Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
A Song of Ascents
The Exiles Restored
3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
and support the stumbling knees.
4 Say to those with anxious hearts,
‘Be strong, do not be afraid!
Here is your God—
he will bring[a] vengeance,
he will bring[b] divine retribution,
and he will save you.’
5 “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unblocked;
6 then the lame will leap like deer,
and the tongues of speechless people will sing for joy.
Yes, waters will gush forth in the wilderness,
and streams will run[c] through the desert;
7 the burning sands will become a pool,
and the thirsty ground fountains of water.
In the haunts of jackals there will be
a verdant resting place with[d] reeds and rushes.”
John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus(A)
18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. So John called two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?”
20 When the men had come to Jesus,[a] they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?’”
21 At that time Jesus[b] had healed many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. 22 So he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have observed and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear again, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news. 23 How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!”
24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus[c] began to ask the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look! Those who wear fine clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! 27 This is the man about whom it is written,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’[d]
28 I tell you, no one has ever been born who is[e] greater than John. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 By having been baptized with John’s baptism, all the people who listened, including the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice.[f] 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the Law rejected God’s plan for themselves[g] by refusing to be baptized by John.[h]
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