Q&A with John the Baptist
1After Jesus finished telling his 12 disciples how to approach their mission work, he headed out on a road trip himself, teaching and preaching throughout the region. [1] 2John the Baptist was in prison at the time. But someone told him about the Messiah and about his miracles and teachings. So John had his own disciples deliver a message to Jesus.3John asked Jesus this question: “Are you the one we’ve all been waiting for? Or are we going to have to keep waiting for someone else?”
4Jesus told John’s disciples to deliver this message to him: “Go and tell John exactly what you’ve seen and heard. 5The blind can see. The crippled can walk. Lepers are cleansed and free of the disease. The deaf can hear. The dead come back to life. The poor are getting good news for a change. 6Folks who don’t reject me because they’re disappointed in me for some reason are going to be happy they stuck with me.”
Kind Words for John the Baptist
7As John’s disciples left, Jesus turned to the crowds and started talking to them about John. “What did you expect to see when you went out into the badlands where John preached? A frail blade of grass trembling in the wind? 8What did you expect to see? A man dressed in silky smooth linen? [2] Come on, that’s what you’ll find tailored and draped on people in a king’s palace.9“What did you expect to see? Wasn’t it a prophet? [3] Yes, I’m telling you that you did see a prophet. In fact, you saw someone who is more than a prophet. 10What you saw was the person described in our sacred writings.
“‘Listen to me. I’m sending my messenger ahead of you.
He’ll get everything ready for you. He’s going to pave the road ahead of you.’ [4]
13“The law of Moses and all the prophets pointed to John and what he would do. 14You may or may not believe this, but John is the Elijah that the prophets said would come. [6]
15“If you’ve got ears, you need to be hearing what I’m saying. 16How can I describe this generation of people? They’re like kids sitting around the marketplace complaining to their friends, 17“‘We played our music for you
but you didn’t dance.
We sang our sad songs,
but you didn’t cry.’ 18“People criticize John for fasting so much, when he abstains from eating or drinking. They say, ‘He’s demon-possessed!’ 19Then people criticize the Son of Humans for eating and drinking too much. They say, ‘Look at him! That guy is a glutton and a drunk. He hangs out with the likes of tax collectors and other no-good sinners!’ The results Wisdom gets proves she’s right.”
Jesus Rips into Cities That Won’t Repent
20Then Jesus started lambasting a handful of towns. These were the cities where Jesus did most of his miracles. Still, most folks in those cities decided to keep living the sinful life they had been living. They refused to repent.21“Bad news for you, village of Chorazin! Bad news for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that have been done in your towns had been done in the cities of Tyre and Sidon, those people who aren’t even Jews [7] would have repented long ago. They would put on burlap robes and dump ashes on their head to show how sorry they were. 22Come Judgment Day, the people of Tyre and Sidon will be better off than you!
23And you, Capernaum! Will your people find a place of honor in heaven? Heavens no! You’re going in the other direction; you’re going to Hades. [8] If the miracles that have been done in your town would have been done in Sodom, Sodom would still be here. 24Come Judgment Day, the people of Sodom will be better off than you!”
