Elijah

11"I am telling you the truth. Of all people ever born, no one is greater than John the Baptist. But the smallest person in God's kingdom is greater than he is."

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

NoteGod's kingdom means all the people God rules as king.

12"From the days of John until now, people have attacked God's kingdom. Violent people grab it by force."

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

NoteThis verse is hard to understand. Even people who study the Bible are not sure what it means.

13"All the prophets and the law of God told what was coming. They did this until John came."

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

NoteThe law means the rules God gave to Moses long, long ago.

14"If you are willing to believe it, John is the Elijah who was coming."

And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

NoteElijah was a prophet who lived long before John was born. People believed Elijah would come back first. Then God's promised king would come.

15"If you have ears, then listen."

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

NoteThis was a common saying. It means listen carefully and think about it.

1Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him. John was James's brother. Jesus led them up a high mountain, away from other people.

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

NotePeter, James, and John were three of Jesus's closest friends. They traveled with him and learned from him every day.

2There Jesus changed right in front of them. His face shone like the sun. His clothes turned as white as light.

And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

NoteThe King James says Jesus was "transfigured." That means his whole look changed. It also says "raiment," which is an old word for clothes.

3All at once, Moses and Elijah were there. They were talking with Jesus.

And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

NoteMoses and Elijah lived long, long before Jesus. Moses led God's people out of Egypt. Elijah was a prophet, someone who told people what God said. The King James spells his name "Elias."

4Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you want, I will build three shelters. One for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

NoteShelters were little huts made of branches and leaves. People built them to stay in when they slept outside. The King James calls them "tabernacles."

5While Peter was still talking, a bright cloud covered them. A voice came out of the cloud. It said, "This is my Son, and I love him. He makes me very glad. Listen to him!"

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

NoteFor the people back then, a bright cloud meant God was very near. In their old stories, God spoke from a cloud like this one.

6When his followers, called disciples, heard the voice, they fell with their faces to the ground. They were very afraid.

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

NoteLying face down on the ground was a way to show great respect. People did it in front of a king.

7Jesus came over and touched them. He said, "Get up. Do not be afraid."

And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

8They looked up. They saw no one there but Jesus.

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

9As they walked down the mountain, Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had seen. They should wait until the Son of Man rose from the dead. Jesus called himself the Son of Man.

And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

NoteThe King James calls what they saw a "vision," something shown to them. "Son of man" was a name from an old book of the Bible. Jesus used it about himself.

10His followers asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" Scribes were teachers who studied and copied God's laws.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

NoteScribes copied the Bible by hand, one letter at a time. There were no printing machines then. They also taught people the laws. Many people believed Elijah would come back before God sent his special king.

11Jesus answered, "It is true. Elijah does come first, and he puts everything right again."

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

12"But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People did not know who he was. They did to him whatever they wanted. They will hurt the Son of Man in the same way."

But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

13Then his followers understood. Jesus was talking about John the Baptist.

Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

NoteJohn the Baptist told people to get ready, because Jesus was coming. A king put John in prison, and John was killed there.

2Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him. He led them up a high mountain, away from everyone. There his whole look changed in front of them.

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

NotePeter, James, and John were three of Jesus' closest friends. He often took just these three with him.

3His clothes turned bright and shining white, whiter than snow. No one on earth could wash clothes that white.

And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

NoteThe old King James words say "no fuller on earth" could make them so white. A fuller was a worker whose job was washing and whitening cloth.

4Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them. The two men were talking with Jesus.

And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

NoteMoses and Elijah lived hundreds of years before Jesus. Moses led God's people out of Egypt and gave them God's rules. Elijah was a prophet, someone who told people what God said.

5Peter said to Jesus, "Teacher, it is good for us to be here. Let us build three shelters. One for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Note"Master" in the old King James English means teacher, not a boss. The shelters Peter wanted were little huts made of branches.

6Peter did not know what to say. All of them were very afraid.

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

7Then a cloud came and covered them. A voice came out of the cloud. It said, "This is my Son, and I love him. Listen to him."

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

NoteIn the old stories, a thick cloud was a sign that God was very close. People could not see through it.

8They looked all around them. Suddenly they saw no one else. Only Jesus was there with them.

And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

9They walked back down the mountain. Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had seen. They could tell it after the Son of Man rose from the dead.

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

Note"Son of Man" was the name Jesus used for himself.

10So they kept it to themselves. But they asked each other what "rising from the dead" meant.

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

NoteRising from the dead means coming back to life after dying. The friends had never seen that happen, so they did not know what Jesus meant.

11They asked Jesus, "Why do the scribes say Elijah must come first?"

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

NoteGod's book had promised that Elijah would come again. Teachers said he would come first and get everything ready. Scribes were teachers who knew God's law well.

12Jesus answered, "Yes, Elijah comes first and puts everything right. But God's book also says the Son of Man must suffer much. It says people will treat him as worth nothing."

And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

Note"God's book" was not one book with pages. It was a set of scrolls, long sheets rolled up on sticks.

13"But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People did whatever they wanted to him. That is just what God's book said would happen."

But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

NoteJesus meant John the Baptist, who spoke and dressed much like Elijah. A king put John in prison and then killed him.

