John the Baptist

¹After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left and began teaching and preaching in the towns.[#11.1 The Greek text has “their towns,” which may refer to the towns of Galilee or to the towns where Jesus' disciples had lived.]

²John was in prison when he heard what Christ was doing. So John sent some of his followers

³to ask Jesus, “Are you the one we should be looking for? Or must we wait for someone else?”

⁴Jesus answered, “Go and tell John what you have heard and seen.

⁵The blind are now able to see, and the lame can walk. People with leprosy are being healed, and the deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life, and the poor are hearing the good news.[#Is 35.5,6; Is 61.1.; #11.5 See the note at 8.2.]

⁶God will bless everyone who doesn't reject me because of what I do.”

⁷As John's followers were going away, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John:

¹⁷“We played the flute,

but you would not dance!

We sang a funeral song,

but you would not mourn!”

The Unbelieving Towns

²⁰In the towns where Jesus had worked most of his miracles, the people refused to turn to God. So Jesus was upset with them and said:

Come to Me and Rest

²⁵At that moment Jesus said: