egyptian bondage, particularly the passing over of the death angel (Exodus 12). For John, this Feast takes on supreme significance, representing Christ's redemptive work as the ultimate Passover Lamb whose blood protects from spiritual death.
• Jesus: Greek: Ho Iēsous (ὁ Ἰησοῦς). The Christ, the Son of God, now approaching the climax of His earthly mission. His name signifies "Yahweh Saves" or "Savior." His identity remains central even as He walks towards suffering.
• came: Greek: Ēlthen (ἦλθεν). Simple past tense, indicating a direct, intentional movement. Jesus journeyed deliberately to this location.
• to Bethany: Greek: Eis Bēthanian (εἰς Βηθανίαν). A village near Jerusalem, approximately two miles east on the Mount of Olives. Its name possibly means "House of Figs" or "House of Affliction/Poverty." It was a familiar, safe haven for Jesus, signifying comfort and deep personal relationships before the trials of Jerusalem. It also means "House of Dates."
• where: Greek: Hopou (ὅπου). Specifies the location and links it directly to Lazarus.
• Lazarus was: Greek: ēn Lazaros (ἦν Λάζαρος). "Lazarus was" uses the imperfect tense of eimi, emphasizing his continued state of being alive after the resurrection, providing continuous, undeniable evidence of Jesus' power.
• who had been dead: Greek: Ho tethnekōs (ὁ τεθνηκώς). Perfect active participle. Emphasizes his prior, confirmed state of death, underlining the impossible nature of his resurrection. This ensures no ambiguity about the miracle.
• whom Jesus had raised from the dead: Greek: Hon ēgeiren ek nekrōn (ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν). An aorist active indicative verb. Clearly states Jesus' sovereign act. This specific phrase reiterates the defining miracle that prompted the Jewish leadership's final conspiracy against Jesus, making Bethany a dangerous yet purposeful destination.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Then six days before the Passover: This precise temporal marker sets the stage for John's Passion narrative. It is unique to John, adding depth to the divine choreography of redemption. It speaks to God's precise timing for the Passover Lamb, linking Jesus' final entry and sacrifice to the Old Testament festival.
• Jesus came to Bethany: This highlights Jesus' deliberate return to a place of intimate fellowship and comfort before facing Jerusalem. His arrival is not accidental but purposeful, moving towards His ultimate destiny.
• where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom Jesus had raised from the dead: This entire phrase strongly links Bethany to the preceding miraculous resurrection. Lazarus' living presence served as both a witness to Jesus' power over death and a tangible irritant to the Jewish authorities. His being alive after having been demonstrably dead serves as a continuous, profound testament to Jesus' messianic power, anticipating Jesus' own resurrection and overcoming death.

John 12 1 Bonus section

• Chronological Discrepancy (apparent): Some scholars debate if "six days before the Passover" means six days before the Passover meal (Seder on the evening of Nisan 14) or six days before the Day of Unleavened Bread. John's chronology often places Jesus' anointing on Nisan 9, followed by the Triumphal Entry on Nisan 10, aligning with the "setting aside" of the Passover lamb. This is subtly different from the Synoptics, which imply the anointing takes place closer to the Last Supper. John's specific timing underscores the theological truth of Jesus as the Lamb of God whose crucifixion aligned perfectly with the Passover sacrificial system.
• Bethany's Symbolic Importance: Beyond being a specific location, Bethany (House of Poverty/House of Affliction) near the thriving Jerusalem, highlights Jesus' identification with the humble and marginalized. It's also where the Triumphal Entry would symbolically commence for Jesus entering Jerusalem.
• Foreboding Peace: The serene gathering in Bethany is presented as a final moment of relative calm and intimate fellowship for Jesus with His beloved friends before the onslaught of trials and suffering in Jerusalem. This interlude heightens the dramatic contrast with the impending Passion.

John 12 1 Commentary

John 12:1 is a short but profoundly significant verse, marking the strategic beginning of Jesus' Passion Week. The precise dating "six days before the Passover" is crucial. While the Synoptics recount a journey to Jerusalem days before, John's specific mention grounds Jesus' arrival in Bethany within a timeframe that resonates deeply with Old Testament Passover regulations—particularly the selection of the unblemished lamb four days before its sacrifice. This subtly yet powerfully identifies Jesus as the divinely appointed Passover Lamb. His arrival in Bethany, home to Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha, is deliberate. It signifies not merely a convenient stopping point but a return to a place recently consecrated by one of His greatest public miracles. Lazarus's living presence served as an undeniable testimony to Jesus' life-giving power, confirming His authority even as He faced His ultimate act of self-sacrifice. The verse creates a compelling tension: Jesus, the Life-Giver, arrives at a beloved home where He celebrated victory over death, knowing that this journey leads directly to His own impending death, validating the veracity of His mission and the inevitability of His path to Calvary. It underlines God's precise control over salvation history, demonstrating that every step of Jesus' journey was meticulously ordained.