Chapter FourThe transfiguration
One afternoon, Jesus was walking along a road with his apostles.1
Suddenly, he asked them, “Who am I?”
One said “Some people say that you are John the Baptist returned from the dead.”2
Another said,
“Others believe you are the prophet Elijah.
It is said that he will return to teach men.3”
“But who do you think I am?” he asked.
Peter spoke first.
“You are the Son of the only true God, our Savior,4” he said.
Jesus smiled and held Peter’s arms.
“You are the first of my apostles.
Your name was Simon, but I shall call you Peter, which means ‘rock.’5
You will tell the world my message.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Key Words & Sentences
the transfiguration (n): sự hóa thân
return (v): quay trở lại, trở về
dead (adj): chết
(the dead: cõi chết, những người đã chết)
prophet (n): nhà tiên tri
mean (v): có nghĩa là
message (n): thông điệp
key (n): chìa khóa
1 One afternoon, Jesus was walking along a road with his apostles.
2 Some people say that you are John the Baptist returned from the dead.
3 It is said that he will return to teach men.
4 You are the Son of the only true God, our Savior.
5 Your name was Simon, but I shall call you Peter, which means ‘rock.’
All the apostles were confused by what Jesus said.1
But they listened carefully as he continued speaking.
“You are my messengers to the world,” he said.
“Therefore, I will tell you what is going to happen,”2 said Jesus.
“We will travel to Jerusalem.
I will suffer terrible things there.
The temple priests will plan my death.
I will die like a common thief.
But after three days,
I will rise from the dead and live again.”
The apostles were horrified.
“No, Master!” cried Peter. “Do not let this happen!”
“Don’t be selfish, Peter, or any of you,” replied Jesus. “If you or any other man decides to follow me, you must be willing to die.3
But any man who gives his life for me will live forever in the Kingdom of God.4”
Check up
What did Jesus NOT prophesize?
a. The apostles will plan to kill Jesus.
b. Jesus will be wrongly accused of stealing and get killed.
c. Jesus will be resurrected in three days.
Key Words
confused (adj): mơ hồ
messenger (n): sứ giả
therefore (adv): vì thế, bởi vậy
happen (v): xảy ra
suffer (v): chịu đựng, chấp nhận
terrible (adj): khủng khiếp
plan (v): lập kế hoạch, sắp đặt
common (adj): tầm thường
thief (n): kẻ trộm
horrified (adj): khiếp sợ
selfish (adj): ích kỷ
be willing to + V: sẵn sàng làm gì
Key Sentences
1 All the apostles were confused by what Jesus said.
2 Therefore, I will tell you what is going to happen.
3 If you or any other man decides to follow me, you must be willing to die.
4 But any man who gives his life for me will live forever in the Kingdom of God.
A few days later, Jesus took three apostles,
Peter, James, and John, with him.1
They climbed up a high mountain.
When Jesus stood on top of the mountain, he spread his arms and looked up.2
Suddenly, he shone like the sun.
Just then, Moses and Elijah appeared next to him.
They spoke with him for a while.
Then a powerful voice came from the heavens.
It said, “This is my Son, whom I love.
He pleases me greatly. Listen to him!”
At the sound of this voice, the three apostles were terrified.3
“Do not be afraid,” said Jesus.
They looked up and saw that Jesus was alone.
“Do not tell anyone what you have seen here until I rise from the dead,4” said Jesus.
Key Words
spread (v): dang (tay) ra
look up (v): nhìn lên
shine (v): tỏa sáng
(shine - shone - shone)
just then: ngay sau đó
next to (prep): bên cạnh, sát bên
for a while: một lúc
powerful (adj): đầy quyền năng
the heavens (n): khoảng trời
please (v): làm hài lòng
terrified (adj): hoảng sợ, kinh hãi
Key Sentences
1 A few days later, Jesus took three apostles, Peter, James, and John, with him.
2 When Jesus stood on top of the mountain, he spread his arms and looked up.
3 At the sound of this voice, the three apostles were terrified.
4 Do not tell anyone what you have seen here until I rise from the dead.
Lazarus Is Raised from the Dead
In the town of Bethany, there lived three close friends of Jesus.1
They were Lazarus Magdalene and his two sisters, Mary and Martha.
When Jesus was near Bethany, a message arrived from the sisters.
“Lazarus is very sick,” said the message.
“We are afraid he might die.”2
Jesus told his apostles that Lazarus would not die.
“He will live to show the glory of God,3” he explained.
After two days, Jesus said to his apostles,
“Lazarus is sleeping.
I am going there to wake him up.”
However, the apostles did not want Jesus to go to Bethany.
This town was close to Jerusalem, where Jesus had many enemies.4
But Jesus went to Bethany anyway.
When he arrived, the two sisters were crying.
They told Jesus that Lazarus died four days ago.
What is true about the story?
The apostles didn’t want Jesus to go to Bethany.
Jesus had many enemies in Bethany.
Lazarus died four days after Jesus arrived.
Key Words & Sentences
close (adj): thân thiết
message (n): thư
might (modal verb): có thể, có lẽ
glory (n): vầng hào quang, vinh quang
explain (v): giải thích
anyway (adv): dù thế nào đi nữa
1 In the town of Bethany, there lived three close friends of Jesus.
2 “Lazarus is very sick,” said the message. “We are afraid he might die.”
