Luke 7:18–28

The Messengers from John the Baptist

¹⁸When John’s disciples told him about all these things, he called two of them ¹⁹and sent them to the Lord to ask him, “Are you the one John said was going to come, or should we expect someone else?”

²⁰When they came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask if you are the one he said was going to come, or if we should expect someone else.”

²¹At that very time Jesus cured many people of their sicknesses, diseases, and evil spirits, and gave sight to many blind people. ^22*He answered John’s messengers, “Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean,^f the deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor. ²³How happy are those who have no doubts about me!”

²⁴After John’s messengers had left, Jesus began to speak about him to the crowds: “When you went out to John in the desert, what did you expect to see? A blade of grass bending in the wind? ²⁵What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in fancy clothes? People who dress like that and live in luxury are found in palaces! ²⁶Tell me, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes indeed, but you saw much more than a prophet. ^27*For John is the one of whom the scripture says: ‘God said, I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.’ ²⁸I tell you,” Jesus added, “John is greater than anyone who has ever lived. But the one who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John.”