Jesus

1After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee. That lake is also called the Sea of Tiberias.

After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

NoteThe Sea of Galilee is a big lake, not an ocean. It was full of fish, and fishermen worked there. Tiberias was a town on its shore. That is why some people called the lake by that name too.

2A big crowd followed him. They had seen him heal sick people in powerful ways.

And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

NoteA miracle is something wonderful that only God's power can do.

3Jesus went up on the mountain. He sat down there with his disciples, his close followers.

And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

NoteDisciples are students. These were friends who went everywhere with Jesus and learned from him.

4The Passover was near. It was a special holiday for the Jewish people.

And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

NotePassover was a big holiday every spring. Jewish families ate a special meal together. They remembered how God brought their people out of Egypt long ago. Many traveled to Jerusalem for it.

5Jesus looked up and saw a big crowd coming to him. He said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread for all these people?"

When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

6Jesus asked this to test Philip. He already knew what he was going to do.

And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

NoteIn the King James, "prove" means test. Jesus was testing Philip, not proving something.

7Philip answered, "Even eight months of pay would not buy enough bread. Not everyone would get even a little piece."

Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

NoteThe King James says "two hundred pennyworth." A penny back then was a whole day's pay for a worker. So that much money was about eight months of work.

8Andrew was one of his disciples. He was Simon Peter's brother. Andrew said to Jesus,

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him,

9"There is a boy here with five barley loaves and two small fish. But that is almost nothing for so many people."

There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

NoteBarley bread was the cheapest kind of bread. Poor families ate it. The loaves were small and flat, more like little round pancakes.

10Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place. So the men sat down. There were about five thousand of them.

And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

NoteOnly the men were counted. Women and children were there too. So the crowd was even bigger than five thousand.

11Jesus took the loaves and thanked God for them. He handed the food to his disciples. The disciples handed it out to the people sitting there. He did the same with the fish. Everyone got as much as they wanted.

And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

NoteJewish people always thanked God before eating. Jesus was doing what everyone did at a meal.

12When they were full, he said to his disciples, "Pick up the leftover pieces. Do not waste any of it."

When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

13So they picked the pieces up. The leftovers from the five barley loaves filled twelve baskets.

Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

NoteThese baskets were big ones. People carried them on trips to hold food.

14The people saw the sign that Jesus did. They said, "This really is the Prophet that God promised to send into the world."

Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

NoteA prophet is someone who tells people what God says. Long ago Moses promised that God would send one special Prophet. The people thought Jesus was that one.

15Jesus knew they wanted to grab him and make him king. So he went away up the mountain by himself.

When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

NoteSoldiers from Rome ruled their land in those days. Many people wanted a king who would chase the soldiers away.

16When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea.

And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,

17They got into a boat and set out across the sea toward Capernaum. It was dark by then, and Jesus had not come to them.

And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

NoteCapernaum was a town on the shore of that same lake. Jesus stayed there often.

18A strong wind was blowing. The water grew rough.

And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

NoteStrong winds rushed down the hills onto this lake. The water could turn rough very fast.

19They had rowed about three or four miles. Then they saw Jesus walking on the water and coming near the boat. They were afraid.

So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.

NoteThe King James says "furlongs." A furlong was an old way to measure distance. Twenty five or thirty furlongs is about three or four miles.

20But he said to them, "It is I. Do not be afraid."

But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

21They were glad to take him into the boat. Right away the boat reached the shore they were going to.

Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

1Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, a hill near the city.

Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

NoteThe Mount of Olives is a hill just outside Jerusalem. Olive trees grew all over it. Jesus often went there to be quiet.

2Early in the morning he came back to the temple, God's house. All the people came to him. He sat down and taught them.

And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

NoteThe temple was a huge building in the city of Jerusalem. People came there to pray and bring gifts to God. Teachers sat down in its wide open yards and taught.

3Some scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to him. Scribes copied and studied God's law. Pharisees were teachers who cared very much about the rules. The woman had been caught with a man who was not her husband. They made her stand in front of everyone.

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

NoteScribes copied out God's law by hand. There were no printing machines then. Pharisees were teachers who tried to keep every single rule.

4They said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught doing it. People saw her."

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5"Moses gave us God's law long ago. It says a woman like this must be killed with stones. What do you say?"

Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

NoteMoses lived long, long before Jesus was born. God gave his rules to the people through Moses. One old rule said some wrongs were punished by throwing stones.

6They said this to trap him. They wanted a reason to say he had done wrong. But Jesus bent down. He began writing on the ground with his finger.

This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

NoteTheir question was a trap either way. If Jesus said let her go, they could say he broke Moses' rule. If he said throw the stones, the Roman rulers would be angry. Rome ruled this land and did not let the people kill anyone.

7They kept on asking him. So he stood up straight and said this to them. "Whoever here has never sinned may throw the first stone at her."

