New Testament in a Year

From the Beatitudes to the Parables^[a]

Chapter 7

Jesus Heals the Centurion’s Servant.^{[b] 1} After Jesus had finished speaking to the people, he entered Capernaum. ² A centurion who dwelt there had a servant whom he regarded highly and who was ill and near death. ³ When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask him if he would come and heal his servant.

⁴ When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “He deserves this favor from you, ⁵ for he loves our people, and he was the one who built our synagogue for us.”

⁶ Jesus went with them. When he drew near the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. ⁷ That is the reason why I did not presume to approach you personally. But say the word and let my servant be healed. ⁸ For I also am a man subject to authority, with soldiers who are subject to me. I say to one: ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another: ‘Come here,’ and he comes, and to my servant: ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

⁹ When Jesus heard these words, he was amazed, and, turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, in no one throughout Israel have I found faith as great as this.” ¹⁰ When the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant completely healthy.

¹¹ Jesus Raises the Son of a Widow.^[c] Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. ¹² As he drew near to the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his widowed mother. A large group of people from the town accompanied her.

¹³ When the Lord saw her, he was filled with compassion, and he said to her, “Do not weep.” ¹⁴ After this, he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers halted. Then he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” ¹⁵ The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

¹⁶ Fear seized all who were present, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people.” ¹⁷ The news of what he had done spread throughout Judea and the surrounding region.

¹⁸ Jesus Answers the Baptist’s Question.^[d] When the disciples of John brought him reports about all these things, ¹⁹ John designated 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?” ²⁰ When they came 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?’ ”

²¹ At that time, Jesus had just cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits, and had restored the sight of many who were blind. ²² And he gave them this reply: “Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. ²³ And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

²⁴ Jesus Praises John the Baptist.^[e]When John’s messengers had departed, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swaying in the wind? ²⁵ What did you go out to see? Someone robed in fine clothing? Those who are robed in gorgeous clothing and live luxuriously are to be found in royal palaces. ²⁶ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is the one about whom it is written:

²⁸ “I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John, and yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

²⁹ (All the people who heard him, including the tax collectors, acknowledged the saving justice of God, for they had received John’s baptism. ³⁰ However, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who had refused his baptism rejected God’s plan for them.)