A N N O D O M I N I P U B L I S H I N G FORMAT 128 pages 226 x190mm Cased AUTHOR Rhona Davies, a trained teacher, writes for children with a keen sense of staying faithful to the spirit of the biblical text. Actively involved in her local church, she is married with teenage sons. ILLUSTRATOR Gustavo Mazali has been drawing since he was a little boy in the 1960s. Based in Buenos Aires, he started illustrating comics, then children s books, and has made a name for himself illustrating Children s Bibles, helped by his personal faith and mission. THE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN S BIBLE The Illustrated Children s Bible The Illustrated Children s Bible As children engage with a wide range of Bible stories in this new illustrated Bible they will learn more about the Christian faith and about God s love for them. In the beginning G ENESIS 1 Right at the very beginning, God was there. God spoke into the cold, deep darkness and said, Let there be light! God created the light, and the day and the night; God brought the water together into seas and shaped world into mountains and valleys, soil and sand. God made tall trees, fruit trees, flowers and leaves to grow on the land. God made the sun shine and the moon and stars shimmer. God made fish dart in the water and birds fly in the sky. God made bees and butterflies, mice and monkeys, lions, bears and giraffe and every kind of wonderful creature; and God made man and woman, who felt and thought and loved just as God did. God s world was good; it was very good. 10 11 The good Samaritan LUKE 10:30-37 Jesus was a great story-teller. He knew that people found it easier to remember a good story. He told them about a man from Samaria to show them how God wanted them to live. A man was walking on the road to Jerusalem when robbers jumped out and attacked him. They took his money and clothes, leaving him badly hurt. The man lay on the road, bleeding. He needed help quickly. A priest saw the wounded man but avoided him. He quickly crossed to the other side of the road and carried on his journey. The wounded man needed water. Surely someone would stop to help? Then he heard footsteps. Another religious man was making the same journey but he didn t stop either! The wounded man was close to death when another man came along the road. He was a Samaritan. He wouldn t usually speak to a Jewish person let alone help him. But the man did stop. He gave him water and washed his wounds before helping him on to his donkey. Then he took him to an inn and paid the innkeeper to take care of him until he returned. Be like that good Samaritan if you want to please God, said Jesus. 90 91 www.ad-publishing.com CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION: info@ad-publishing.com
THE ILLUSTRATED BIBLE FOR CHILDREN T h e I l l u s t r a t e d Bible for Children
First edition 2019 The Illustrated Children s Bible Copyright 2019 Anno Domini Publishing www.ad-publishing.com Text copyright 2019 Rhona Davies Illustrations copyright 2019 Gustavo Mazali Editorial Director: Annette Reynolds Art Director: Gerald Rogers Pre-production: Doug Hewitt All rights reserved Printed in China Rhona Davies Illustrated by Gustavo Mazali
This book belongs to... Given on the occasion of...... On this date 6 7
Contents In the beginning 10 An imperfect world 12 Noah s ark 14 Abraham trusts God 16 A wife for Isaac 18 A father s blessing 20 Jacob s favourite son 22 A new home in Egypt 24 Moses and the princess 26 A burning bush 28 Plagues in Egypt 30 The King says Go! 32 A path across the sea 34 Ten rules for life 36 Spies in the land 38 Walls come tumbling down 40 Gideon trusts God 42 The boy who listened 44 The very first king 46 God chooses David 48 A giant called Goliath 50 Wise King Solomon 52 Elijah and the ravens 54 The kind widow 56 God heals Naaman 58 Jonah runs away 60 The blazing fiery furnace 62 Thrown to the lions 64 Peace in all the world 66 A baby in a manger 68 Following a star 70 Jesus is baptized 72 First friends and helpers 74 The hole in the roof 76 The soldier s servant 78 The storm on the lake 80 Jesus the teacher 82 The woman who couldn t stand up 84 Caring and sharing 86 Jairus little girl 88 The good Samaritan 90 The good shepherd 92 The lost-and-found son 94 The blind beggar 96 The man with no friends 98 Jesus rides a donkey 100 Love one another 102 The last supper 104 Praying in the moonlight 106 Peter is ashamed 108 Crucify him! 110 Death on a cross 112 An empty tomb 114 Walking with Jesus 116 A surprise for Thomas 118 Breakfast at sunrise 120 More than silver or gold 122 A changed life 124
In the beginning G ENESIS 1 Right at the very beginning, God was there. God spoke into the cold, deep darkness and said, Let there be light! God created the light, and the day and the night; God brought the water together into seas and shaped world into mountains and valleys, soil and sand. God made tall trees, fruit trees, flowers and leaves to grow on the land. God made the sun shine and the moon and stars shimmer. God made fish dart in the water and birds fly in the sky. God made bees and butterflies, mice and monkeys, lions, bears and giraffe and every kind of wonderful creature; and God made man and woman, who felt and thought and loved just as God did. God s world was good; it was very good. 10 11
An imperfect world G ENESIS 3 Adam and Eve lived in a beautiful garden. They were God s friends and they were happy. God gave them everything they needed. There was only one tree God told them to stay away from. Then one day Eve heard a hissing in her ear. Did God really tell you not to eat on the fruit on that tree? Eve looked at the green, leafy tree. Eve saw the ripe, juicy fruit. Eve picked it and smelled it. She bit into it and enjoyed it. It tasted good. Then Adam shared it with her. Then Adam and Eve both felt very guilty. When God came to walk with them in the garden, they were ashamed and hid from him. God knew his perfect world was no longer perfect. He knew he could not trust his friends any more. 12 13
