Jesus

12The next day a huge crowd was in Jerusalem for the holiday. They heard that Jesus was coming.

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

NoteJerusalem was the most important city for Jewish people. At Passover, huge crowds came there from all over.

13They 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!"

Took 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.

NotePeople waved palm branches to welcome a king or a winner. Hosanna was a shout. It first meant "please save us now." By this time it was also a happy cheer.

14Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it. This matched words written long ago:

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

NoteKings rode big horses when they came to fight. A king riding a donkey was showing he came in peace.

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

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

NoteZion was another name for the city of Jerusalem.

16At 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.

These 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.

Note"Given glory" means shown to everyone how great he is.

17Some people had been there when Jesus called Lazarus out of his grave. They kept telling others what they saw.

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

NoteGraves then were often small caves cut into rock. A big stone was rolled across the door.

18That is why the crowd came out to meet Jesus. They had heard about this wonderful thing he did.

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

19So 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.

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

NoteThe Pharisees were a group of teachers. They studied God's rules and tried to keep every single one.

1The Passover feast was almost here. 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.

Now 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.

NotePassover was a special holiday meal. Jewish families ate it every year. It helped them remember how God rescued them from Egypt long ago.

2They 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.

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

NoteJudas Iscariot was one of Jesus' twelve closest friends. To hand Jesus over meant to help his enemies catch him. The heart meant the place inside where a person thinks and chooses.

3Jesus 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.

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

Note"Put everything in his hands" is an old way of saying God gave him power over everything.

4So Jesus got up from the meal. He took off his outer coat. He picked up a towel and tied it around his waist.

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

NotePeople wore a long robe with a looser coat over it. Jesus took off the coat on top, the way a servant would.

5Then he poured water into a bowl. He began to wash his friends' feet. He dried them with the towel tied around him.

After 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.

NoteRoads were dusty and people wore sandals. Feet got dirty on every walk. A servant usually washed the guests' feet before a meal. That is why Peter was so surprised.

6He came to Simon Peter. Peter said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

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

Note"Lord" was a polite word for a master, someone who is in charge.

7Jesus answered him, "You do not understand what I am doing now. But later you will understand."

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

8Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet!" Jesus answered, "If I do not wash you, then you have no part with me."

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

NoteHaving "no part" with someone meant not belonging with them at all.

9Simon Peter said to him, "Then, Lord, do not wash only my feet. Wash my hands and my head too!"

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

10Jesus 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."

Jesus 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.

NotePeople took a bath at home before going out to dinner. Then their feet got dusty again on the walk there.

11Jesus knew who was going to hand him over. That is why he said, "Not all of you are clean."

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

12So 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?

So 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?

13You call me Teacher and Lord. You are right to say that, because that is what I am.

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

14I am your Lord and Teacher, and I washed your feet. So you should wash one another's feet too.

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

15I have shown you how to act. You should do for others what I have done for you.

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

16I tell you the truth. A servant is not greater than his master. A messenger is not greater than the one who sent him.

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

NoteA master was the person a servant worked for.

17If you know these things, then you will be happy if you do them.

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

21After Jesus said this, he felt troubled inside. He told them plainly, "I tell you the truth. One of you is going to hand me over."

When 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.

22His friends looked at each other. They did not know who he meant.

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

23One of his friends was sitting right next to him, leaning close. This was the friend Jesus loved.

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

NotePeople did not sit on chairs to eat. They lay on cushions around a low table. So one friend's head rested close to the person next to him.

24So Simon Peter made a sign to him. He wanted him to ask Jesus who it was.

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

25So that friend leaned back close to Jesus. He asked him, "Lord, who is it?"

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

26Jesus 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.

Jesus 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.

NoteEveryone at the meal dipped bread into one shared bowl of sauce. Handing a dipped piece to someone was a kind and friendly thing to do.

27As 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."

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

NoteSatan is another name for the devil.

28No one at the table knew why Jesus said this to him.

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

29Judas 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.

For 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.

NoteJudas looked after the money for Jesus and his friends. The feast was Passover, and food had to be bought for it.

30Judas took the bread and went out right away. It was night.

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

1Jesus 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.

When 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.

NoteThe Cedron was a small stream in a valley just outside the city. The garden was a grove of olive trees. Jesus and his friends went there often.

2Judas was the one who planned to hand Jesus over. He knew this place, because Jesus often met there with his followers.

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

NoteJudas was one of the twelve closest followers of Jesus. He had already agreed to show the leaders where to find him.

3Judas 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.

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

NoteThe temple was the great building in Jerusalem where Jews worshiped God. Priests worked there, and guards kept order in it. The soldiers here were Roman soldiers, sent by the men who ruled the land.