13But the angel said, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias. God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elisabeth will have a son. You will name him John."

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

NoteBack then a name was chosen because of what it meant. The name John means "God has been kind."

14"You will be full of joy and gladness. Many people will be glad when he is born."

And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15"He will be great in the Lord's sight. He will never drink wine or any strong drink. He will be full of the Holy Spirit even before he is born."

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

NoteThe Holy Spirit is God himself, close to people and helping them. Some people made a special promise to God never to drink wine. It was a sign that their whole life belonged to God.

16"He will bring many people of Israel back to the Lord their God."

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

NoteIsrael was the name of God's people, and of the land they lived in.

17"He will go ahead of the Lord with the same spirit and power as Elias. He will turn fathers' hearts back to their children. He will turn people who will not obey toward the wisdom of those who do right. He will get people ready for the Lord."

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

NoteElias is another way of saying Elijah. Elijah was a brave prophet who lived hundreds of years before. A prophet is someone who tells people what God says.

24He said, "I tell you the truth. No prophet is welcomed in his own hometown."

And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

Note"Verily" is old English for truly. Jesus used it to say: listen closely, this is true.

25"Here is the truth. Many widows lived in Israel back when Elijah lived. For three and a half years no rain fell. People all over the land were very hungry."

But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

NoteA widow is a woman whose husband has died. Back then she often had no money and no one to care for her. "Elias" is the old spelling of Elijah, a prophet who lived long before Jesus. The King James says "the heaven was shut up," which means no rain fell from the sky. A famine is when crops do not grow and people have no food.

26"But Elijah was not sent to any of those widows. He was sent to a widow in Zarephath, a town near Sidon."

But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

Note"Sarepta" is the old spelling of Zarephath. It was a town near the city of Sidon, by the sea. Those people were not part of Israel, so helping them there was surprising.

27"Many people in Israel had a bad skin sickness when Elisha the prophet lived. Not one of them was made well. Only Naaman, a man from Syria, was made well."

And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

Note"Eliseus" is the old spelling of Elisha. He was a prophet too, and he came after Elijah. The King James says "lepers." That means people with a bad skin sickness. Others stayed away from them. "Cleansed" means made well again. Naaman came from Syria, a country next door, not from Israel.

51The time was coming for Jesus to be taken up to heaven. So he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem.

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

52He sent messengers ahead of him. They went into a village in Samaria to get things ready for him.

And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

NoteSamaritans lived in Samaria, the land between Galilee and Jerusalem. Jews and Samaritans did not get along. They each said God should be worshiped in a different place.

53But the people there would not welcome him. This was because he was heading for Jerusalem.

And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

54His followers James and John saw this. They said, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to burn them up, as Elijah did?"

And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

NoteIn an old story, Elijah once called fire down from the sky. James and John were remembering that story.

55Jesus turned and told them they were wrong. He said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you have."

But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

56"The Son of Man did not come to destroy people's lives. He came to save them." Then they went on to another village.

For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

19Here is what John said. The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites, who helped at the temple, to ask him, "Who are you?"

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

NotePriests were men who worked at the temple. The temple was the big special building in Jerusalem where people worshiped God. Levites came from one family, and they helped the priests there.

20John did not hide anything. He said clearly, "I am not the Christ, the king God promised to send."

And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

Note"Christ" is not a last name. It means the one God chose, the king God promised to send.

21They asked, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah, the prophet from long ago?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet God promised?" He answered, "No."

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

NoteElijah was a prophet long ago. A prophet is someone who tells people what God says. Elijah went up to heaven, and people watched for him to come back.

22So they said, "Then who are you? We must bring an answer back to the men who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

23John said, "I am a voice calling out in the empty desert. I say, 'Make the road straight for the Lord.'" The prophet Isaiah wrote those words long ago.

He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

NoteThe wilderness is empty land with no towns, mostly rocks and sand. Long ago, workers fixed and smoothed the road before a king came. Isaiah was a prophet who lived hundreds of years before John.

24The men who had been sent were Pharisees. They were a group who cared very much about God's rules.

And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

NoteThe Pharisees were a group of teachers. They tried very hard to keep every one of God's rules.

25They asked him, "Then why do you baptize people? You say you are not the Christ, or Elijah, or the Prophet."

And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

NoteTo baptize someone is to dip them under water for a moment. It showed they were sorry and wanted to start fresh with God.

2God did not push away the people he chose long ago. Do you know what the Bible says about Elijah? He spoke to God against Israel.

God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

NoteElijah lived hundreds of years before Paul wrote this. He was a prophet, a person who told others what God said.

3He said, "Lord, they killed your prophets, the people who told others what you said. They knocked down your altars. I am the only one left, and they want to kill me."

Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

NoteAn altar was a special table built of stones. People burned gifts on it to give them to God.

4And what did God say back to him? "I have kept seven thousand men for myself. They have not bowed down to the false god Baal."

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

NoteBaal was a pretend god. Some people prayed to statues of him. Bowing down to Baal meant treating it like the real God.

5It is the same right now. A small group is left, and God chose them because he is kind.

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

NoteThe old words here are "grace" and "election". Grace means a kind gift that nobody earned. Election means God picked them himself. The small group left over is called a remnant.