Peter

27Then Peter said to him, "Look, we left everything and followed you. So what will we get?"

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

NotePeter was one of Jesus' closest friends and followers. He often spoke first for the whole group.

28Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth. One day God will make everything new. Then the Son of Man will sit on his shining throne. You who followed me will sit on twelve thrones. You will judge the twelve family groups of Israel."

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

NoteSon of Man was a name Jesus used for himself. A throne is the special chair a king sits on. The twelve family groups of Israel all came from twelve brothers long ago.

29"Some people have given up things because of my name. They left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or land. Each one of them will get back a hundred times as much. They will also receive life forever."

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

30"But many who are first now will be last. And many who are last now will be first."

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

NoteThink of people standing in a line. Jesus means the ones at the front will end up at the back. And the ones at the back will end up at the front.

31Then Jesus said, "Tonight all of you will fall away because of me. God's writings say, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will scatter.'"

Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

NoteThe Mount of Olives is a hill covered with olive trees, just outside the city. In old English, "offended" here means to trip and run away, not to have hurt feelings. The words about the shepherd come from a prophet named Zechariah, who wrote them long before. To fall away here is a picture of tripping and losing your footing, like a person who stumbles.

32"But after I am raised back to life, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."

But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

NoteGalilee is the part of the country up north, where Jesus grew up.

33Peter said to him, "Even if everyone else falls away because of you, I never will."

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

34Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. Tonight, before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you do not know me."

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

NoteRoosters crow very early, just before the sun comes up. People used that sound to know how late the night was.

35Peter said, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never say that." All the other followers said the same thing.

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane. He said, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

NoteGethsemane was a quiet garden of olive trees on the hillside. Its name means olive press, the place where oil was squeezed from olives.

37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him. He began to feel very sad and troubled.

And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

NoteThe two sons of Zebedee were James and John.

38He said to them, "My heart is so sad that I feel like I could die. Stay here and stay awake with me."

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Note"Stay awake with me" means keep me company and do not fall asleep.

39He walked a little farther. He lay face down and prayed, "My Father, if it can be done, take this cup of suffering away from me. But do what you want, not what I want."

And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

NoteA cup here does not mean a real cup. It means all the hard things Jesus was about to go through.

40He came back and found his followers asleep. He said to Peter, "Could you not stay awake with me for one hour?"

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

41"Stay awake and pray, so you do not fall into temptation, a pull to do wrong. Your heart wants to do right, but your body is weak."

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

42He went away a second time and prayed. He said, "My Father, if this cup cannot be taken away, and I must drink it, then let what you want happen."

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

43He came back and found them asleep again. Their eyes were very heavy.

And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

44So he left them and went away again. He prayed a third time and said the same words.

And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

45Then he came to his followers. He said, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the time has come. The Son of Man is handed over to sinful men."

Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46"Get up. Let's go. Look, here comes the man who is handing me over."

Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

69Peter was sitting outside in the yard. A servant girl came to him. She said, "You were with Jesus from Galilee too."

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

70But he said it was not true, right in front of everyone. He said, "I do not know what you are talking about."

But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

71He went out to the gate. Another servant girl saw him. She said to the people there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."

And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

NoteThe gate was the covered doorway leading out of the yard to the street.

72Again he said it was not true. This time he swore it. He said, "I do not know the man!"

And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

NoteSwearing an oath meant asking God to show that your words were true.

73A little later, the people standing there came to Peter. They said, "You really are one of them. The way you talk shows it."

And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

NotePeople from Galilee said their words differently. Peter's voice showed where he came from.

74Then Peter began to curse and swear. He said, "I do not know the man!" Right then a rooster crowed.

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

NoteCursing here does not mean bad words. Peter was asking for trouble to fall on him if he were lying.

75Peter remembered what Jesus had told him. Jesus had said, "Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you do not know me." Peter went outside and cried hard.

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

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.

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.

32That evening, after the sun went down, people brought Jesus everyone who was sick. They also brought people who had demons inside them.

And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

NoteThe day of rest ended when the sun went down. After that, people were allowed to carry their sick friends to Jesus. That is why they came at night.

33The whole town crowded together at the door.

And all the city was gathered together at the door.

34Jesus healed many people who had many kinds of sickness. He also sent many demons out of people. He would not let the demons speak, because they knew who he was.

And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

NoteThe King James says "devils." It means demons, evil spirits. "Divers diseases" is old English for many kinds of sickness.

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.

27Jesus and his followers went to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"

And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

NoteCaesarea Philippi was a town far to the north. Walking there took days. It was named for the Roman emperor and a ruler named Philip.

28They answered, "Some say John the Baptist. Some say Elias, that is Elijah. Others say you are one of the prophets, men who told people what God said."

And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

NoteJohn the Baptist told people to get ready for God. He had been killed not long before this. Elijah was a prophet who lived hundreds of years earlier. Many people were waiting for him to come back.

29Then he asked, "But who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

NoteChrist is not a last name. It means the chosen one, the king God had promised to send.

30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

31Then he began to teach them. He said the Son of Man must suffer many things. That was the name Jesus used for himself. The older leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law would turn against him. He would be killed. After three days he would rise again.

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

NoteThe chief priests were in charge at the temple in Jerusalem. The teachers of the law knew God's rules by heart. The older leaders helped run the city.

32He said all this plainly. Peter took him aside and began to tell him he was wrong.

And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

33Jesus turned around and looked at his followers. He told Peter he was wrong. He said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are not thinking about the things of God. You are thinking about the things of people."

But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

NoteSatan is a name that means the enemy. He works against God.