1   When he had finished addressing the people, he went to Capernaum. 2   A centurion there had a servant whom he valued highly; this servant was ill and near to death. 3   Hearing about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders with the request that he would come and save his servant's life. 4   They approached Jesus and pressed their petition earnestly: 5   ‘He deserves this favour from you,’ they said, ‘for he is a friend of our nation and it is he who built us our synagogue.’ 6   Jesus went with them; but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with this message: ‘Do not trouble further, sir; 7   it is not for me to have you under my roof, and that is why I did not presume to approach you in person. But say the word and my servant will be cured. 8   I know, for in my position I am myself under orders, with soldiers under me. I say to one, “Go”, and he goes; to another, “Come here”, and he comes; and to my servant, “Do this”, and he does it.’ 9   When Jesus heard this, he admired the man, and, turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, ‘I tell you, nowhere, even in Israel, have I found faith like this.’ 10   And the messengers returned to the house and found the servant in good health.

In Galilee: success and opposition

11   Afterwards ^note Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. 12   As he approached the gate of the town he met a funeral. The dead man was the only son of his widowed mother; and many of the townspeople were there with her. 13   When the Lord saw her his heart went out to her, and he said, ‘Weep no more.’ 14   With that he stepped forward and laid his hand on the bier; and the bearers halted. Then he spoke: ‘Young man, rise up!’ 15   The dead man sat up and began to speak; and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16   Deep awe fell upon them all, and they praised God. ‘A great prophet has arisen among us’, they said, and again, ‘God has shown his care for his people.’ 17   The story of what he had done ran through all parts of Judaea and the whole neighbourhood.

18    19   John too was informed of all this by his disciples. Summoning two of their number he sent them to the Lord with this message: ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to expect some other?’ 20   The messengers made their way to Jesus and said, ‘John the Baptist has sent us to you: he asks, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to expect some other?”’ 21   There and then he cured many sufferers from diseases, plagues, and evil spirits; and on many blind people he bestowed sight. 22   Then he gave them his answer: ‘Go’, he said, ‘and tell John what you have seen and heard: how the blind recover their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, 23   the poor are hearing the good news—and happy is the man who does not find me a stumbling-block.’

24   After John's messengers had left, Jesus began to speak about him to the crowds: ‘What was the spectacle that drew you to the wilderness? 25   A reed-bed swept by the wind? No? Then what did you go out to see? A man dressed in silks and satins? Surely you must look in palaces for grand clothes and luxury. 26   But what did you go out to see? 27   A prophet? Yes indeed, and far more than a prophet. He is the man of whom Scripture says,

  “Here is my herald, whom I send on ahead of you,
  and he will prepare your way before you.”

28   I tell you, there is not a mother's son greater than John, and yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.’

29   When they heard him, all the people, including the tax-gatherers, praised God, for they had accepted John's baptism; 30   but the Pharisees

In Galilee: success and opposition and lawyers, who refused his baptism, had rejected ^note God's purpose for themselves.

31   ‘How can I describe the people of this generation? What are they like? 32   They are like children sitting in the market-place and shouting at each other,

  “We piped for you and you would not dance.”
  “We wept and wailed, and you would not mourn.”

33   For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, “He is possessed.” 34   The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, “Look at him! a glutton and a drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!” 35   And yet God's wisdom is proved right by all who are her children.’

36   One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him; he went to the Pharisee's house and took his place at table. 37   A woman who was living an immoral life in the town had learned that Jesus was at table in the Pharisee's house and had brought oil of myrrh in a small flask. 38   She took her place behind him, by his feet, weeping. His feet were wetted with her tears and she wiped them with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the myrrh. 39   When his host the Pharisee saw this he said to himself, ‘If this fellow were a real prophet, he would know who this woman is that touches him, and what sort of woman she is, a sinner.’ 40   Jesus took him up and said, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Speak on, Master’, said he. 41   ‘Two men were in debt to a money-lender: one owed him five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. 42   As neither had anything to pay with he let them both off. 43   Now, which will love him most?’ Simon replied, ‘I should think the one that was let off most.’ ‘You are right’, said Jesus. 44   Then turning to the woman, he said to Simon, ‘You see this woman? I came to your house: you provided no water for my feet; but this woman has made my feet wet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45   You gave me no kiss; but she has been kissing my feet ever since I came in. 46   You did not anoint my head with oil; but she has anointed my feet with myrrh. 47   And so, I tell you, her great love proves that her many sins have been forgiven; where little has been forgiven, little love is shown.’ 48   Then he

In Galilee: success and opposition said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ 49   The other guests began to ask themselves, ‘Who is this, that he can forgive sins?’ 50   But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’

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