Jesus

45From noon until three in the afternoon, it was dark over the whole land.

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

NotePeople counted the hours from sunrise. So this dark time went from noon until three in the afternoon.

46About three o'clock Jesus called out in a loud voice. He said, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" That means, "My God, my God, why have you left me alone?"

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

NoteThese words are Aramaic, the everyday language Jesus spoke. They are the first line of an old song in the Bible.

47Some people standing there heard him. They said, "He is calling for Elijah."

Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

NoteElijah was a prophet long ago, a man who told people what God said. Many people believed he would come back someday to help.

48Right away one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with sour wine. He put it on a stick and held it up for Jesus to drink.

And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

49The others said, "Leave him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to save him."

The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

50Jesus called out again in a loud voice. Then he gave up his spirit and died.

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

Note"Gave up his spirit" is a gentle way of saying he died.

51Just then the curtain in the temple tore in two, from top to bottom. The ground shook and rocks split apart.

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

NoteA thick curtain hung inside the temple. It hid the most special room. Only one priest could go in, and only once a year.

52The graves opened. The bodies of many of God's people who had died were raised to life.

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

Note"Slept" was a kind word for died. God's people means people who loved and trusted God.

53After Jesus rose from the dead, they came out of the graves. They went into the holy city, and many people saw them.

And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

54A Roman officer and his soldiers were guarding Jesus. They saw the earthquake and all that happened. They were very afraid. They said, "This really was the Son of God."

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

NoteA Roman officer like this was in charge of about a hundred soldiers.

55Many women were there, watching from far away. They had followed Jesus from Galilee and helped take care of him.

And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

NoteThese women gave money and food. That is how they helped take care of Jesus and his friends.

56Mary Magdalene was one of them. So was Mary, the mother of James and Joses. So was the mother of Zebedee's sons.

Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

NoteMagdalene means she came from Magdala, a town by a lake. Many women then were named Mary.

57When evening came, a rich man from Arimathea arrived. His name was Joseph. He was a follower of Jesus.

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:

NoteArimathea was a small town. Usually Romans left bodies on the cross. Asking for the body took courage.

58He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate ordered that the body be given to him.

He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

59Joseph took the body. He wrapped it in a clean linen cloth.

And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

NoteLinen is a cloth like a sheet. Wrapping a body in it was how people said goodbye then.

60He laid it in his own new tomb, which was cut into the rock. He rolled a big stone across the door. Then he went away.

And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

NoteTombs were rooms cut into rock, like little caves. A big round stone rolled across the door to close it.

61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there. They sat across from the tomb.

And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

62The next day was the day after Preparation Day. The chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

NoteThe day of rest was called the Sabbath. No one worked on it, so people got ready the day before. Preparation Day was when people got ready for the day of rest. The Pharisees were leaders who were very careful about God's law.

63They said, "Sir, we remember what that man who fooled people said. While he was alive he said, 'After three days I will rise again.'

Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

Note"Rise again" means come back to life after dying.

64So give the order to guard the tomb until the third day. If not, his followers may come and steal the body. Then they will tell people he rose from the dead. That last lie would be worse than the first one."

Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

65Pilate said to them, "You have guards. Go and make the tomb as safe as you can."

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

NoteThe guards were soldiers whose job was to watch and protect a place.

66So they went and made the tomb safe. They sealed the stone and put guards there.

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

NoteThey pressed soft clay or wax over the stone. If anyone moved it, the seal would break and show.

1The Sabbath, the weekly day of rest, was over. Early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

NoteThe Sabbath was the weekly rest day for Jewish people. It ran from Friday evening to Saturday evening. So Sunday morning was the very next day. Mary Magdalene was a woman from a town called Magdala. Jesus had helped her, and she followed him.

2Suddenly the ground shook hard. That was because an angel, a messenger from God, came down from the sky. He rolled the big stone away from the door and sat on it.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

NoteA tomb was a small room cut into a rock hill. A dead person was laid inside on a stone shelf. Then a big round stone was rolled across the door. The stone was heavy. It took strong men to move it. An angel is a messenger who comes from God.

3The way he looked was like lightning. His clothes were as white as snow.

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

NoteThe King James says his "raiment" was white as snow. Raiment is an old word for clothes. The King James says his "countenance" was like lightning. Countenance is an old word for the way someone looks.

4The soldiers guarding the tomb shook with fear. They became like dead men.

And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

NoteSoldiers had been sent to stand watch at the tomb. Their job was to make sure nobody took the body away. The King James calls them "the keepers," meaning the guards.

5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was killed on a cross."

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

NoteJesus was killed on a cross. A cross was two big wooden beams. The Roman rulers put people to death this way. Everyone who heard this story knew what it meant.

6"He is not here. He is alive again, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying."

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Note"He is risen" means he got up and is alive again. It does not mean he floated up.

7"Now go quickly. Tell his disciples, the friends who followed him, that he is alive again. He is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Listen, I have told you."

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

NoteGalilee was the part of the country where Jesus grew up. It was a few days' walk north of the city. His disciples were the friends who traveled with him and learned from him.

8So they hurried away from the tomb. They were afraid and very happy at the same time. They ran to tell his followers the news.

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

NoteTheir fear was not the scared kind. It was the shaky feeling you get when something huge and wonderful happens.

9On the way, Jesus met them. He said, "Hello!" They came close, held his feet, and worshiped him.