4Jesus knew everything that was about to happen to him. He stepped toward them and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

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

5They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said, "I am he." Judas, who handed him over, was standing there with them.

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

NoteNazareth was the small town where Jesus grew up. People were often named after their hometown.

6As soon as Jesus said, "I am he," they stepped back and fell to the ground.

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

7So Jesus asked them again, "Who are you looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

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

8Jesus answered, "I already told you that I am he. So if you want me, let these men go."

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

9This made his own words come true. He had said, "I have not lost one of the people you gave me."

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

10Simon 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.

Then 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.

NoteA high priest was the leader of all the priests. Priests were the men who led worship at the temple. His servants worked in his house.

11Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword away. My Father has handed me a cup to drink. Should I not drink it?"

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

NoteA "cup" was a way of speaking. A person's cup meant whatever they had to go through. Jesus meant the hard things coming to him.

12Then the soldiers, their leader, and the Jewish guards took hold of Jesus and tied him up.

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

13They led him first to Annas. Annas was the father of Caiaphas's wife. Caiaphas was the high priest that year.

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

NoteAnnas had been high priest before this. People still treated him as very important. Caiaphas, his daughter's husband, held the job now.

14Caiaphas was the one who had told the Jewish leaders this: it was better for one man to die for the people.

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

NoteCaiaphas had said this at an earlier meeting of the leaders. He thought one death would keep the whole nation out of trouble.

15Simon 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.

And 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.

NoteA high priest's house was built around an open yard. Servants and guards could stand in that yard.

16But 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.

But 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.

17The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "Aren't you one of this man's followers too?" Peter said, "I am not."

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

NotePeter was saying he did not know Jesus at all. He was afraid of being taken away too.

18It 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.

And 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.

NoteThe fire was made of glowing coals, not big logs. Spring nights in Jerusalem were cold.

19Then the high priest asked Jesus about his followers and about what he taught.

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

NoteThe high priest was asking questions like a judge. This was the start of a trial.

20Jesus 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.

Jesus 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.

NoteA synagogue was a building in a town. Jews met there to pray and to read God's words.

21Why ask me? Ask the people who heard me speak. They know what I said."

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

22When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing there slapped him. He said, "Is that how you answer the high priest?"

And 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?

NoteHitting a man who had not yet been judged guilty was against their own law.

23Jesus answered, "If I said something wrong, tell me what was wrong. But if I spoke rightly, why did you hit me?"

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

NoteIn a trial, people had to say out loud what a man had done wrong. Jesus was asking them to do that.

24Then Annas sent Jesus, still tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest.

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

25Simon 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.

And 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.

26One 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?"

One 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?

27Peter said no again. Right then a rooster crowed.

Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

NoteRoosters crow when the sky first starts to grow light. So the sound told everyone that morning had come. Jesus had told Peter earlier that this would happen.

28Then 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.

Then 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.

NotePassover was a special meal eaten once each spring. It helped Jews remember when God brought their people out of Egypt long ago. The leaders followed rules to stay ready for it. Going inside a Roman's house would break those rules.

29So Pilate, the Roman governor, came outside to them. He asked, "What are you saying this man has done wrong?"

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

NotePilate was the Roman ruler in charge of that whole land. Rome had taken over the country, and Pilate spoke for Rome.

30They answered, "If he had done nothing wrong, we would not have brought him to you."

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

31Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." They said, "We are not allowed to put anyone to death."

Then 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:

NoteRome did not let the Jewish leaders put anyone to death. Only the Roman governor could give that order.

32This made the words of Jesus come true. He had said what kind of death he was going to die.

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

NoteThe Romans killed people by nailing them to a cross. Jesus had already said that this was how he would die.

33Pilate went back inside. He called Jesus to him and asked, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

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

Note"King of the Jews" was a dangerous name to be called. Rome allowed no king but its own ruler. Claiming to be a king sounded like fighting Rome.

34Jesus answered him, "Are you asking this on your own? Or did other people tell you about me?"

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

35Pilate said, "I am not a Jew. Your own people and the chief priests handed you to me. What have you done?"

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

36Jesus 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."

Jesus 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.

NoteA kingdom is the land and the people a king rules over.

37Pilate 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."

Pilate 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.

38Pilate 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.

Pilate 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.

NoteThe words "no fault at all" were a judge's way of saying not guilty.

39But you have a custom. Every Passover I set one prisoner free for you. Do you want me to free the King of the Jews?"

But 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?

NoteEach Passover the governor let one prisoner go free. It was a gift to the crowds who came for the feast.

40They all shouted back, "Not this man! Give us Barabbas!" Barabbas was a robber.