Noah s ark G ENESIS 6:9-7:5 Time passed and terrible things happened everywhere. There were more people like Cain who stole and hurt and killed and not many who loved and were kind and remembered how good God was. There was only Noah. There s going to be a big flood, said God. Noah, build a boat a huge boat called an ark. So Noah built an ark, big enough for his family; big enough for two of every kind of animal and bird that God had made. And the people round about just laughed at him for listening to God at all. When Noah s ark was ready, the animals came to him, two by two by two. Then the door was closed tightly shut. The rain began to fall in large, wet drops. The rain fell hour after hour and day after day. It rained until the streams became rivers and the rivers became seas. It rained until there was nothing left to see but water, water, everywhere. But Noah s ark floated and everyone inside was safe. Time passed, a long time passed; the rain stopped and slowly, slowly, the water went down and Noah opened the door. The birds flew free, animals hurried and scurried. A beautiful rainbow arched across the sky and Noah thanked God for keeping his family and all the animals safe. Now it was time to start all over again. 14 15
Abraham trusts God G ENESIS 12:1-4, 12:1-2; 21:1-8 A long time later, God told a man called Abraham to leave the land where he was living and move to a new land, the place that God had chosen for him and his family. Abraham was a wealthy man. He didn t know where he was going and he didn t know how long it would take him, but he trusted God. He packed his things, collected together his family, his sheep and goats and started on the long journey to the land God had promised would be his home. When Abraham and his family reached the land of Canaan, they knew that they were home. The land was rich and fertile. They could graze all their animals. All they needed to make their dreams come true was a son who would inherit everything, a son who would be the ancestor of the people God said he would bless. God promised Abraham a son. God promised that one day he would have as many descendants as there were stars in the sky. Abraham and Sarah were very happy when their baby son, Isaac, was born. 16 17
A wife for Isaac G ENESIS 24 When Isaac grew up to be a man, Abraham sent his servant home to find a wife from his own people who would love God. When the servant reached the well in the village, he prayed, asking God to help him find a good, kind woman, one who might offer to bring him water in the heat of the day. You look hot and tired, Rebekkah said. Let me bring you a drink and water your ten thirsty camels too. The servant knew that God had answered his prayer. 18 19
A father s blessing G ENESIS 25:27-33 Esau and Jacob were twins. Isaac and Rebekkah had no trouble telling them apart though. Esau was red and hairy and loved the outdoor life. Jacob was smooth and dark and enjoyed staying at home. He often cooked for the family. One day Esau came home from a day s hunting to the wonderful spicy smell of the soup Jacob was cooking. I am so hungry, I could eat all of that, Esau said. If you trade places with me so I receive Father s blessing, you can eat it, Jacob replied quickly. Esau didn t need to be asked twice. He gave away his right to the elder son s blessing that very day. 20 21
Jacob s favourite son G ENESIS 37, 46 God blessed Jacob with twelve sons. Joseph was his favourite. Jacob loved him so much that he spoiled him and gave him a special coat. This made the brothers first jealous and then angry. And when Joseph started to dream that his whole family bowed down and worshipped him they began to plot against him. So it was that one day they threw Joseph down a dry well and then sold him to some traders. Joseph would be a slave in Egypt. They lied to their father and told him Joseph was dead! Jacob thought he would never be happy again. 22 23
A new home in Egypt G ENESIS 41:1-36 What was happening to Joseph? He couldn t understand how everything had suddenly gone wrong. Joseph was sold to Potiphar and he worked very hard until Potiphar s wife told lies about him and he was sent to prison. Even in prison Joseph worked very hard until the king started to have some very strange dreams and Joseph was set free so he could tell the king what his dreams meant. This was God s plan all along. Joseph was able to tell the king how they could plan for years of good harvests and then years of famine. And the king gave Joseph the most important job in Egypt. All Jacob s family came to live there with Joseph so there was plenty for them to eat in the famine. It all came right in the end. 24 25
Moses and the princess EXODU S 2: 1-10 By the time Joseph and the old king had died, there were thousands of Abraham s descendants living in Egypt. The new king was afraid of the foreigners he called Hebrews. He made them his slaves and he gave orders that every new-born Hebrew boy child should be drowned in the River Nile. When Miriam s mother gave birth to a baby boy, she hid the baby from the soldiers until his cries grew too loud. Then she made a basket for him and hid it by the side of the river. Oh! It must be one of the Hebrew babies! said the princess when she came to bathe in the river. She smiled at the little baby. He will live with me in the palace. I will call him Moses. 26 27
A burning bush EXODU S 3:1 4:17 Moses grew up in the palace but he saw what was happening to his people. He knew that the king was cruel to them. Moses hated what he saw day after day. Then one day Moses saw a slave driver beating a man so hard, he couldn t stand it any longer. Moses was so angry, he stepped in to help the man and killed the slave driver. After that, he couldn t stay in Egypt. Moses ran away into the desert. Then one day, God spoke to him from a burning bush. Go to the king of Egypt, Moses. Tell him to let my people go! 28 29
Plagues in Egypt EXODU S 1, 5:1-2 Moses took his brother Aaron and went to see the king. They gave him God s message but it made the king angry. Who is this God? he said. I don t know him. I will NOT let his people go. So God sent plagues to the land of Egypt. First the waters of the Nile turned to blood. Then croaking frogs appeared in every house, in every room, cupboard and cooking pot. There were biting gnats and buzzing flies. Itchy, oozing boils made the people miserable and a plague killed the sheep, goats and cattle. There was a terrible hailstorm and locusts that stripped every green plant in the land. Then there was a deep, deep darkness over the land for three days. 30 31
The king says, Go! EXODU S 6:28 12:32 After each plague, the king agreed to let the people go if God would only take the plague away but as soon as God did, the king changed his mind. He would not let God s people go. Then God told his people to prepare for a long journey. That night the angel of death passed over all but the first born of the Egyptian people. By morning weeping and wailing could be heard in almost every home in Egypt as their firstborn sons lay dead. Go! said the king to Moses. Take your people and everything you own and get out of Egypt! 32 33
