THE STORY OF

JESUS CHRIST

THIS IS THE TRUE STORY OF JESUS CHRIST. HE

WAS A MAN, BUT HE WAS MUCH MORE THAN A MAN.
HE is THE ONLY SON OF GOD. OF COURSE HE WAS
POWERFUL. EVEN THE WIND AND THE SEA OBEYED
HIM. BUT CALMING THE SEA WAS NOT THE MOST
WONDERFUL THING HE DID. THE MOST WONDERFUL
THING HE DID IS FOR YOU! READ ON AND DISCOVER
WHAT THAT MOST WONDERFUL THING IS . . .

© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
 GOD LOVES PEOPLE. SADLY THEY OFTEN IGNORE
GOD AND DO BAD THINGS THAT KEEP THEM
FROM BEING HIS FRIENDS. BUT GOD HAD A
PLAN TO REPAIR THE RELATIONSHIP! THIS IS
THAT WONDERFUL STORY. GOD SENT AN ANGEL TO
JOSEPH. THE ANGEL HAD AMAZING NEWS ABOUT
MARY, THE GIRL JOSEPH WAS GOING TO MARRY.

DO NOT BE AFRAID
TO TAKE MAry AS YOUR
WIFE, EVEN THOUGH SHE’S
GOING TO HAVE A BABY. GOD
HAS CHOSEN HER TO BE
THE MOTHER OF HIS SON.
THE BABY’S NAME WILL
BE JESUS, “SON OF THE
MOST HIGH GOD.”

JOSEPH LOVED GOD AND BELIEVED THE ANGEL.

MONTHS LATER THE ROMAN EMPEROR FORCED
EVERYONE TO GO TO THEIR HOMETOWNS TO BE
TAXED. MARY WAS ALMOST READY TO HAVE HER
BABY. SHE AND JOSEPH HAD TO GO TO BETHLEHEM,
MANY MILES FROM WHERE THEY WERE LIVING.

WE’VE TRAVELED A
LONG WAY. MY WIFE
IS GOING TO HAVE A THERE IS NO
BABY. WE MUST HAVE ROOM FOR YOU HERE
A PLACE TO STAY. OR ANY OTHER PLACE
2 IN BETHLEHEM.

© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
 EXHAUSTED, MARY AND HER HUSBAND
JOSEPH HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO STAY
IN A BARN WHERE ANIMALS LIVED.
THAT NIGHT BABY JESUS WAS BORN.
MARY KEPT HER BABY WARM IN A BOX
THAT USUALLY HELD FOOD FOR THE
ANIMALS.

THAT SAME NIGHT, SHEPHERDS WERE TAKING CARE OF

THEIR SHEEP ON THE HILLS OUTSIDE BETHLEHEM.
SUDDENLY THEY SAW AN ANGEL IN THE SKY.

What is
happening?
God save
us!

DON’T BE
AFRAID. I BRING
GOOD NEWS FOR
YOU AND THE
WHOLE WORLD.

TODAY A
SAVIOR HAS BEEN
BORN FOR YOU.
GLORY TO GOD IN
HEAVEN AND PEACE
TO EVERYONE
ON EARTH.
3
© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
THAT SPECIAL BABY You are I am not
GREW UP. HE WAS ABOUT the Son of worthy to
30 WHEN HE BEGAN THE God! baptize
WORK HIS FATHER GOD you.
HAD GIVEN HIM TO DO.
HE STARTED BY ASKING
A MAN NAMED JOHN TO
BAPTIZE HIM. JOHN WAS
A GREAT PREACHER WHO
TOLD PEOPLE TO COME
BACK TO GOD. BUT HE
KNEW JESUS WAS MUCH
GREATER THAN HE WAS. John,
God chose you
to introduce me
to the world.

SO JOHN BAPTIZED JESUS. THIS IS MY

WHEN JESUS CAME UP OUT OF SON. I LOVE
THE WATER, THE SPIRIT OF HIM, AND I AM
GOD CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN VERY PLEASED
IN THE FORM OF A DOVE. GOD’S WITH HIM.
WORDS SHOOK THE SKY.

