Luke 7:18-30
The disciples of John reported all these things to him. So John summoned
two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one
who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" When the men had come to
him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the
one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?'" Jesus had just then
cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given
sight to many who were blind. And he answered them, "Go and tell John
what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame
walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the
poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no
offense at me."
When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about
John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken
by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft
robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in
royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell
you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,
'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.'
I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the
least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (And all the people who
heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God,
because they had been baptized with John's baptism. But by refusing to be
baptized by him, the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for
themselves.)
