John’s followers told him (in prison) what Jesus was doing.
John sent them back, asking if Jesus is The One? In response to, “Should we look for someone else?”, Jesus replied with actions. Diseases, plagues and spirits were healed, and the blind given sight. Speaking to John’s followers, he said, “Go, tell John what you hear and see; The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleaned, deaf hear, dead are raised up, and the poor have good news announced to them. Whoever is not offended by me is blessed.”
After John’s followers left, Jesus began to talk about him, “What did you go out into the wild to see? A twig shaken by the wind? But… what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Look, the gorgeously dressed live decadently, and wear soft clothing in king’s houses. But, why did you go out? What did you go out to see? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you… and much more than a prophet! He is the one who is written about, ‘Look, I send my messenger before your face (who will prepare your way before you).’
“I tell you truth’s truth; out of everyone born from women, there is no greater prophet than John the Baptizer. However; the one who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than him. From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. Therefore; all the prophets and Moses’ law prophesied until John. If you are willing to accept it… this is Elijah (who is to come). The one who has ears that can hear, listen.
“What will I compare the people of this generation to? What are they like? They are like children; who sit in public, and call to one another saying, ‘We played the flute for you, and you didn’t dance?!? We mourned for you, and you didn’t weep?!?’
John came without eating bread or drinking wine, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look here, a glutton and a drunk… he is a friend of money lovers and wrongdoers!’ But; Wisdom is justified by her children.”
Then he started to publicly call out the cities where he did great acts, because they didn’t turn from knowingly doing wrong. “Sadness for you, Chorazin! Sadness for you, Bethsaida! Because; if the mighty actions completed in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have turned from knowingly doing wrong long ago (in sackcloth and ashes). But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. Will you, Capernaum, be lifted up to heaven? You will go down to Hades, because if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom – it would have remained until today. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of judgment, than for you.
Turning away from his teaching into prayer, he broke it down, “I thank you, Father, owner of heaven and earth… that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and showed them to infants. Yes, Father, because you consider this very pleasing. Everything has been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; Neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son (and whoever the Son want to show him to).
“Come to me, all you who work and carry a heavy load – I will give you rest. Join with me, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart… and you will find rest for your selves. My work is easy, and my load is light.”
People called out, “God is just.” However, the leaders of this world rejected God’s counsel. You can guess which of these two groups had been baptized with John’s baptism, and which ones felt that it was beneath their dignity.
After eating,
a woman with a tainted reputation sat herself behind Jesus – weeping. She kissed his feet as her tears mixed in with the perfumed ointment she smeared on his feet (only to clean it off with her hair).
Gawlking, the host questioned how a “prophet” could miss that prophets shouldn’t let this type of woman touch them. Jesus answered, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Say it, teacher.”
“A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred days work, and the other fifty. When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them, therefore, will love him most?”
Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, who was forgiven the most.”
He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave me no kiss, but she has not stopped kissing my feet since the moment I came in. You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
Therefore; I tell you her wrongs (which are many) are forgiven – because she loved very much. But someone who is forgiven only a small amount, will only love a little.” Then Jesus turned to the woman, and assured her, “Your wrongs are forgiven.”
Disdain solidified across the experts present, asking, “Who is this… who even forgives sins?”
Jesus encouraged her with, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
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Jesus Words 15
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