A path across the sea EXODU S 14:15-29 God led Moses and his people to freedom. God appeared to them by day as a pillar of cloud and at night as a pillar of fire. By the time they reached the banks of the Red Sea, the king had already changed his mind again. They could see the dust of his chariots behind them! Moses raised his stick over the waters and the sea divided in front of them. All God s people crossed over the sea on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to follow, Moses raised his stick again and the waters of the Red Sea flowed back. Now they were free! 34 35
Ten rules for life EXODU S 21:2-26 The Israelites walked in the desert until they reached Mount Sinai. Moses went up the mountain and God gave Moses rules to help them live. God is the only God. Love him alone. Don t make idols or worship anything else but God. Respect God s name. It is special and holy. Keep the Sabbath as a special day. Love and respect your parents. Don t murder anyone. Don t steal someone else s wife or husband. Do not steal anything from anyone. Do not lie to anyone. Don t be jealous of other people s things. The rules were written on two large stones and were known as the Ten Commandments. 36 37
Spies in the land J OSHU A 2:1-15 Moses died before they reached the land of Canaan. Joshua became their leader who would take them back to the land where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had lived long ago. Joshua sent spies into the walled city of Jericho to see how friendly the people were. But when the king found out, he sent his soldiers to capture them! Quick! Hide here under the flax on my roof, said Rahab. We all know your God led you safely out of Egypt. We know you will take our city. Promise me that you will protect my family when you come. The spies promised and Rahab let them down the city walls so they could escape by night. 38 39
Walls come tumbling down J OSHU A 6:1-20 Joshua and the people did not scale the thick, high walls of Jericho. They did not fire arrows into the city or try to tunnel beneath it. Instead, they marched around the walls, while the priests blew their trumpets for seven days, just as God had told them. The people of Jericho watched, amazed, wondering what would happen next. On the seventh day, the people marched around the city seven times; and on the seventh time, they shouted while the trumpets blew. And the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. The city was theirs. But they kept their promise to Rahab. She and her family became part of God s people from that day on as they made their home in Canaan. 40 41
Gideon trusts God JUDGES 6:11-16 The next time the people forgot their God, the Midianites attacked them, stealing the food they grew for themselves. God s people were miserable again and called on God to help them. This time God chose a man who did not think he was strong or brave or clever. Gideon was hiding when God s angel told him God s plans! Are you sure God wants me to lead an army? Gideon asked. Gideon asked for a sign so that he could be sure he hadn t misunderstood what God wanted. That night Gideon put a woolly fleece on the ground. The next morning the fleece was wet while all the ground around it was dry. But Gideon still wasn t sure. The next night Gideon asked for the woolly fleece to be dry while the ground was wet. And the next morning, it was! Then Gideon trusted God to help him and he led God s people to a victory against the Midianites. 42 43
The boy who listened 1 SAMU EL 32-10 Hannah loved her son Samuel very much. She asked Eli the priest to let him serve God in the temple. One night Samuel woke up. Someone had called his name. Did you call me? he asked Eli. But Eli had not called. He told him to go back to sleep. A little while later, Samuel heard his name again. Did you call me? he asked Eli again. But Eli had not called. He told him to go back to sleep. When it happened a third time, Eli realized that it was God who was calling Samuel. So the next time God called, Samuel was ready. I am here, Lord. I am listening, Samuel answered. Samuel grew up to be God s prophet and helped and guided God s people till he was an old man. 44 45
The very first king 1 SAMU EL 9:1-17 While Samuel was prophet, God s people decided that they wanted a king like all the nations around them. God is your king! said Samuel. He will take care of you. But the people still wanted a king. So God told Samuel to anoint Saul. Saul was tall and handsome and became a brave king. For a while the people were happy. Then Saul decided that he liked power and wanted to do things his own way. He led the people to do things that God s people should not do. And things began to go wrong. 46 47
God chooses David 1 SAMU EL 16:1-13 God told Samuel to anoint one of Jesse s sons to take Saul s place. When Samuel met the first son, he thought this must be the right man. He was tall and handsome and strong. But it was not the man God had chosen. You look on the outside, said God, but I see what is in a man s heart. Samuel met seven of Jesse s sons, all tall and handsome and strong, but none of them was the man God had chosen. Have you any more sons? asked Samuel. There is only David left. He is taking care of my sheep. I will bring him, said Jesse. As soon as Samuel met David, he knew this was God s chosen king. He anointed David king, ready to take over when Saul had died. 48 49
A giant called Goliath While David took care of his father s sheep, his three eldest brothers were in King Saul s army. 1 SAMU EL 17:32-39 and his helmet to wear but it was far too big. He gave David his sword to carry but it was far too heavy. Saul had sent a boy out to fight him. God is here to help me, David shouted to Goliath. Soon everyone will know that God is greater than a giant with heavy weapons! David used his sling and one stone from his pouch and Goliath fell down dead. The Philistines ran away and everyone cheered David! Jesse was worried about his sons and sent David to see them with gifts of bread and cheeses. But when David reached the hillside camp, he saw that across the valley was the battle line of the fierce Philistines. Worse even than that was their champion, a giant of a man called Goliath. Goliath wanted to fight a champion from God s people. But no one was brave enough to go, not even King Saul. He may be big but we have God on our side! David said. I will fight him! King Saul gave David his armour When I look after my father s sheep, I have only my shepherd s sling, David told King Saul. God has always kept me safe from the lions and bears. I trust him to keep me safe now. So David stepped out to fight the giant with only his sling and five smooth stones that he picked up from the river bed. Goliath really was huge. He had a bronze helmet on his head, heavy armour on his body and bronze greaves on his legs; he carried a bronze javelin, a sword and a long spear with a heavy iron point. And Goliath was angry when he saw that 50 51