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

NoteThe old wording calls Barabbas "a robber". That word could also mean a fighter who attacked people and stole.

1Then Pilate, the Roman governor, took Jesus and had him whipped.

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

NotePilate was the Roman ruler in charge of that country. Rome ruled many lands then and sent rulers to keep order. Whipping was a hard punishment. Soldiers used a whip that hurt very much.

2The soldiers twisted thorn branches into a crown. They put it on his head. They also put a purple robe on him.

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

NoteA crown is what a king wears on his head. Real crowns were made of gold. This one was made of sharp thorn branches. Purple cloth cost a lot of money, so kings wore purple. The soldiers were pretending Jesus was a king.

3They said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they hit him in the face.

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

Note"Hail" was the word people shouted to greet a king. The soldiers did not mean it. They were making fun of him.

4Pilate went outside again. He said, "Look, I am bringing him out to you. I want you to know I find nothing he did wrong."

Pilate 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.

Note"Behold" is an old English word. It just means "Look!" You will see it again in this chapter.

5Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"

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

6The 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."

When 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.

NoteThe chief priests were the leaders of the temple. The temple was the big building where Jewish people worshiped God.

7The Jewish leaders answered, "We have a law. By our law he must die. He called himself the Son of God."

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

NoteWhen this book says "the Jews" here, it means those few leaders. It does not mean all Jewish people. Jesus and his friends were Jewish too.

8When Pilate heard them say this, he was even more afraid.

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

9He went back inside the hall where he judged people. He asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer him.

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

Note"Whence art thou" is old English for "Where are you from?" We do not use the word "whence" anymore.

10Then Pilate said, "Will you not speak to me? Don't you know I can set you free or have you killed?"

Then 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?

11Jesus 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."

Jesus 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.

12After 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."

And 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.

NoteCaesar was the emperor, the most powerful ruler in Rome. Telling Pilate he was "not Caesar's friend" was a threat. It meant Pilate himself could get in trouble.

13When 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.

When 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.

NoteThe judgment seat was a chair set up outside. A Roman ruler sat in it to decide a case. Gabbatha was the name for that spot in Hebrew, the old language of the Jewish people.

14It 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!"

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

NoteBack then people counted the hours from sunrise. The "sixth hour" meant about six hours after the sun came up. That is close to noon.

15But 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."

But 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.

16So Pilate handed Jesus over to be put on a cross. They took Jesus and led him away.

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

17Jesus carried his own cross. He went out to a place called the Place of the Skull. In Hebrew it is called Golgotha.

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

NoteA man being crucified had to carry the heavy wooden beam himself. Golgotha is a Hebrew word. It means "skull." No one knows for sure why the place had that name.

18There they nailed him to a cross. They put two other men on crosses too, one on each side. Jesus was in the middle.

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

19Pilate wrote a sign and had it put on the cross. It said: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

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

NoteNazareth was the town where Jesus grew up. The Romans put a sign on a cross to tell everyone why the man was being punished.

20Many 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.

This 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.

NoteHebrew, Greek, and Latin were the three languages people used there. Writing all three meant almost anyone walking by could read the sign.

21The chief priests said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews.' Write that he said, 'I am King of the Jews.'"

Then 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.

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

Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

23After 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.

Then 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.

NoteSoldiers were allowed to keep the clothes of the man they crucified. A seam is the line where two pieces of cloth are sewn together. This shirt had none. It was woven all in one piece, which took a long time to make.

24So 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.

They 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.

NoteCasting lots was like rolling dice or drawing straws. It was a way to let chance decide who won. "The scripture" means the holy writings of the Jewish people. They were written down long before Jesus was born. The old words "raiment" and "vesture" both just mean clothes.

25Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister. Mary the wife of Cleophas was there, and Mary Magdalene.

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

NoteMany women in that time were named Mary. "Magdalene" tells us which one. It means she came from a town called Magdala.

26Jesus saw his mother. He saw the follower he loved standing beside her. He said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son."

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

NoteCalling his mother "Woman" sounds rude to us today. In their language it was a polite and gentle way to speak.

27Then he said to that follower, "Here is your mother." From that time on, the follower took her into his own home.

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

28After this, Jesus knew that everything was now done. So that the Scriptures would come true, he said, "I am thirsty."

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

29A 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.

Now 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.

NoteSour wine was cheap and thin. Working people and soldiers drank it. Hyssop is a small bushy plant with straight stalks. A stalk was long enough to reach up to his mouth.

30Jesus tasted the sour wine. He said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and died.

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

Note"Gave up the ghost" is old English for died. Long ago the word "ghost" meant a person's spirit or breath.