FOR THREE YEARS, JESUS, THE ONLY SON OF GOD, DID MANY
MIRACLES. HE HEALED THE BLIND, DEAF, AND PEOPLE WHO WERE
SICK WITH ALL KINDS OF DISEASES. HE EVEN BROUGHT DEAD
PEOPLE BACK TO LIFE. HE LOVED CHILDREN, AND WAS KIND TO
PEOPLE WHO WERE POOR AND HELPLESS. MANY FOLLOWED HIM.
EVERYWHERE HE WENT HE TALKED ABOUT HIS FATHER GOD. HE
INVITED PEOPLE TO LOVE GOD AND SERVE HIM.

JESUS DID MANY THINGS WHILE

HE WALKED THE EARTH. IF EVERY
ONE OF THEM WERE WRITTEN
DOWN, EVEN THE whole WORLD
WOULD NOT HAVE ROOM FOR THEM.

But here are some of

the things he did …

4
© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
 JESUS WAS A LOVING AND WISE TEACHER. CROWDS GATHERED
TO HEAR HIS STORIES AND SEE THE MIRACLES HE DID.
ONE TIME, HE WAS TEACHING A GREAT CROWD.
PEOPLE GOT HUNGRY, BUT ONLY ONE BOY HAD
BROUGHT A LITTLE LUNCH. IT WAS BIG
ENOUGH TO FEED ONLY THE BOY.
THE BOY GAVE IT TO JESUS.

God, my
Father, thank
you for this
bread and
fish.

Jesus prayed and the little boy’s

lunch fed over 5,000 people.

It’s a
miracle!

5
© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
 ANOTHER TIME, JESUS’
FRIENDS WERE IN
A BOAT. THEY SAW
SOMEONE WALKING
ON THE WATER.

IT WAS JESUS! WALKING ON THE SEA

LIKE IT WAS SOLID GROUND. ONE OF
HIS FOLLOWERS BELIEVED IN THE
POWER OF JESUS, AND HE WAS ABLE
TO WALK ON THE WATER TOO!

AS LONG AS HE KEPT LOOKING AT

JESUS, HE COULD WALK ON WATER. Lord!
BUT WHEN HE TOOK HIS EYES OFF Save me!
JESUS AND LOOKED AT THE SCARY
WAVES, HE STOPPED TRUSTING IN
JESUS’ POWER AND BEGAN TO SINK.

You
should not
have doubted
me.

They climbed back into

the boat together. You really
are the Son
of God!

6
© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
BUT THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
DIDN’T LIKE JESUS. PEOPLE How can
WERE BELIEVING THAT JESUS we be in charge
WAS THE SON OF GOD. THE if he keeps doing
LEADERS WERE LOSING POWER. miracles?

What are his

plans? Is he going
to try to take over
the country? He is
dangerous!

We need to
kill him before he
causes any more
trouble. But he is
very popular with
the people, so we’ll
need to wait for
the right time.

PARENTS BROUGHT THEIR

CHILDREN TO JESUS.

No, take
I want the children away.
Jesus to bless Stop bothering
my son! Jesus.

But Jesus welcomed

the children.
MY FATHER GOD
LOVES CHILDREN
AND EVERYONE ELSE
WHO TRUSTS ME.
I WANT THEM TO
COME.

7
© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
In the meantime, the religious He keeps doing
leaders were getting more miracles and
and more angry at Jesus. claiming to be the
Son of God.

WE MUST
STOP JESUS SOON
BEFORE MORE PEOPLE
BELIEVE THAT HE
IS TELLING
THE TRUTH.

ONE DAY JESUS SPOKE THE TRUTH

FROM THE STEPS OF THE TEMPLE.

I am the
only Son of God.
Anyone who believes
in me will not die,
but will live in
heaven forever
with me.

He is
a mad kill him!
man! kill him!

But Jesus calmly walked through

the crowd, and no one touched him.

8
© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
MOST RELIGIOUS
LEADERS DID NOT
BELIEVE JESUS WAS
THE SON OF GOD.
BUT THEY WERE
AFRAID THE PEOPLE
WOULD FIGHT
AGAINST THEM IF
THEY HURT JESUS.
SO THEY GAVE Greetings,
MONEY TO ONE OF master.
JESUS’ FOLLOWERS
TO TURN AGAINST
HIM AND BETRAY
JESUS TO THE
ROMAN SOLDIERS
SO THEY COULD
PUNISH HIM.