Wise King Solomon 1 KINGS 3:16-28 David became king after Saul; David s son, Solomon, became king when David died. One night Solomon dreamed that God asked him to choose any gift he wanted. Did Solomon want to be rich or famous or live a long life? You have already given me so much, Lord, said Solomon. There is only one thing I need. Help me to be wise so I can rule your people well. God gave Solomon the wisdom he asked for but he also made him rich and famous too. One day two women came to see him. Each accused the other of stealing her baby. Take a sword and cut the baby in half, said Solomon. Of course, the real mother immediately gave the baby to the other woman; and Solomon gave the baby to the woman who wouldn t let the baby die. People soon knew for miles around how God had blessed Solomon. 52 53
Elijah and the ravens 1 KINGS 17:2-6 After Solomon there were some bad kings who ruled over Israel. They did not listen to God. They did not care about God. King Ahab was one of these kings. Elijah went to see him with a message from God. Unless you stop worshipping gods of wood and stone, no more rain will fall upon the ground. Then Elijah fled! He knew how angry the king would be. God sent Elijah to a little brook where he would have clean water to drink. God sent ravens to bring Elijah food to eat each morning and evening. God took good care of Elijah. 54 55
The kind widow 1 KINGS 17:7-16 When the water in the brook dried up, God sent Elijah to Zarephath. There he met a woman collecting sticks for a fire. Do you have some bread and water you can share with me? Elijah asked. I have only enough for one last meal, she replied. Then my son and I will die, because there is no more. Share it with me and God will bless you, Elijah told her. The woman used her last drop of oil and her last grains of flour to make bread and she shared it with Elijah and her son. But when she looked again, there was just enough oil and just enough flour left for the next meal. So she shared her meal with Elijah again. For as long as the woman shared, there was just enough oil and just enough flour to feed them while the drought lasted. God had blessed them. 56 57
God heals Naaman 2 KINGS 5:4-15 King Joram was very anxious. He had received a letter from the king of Aram asking him to heal Naaman, the commander of his army, from leprosy. How could he do that? Surely the king of Aram was trying to cause a fight! Elisha was now God s prophet. When he heard about the letter, he told the king to send Naaman to him. Have you forgotten there is a God in Israel who can heal? Did you not think about asking me to help? Elisha said. So Naaman was sent to Elisha who sent his servant to tell Naaman to wash seven times in the River Jordan. Naaman was not happy! Wash in that dirty river? There are more beautiful rivers in my own country! But sir, Naaman s servant said, if he had asked you to do something difficult, you would have done it. Why don t you try this? So Naaman washed seven times in the River Jordan and his skin was healed of the terrible scars of leprosy. Then Naaman told Elisha, Now I know that there is no God anywhere in the world except in the land of Israel. 58 59
Jonah runs away J ONAH 1:1-3 Jonah did not like the violent people who lived in Nineveh who made war on God s people. So when God told Jonah to go there, Jonah boarded a ship going the other way. He did not want to go! Jonah was asleep when a terrible storm tossed his boat high on the waves. The sailors clung on in fear for their lives. Throw me overboard! Jonah shouted. This is my fault for not listening to the God who made all the world. But as Jonah went under the water, God sent a huge fish to rescue him. Jonah sat and prayed in the body of the fish for three days. Then the great fish spat him out on to the shore. He went to Nineveh with God s message and the people there listened. They were sorry for the bad things they had done. And because God is kind and compassionate, he forgave them. 60 61
The blazing, fiery furnace D ANIEL 3:1-27 Daniel and his friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were also taken captive in Babylon. They were educated young men so they were trained to work for the king. But they didn t forget who they were. They didn t forget that God was the only God and that they had promised to love and worship only him. So when they were ordered to bow down and worship a statue the king had made, they would not bow down as everyone else did. The king was very angry; and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into a fiery furnace. The king watched in amazement as the men seemed to be walking around in the fire protected by an angel! The king had them released from the fire. He realized that their God had saved them. 62 63
Thrown to the lions! D ANIEL 6:1-16 The king saw how clever Daniel was. The king saw that he could be trusted. Soon Daniel was a very important man in Babylon. Jealous men began to plot and plan against Daniel. But Daniel seemed to have no faults. He did nothing wrong. One day they went to the king with an idea about a new law to be passed. The law said the king was very great and that only he should be worshipped by all the people Anyone who broke this law should be thrown to the lions! The king was rather pleased. He did not realize that he had been tricked. Daniel knew about the new law but he loved God. He prayed to God three times a day, just as he had before. The king had no choice but to have him thrown to the lions. The king was very sad indeed. He went to the lions den next morning expecting bad news. Daniel, the king said. Has your God saved you from the hungry lions? He was very surprised when Daniel answered him! God had kept Daniel safe. 64 65
Peace in all the world A very long time later, God s plan for his people and for the whole world began to unfold on a hillside outside Bethlehem, the city where King David had lived long ago. Shepherds were taking care of their sheep that night when they were startled by a bright, shining light which broke through the darkness. Angels had come with a message from God! LUKE 2:8-16 Don t be afraid, they said. We have good news today your Saviour has been born in Bethlehem. You will find him lying in a manger. The shepherds listened to the sound of heavenly music as the angels sang of the child sent by God to bring peace to everyone on earth. Then the shepherds left their sheep and went to find the baby. 66 67
