1When Jesus had finished everything he wanted to say to the people, he went to Capernaum.

2There a Roman army officer's valuable slave was sick and near death. 3The officer had heard about Jesus and sent some Jewish leaders to him. They were to ask Jesus to come and save the servant's life. 4They came to Jesus and begged, "He deserves your help. 5He loves our people and built our synagogue at his own expense." 6Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell Jesus, "Sir, don't bother. I don't deserve to have you come into my house. 7That's why I didn't come to you. But just give a command, and let my servant be cured. 8As you know, I'm in a chain of command and have soldiers at my command. I tell one of them, 'Go!' and he goes, and another, 'Come!' and he comes. I tell my servant, 'Do this!' and he does it." 9Jesus was amazed at the officer when he heard these words. He turned to the crowd following him and said, "I can guarantee that I haven't found faith as great as this in Israel." 10When the men who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant healthy again.

11Soon afterward, Jesus went to a city called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd went with him. 12As he came near the entrance to the city, he met a funeral procession. The dead man was a widow's only child. A large crowd from the city was with her. 13When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her. He said to her, "Don't cry." 14He went up to the open coffin, took hold of it, and the men who were carrying it stopped. He said, "Young man, I'm telling you to come back to life!" 15The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16Everyone was struck with fear and praised God. They said, "A great prophet has appeared among us," and "God has taken care of his people." 17This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding region.

18John's disciples told him about all these things. Then John called two of his disciples 19and sent them to ask the Lord, "Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?" 20The men came to Jesus and said, "John the Baptizer sent us to ask you, 'Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?'" 21At that time Jesus was curing many people who had diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits. Also, he was giving back sight to many who were blind. 22Jesus answered John's disciples, "Go back, and tell John what you have seen and heard: Blind people see again, lame people are walking, those with skin diseases are made clean, deaf people hear again, dead people are brought back to life, and poor people hear the Good News. 23Whoever doesn't lose his faith in me is indeed blessed."

24When John's messengers had left, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. "What did you go into the desert to see? Tall grass swaying in the wind? 25Really, what did you go to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Those who wear splendid clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26Really, what did you go to see? A prophet? Let me tell you that he is far more than a prophet.

27John is the one about whom Scripture says, 'I am sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare the way in front of you.'

28I can guarantee that of all the people ever born, no one is greater than John. Yet, the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than John. 29"All the people, including tax collectors, heard John. They admitted that God was right by letting John baptize them. 30But the Pharisees and the experts in Moses' Teachings rejected God's plan for them. They refused to be baptized.

31"How can I describe the people who are living now? What are they like? 32They are like children who sit in the marketplace and shout to each other, 'We played music for you, but you didn't dance. We sang a funeral song, but you didn't cry.' 33John the Baptizer has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'There's a demon in him!' 34The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at him! He's a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' 35"Yet, wisdom is proved right by all its results."

36One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. Jesus went to the Pharisee's house and was eating at the table. 37A woman who lived a sinful life in that city found out that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house. So she took a bottle of perfume 38and knelt at his feet. She was crying and washed his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them over and over again, and poured the perfume on them. 39The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and thought, "If this man really were a prophet, he would know what sort of woman is touching him. She's a sinner."

40Jesus spoke up, "Simon, I have something to say to you." Simon replied, "Teacher, you're free to speak." 41[So Jesus said,] "Two men owed a moneylender some money. One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. 42When they couldn't pay it back, he was kind enough to cancel their debts. Now, who do you think will love him the most?" 43Simon answered, "I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled." Jesus said to him, "You're right!" 44Then, turning to the woman, he said to Simon, "You see this woman, don't you? I came into your house. You didn't wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45You didn't give me a kiss. But ever since I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You didn't put any olive oil on my head. But she has poured perfume on my feet. 47That's why I'm telling you that her many sins have been forgiven. Her great love proves that. But whoever receives little forgiveness loves very little." 48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." 49The other guests thought, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" 50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace!"