Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

After speaking to the people, Jesus entered Capernaum. A centurion's servant, dear to him, was sick and at death's door. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent Jewish elders to beg him to come and heal his servant.

They came to Jesus and urgently requested that he do it because the centurion was worthy of this kindness. The centurion loved their nation and had built them a synagogue. Jesus went with them, but when he wasn't far from the house, the centurion sent some friends to him, saying, "Lord, don't trouble yourself; I'm not worthy for you to enter under my roof."

The centurion explained that he hadn't considered himself worthy to come to Jesus, so he simply asked him to say a word and his servant would be healed. He added that he was just a man who had soldiers under him and could give orders, saying "Go," and they went; "Come," and they came; "Do this," and it got done.

Jesus was amazed at the centurion's faith and turned to face the crowd following him, saying, "I tell you, I haven't found faith like this in all of Israel." The people sent back to the house, where they found the servant whole who had been sick. The next day, Jesus went into a city called Nain with many of his disciples and a great multitude accompanying him.

When he came near the city gate, there was a dead man being carried out – the only son of his mother, who was also a widow, accompanied by many people from the city. When Jesus saw her, he felt deep compassion and said to her, "Don't weep." He went near, touched the bier, and those carrying it stood still. He said to the young man, "Arise!"

The dead man sat up and began speaking, and he handed him over to his mother. Fear took hold of all who saw this, glorifying God, saying that a great prophet had risen among them and that God had visited his people. The news about Jesus spread throughout Judaea and the surrounding region.

John's disciples told him about all these things, so John called two of his disciples and sent them to Jesus, asking, "Are you he who is coming, or should we look for another?" When they came to Jesus, they asked, "John the Baptist has sent us to ask, Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?"

In that same hour, Jesus healed many of their infirmities and plagues and drove out evil spirits. Many who were blind gained sight, and he raised the dead and preached the gospel to the poor. Then Jesus said to them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is preached to the poor."

He added, "Blessed is he who finds no offense in me." When John's messengers had left, Jesus began speaking about John to the people: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?"

But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment, behold they who are gorgeously apparelled and live delicately in kings' courts. But what went you out to see? A prophet, yes, and much more than a prophet – this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you."

Among those born of women, there is no greater prophet than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in God's kingdom is greater than he. All the people and tax collectors declared God to be just, having been baptized by John.

The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized by him. To describe the people of this generation, Jesus said they were like children sitting in a marketplace calling to one another, saying, "We played music for you, but you didn't dance."

They are like children sitting in the marketplace, calling to one another and saying, "We have piped for you, but you did not dance; we have mourned for you, but you did not lament." For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you said he has a demon. The Son of Man has come, and you say he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.

But wisdom is vindicated by all her children. One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to his home and asked him to join them for a meal. A woman in the city who was known to be a sinner brought an alabaster box of ointment when she heard that Jesus was dining at the Pharisee's house.

She stood behind him, weeping and washing his feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair and kissing and anointing them with ointment. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and thought to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know that the woman touching him is a sinner."

Jesus answered the Pharisee, saying, "Simon, I have something to say to you." Simon asked, "Master, speak on." A certain creditor had two debtors: one owing five hundred denarii and the other fifty. When they had nothing to pay, he freely forgave them both; tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

Simon answered, "I suppose that he to whom much was forgiven would show great love." Jesus said to him, "You have judged correctly." He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house, but you did not give me water for my feet; she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair."

You gave me no kiss, but since I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. My head with oil you did not anoint, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I say to you, her many sins are forgiven because she loved much; but to one who has been forgiven little, love is also little.

He said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven." Those reclining with him began to think among themselves, "Who is this one who forgives sins?" He said to her, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."