A baby in a manger LUKE 2:1-20 The shepherds found the baby, lying in a manger in Bethlehem, just as the angels had said. They told his mother Mary all that had happened and what the angels had said about her baby. When they had gone, Mary thought about what they had said. Nine months before, God had sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth in Galilee, to visit her. The angel had told her that God had chosen her out of all the women on earth to give birth to the baby who would be known as God s own Son. He would be called Jesus, the one who would save his people. Mary had been going to marry Joseph the carpenter. When Joseph found out that Mary was expecting a baby, he asked God what he should do. God told him to marry Mary and help take care of her very special child. So it was that Mary gave birth to God s Son in Bethlehem, because the Roman emperor had made everyone return to their family home to be registered there so he could tax them. Here was Jesus, Mary s own son, and Joseph, who had promised to take care of them. 68 69
Following a star M ATTHEW 2:1-11 On the night that Jesus was born, a new star appeared in the heavens. Wise men, far away in the East, were studying the night skies. They saw the star and studied their charts. They believed it foretold the birth of a king, born to the Jewish people. They decided to take gifts and go to worship the new-born king. So they packed treasure chests and began their journey by night, following the star. When they reached Jerusalem, the wise men went to the palace because all kings were surely born in palaces. But King Herod knew nothing of a baby king. Herod asked many questions of his visitors from the East about when they first saw the star for they had travelled a great distance over many long months. He also asked his advisers where the prophets had said such a king might be born and found that the wise men should go to Bethlehem. But when the men had gone, Herod was very angry. There was room for only one king in his country! He began to plot to make sure the baby did not live to be his rival. The wise men found Jesus, the baby king, in a little house in Bethlehem. They bowed down and worshipped him and offered their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They were warned in a dream not to return to King Herod so they went home to their own country another way. 70 71
Jesus is baptized M ATTHEW 3:13-17 Jesus grew up to be a man, learning how to be a carpenter like Joseph. But Jesus knew that the time would come when he would do the work that God, his father, had planned for him to do. When Jesus was about thirty years old, he went down to the River Jordan where a man called John was baptizing people. Come and ask God to forgive your sins, said John. Go under the water as a sign that God washes you clean and forgives you. Jesus stepped forward to be baptized - and John knew immediately who he was. I cannot baptize you, said John. It would be better if you baptized me! And you have no need to be baptized because you have done nothing wrong as we have. Jesus gently insisted that John baptize him and when he did, the Holy Spirit came like a dove and the people there heard God s voice telling them that this man, Jesus, was the son he loved. 72 73
First friends and helpers LUKE 5:1-11 Jesus was ready to begin the work God had planned for him and the prophets had spoken of long ago. Jesus had come to set prisoners free. Jesus had come to save people from their sins and teach them how to love God and live the way God had always intended. Jesus chose helpers, friends who would be with him and would learn from him. The first of the twelve men known as his disciples were fishermen. Peter and his brother Andrew had been fishing all night but caught nothing. Let your net down on the other side, said Jesus. And their net filled with so many fish, they were afraid it would break! James and his brother John came to help. Come and follow me, said Jesus, and you will catch far more than these fish. You will be fishers of men and women. Then they left their nets and became followers of Jesus, along with Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew the tax collector, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James and Judas Iscariot. 74 75
The hole in the roof M ARK 2:1-12, LUKE 5:17-26 Everyone wanted to see Jesus and to listen to him talk about God. So no one could get close to him when he met in a house in Capernaum. It was full to bursting! The four men carrying a mat on which their paralyzed friend was lying thought quickly. They carefully made their way up the steps outside the house to the roof. The only way Jesus could heal their friend was if they lowered him down through a hole in the roof! Jesus smiled up at the four faces looking down at him and at the man on the mat now in front of him. Pick up your mat; you can walk home, said Jesus. Everyone watched, amazed, as the man walked home. It was a miracle. 76 77
The soldier s servant M ATTHEW 8:5-13 There was a Roman soldier in Capernaum who loved God. He had even helped provide the money for a local synagogue to be built. So when the soldier s servant became ill, he knew whom he should ask for help. Jesus, please heal my servant, he said. Jesus was happy to go to the man s house to see the servant. But the soldier stopped him. I am not important enough for you to come to my house. But I know that you need only say that he is healed and he will be. When you speak, things happen. Jesus was amazed at the faith of the soldier. When he went back to his home, the servant was healed. The soldier knew what most people did not yet know that Jesus was God s Son. 78 79
The storm on the lake LUKE 8:22-24 It had been a busy day. Jesus asked his friends to sail across to the other side of Lake Galilee. Before long, Jesus was sleeping at one end of the boat, gently rocked by the waves. But after a while, a storm blew up. The wind howled and the waves tossed the little boat up and down, up and down till the disciples felt sick. Even the sailors among them feared for their lives! Help us, Jesus, or we will drown! they shouted. Jesus sat up and looked at the storm. Then he stood up and spoke to the wind and waves. Be calm, be still, he said. The disciples looked on, astonished, as the sea became calm and gentle once more. Who was Jesus, that even the wind and waves obeyed him? 80 81
