John Asks a Question

¹⁸John's followers told John about all these things. John called for two of his followers. ¹⁹John sent them to the Lord (Jesus) to ask, "Are you the One that is coming, or should we wait for another person?" ²⁰So the men came to Jesus. They said, "John the Baptizer sent us to you with this question: 'Are you the One that is coming, or should we wait for another person?'" ²¹At that time, Jesus healed many people of their sicknesses, diseases, and evil spirits [from the devil]. Jesus healed many blind people so that they could see again. ²²Then Jesus said to John's followers, "Go tell John the things that you saw and heard here. Blind people are healed and can see. Crippled people are healed and can walk. People with leprosy* are healed. Deaf people are healed and can hear. Dead people are given life. And the Good News [about God's kingdom] is given to the poor people. ²³The person that can accept* me is blessed!" ²⁴When John's followers left, Jesus began to tell the people about John: "What did you people go out into the desert to see? A weed* blown by the wind? ²⁵What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. Those people that have fine, nice clothes live in kings' houses. ²⁶Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet*? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet. ²⁷This was written about John: 'Listen! I (God) will send my helper* ahead of you. He will prepare the way for you.' Malachi 3:1

²⁸I tell you, John is greater than any man ever born. But even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than John." ²⁹(When the people heard this, they all agreed that God's teaching was good. Even the tax collectors* agreed. These were the people that were baptized* by John. ³⁰But the Pharisees* and teachers of the law refused to accept God's plan for themselves; they did not let John baptize them.) ³¹"What shall I say about the people of this time? What can I compare them to? What are they like? ³²The people of this time are like children sitting in the market place. One group of children calls to the other children and says, 'We played music for you, but you did not dance; we sang a sad song, but you were not sad.' ³³John the Baptizer came and did not eat [like other people] or drink wine. And you say, 'He has a demon* inside him.' ³⁴The Son of Man* came eating [like other people] and drinking wine. And you say, 'Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine! He is a friend of the tax collectors* and other bad people!' ³⁵But wisdom is shown to be right by the things it does."

Simon the Pharisee

³⁶One of the Pharisees* asked Jesus to eat with him. Jesus went into the Pharisee's house and took a place at the table. ³⁷There was a sinful woman in that town. She knew that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house. So the woman brought some perfume in an alabaster* jar. ³⁸She stood at Jesus' feet, crying. Then she began to wash his feet with her tears. She dried Jesus' feet with her hair. She kissed his feet many times and rubbed them with perfume. ³⁹The Pharisee that asked Jesus to come to his house saw this. He thought to himself, "If this man (Jesus) were a prophet,* he would know that the woman who is touching him is a sinner!" ⁴⁰Jesus said to the Pharisee,*"Simon, I have something to say to you." Simon said, "Let me hear it, teacher." ⁴¹Jesus said, "There were two men. Both men owed money to the same banker. One man owed the banker 500 silver coins.* The other man owed the banker 50 silver coins. ⁴²The men had no money, so they could not pay their debt. But the banker told the men that they did not have to pay him. Which one of those two men will love the banker more?" ⁴³Simon answered, "I think it would be the one that owed him the most money." Jesus said to Simon, "You are right." ⁴⁴Then Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you gave me no water for my feet. But she washed my feet with her tears and dried my feet with her hair. ⁴⁵You did not kiss me, but she has been kissing my feet since I came in! ⁴⁶You did not rub my head with oil, but she rubbed my feet with perfume. ⁴⁷I tell you that her many sins are forgiven. This is clear, because she showed great love. But the person that feels only a little need to be forgiven will feel only a little love when he is forgiven." ⁴⁸Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." ⁴⁹The people sitting at the table began to think to themselves, "Who does this man (Jesus) think he is? How can he forgive sins?" ⁵⁰Jesus said to the woman, "Because you believed, you are saved [from your sins]. Go in peace."

leprosy A very bad skin disease. can accept Literally, "is not offended by." weed Literally, "reed." Jesus means that John was not weak like a reed that is easily blown by the wind. prophet A person that spoke for God. helper Literally, "messenger." tax collector(s) Jews hired by the Romans to collect taxes. They often cheated, and the other Jews hated them. baptized A Greek word meaning to be immersed, dipped, or buried briefly under water. Pharisees The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group that claimed to follow carefully all Jewish laws and customs. demon(s) Demons are evil spirits from the devil. Son of Man A name Jesus used for himself. In Dan. 7:13-14, this is the name for the Messiah, the one God chose to save his people. alabaster A beautiful kind of stone that can be carved. silver coins One coin, a Roman denarius, was the average pay for one day's work.