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

NoteThe King James has Jesus say "All hail." That was just a friendly hello in old English. Holding someone's feet was a way of showing you thought they were very great.

10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there."

Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Note"My brethren" means his close friends, not brothers born in his family.

16Then the eleven followers went to Galilee. They went to the mountain Jesus had told them to go to.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

NoteJesus had chosen twelve close followers. One of them, Judas, had turned against him and left. That is why only eleven were left.

17When they saw him, they worshiped him. But some of them were not sure.

And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

Note"Some doubted" means some were not sure it was really him. They were still working it out in their heads.

18Jesus came to them and said, "I have been given the right to rule over everything in heaven and on earth."

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

NoteThe King James says "All power is given unto me." Power here means the right to be in charge. It is like being made king over everything.

19"So go to people everywhere. Help them become my followers. Baptize them with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

NoteTo baptize someone is to dip them in water. It was a way of showing that a person now belonged to God. "In the name of" means belonging to. The King James says "Holy Ghost." Ghost was just an old word for spirit. It does not mean a spooky ghost.

20"Teach them to obey everything I have told you. And listen, I am with you every day, right to the end of this age."

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

NoteThe King James says "even unto the end of the world." The word really means the end of this long stretch of time. "Alway" is an old spelling of always. "Amen" is a word people said at the end. It means "yes, this is true."

9Around that time Jesus came from Nazareth, a town in Galilee. John baptized him in the Jordan River.

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

NoteGalilee was the northern part of the country. Nazareth was a small town there, and nobody thought much of it.

10As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens open. God's Spirit came down on him like a dove.

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

NoteA dove is a soft gray bird, like a gentle pigeon. Mark says the Spirit came down the quiet way a bird lands.

11A voice came from heaven. It said, "You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you."

And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

12Right away God's Spirit sent Jesus out into the wilderness.

And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

13Jesus stayed there forty days. Satan tried to get him to do wrong. Wild animals were there too. Angels took care of him.

And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

NoteSatan is God's enemy. He tries to get people to do wrong. Forty days is about six weeks, a long time alone. Angels are God's helpers from heaven.

14Later John was put in prison. Then Jesus went to Galilee. He told people the good news about God's kingdom.

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

NoteA ruler named Herod put John in prison for telling him he was doing wrong.

15He said, "The right time is here. God's kingdom is close. Turn away from doing wrong, and believe the good news."

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

NoteA kingdom is a place where a king rules. "God's kingdom" means God ruling as king. "At hand" in the King James means very close.

16Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, a large lake. He saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water. They caught fish for their work.

Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

NoteSimon is later given another name, Peter. Fishermen threw a round net with weights on the edge. It sank and trapped the fish.

17Jesus said to them, "Come and follow me. You gather fish now. I will teach you to gather people."

And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

NoteThe King James says "fishers of men." It is a word picture. Their old job was catching fish, so Jesus uses that to say what their new job will be.

18Right away they left their nets and went with him.

And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

19He walked a little farther. He saw James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat, fixing their nets.

And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

NoteNets caught on rocks and tore. Fishermen had to fix them almost every day.

20Right away Jesus called them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers. Then they went with Jesus.

And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

NoteZebedee paid workers to help him. That means the family had a real fishing business.

21They went to the town of Capernaum. On the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest, Jesus went into the synagogue and taught.

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

NoteCapernaum was a fishing town beside the lake. A synagogue was a building where Jewish people met. They prayed there and heard God's words read out loud.

22The people were surprised at his teaching. He taught like someone who was in charge. The scribes, the teachers who studied and copied God's law, did not teach that way.

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

NoteOther teachers only repeated what older teachers had said. Jesus spoke as if the words were his own. That is why people were so surprised.

23A man in the synagogue had an evil spirit inside him. The man shouted out.

And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

NoteThe King James says "unclean spirit." That was their name for an evil spirit. Unclean meant it did not belong near holy things.

24He said, "Leave us alone, Jesus of Nazareth! What do you want with us? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are God's Holy One."

Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

Note"God's Holy One" was a name for someone God had sent and set apart for himself.

25Jesus spoke firmly to the spirit. He said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!"

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

26The evil spirit shook the man hard. It gave a loud yell. Then it came out of him.

And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

27Everyone was amazed. They asked each other, "What is this? This teaching is new, and he is in charge. He even tells evil spirits what to do, and they obey him."

And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

28Soon news about Jesus spread through the whole area around Galilee.

And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

40A man with leprosy, a bad skin disease, came to Jesus. He knelt down and begged, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

NotePeople with leprosy had to live away from everyone else. Nobody would touch them or eat with them. "Clean" meant they could come back and be with people again.

41Jesus felt sorry for him. He reached out his hand and touched the man. He said, "I am willing. Be clean."

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

NoteTouching a person with leprosy was not allowed then. Jesus reached out and touched him anyway.

42Right away the leprosy left the man. He was clean and well.

And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

43Jesus sent him away at once and warned him strongly.

And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

44Jesus said, "Do not tell anyone about this. Go and show yourself to the priest. Bring the gift Moses said to bring when someone is made clean. That will show them you are well."

And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

NoteA priest was a man who worked at God's house and checked people's skin. He was the one who said a person was well. Moses was the leader who long ago gave God's rules to his people. The gift was an animal or bird brought to God to say thank you.

45But the man went out and told everyone. He spread the news everywhere. So Jesus could not walk into a town openly anymore. He stayed outside in quiet, empty places, and people still came to him from everywhere.

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.