Jesus, the teacher M ATTHEW 4 Jesus talked about God to his friends as if he really knew him. He told the people who came to him how much God loved them. No one had ever told them such things before. Don t worry about what you will eat or what you will wear, said Jesus. Look how beautiful the flowers are! See how the birds find enough to eat. God takes care of them and he will take care of you because he loves you even more. God knows you need all these things. Trust him and he will take care of you. Learn to love other people even if they are not kind to you. This is the way you will change the world, by loving and forgiving and being kind. Don t be selfish or greedy. Share what you have with people who need it. 82 83
The woman who couldn t stand up LUKE 13:10-17 Jesus was in the synagogue where people had come to worship God when he saw a woman with a very bent back. The woman couldn t look up at Jesus because she couldn t stand up straight. She had been in pain for eighteen years. Jesus touched the woman gently. Stand up, he said kindly. You don t need to suffer any more. I have made you well. The woman stood up straight and found that Jesus had healed her! Many of the people there were happy for her and amazed at what Jesus had done. But not everyone was pleased. Today is a special, holy day, the Sabbath. We worship God today. Come on other days if you want to be healed, said the leader of the synagogue. But Jesus was cross. You would give water to your donkey on the Sabbath, wouldn t you? In the same way, it is right to help people today just as any other day. This is what God wants! 84 85
Caring and Sharing J OHN 6:1-13 The sun was going down. Jesus had been teaching and healing people all day. They were more than 5000 people on the hillside, most of them a long way from home. Where can we find food for these people to eat? Jesus asked Philip. They must be tired and hungry. Philip knew they didn t have money to buy food for the huge crowd. But there was a boy in the crowd with his own picnic lunch. He told Andrew he would be happy to let Jesus have his five pieces of bread and two little fish Andrew brought the boy to Jesus. Jesus thanked the boy and then thanked God for providing the food. Then he asked his friends to share it out among the people. Each person shared with the next until everyone there had something to eat. It was a miracle. No one went hungry that day and there were even twelve baskets of left-overs! God had blessed the hungry crowd. 86 87
Jairus little girl M ARK 5:21-24, 35-43 Jairus met Jesus on the shore of Lake Galilee. He needed his help. Jairus had a little girl of twelve years old who was very ill. He knew that Jesus might be able to heal her and he was afraid that without him she would die. Please come now! Jairus said to Jesus. My little girl is dying! Jesus was anxious to help and made his way through the crowd of people. But others needed Jesus too. Soon Jesus had stopped to help a woman who had touched his cloak and been healed. Then Jairus heard a voice calling his name. The man had come from Jairus house and he was upset. It s too late, the man told Jairus. I m so sorry but your daughter died a few minutes ago. Jesus did not stop. He told Jairus to hurry to his house and he followed. There were women wailing outside the house but Jesus entered the room with Jairus and his wife. He took only peter, James and John. Jesus sat beside the girl s bedside and spoke to her. Get up, little girl, he said. The girl opened her eyes and smiled at Jesus and her parents hugged each other in their joy. She was alive! I think she d like something to eat, said Jesus. 88 89
The good Samaritan LUKE 10:30-37 Jesus was a great story-teller. He knew that people found it easier to remember a good story. He told them about a man from Samaria to show them how God wanted them to live. A man was walking on the road to Jerusalem when robbers jumped out and attacked him. They took his money and clothes, leaving him badly hurt. The man lay on the road, bleeding. He needed help quickly. A priest saw the wounded man but avoided him. He quickly crossed to the other side of the road and carried on his journey. The wounded man needed water. Surely someone would stop to help? Then he heard footsteps. Another religious man was making the same journey but he didn t stop either! The wounded man was close to death when another man came along the road. He was a Samaritan. He wouldn t usually speak to a Jewish person let alone help him. But the man did stop. He gave him water and washed his wounds before helping him on to his donkey. Then he took him to an inn and paid the innkeeper to take care of him until he returned. Be like that good Samaritan if you want to please God, said Jesus. 90 91
The good shepherd LUKE 15:3-7 Jesus often told people that God loved them. God is like a shepherd who has a hundred sheep, Jesus said. One day he counts them and finds that one sheep is missing. What does he do? Does he go to sleep that night happy that he still has ninety-nine sheep safely in the sheepfold? Of course not and neither would you. The shepherd searches high and low until he finds the poor lost sheep and rescues it. Then he carries it home on his shoulders, and gets his friends together to celebrate because he is so happy that he has saved that one sheep. God loves us just as the shepherd cares for his sheep, even when they have wandered off on their own. He cannot rest till all his children are safe. 92 93
The lost-and-found son LUKE 15:11-24 Let me tell you a story about a father who had two sons, said Jesus. One day the younger son decided to leave home. He asked his father for his inheritance and, even though he knew it made his father sad, he left. The boy spent his money freely and made lots of friends. He had a good time until his money ran out. Then he found his friends were not his friends any more. He was lonely and hungry and miserable. He realized that even his father s servants had a better life than he did. He decided to go home and tell his father he was sorry and ask for a job on the farm. But his father had been hoping he would return. He was watching and waiting and when he saw his son, he ran to meet him and welcomed him home. His son had been lost but he was overjoyed now that he was found. God is just like that father, said Jesus, longing to forgive us when he come to say sorry for our mistakes. 94 95
