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Jesus

of Nazareth

Jesus is the Son of God. Born of Mary in Bethlehem, he taught and healed in Galilee and Judaea, gathered twelve disciples, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and rose from the dead on the third day.

Also called Jesus of Nazareth, Christ.

106 passages · part 11 of 14

John 12:12-19

Palm Branches Greet Him in Jerusalem

12On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

The next day a huge crowd was in Jerusalem for the holiday. They heard that Jesus was coming.

13Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

They took branches from palm trees and went out to meet him. They shouted, "Hosanna! God bless the one who comes in the Lord's name! God bless the King of Israel!"

14And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it. This matched words written long ago:

15Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

"Do not be afraid, city of Zion. Look, your King is coming. He is riding on a young donkey."

16These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

At first Jesus' followers did not understand any of this. Later, after Jesus was given glory, they remembered. Then they saw that these words had been written about him. They saw that they had done these things for him.

17The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

Some people had been there when Jesus called Lazarus out of his grave. They kept telling others what they saw.

18For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

That is why the crowd came out to meet Jesus. They had heard about this wonderful thing he did.

19The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

So the Pharisees said to each other, "See? Nothing we do is working. The whole world is going after him!" The Pharisees were teachers who cared very much about keeping the rules.

John 13:1-17

Washes the Disciples' Feet

1Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

The Passover feast was almost here. Passover was a special holiday meal each year. Jesus knew it was time for him to leave this world. He was going back to God, his Father. He loved his friends who were in the world. He loved them all the way to the end.

2And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;

They were eating supper. The devil had already put an idea into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. The idea was to hand Jesus over to his enemies.

3Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

Jesus knew that his Father had put everything in his hands. He knew he had come from God. He knew he was going back to God.

4He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

So Jesus got up from the meal. He took off his outer coat. He picked up a towel and tied it around his waist.

5After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Then he poured water into a big bowl. He began to wash his friends' feet. He dried them with the towel tied around him.

6Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

He came to Simon Peter. Peter said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

Jesus answered him, "You do not understand what I am doing now. But later you will understand."

8Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet!" Jesus answered, "If I do not wash you, then you have no part with me."

9Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Simon Peter said to him, "Then, Lord, do not wash only my feet. Wash my hands and my head too!"

10Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

Jesus said to him, "A person who has had a bath is already clean. He only needs to wash his feet. And you are clean, but not all of you are."

11For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

Jesus knew who was going to hand him over. That is why he said, "Not all of you are clean."

12So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

So he finished washing their feet. He put his coat back on and sat down again. He said to them, "Do you understand what I have done for you?

13Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

You call me Teacher and Lord. You are right to say that, because that is what I am.

14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

I am your Lord and Teacher, and I washed your feet. So you should wash one another's feet too.

15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

I have shown you how to act. You should do for others what I have done for you.

16Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

I tell you the truth. A servant is not greater than his master. A messenger is not greater than the one who sent him.

17If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Now you know these things. You will be happy if you do them.

John 13:21-30

Gives the Sop and Names His Betrayer

21When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

After Jesus said this, he felt deep sadness inside. He told them plainly, "I tell you the truth. One of you is going to hand me over."

22Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

His friends looked at each other. They did not know who he meant.

23Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

One of his friends was sitting right next to him, leaning close. This was the friend Jesus loved.

24Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.

So Simon Peter made a sign to him. He wanted him to ask Jesus who it was.

25He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?

So that friend leaned back close to Jesus. He asked him, "Lord, who is it?"

26Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

Jesus answered, "I will dip this piece of bread and give it to him. That is the one." Then he dipped the bread and gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

27And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan went into him. Then Jesus said to him, "Do what you are going to do. Do it quickly."

28Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.

No one at the table knew why Jesus said this to him.

29For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.

Judas kept the money bag for the group. So some of them thought Jesus wanted him to buy food for the feast. Others thought Jesus wanted him to give money to poor people.

30He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

Judas took the bread and went out right away. It was night.

John 18:1-14

Taken in the Garden; Peter's Sword

1When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

Jesus finished speaking. Then he went out with his followers. They crossed a small stream called Cedron. A garden was there, and they went into it.

2And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

Judas was the one who planned to hand Jesus over. He knew this place, because Jesus often met there with his followers.

3Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Judas brought a group of soldiers and temple guards. The chief priests, the top leaders at the temple, and the Pharisees, a strict religious group, had sent them. They came with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

4Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

Jesus knew everything that was about to happen to him. He stepped toward them and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

5They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said, "I am he." Judas, who handed him over, was standing there with them.

6As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

As soon as Jesus said, "I am he," they stepped back and fell to the ground.

7Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

So Jesus asked them again, "Who are you looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

8Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

Jesus answered, "I already told you that I am he. So if you want me, let these men go."

9That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

This made his own words come true. He had said, "I have not lost one of the people you gave me."

10Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

Simon Peter had a sword. He pulled it out and struck a servant of the high priest, the top priest at the temple. He cut off the servant's right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

11Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword away. My Father has handed me a cup to drink. Should I not drink it?"

12Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,

Then the soldiers, their leader, and the Jewish guards took hold of Jesus and tied him up.

13And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.

They led him first to Annas. Annas was the father of Caiaphas's wife. Caiaphas was the high priest that year.

14Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Caiaphas was the one who had told the Jewish leaders this: it was better for one man to die for the people.

John 18:15-27

Questioned by Annas While Peter Denies

15And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.

Simon Peter followed Jesus. Another follower came along too. That follower was known to the high priest. So he went with Jesus into the yard of the high priest's house.

