Jesus and John the Baptizer
(Lk. 7:18–35)
1Jesus finished telling these things to his twelve followers. Then Jesus left there and went to the towns in Galilee to teach the people and tell them {about God}.
2John the Baptizer was in prison. He heard about the things Christ was doing. So John sent some of his followers to Jesus.
3John’s followers asked Jesus, “Are you the man that {John said} was coming, or should we wait for another man?”
4Jesus answered, “Go back to John and tell him about the things that you hear and see:
5Blind people are able to see again; crippled people are able to walk again; people that have leprosy
6The person that can accept
7While John’s followers were leaving, Jesus began talking to the people about John. Jesus said, “What did you people go out to the desert to see? A weed
8Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No! Those people that wear fine clothes live in king’s palaces.
9So what did you go out to see? A prophet
10This Scripture
11I tell you the truth: John the Baptizer is greater than any man that has ever lived. But even the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.
12Since the time John the Baptizer came until now, the kingdom of heaven has been going forward strongly.
13All the prophets
14And if you will believe the things the law and the prophets said, then you will believe that John is Elijah.
15You people that hear me, listen!
16“What can I say about the people that live today? What are they like? The people today are like children sitting in the market place. One group of children calls to the other group,
17‘We played flute music for you,but you did not dance;we sang a sad song,but you were not sad.’
18{Why do I say people are like that?} Because John came, and he did not eat {like other people} or drink wine. And people say, ‘He has a demon
19The Son of Man
Jesus Warns People That Don’t Believe
(Lk. 10:13–15)
20Then Jesus criticized the cities where he did most of his miracles.
21Jesus said, “It will be bad for you Chorazin.
22But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be worse for you than for Tyre and Sidon.
23And you, Capernaum,
24But I tell you it will be worse for you in the day of judgment than for Sodom.”
Jesus Offers Rest to His People
(Lk. 10:21–22)
25Then Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. I praise you because you have hidden these things from the wise and smart people. But you have shown these things to people that are like little children.
26Yes, Father, you did this because this is what you really wanted to do.
27“My Father has given me all things. No person knows the Son—only the Father knows the Son. And no person knows the Father— only the Son knows the Father. And the only people that will know about the Father are those people the Son chooses to tell.
28“Come to me all you people that are tired and have heavy burdens. I will give you rest.
29Accept my work and learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will find rest for your souls.
30Yes, the work that I ask you to accept is easy. The burden I give you to carry is not heavy.”