New Testament in a Year

Jesus Heals a Soldier’s Servant

7 When Jesus finished saying all these things to the people, he went to Capernaum. ² In Capernaum there was an army officer. He had a servant who was so sick he was nearly dead. The officer loved the servant very much. ³ When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him. The officer wanted the leaders to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant. ⁴ The men went to Jesus and begged him saying, “This officer is worthy of your help. ⁵ He loves our people, and he built us a synagogue.”

⁶ So Jesus went with the men. He was getting near the officer’s house when the officer sent friends to say, “Lord, you don’t need to come into my house. I am not good enough for you to be under my roof. ⁷ That is why I did not come to you myself. You only need to say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁸ I, too, am a man under the authority of other men. And I have soldiers under my command. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes. And I tell another soldier, ‘Come,’ and he comes. And I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and my servant obeys me.”

⁹ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He turned to the crowd following him and said, “I tell you, this is the greatest faith I have seen anywhere, even in Israel.”

¹⁰ The men who had been sent to Jesus went back to the house. There they found that the servant was healed.

Jesus Brings a Man Back to Life

¹¹ The next day Jesus went to a town called Nain. His followers and a large crowd were traveling with him. ¹² When he came near the town gate, he saw a funeral. A mother, who was a widow, had lost her only son. A large crowd from the town was with the mother while her son was being carried out. ¹³ When the Lord saw her, he felt very sorry for her. Jesus said to her, “Don’t cry.” ¹⁴ He went up to the coffin and touched it. The men who were carrying it stopped. Jesus said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!” ¹⁵ And the son sat up and began to talk. Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.

¹⁶ All the people were amazed. They began praising God. They said, “A great prophet has come to us! God is taking care of his people.”

¹⁷ This news about Jesus spread through all Judea and into all the places around there.

John Asks a Question

¹⁸ John’s followers told him about all these things. He called for two of his followers. ¹⁹ He sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the One who is coming, or should we wait for another?”

²⁰ So the men came to Jesus. They said, “John the Baptist sent us to you with this question: ‘Are you the One who is coming, or should we wait for another?’”

²¹ At that time, Jesus healed many people of their sicknesses, diseases, and evil spirits. He healed many blind people so that they could see again. ²² Then Jesus said to John’s followers, “Go tell John the things that you saw and heard here. The blind can see. The crippled can walk. People with a harmful skin disease are healed. The deaf can hear, and the dead are given life. And the Good News is told to the poor. ²³ The person who does not lose faith is blessed!”

²⁴ When John’s followers left, Jesus began to tell the people about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed^[a] blown by the wind? ²⁵ What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. People who have fine clothes live in kings’ palaces. ²⁶ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet. ²⁷ This was written about John:

²⁸ I tell you, John is greater than any other man ever born. But even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than John.”

²⁹ (When the people heard this, they all agreed that God’s teaching was good. Even the tax collectors agreed. These were people who were already baptized by John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and teachers of the law refused to accept God’s plan for themselves; they did not let John baptize them.)