16But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

But Peter stayed outside at the door. The other follower, who was known to the high priest, went out. He spoke to the girl watching the door and brought Peter inside.

17Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not.

The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "Aren't you one of this man's followers too?" Peter said, "I am not."

18And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

It was cold. The servants and guards had made a fire and stood around it to get warm. Peter stood with them and warmed himself too.

19The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

Then the high priest asked Jesus about his followers and about what he taught.

20Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly to everyone. I always taught in the synagogues, the places where Jews meet, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.

21Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

Why ask me? Ask the people who heard me speak. They know what I said."

22And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing there slapped him. He said, "Is that how you answer the high priest?"

23Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

Jesus answered, "If I said something wrong, tell me what was wrong. But if I spoke rightly, why did you hit me?"

24Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

Then Annas sent Jesus, still tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest.

25And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.

Simon Peter was still standing by the fire, keeping warm. They asked him, "Aren't you one of his followers too?" He said no. "I am not," he said.

26One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

One of the high priest's servants was a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off. He said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with him?"

27Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

Peter said no again. Right then a rooster crowed.

John 18:28-40

Before Pilate on Kingship and Truth

28Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor's house. It was early morning. The Jewish leaders did not go inside. They wanted to stay clean so they could eat the Passover meal.

29Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

So Pilate, the Roman governor, came outside to them. He asked, "What are you saying this man has done wrong?"

30They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

They answered, "If he had done nothing wrong, we would not have brought him to you."

31Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:

Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." They said, "We are not allowed to put anyone to death."

32That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

This made the words of Jesus come true. He had said what kind of death he was going to die.

33Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

Pilate went back inside. He called Jesus to him and asked, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

34Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?

Jesus answered him, "Are you asking this on your own? Or did other people tell you about me?"

35Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

Pilate said, "I am not a Jew. Your own people and the chief priests handed you to me. What have you done?"

36Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not come from this world. If it did, my helpers would fight to keep me from being handed over. But my kingdom is not from here."

37Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Pilate said, "So you are a king!" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. I was born for this. I came into the world to tell people the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

38Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

Pilate asked him, "What is truth?" Then he went back out to the Jewish leaders. He told them, "I find nothing this man has done wrong.

39But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

But you have a custom. Every Passover I set one prisoner free for you. Do you want me to free the King of the Jews?"

40Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

They all shouted back, "Not this man! Give us Barabbas!" Barabbas had joined a violent fight against the rulers.

John 19:1-16

Scourged, Crowned With Thorns, Handed Over

1Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

Then Pilate, the Roman governor, took Jesus and had him whipped.

2And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

The soldiers twisted thorn branches into a crown. They put it on his head. They also put a purple robe on him.

3And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

They came up to him again and again. They said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they hit him in the face.

4Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

Pilate went outside again. He said, "Look, I am bringing him out to you. I want you to know I find nothing he did wrong."

5Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"

6When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

The chief priests and guards saw him and shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" That meant killing him by nailing him to a wooden cross. Pilate said, "You take him and do it. I find nothing he did wrong."

7The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

The Jewish leaders answered, "We have a law. By our law he must die. He called himself the Son of God."

8When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;

When Pilate heard them say this, he was even more afraid.

9And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

He went back inside the hall where he judged people. He asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer him.

10Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

Then Pilate said, "Will you not speak to me? Don't you know I can set you free or have you killed?"

11Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me at all, unless God gave it to you. So the man who handed me to you has done the greater wrong."

12And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

After that, Pilate tried to set Jesus free. But the leaders shouted, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar, the ruler of Rome. Anyone who calls himself a king is against Caesar."

13When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down in the judge's seat. The place was called the Stone Pavement, or Gabbatha in the Hebrew language.

14And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

It was the day to get ready for Passover, the holiday when the Jewish people remembered God saving them long ago. It was about noon. Pilate said to them, "Here is your King!"

15But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate asked, "Should I put your King on a cross?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."

16Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

So Pilate handed Jesus over to be put on a cross. The soldiers took Jesus and led him away.

John 19:17-30

Crucified; Commits His Mother; Dies

17And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Jesus carried his own cross. He went out to a place called the Place of the Skull. In Hebrew it is called Golgotha.

18Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

There they nailed him to a cross. They put two other men on crosses too, one on each side. Jesus was in the middle.

19And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Pilate wrote a sign and had it put on the cross. It said: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

20This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

Many Jewish people read this sign. The place where Jesus was crucified was close to the city. The sign was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

21Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

The chief priests said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews.' Write that he said, 'I am King of the Jews.'"

22Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

23Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

After the soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross, they took his clothes. They made four piles, one for each soldier. His long shirt was left over. It was woven in one piece, with no seams at all.

24They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

So the soldiers said, "Let's not tear it. Let's cast lots to see who gets it." This happened just as the Scriptures said: "They divided my clothes among them, and they cast lots for my clothing." So that is what the soldiers did.

25Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister. Mary the wife of Cleophas was there, and Mary Magdalene.

26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

Jesus saw his mother. He saw the follower he loved standing beside her. He said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son."

27Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Then he said to that follower, "Here is your mother." From that time on, the follower took her into his own home.

28After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

After this, Jesus knew that everything was now done. So that the Scriptures would come true, he said, "I am thirsty."

29Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

A jar full of sour wine was sitting there. They soaked a sponge in it. They put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant and held it to his mouth.

30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Jesus tasted the sour wine. He said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and died.

Every passage here is the King James text. Nothing on this page retells the story; it only puts the pieces in order.

Jesus, of Nazareth (part 11 of 14) | The Plain Bible