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8Then he bent down again and wrote on the ground.

And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9They heard him, and inside they knew they had done wrong too. They walked away one at a time. The oldest ones left first, then the rest. Jesus was left alone with the woman standing there.

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10Jesus stood up straight and saw only the woman. He said, "Woman, where are the people who blamed you? Did no one say you must be punished?"

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11She said, "No one, Lord." Jesus said, "Then I do not say it either. Go now, and do not sin any more."

She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

1Jesus was walking along. He saw a man who had been blind since he was born.

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2His followers asked him, "Teacher, this man was born blind. Who sinned, this man or his parents?"

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

NoteSin means doing something wrong that God told people not to do. Long ago, many people thought a person got sick as a punishment for sin. That is why the followers asked whose fault it was. The King James word "Master" here just means teacher.

3Jesus said, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned. This happened so God's work could be seen in him."

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

4"I must do the work of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming. Then no one can work."

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

NoteJesus talks about day and night to mean time. Day means the time when there is still work to do. Night means the time when that work must stop.

5"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

NoteJesus is not talking about a lamp or the sun. Light here means help for people to see and understand.

6After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground. He made mud with the spit and put it on the man's eyes.

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

NoteLong ago some people believed spit could help heal sore eyes. So putting mud on the man's eyes was not strange to them.

7Jesus said, "Go wash in the pool of Siloam." The name Siloam means "Sent." So the man went and washed. He came back able to see.

And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

NoteSiloam was a big pool of water in the city of Jerusalem. People went there to get water and to wash. Its name meant "Sent," like someone sent to do a job.

8His neighbors, and people who had seen him begging, asked, "Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?"

The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

NoteA blind man could not get a job back then. So he sat by the road and asked people for coins.

9Some said, "Yes, it is him." Others said, "No, he just looks like him." But the man kept saying, "I am the one."

Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

10So they asked him, "Then how did your eyes get opened?"

Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

11He said, "The man called Jesus made mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go wash at Siloam. I went and washed, and then I could see."

He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

12They asked, "Where is he?" The man said, "I don't know."

Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

35Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out. He found him and asked, "Do you believe in the Son of God?"

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

Note"Son of God" was a name for the special king God promised to send. The man does not yet know who that is.

36The man answered, "Who is he, sir? Tell me, so I can believe in him."

He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37Jesus said, "You have already seen him. He is the one talking with you now."

And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

38The man said, "Lord, I believe." And he bowed down and worshiped Jesus.

And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

NoteBowing down low was how people showed great honor. They did it for kings and for God.

39Jesus said, "I came into this world to judge. I came so that people who do not see can see. And so that people who see become blind."

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

NoteHere seeing and blind mean more than using your eyes. Jesus means people who know they need help, and people who think they already know everything.

40Some Pharisees who were there heard this. They asked him, "Are we blind too?"

And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

41Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin. But you say you can see. So your sin stays."

Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

NoteJesus is still using seeing to mean knowing. He says the ones who claim they already know are the ones still stuck.

1A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany. That was the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

NoteBethany was a small town close to Jerusalem. Walking there took less than an hour.

2This Mary was the one who poured sweet-smelling oil on the Lord's feet. She wiped his feet with her hair. Lazarus was her brother.

(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

NotePouring sweet-smelling oil on someone showed love and honor. The oil cost a lot of money.

3So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus. They said, "Lord, your dear friend is sick."

Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

NotePeople said "Lord" to show great respect. It is a bit like saying "sir."

4Jesus heard this and said, "This sickness will not end in death. It will show how great God is. It will show how great God's Son is."

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

5Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

6But when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days.

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

7After that he said to his followers, "Let us go back to Judea."

Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

NoteJudea was the part of the country around Jerusalem. Jesus was far away in the north.

8They said, "Teacher, people there just tried to kill you with stones. Are you going back?"

His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

NoteThrowing stones was how people killed someone they thought had done a terrible wrong.

9Jesus answered, "There are twelve hours of daylight in a day. If someone walks in the daytime, he does not trip. He can see by the light of this world."

Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

NotePeople counted the daylight as twelve hours long. There were no lights outside, so night was very dark.

10"But if someone walks at night, he trips. He has no light to see by."

But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

11Then Jesus said, "Our friend Lazarus is asleep. I am going there to wake him up."

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

NotePeople often said "asleep" when they meant someone had died. It was a gentler way to say it.

12His followers said, "Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get better."

Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

13Jesus meant that Lazarus had died. But they thought he meant ordinary sleep.

Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

14So Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead."

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

15"I am glad for you that I was not there. It is so that you may believe. Let us go to him."

And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

16Thomas, who was also called Didymus, spoke to the other followers. He said, "Let us go too. Then we can die with him."

Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

NoteDidymus means "twin." Thomas had a twin brother or sister.

17When Jesus got there, Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.

Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

NoteA tomb is a place where a dead body is laid. It is like a grave.

18Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away.

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

19Many Jewish people had come to Martha and Mary. They came to comfort them about their brother.

And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

NoteWhen someone died, friends came and stayed for days. They cried with the family to help them.

20Martha heard that Jesus was coming and went out to meet him. Mary stayed in the house.

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

21Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

22"But even now I know this. God will give you whatever you ask him for."

But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

24Martha said, "I know he will rise on the last day, when God raises the dead."

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

NoteMany Jewish people believed God would raise all dead people to life someday. They called it the last day.

25Jesus said to her, "I am the one who raises the dead. I am life itself. Anyone who trusts me will live, even if he dies."

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26"And everyone who lives and trusts me will never die. Do you believe this?"

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27She said, "Yes, Lord. I believe you are the Christ, the king God promised to send. You are God's Son, the one who was coming into the world."

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Note"Christ" means the special king God promised long ago. People had waited many years for him.

28Then Martha went and called her sister Mary quietly. She said, "The Teacher is here. He is asking for you."

And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

29As soon as Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.

As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

30Jesus had not come into the town yet. He was still where Martha had met him.

Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

31The people in the house were comforting Mary. They saw her get up fast and go out. They followed her. They thought she was going to the tomb to cry.

The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

NotePeople cried out loud at a tomb. That was how they showed their sadness.

32Mary came to Jesus and saw him. She fell down at his feet. She said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

33Jesus saw her crying. He saw the people with her crying too. Deep sadness moved him, and he was troubled inside.

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

NoteThe old words say Jesus "groaned in the spirit." He felt something strong and sad deep inside.

34He asked, "Where have you put him?" They said, "Lord, come and see."

And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

35Jesus cried.

Jesus wept.

36Then the people said, "Look how much he loved him!"

Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

37But some of them said, "He opened the eyes of a blind man. Could he not have kept Lazarus from dying?"

And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

38Jesus was moved deeply again. He came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the door.

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

NoteGraves were often caves cut into a hillside. A big stone was set across the doorway.

39Jesus said, "Take the stone away." Martha, the dead man's sister, said, "Lord, he will smell bad by now. He has been dead four days."

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

NoteFour days was a long time. By then the body would smell.

40Jesus said to her, "I told you something. If you believed, you would see how great God is."

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

41So they took the stone away. Jesus looked up and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me."

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

NotePeople often prayed standing up and looking at the sky. They did not always close their eyes.

42"I know you always hear me. I said it for the people standing here. Now they can believe that you sent me."

And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

43Then he called out in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44The man who had died came out. Strips of cloth were wrapped around his hands and feet. A cloth covered his face. Jesus said, "Take the cloths off him. Let him go."

And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

NoteDead bodies were wrapped in long strips of cloth. Another cloth was tied over the face.

1Six days before Passover, Jesus came to the town of Bethany. Lazarus lived there. He was the man Jesus had brought back to life.

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

NotePassover was a big holiday. Jewish families ate a special meal together. It helped them remember how God set their people free long ago.

2The people there made a dinner for Jesus. Martha served the food. Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus.

There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

NoteMartha, Mary, and Lazarus were a sister, a sister, and a brother. They were close friends of Jesus. At that time people did not sit up on chairs to eat. They leaned on low couches around a low table.

3Mary brought about a pint of sweet-smelling oil called nard. It cost a lot of money. She poured it on Jesus' feet. Then she wiped his feet with her hair. The whole house smelled like the oil.

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

NoteNard was a sweet-smelling oil. It was made from a plant that grew very far away. That is why it cost so much. People poured a little on a guest to honor him. Mary used a whole jar. Washing feet was a servant's job, so this was a very humble thing to do.

4Then one of Jesus' followers spoke up. It was Judas Iscariot. He was the one who would later hand Jesus over to his enemies.

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,

NoteFollowers here means the disciples. Jesus had twelve close friends who went everywhere with him. Judas was one of them.

5He said, "Why wasn't this oil sold for three hundred silver coins? The money could have been given to poor people."

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

NoteOne silver coin paid a worker for one whole day of work. Three hundred coins was almost a whole year of pay.

6Judas did not say this because he cared about poor people. He said it because he was a thief. He carried the money bag, and he took money out of it.

This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

7Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She saved this oil for the day I am buried.

Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

NoteWhen someone died, people rubbed sweet oil on the body. It was their way of showing love and saying goodbye.

8"Poor people will always be with you. But I will not always be here with you."

For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

9A big crowd of Jewish people heard that Jesus was in Bethany. They came to see Jesus. They also came to see Lazarus, the man Jesus raised from the dead.

Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

10So the chief priests, the top leaders at the temple, made a plan to kill Lazarus too.

But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

NoteThe temple was the huge building in Jerusalem where people worshiped God. The chief priests were the leaders in charge there.

11Because of Lazarus, many Jewish people were leaving those leaders and believing in Jesus.

Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.