The blind beggar M ARK 10:46-52 Bartimaeus sat by the roadside begging, day after day. He could hear the birds singing and he could feel the warmth of the sun but Bartimaeus could not see the faces of the people around him because he was blind. One day he heard a great fuss going on along the road. Someone was coming, someone important. Bartimaeus could hear many voices and the sound of many feet. When he realized that it was Jesus, Bartimaeus became very excited and called out, Jesus, help me! Bartimaeus already knew who Jesus was. He knew that if he would, he could help him to see. Jesus, please help me! he shouted again. Jesus stopped and asked someone to bring Bartimaeus to him. What do you want? asked Jesus. I want to see! he replied. Jesus was happy to heal Bartimaeus because he trusted him to help him. But once he could see, Bartimaeus was so happy, he wanted only one thing, to follow Jesus. 96 97
The man with no friends LUKE 19:1-4 In Jericho, a crowd of people had gathered to follow Jesus but Zacchaeus was too small to see over their heads. He was also not very popular; no one would let him get to the front. So Zacchaeus climbed a fig tree. Now he could see Jesus but suddenly he realised that Jesus could also see him and he was smiling right up at him! Hello, Zacchaeus, said Jesus. Why don t you come down so I can come to your house today? The people around him grumbled and frowned. They all knew Zacchaeus was a cheat, a tax collector who worked for the Romans and took more money than he should. Why was Jesus being kind to him? But Zacchaeus was a changed man when Jesus became his friend. He promised to give money to the poor and repay anyone he had cheated four times as much! That s why I m here to help people like Zacchaeus, Jesus said. 98 99
Jesus rides a donkey M ARK 11:1-10 Lots of people were going to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. Jesus and his friends went too. But Jesus did not walk this time. He asked his friends to go to a special house where a young donkey would be waiting. They were to borrow it for the day. When people saw Jesus approaching, they began to cheer and clap and wave palm branches. Look! It s Jesus! they said to each other, riding on a donkey. Jesus is our King! Hooray for Jesus! shouted another. I saw him heal a man who couldn t walk! And he has healed blind and deaf people too and he tells wonderful stories about God, said someone else. The donkey plodded on, unworried by the shouting and cheering. But there were some in the crowd who didn t like what they saw and heard. Some of the religious leaders didn t like what Jesus taught about God. They were already plotting to find a way to make sure he stopped being a problem to them. 100 101
Love one another J OHN 13:1-17 During that week, Jesus met with his disciples in an upper room where they were to eat supper together. Usually a servant would wash their dusty feet before they sat down but Jesus had taken the bowl and towel and started to wash their feet instead. What are you doing? said Peter. You can t wash my feet! You are my master, not my servant. But Jesus shook his head. I want you to take care of each other in the same way that I am doing this now, he said. It s not about being more important than your friends, it s about showing you love them. That means nothing should be too hard for you to do. And when you show each other you love them like this, others will see that you are different that you are my disciples. Love one another as I love you. 102 103
The last supper M ATTHEW 26:17-29 It was going to be a long night. Jesus knew that this meal would be the last he would eat with his friends, but they sat around the table as if this was a meal like any other. Some of them noticed that Jesus seemed sad. Jesus broke the bread and shared it with his friends. Eat this, he said. This is my body, broken for you. Then he took a cup of wine. Drink this. It is my blood shed for you. As they ate and drank, they didn t understand the suffering that Jesus would go through the next day. You know I would do anything for you, Peter said to Jesus. I would even die for you! But Jesus shook his head sadly. Before the cock crows tomorrow morning, Peter, you will say three times that you don t even know me. Judas did not stay long with the others. Instead he slipped out of the room. He had already agreed to betray Jesus to his enemies for thirty pieces of silver. 104 105
Praying in the moonlight M ATTHEW 26:47-56 After they had eaten, Jesus led his friends out to an olive grove known as the Garden of Gethsemane. He asked them to watch with him while he prayed. Then Jesus began to talk to God. Father, I know that what lies ahead will be hard, he said. Please, if it is possible, let these terrible things pass by me. But if not, help me to bear them. Be there to help me. But when Jesus returned to his friends, he found that they had all fallen asleep. Jesus felt as if everyone had deserted him. He felt very much alone. Then they saw torches shining in the darkness under the trees and Judas leading a band of men armed with swords and clubs. Judas greeted Jesus with the kiss of friendship as he betrayed him to the guards. The men arrested Jesus and marched him away to be questioned while his friends were so afraid, they ran away and left him. 106 107
Peter is ashamed M ATTHEW 26:69-75 Peter was as frightened as all the others when Jesus was arrested but once they had gone back through the trees, he followed at a distance, keeping to the shadows and making sure no one could see him. Peter saw Jesus being taken to be questioned by the chief priest. He stayed in the courtyard outside, waiting to see what would happen. Suddenly he was aware that a girl was staring at him. I know you, she said. Aren t you one of Jesus friends? No! said Peter, stepping back. Yes, surely you were with him, said another. No, you re wrong! Peter replied again. You even have a northern accent, someone else said. You must be one of his disciples. No, no, no! I told you I don t know who you are talking about, said Peter. And at that moment, the cock crowed. It was morning. And as Peter remembered what Jesus had said the night before, he wept with shame. 108 109
Crucify him! M ATTHEW 27 Pontius Pilate looked at Jesus, the man the people had called king a few days before. He knew the Jewish religious leaders wanted him dead. Now it seemed the people wanted him crucified like a common criminal. But the Roman governor could find nothing that he had done wrong. He had committed no crime. The crowd shouted even louder. Crucify him! Pontius Pilate washed his hands of the crime and sent him away to be beaten and humiliated and crucified. The soldiers put a crown of sharp thorns on his head and made him carry the heavy piece of wood that would become the cross on which he would die. Then when Jesus stumbled and fell, they made a man from the crowd, Simon of Cyrene, carry the cross for him. 110 111