SOME PEOPLE WITH

JESUS TRIED TO
DEFEND HIM.

NO! DO NOT
FIGHT FOR ME. I
COULD ORDER AN
ARMY OF ANGELS TO
FIGHT FOR ME IF I
WANTED TO. WHAT IS
HAPPENING IS
GOD’S PLAN.

9
© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
JESUS HAD NEVER DONE ONE BAD THING
IN HIS WHOLE LIFE. BUT HIS ENEMIES
TOOK HIM TO THE ROMAN LEADER, PILATE,
AND LIED ABOUT HIM. THEY SAID HE HAD
DONE TERRIBLE THINGS. PILATE DID
NOT BELIEVE THEM, BUT HE ORDERED HIS
SOLDIERS TO TORTURE JESUS ANYWAY.

Whip Him!

AFTER THE WHIPPING,

SOLDIERS MADE A CROWN HA! WHAT
OF THORNS AND PUT IT ON KIND OF SON
JESUS’ HEAD. THEN THEY OF GOD ARE
PUT A ROBE ON HIM AND YOU?
MADE FUN OF HIM.

PILATE KNEW Do
JESUS WAS whatever
INNOCENT, you want
BUT HE WAS with him
AFRAID OF
THE ANGRY

m!!
CROWD.

ll h
Kiill
K hiim m!!
uc fY
ciif Yh hiim
CR
C Ru
10
© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
PILATE DID WHAT THE RELIGIOUS
LEADERS ASKED. JESUS WAS FORCED
TO CARRY A HEAVY CROSS TO THE
place WHERE HE WOULD BE KILLED.

MANY OF THE PEOPLE LOVED JESUS.

THEY KNEW HE WAS THE SON OF GOD.
THEY WONDERED WHY HE DIDN’T USE
HIS POWER TO SAVE HIMSELF. THEY
DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS
PART OF GOD’S PLAN.

JESUS FELL. THE CROSS WAS VERY

HEAVY. ANOTHER MAN PICKED UP THE
CROSS AND CARRIED IT FOR HIM.

11
© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
 JESUS WAS KILLED ON A CROSS BETWEEN
TWO THIEVES. IT WAS awful.

FATHER GOD,
FORGIVE THEM.
THESE PEOPLE
DON’T KNOW WHAT
THEY’RE DOING.

FOR HOURS, JESUS SUFFERED ON THE CROSS.

FINALLY HE DIED. THE EARTH SHOOK AND THE
SUN GREW DIM. A FRIEND GOT PERMISSION
TO TAKE JESUS’ DEAD BODY AND BURY HIM
IN A TOMB INSIDE A CAVE.
12
© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
SEVERAL DAYS LATER, WOMEN WHO LOVED
JESUS WENT TO VISIT HIS TOMB. BUT
INSTEAD OF FINDING JESUS’ BODY, THEY
FOUND AN ANGEL WAITING FOR THEM.

Don’t be
frightened.
Jesus is alive
again!

His followers couldn’t

believe it. They raced
to see for themselves. Then, suddenly, Jesus
himself appeared to them.

DON’T CRY.
I AM STRONGER
THAN DEATH.

He rose
from the dead!
He said he would,
but we didn’t
believe him.

13
© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
A FEW DAYS LATER, JESUS APPEARED TO 500
OF HIS FRIENDS. YES, THERE WAS NO DOUBT
THAT HE WAS ALIVE. HE HAD FINISHED THE WORK
HIS FATHER GOD HAD SENT HIM TO DO. NOW IT
WOULD BE HIS FOLLOWERS’ TURN TO CARRY ON
GOD’S WORK. GOD WOULD GIVE THEM HIS POWER
WHEN THEY NEEDED IT. THEY WOULD TELL THE
WORLD THAT JESUS TOOK THE PUNISHMENT
FOR THE WRONG THINGS ALL OF US HAVE DONE.
NOW WHEN WE LOVE HIM AND LIVE FOR HIM,
WE CAN BE FRIENDS WITH GOD FOREVER.