3 He will live to show the glory of God.
4 This town was close to Jerusalem, where Jesus had many enemies.
“Take me to Lazarus’ tomb,” said Jesus.
It was a cave with a stone over the entrance.1
When Jesus came to the tomb, he told them to take the stone away.
Jesus raised his head to the sky.
“Father, thank you for always listening to me,” said Jesus.
Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”
A figure of a man wrapped in burial rags came out.2
The crowd gasped.
It was Lazarus, risen from the dead!
The people who saw this were filled with wonder.
They told many people the story of how Jesus brought Lazarus back to life.3
The story reached the ears of the high priests in Jerusalem.
They were afraid that people might become too excited about Jesus.4
They decided to find a way to kill Jesus.
Check up
Explain how Jesus resurrected Lazarus.
________________________
Key Words
tomb (n): mồ, mả
cave (n): cái hang
entrance (n): cửa ra vào
take away (v): lấy ra
raise (v): ngẩng lên
come out (v): đi ra
wrap (v): quấn
burial (n): mai táng
rag (v): mảnh vải
gasp (v): há hốc miệng (vì kinh ngạc)
be filled with: đầy
wonder (n): sự kinh ngạc
bring A back to life: làm A sống lại
reach (v): tới
Key Sentences
1 It was a cave with a stone over the entrance.
2 A figure of a man wrapped in burial rags came out.
3 They told many people the story of how Jesus brought Lazarus back to life.
4 They were afraid that people might become too excited about Jesus.
The Entry into Jerusalem
Jesus decided to go to Jerusalem.
He called his apostles together and told them, “As I have said before, I will be arrested in Jerusalem.1
They will laugh at me and beat me.
I will die on a cross like a thief.
But after three days, I will rise again.”
The apostles were upset but could not change Jesus’ mind.2
So they went with him on the road to Jerusalem.
On the way, they stopped for the night in the town of Jericho.3
As they entered the town, many of the people had gathered to see Jesus.
There was a rich man named Zacchaeus.
He was short, so he climbed a tree to see Jesus.4
“Come down, Zacchaeus,” Jesus said to the man.
“I will stay at your house tonight.”
Key Words
entry (n): lối vào, đường đến
arrest (v): bắt giữ
laugh at (v): cười nhạo, chế giễu
cross (n): cây thánh giá
upset (adj): đau khổ
change one’s mind: thay đổi ý định của ai
enter (v): đi vào
stay at (v): ở lại (nơi nào đó)
Key Sentences
1 As I have said before, I will be arrested in Jerusalem.
2 The apostles were upset but could not change Jesus’ mind.
3 On the way, they stopped for the night in the town of Jericho.
4 He was short, so he climbed a tree to see Jesus.
The townspeople were confused because they knew Zacchaeus as a greedy tax collector.1
Zacchaeus said to Jesus, “From this day on, I will give half of everything I own to the poor.2
And if I have cheated anyone, I will pay that person five times the amount.3”
Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today, you have been saved.
You will live forever in the Kingdom of God.”
The next day, Jesus got onto a donkey and rode toward Jerusalem.
As Jesus came nearer, he could see many people
who had come out to greet him.
“All praise the son of David!
The Savior has come!”
The priests stood by and watched Jesus angrily.
Key Words
townspeople (n): người dân trong thành phố
greedy (adj): tham lam
tax collector (n): người thu thuế
(collector: người thu (thuế, tiền...), người sưu tầm)
from this day on: từ nay trở đi
half (n): phân nửa, một nửa
own (v): có, sở hữu
cheat (v): lừa, gian lận
pay (v): trả
times (n) (số nhiều): lần
amount (n): tổng số, tổng giá trị
greet (v): chào đón
praise (v): tôn kính
Key Sentences
1 The townspeople were confused because they knew Zacchaeus as a greedy tax collector.
2 From this day on, I will give half of everything I own to the poor.
3 And if I have cheated anyone, I will pay that person five times the amount.
Comprehension Quiz
A. Complete the sentences with the words below.
collector - messengers - tomb - enemies
1. Lazarus’ body was put into a ______________.
2. The apostles were Jesus’ ______________ to the world.
3. Jesus had many ______________ in Jerusalem.
4. Zacchaeus was known as a greedy tax ______________.
B. Choose the correct answers to the questions.
1. Who did people guess Jesus was? Choose two answers.
(a) John the Baptist returned from the dead.
(b) Moses, who came back to lead his people.
(c) The Prophet Elijah, who promised to return.
2. What happened to Jesus on top of the mountain?
(a) He died and went to heaven.
(b) He shone brightly and talked to Moses and Elijah.
(c) Satan tried to lead him into temptation.
C. Based on the story, mark “T” if true or “F” if false.
1. Lazarus was sick, so Jesus cured him.
2. The two sisters were crying because they missed Jesus.
3. The people were confused because Jesus wanted to stay with Zacchaeus.
4. The priests planned to kill Jesus and his apostles.
D. Complete the sentences. Get hints from the antonyms given.
1. Jesus heard that Lazarus was very ______________.
⇒healthy
2. There was a stone over the _____________ of Lazarus’ tomb.
⇒exit
3. Jesus ______________, “Lazarus, come out!”
⇒whispered
4. After three days, I will ______________ from the dead.
⇒lie
Because of people who were jealous and afraid, Jesus was crucified to death. But Jesus was resurrected in three days.
All verbs, over here! Let’s go over the list of major verbs from “Bible Stories 2”.