Death on a cross J OHN 19:16 20:9 Ten of the disciples were still hiding when Jesus was crucified. Judas was alone and ashamed of his part in sending Jesus to the cross. But John was there. He stood with Mary, comforting her, as she watched her son suffer and die between two criminals. There was a sign above Jesus that Pontius Pilate had put there: The King of the Jews. John, this is your mother now. Take care of her, Jesus breathed from the cross. Mother, take John into your home as your son. For hours Jesus hung on the cross, growing weaker and weaker. Then at about 3.00 in the afternoon, he cried out, It is finished! and died. What had happened? How could the man greeted as king a few days before now be a tortured dead man hanging on a cross? 112 113
An empty tomb J OHN 20:1-18 Mary had risen early on Sunday morning. She had seen the garden where Jesus had been buried in a rock tomb on Friday evening. Now she wanted to take herbs and spices. But when she reached the garden, the big stone door that sealed the tomb had been rolled away and the body of Jesus was not there! Mary was very upset. She could not understand what had happened. Had someone stolen the body? She ran back to tell Peter and John and they went for themselves to see the empty tomb but then they left her, weeping. Why are you weeping? Someone else was there with Mary and through her tears, she thought it was the gardener. Please if you have taken away his body, tell me where it is now? she asked. But the man answered with only her name. Mary, he said. Suddenly everything was clear. This was no gardener, it was Jesus! And he was not a dead body Jesus was alive! 114 115
Walking with Jesus LUKE 24:13-35 On that same Sunday two of Jesus friends were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were talking about all that had happened to Jesus, when a man joined them and started to walk along the road with them. They were amazed when he didn t seem to know what had happened but as they talked, the man explained to them that Jesus had to die so that people could be forgiven their sins and that the prophecies had said that God would raise Jesus from the dead and give him new life. When they arrived in Emmaus, they asked the man to join them for supper. As he broke the bread at the table, they suddenly realized that the man was Jesus himself! They were so excited that they returned to Jerusalem to tell everyone that they had seen him. 116 117
A surprise for Thomas J OHN 20:24-29 Jesus had also visited the disciples in Jerusalem. They were together inside a locked room when Jesus suddenly appeared among them. Peace be with you, he had said. Then Jesus showed them the marks in his hands where the nails had pierced him and the place where the soldier had put a sword in his side. The disciples were overjoyed to see him! But when they told Thomas that they had seen Jesus because he had not been there on Sunday evening he could not believe them. I must see him with my own eyes before I can believe it, he said. Thomas was there when Jesus came again to the locked room. Touch the wounds in my hands, Thomas, said Jesus. Look for yourself do you now believe? Thomas was so happy that Jesus was alive that he fell to his knees. My Lord and my God, he said. 118 119
Breakfast at sunrise J OHN 21:1-13 The disciples had not seen Jesus for a few days. I m going fishing, said Peter. I ll come too, said Thomas. Six of the disciples went with Peter that night. Together they fished the waters of Lake Galilee as they had three years earlier when Jesus had first called them. As the sun rose over the hills, they heard a man calling to them from the shore. Have you caught anything? he shouted. No, nothing, they answered. Try the other side! the man shouted back. The fishermen were tired but they cast the nets one last time and felt the pull of the nets as they filled with fish! Peter knew who the man was and jumped into the water to get to the shore faster. It was Jesus! Jesus was warming bread and cooking fish. Together they ate breakfast on the shore. Then Jesus asked Peter three times: Do you love me? Peter could not forget the night when he had denied that Jesus was his friend. You know that I love you! he answered. I want you to take care of the others, Jesus told him. 120 121
More than silver or gold A CTS 3:1-10 Jesus told the disciples that he was returning to God in Heaven. But he did not leave them alone. At the feast of Pentecost, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help them. They felt as if Jesus was with them all the time. Peter had already spoken to huge crowds of people, telling them why Jesus died and that their sins could be forgiven. Thousands of people became believers. The small group who had followed Jesus around had now become a great number. One day Peter went with John to the temple to pray and met, at the entrance they called the Beautiful Gate, a man who couldn t walk. Do you have some money for me, some coins for my bowl? he asked them. But Peter replied, I have no money. But I can give you something better Jesus has given me the power to heal you. Then you have no need to beg any more Peter healed the man and he got to his feet, amazed and jumping for joy, praising God. 122 123
A changed life P A U L ACTS 9 28 Not everyone liked the message that the new followers of Jesus brought. Saul loved God but thought the Christians were wrong. He watched as Stephen was stoned to death for his faith. He then set about finding the believers and putting them in prison. On the road to Damascus, Saul s life was changed. He met the risen Jesus and realized for himself that the message of the Christians was true. He became known as Paul and he was as eager to tell other people about Jesus as he had before been to stop them. Paul travelled to many places to take the message about the forgiveness of Jesus to everyone. Sometimes he was welcomed and new churches were started there. At other times he was chased away or beaten or put in prison. He was shipwrecked on Malta on his way to Rome where he lived under house arrest. But wherever he was and no matter what he suffered, nothing could stop Paul sharing his knowledge of Jesus and his joy in knowing him with anyone who would listen. Paul wrote many letters to friends in the churches he started. The millions of people who have become believers in the years that followed have found Paul s teaching helpful as they learn to live godly lives. 124 125