GO OUT AND
SHARE THIS GOOD
NEWS. TEACH THE
WHOLE WORLD ABOUT
ME. I WILL BE WITH
YOU ALWAYS.

THEN, JESUS WENT BACK TO HEAVEN WHILE

THOSE WHO LOVED HIM WATCHED.

14
© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
SINCE THAT DAY, PEOPLE
WHO LOVE JESUS HAVE
GONE ALL OVER THE
WORLD TELLING EVERYONE SIN HURTS PEOPLE.
THAT JESUS CAN SAVE NOTHING GOOD EVER COMES
THEM FROM THEIR SINS. FROM SIN. SIN ALSO PUSHES
THE MOST HIGH GOD US AWAY FROM GOD. SADLY, WE
WANTS TO BE THEIR ALL HAVE SINNED. WHAT CAN
HEAVENLY FATHER. SAVE US FROM ALL THIS SIN?
WHAT GOOD NEWS! THAT IS WHY JESUS CAME. HE
DIED ON THE CROSS TO TAKE
THE PUNISHMENT FOR OUR SIN.
BUT THEN, JESUS CAME BACK TO
LIFE. HE IS MORE POWERFUL
THAN SIN. HE CAN SAVE US FROM
SIN. TURN AWAY FROM SIN
AND TURN TO JESUS. YOU CAN
BELONG TO HIM FOREVER
AND SOMEDAY BE WITH
HIM IN HEAVEN.

Want to Follow Jesus?

Read the following truths. Check the box
in front of each statement you believe.

Jesus is wonderful. He loves children and adults.

He loves poor and rich people and people with
power and without power. He loves everyone. He
loves me so much that He wants me to join Him in
God’s family. He was willing to die to make this
happen.

Jesus died as the punishment for the wrong things

each person on earth, including me, has done. Those
wrong things are called sin. But this is not the end
of the story.

Jesus came back to life! Jesus is no longer dead.

He is alive right now … today.

Jesus wants me to love Him and live in ways that

please Him. This will bring joy to me and to my
heavenly Father.

15
© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.
How Do I Ask Jesus to Take
Away My Sin? Follow these Steps.
You can speak to Jesus any time. Talk to him The Salvation Poem
out loud or in your mind.
Jesus, You died upon a cross
STEP 1 - Tell Jesus you love Him for
all He has done for you And rose again to save the lost
and you are so thankful.
Forgive me now of all my sin
STEP 2 - Tell Jesus how sorry you Come be my Savior, Lord, and Friend
are for all the bad things
you have done. Let Him know Change my life and make it new
that you want to turn from
sin and turn to Him. And help me, Lord, to live for You
STEP 3 - Ask Jesus to forgive you. www.thesalvationpoem.com
Tell Him you want to follow
Him and live for Him for the rest of your life.

STEP 4 - Thank Jesus that He has heard your prayer and

has forgiven you. He saved you. Now you belong
to Him.

STEP 5 - Tell someone else who loves Jesus what you

just did. Talk together about how wonderful it
is to follow Jesus today and how wonderful it
will be to live in heaven with Him forever. Work
together to find answers to any questions you
may still have.

STEP 6 - Connect with a group of Jesus’ friends who meet

in a church or home near you. They will help you
stay strong in your decision to follow Jesus.

Today I have received Jesus Christ

as the Lord and Savior of my life!

my name is:

today’s date is:

There is much more to learn in the Bible

about Jesus. Read more stories about © Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations
by Sergio Cariello. Publisher permission required
Him in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, to reproduce. All rights reserved. Doug Mauss,
and John. General Editor. “The Salvation Poem” reprinted with
permission of The Salvation Poem Foundation, Inc.
© Copyright 2004 Matt and Sherry McPherson. All
rights reserved. First printing 2010.

The Story of Jesus Christ adapted from The Action Bible, created by David C Cook.

US $.99 ISBN 978-1-4347-0527-3

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© Copyright 2010 David C Cook. ©2010 Illustrations by Sergio Cariello. Published by David C Cook. All rights reserved.