John

18Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, which is a big lake. He saw two brothers, Simon (also called Peter) and Andrew. They were throwing a net into the water. Catching fish was their job.

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

NoteSimon and Peter are two names for the same man. Fishermen threw a round net with weights on the edge. It sank fast and trapped the fish under it.

19Jesus said to them, "Come and follow me. I will make you catch people instead of fish."

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Note"Fishers of men" plays with their job. Jesus means they will now gather people to God.

20Right away they left their nets and went with him.

And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

21Jesus walked on and saw two more brothers, James and John. Their father was Zebedee. They were in a boat with him, fixing their nets. Jesus called them to come.

And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

NoteNets tore all the time and had to be sewn up again. Fishing was this family's work, with their own boat.

22Right away they left the boat and their father, and they went with him.

And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

NoteLeaving their father meant leaving the family work too. Sons usually fished with their father all their lives.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

29As soon as they left the synagogue, they went to Simon and Andrew's house. James and John went with them.

And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

30Simon's wife's mother was in bed, sick with a fever. They told Jesus about her right away.

But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

31Jesus went to her. He took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began serving them.

And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

NoteThe King James says "she ministered unto them." That means she got up and served them food.

13Then Jesus went up on a mountain. He called the men he wanted, and they came to him.

And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

14He chose twelve of them. They were to stay with him. He would also send them out to tell people God's message.

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

NoteThese twelve men were later called apostles. That word means people who are sent out with a message.

15They would also have power to heal sick people and to drive out demons.

And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

16Here are the twelve. There was Simon, and Jesus gave him the name Peter.

And Simon he surnamed Peter;

NoteSimon was his old name. Peter was the new one Jesus gave him, and it means "rock."

17There were James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Jesus named them Boanerges, which means "Sons of Thunder."

And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

NoteBoanerges comes from Aramaic, the everyday language Jesus and his friends spoke. "Sons of thunder" was a nickname. It hints that these two brothers were loud and bold.

18There were also Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite.

And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

Note"Simon the Canaanite" is an old spelling. It really means Simon the Zealot. Zealots were people who wanted to push the Roman soldiers out of their land.

19And there was Judas Iscariot, the one who later handed Jesus over to his enemies. Then they went into a house.

And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

Note"Betrayed him" means Judas pretended to be a friend and then helped Jesus' enemies catch him.

35While he was still talking, people came from Jairus's house. They said, "Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?"

While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

Note"The Master" here means the Teacher. "Why troublest thou" means why keep bothering him.

36Jesus heard what they said. He told Jairus, "Do not be afraid. Just believe."

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

37He let no one come with him except Peter, James, and John, who was James's brother.

And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

Note"Suffered no man to follow" means he let no one else come along. Peter, James, and John were three of his closest friends.

38They came to the synagogue leader's house. Jesus saw all the noise and people crying loudly.

And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

Note"Tumult" means a lot of loud noise. When someone died, neighbors came and cried out loud together. Some people were even paid to come and cry.

39He went inside and said, "Why all this noise and crying? The child is not dead. She is asleep."

And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

Note"Ado" means fuss and noise. "Damsel" is an old word for a young girl.

40They laughed at him. He sent them all outside. Then he took the girl's father and mother and his three friends into the room where she lay.

And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

Note"Laughed him to scorn" means they laughed at him in a mean way.

41He took the girl by the hand and said, "Talitha cumi." That means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"

And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

Note"Talitha cumi" is Aramaic. That was the everyday language Jesus and his friends spoke. Mark kept the real words, then told us what they mean.

42Right away the girl got up and walked around. She was twelve years old. Everyone there was amazed.

And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

Note"Astonished with a great astonishment" means they were very, very surprised. Mark tells us her age so we know she was a big girl, not a baby.

43Jesus told them firmly not to tell anyone about it. Then he said to give her something to eat.

And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

Note"Charged them straitly" means told them firmly not to do it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

38John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man sending out evil spirits using your name. He does not go around with us, so we told him to stop."

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

NoteDoing something "in my name" meant doing it with Jesus' permission and power. It was like using someone's key.

39But Jesus said, "Do not stop him. No one who does a wonder in my name will then say bad things about me."

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

40"Anyone who is not against us is on our side."

For he that is not against us is on our part.

41"Someone may give you even a cup of water because you belong to Christ. I tell you the truth, that person will get his reward."

For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

NoteChrist is not Jesus' last name. It means the king that God chose and promised to send.

35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus. They said, "Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask."

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

NoteZebedee was the father of James and John. They were fishermen before they followed Jesus. "Master" here means teacher, not a boss.

36He said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?"

And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

37They said, "When you rule as king, let one of us sit at your right side and one at your left."

They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

NoteA king sat on a big chair, and his most important helpers sat right beside him. The seat at his right hand was the very best one. "In thy glory" means when Jesus is king and everyone can see it.

38Jesus said, "You do not know what you are asking for. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink? Can you go through what I am going to go through?"

But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

NoteIn the Bible, a "cup" can mean whatever a person has to go through. Here Jesus means the hard and painful things coming to him. Baptism means being dipped down under water. Jesus uses it as a picture of going through something very hard.

39They said, "We can." Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup that I drink. You will go through what I go through.

And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

40But I am not the one who picks who sits at my right or my left. Those places belong to the people they were made ready for."

But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

NoteJesus means God the Father decides who sits in those places.

41The other ten disciples heard about this. They got angry with James and John.

And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

NoteThe King James says the ten were "much displeased." That means they were angry.

42So Jesus called them all together. He said, "You know how it works with rulers of other nations. They boss their people around. Their leaders act like masters.

But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

Note"Gentiles" means people who were not Jews. "Exercise lordship" meant bossing people around because you have the power.

43It will not be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great among you must serve the rest.

But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

NoteThe King James says "minister." Long ago that word just meant a servant, someone who helps others.

44And whoever wants to be first must be everyone's servant.

And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Note"Chiefest" is an old word. It means the most important one of all.

45Even the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve, and to give his life to set many people free."

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Note"Ministered unto" means being waited on and served. A "ransom" was money paid to set a prisoner free. Jesus says he gives his own life instead of the money.