1Da Jesus var færdig med at tale til folkeskaren, gik han ind til Kapernaum. (Matt 8,5)2Her boede en romersk officer, der havde en tjener, som var syg og døden nær. Det var en tjener, han satte stor pris på.3Officeren havde hørt om Jesus og sendte nogle af lederne fra den jødiske menighed hen for at bede ham komme og helbrede hans tjener.4De bad indtrængende Jesus om at komme. „Hvis nogen fortjener hjælp, så er det ham,” sagde de,5„for han elsker vores folk og har bygget en synagoge til os.”6Jesus og hans ledsagere gik derfor med dem. Men da de nærmede sig huset, sendte officeren nogle venner ud for at sige: „Herre, gør dig ikke så megen ulejlighed. Jeg er jo ikke værdig til, at du skulle komme ind i mit hus.7Jeg føler mig heller ikke værdig til at komme ud til dig. Men du kan blot udstede en befaling og på den måde gøre min tjener rask.8Jeg er jo en mand, som selv står under kommando, og jeg har soldater, der igen står under mig. Jeg behøver bare at sige: ‚Gå!’ så går de, eller: ‚Kom!’ så kommer de. Og hvis jeg siger til min tjener: ‚Gør det eller det!’ så gør han det.”9Jesus var forbløffet over de ord, og han vendte sig til dem, der fulgtes med ham, og sagde: „Det siger jeg jer: Ikke engang blandt Israels folk har jeg mødt så stor en tro.”10Da officerens venner kom tilbage til huset, fandt de tjeneren fuldstændig rask.
Jesus opvækker enkens søn i Nain
11Den næste dag var Jesus på vandring i retning mod en by, der hedder Nain, og som sædvanlig havde han følgeskab af sine disciple og en stor skare af nysgerrige.12Da de nærmede sig byporten, kom et begravelsesfølge dem i møde. Det viste sig at være en ung mand, der netop var død. Hans mor var enke og havde ikke andre sønner. Mange sørgende fra byen var med i følget.13Da Jesus så moderen, fik han medlidenhed med hende. „Græd ikke!” sagde han.14Så gik han hen og rørte ved båren, så bærerne standsede. „Unge mand,” sagde han, „rejs dig op!”15Den døde satte sig op og begyndte at sige noget, og Jesus gav ham tilbage til hans mor.16Overvældet af ærefrygt gav tilskuerne sig til at prise Gud. „En stor profet er midt iblandt os,” sagde de. „Gud er kommet til os for at hjælpe sit folk.”17Beretningen om, hvad der var sket den dag, spredtes ud over jødernes land og videre ud til de omkringliggende lande.
Johannes Døber kommer i tvivl, om Jesus er Messias
18-19Johannes Døbers disciple fik snart at høre om alt det, Jesus gjorde, og de fortalte det til Johannes, der sad i fængsel. Han sendte så to af dem til Jesus med et spørgsmål: „Er du den Messias, vi har ventet på så længe, eller skal vi vente en anden?” (Matt 11,2)20-21Da de to udsendinge kom til Jesus, fandt de ham i færd med at helbrede mange syge og uddrive de onde ånder. Selv mange blinde fik deres syn. Da de kom frem med Johannes’ spørgsmål,22svarede han: „Gå tilbage til Johannes og fortæl ham, hvad I selv har set og hørt: Blinde får deres syn, lamme går omkring, spedalske bliver helbredt, døve får hørelsen, døde bliver levende, og der forkyndes godt nyt for dem, der erkender deres behov for hjælp.23Sig til ham: Velsignede er de, som ikke mister troen på mig.”
Jesus taler om Johannes som profet
24Da Johannes Døbers disciple var gået, begyndte Jesus at tale om ham til folkeskaren: „Dengang I tog ud i ødemarken for at lytte til Johannes, hvad så I da? Et siv, der svajede hid og did for vinden? Nej, vel? (Matt 11,7)25En mand klædt på som fyrste? Nej, de der bærer fornemme klæder og lever i rigdom og pragt, finder man i kongelige paladser.26Var det for at møde en profet fra Gud? Ja, men ikke bare en almindelig profet.27For Johannes er den mand, om hvem der er skrevet: ‚Jeg vil sende min udsending foran dig. Han skal berede vejen for dig.’[1]28Det siger jeg jer: Ingen af profeterne har haft en opgave, der var mere betydningsfuld end den, Johannes har haft. Men selv den mest ubetydelige i Guds nye rige er større end ham.29Alle de, som hørte Johannes’ budskab, også skatteopkræverne, bøjede sig for Guds ord og blev døbt med Johannes’ dåb.
Både Johannes og Jesus har mødt megen modstand
30Men farisæerne og de skriftlærde nægtede at bøje sig for Guds plan med dem, og de lod sig ikke døbe. (Matt 11,12)31Hvordan skal jeg beskrive den slags mennesker?[2]32Forestil jer nogle børn, der sidder på torvet og råber til deres kammerater: ‚Vi spillede på fløjte for jer, men I ville ikke være med til at synge og danse. Vi spillede sørgesange, men I ville heller ikke være med til at sørge.’33Sådan har folk også reageret over for Johannes Døber og mig. Johannes levede et liv i afholdenhed uden god mad og vin, og folk sagde om ham: ‚Årh, han er ikke rigtig klog!’34Derefter kom Menneskesønnen, som både spiser god mad og drikker vin, og folk siger om mig: ‚Sikken en ædedolk og drukkenbolt. Tænk, han er ven med de værste syndere!’35Nuvel, Guds visdom erfares af alle, som søger den.”
Den største tilgivelse frembringer den største kærlighed
36En af farisæerne indbød engang Jesus til spisning i sit hjem.37En kvinde fra gaden, en prostitueret, fik at vide, at Jesus var taget ind for at spise hos farisæeren, og hun gik derhen med en alabastkrukke fyldt med aromatisk olie.38Da hun var kommet indenfor, knælede hun stille ned bag Jesu fødder[3] og begyndte at græde. Hendes tårer faldt på hans fødder. Med sit lange hår tørrede hun dem, kyssede dem og hældte den aromatiske olie ud over dem.39Da farisæeren, som havde indbudt Jesus, så, hvad kvinden gjorde, tænkte han ved sig selv: „Det her viser, at Jesus ikke er en profet fra Gud. Ellers ville han være klar over, hvad det er for en slags kvinde, der rører ved ham. Han ville vide, at hun er prostitueret.”40„Simon,” sagde Jesus, „jeg har noget, jeg gerne vil sige til dig.” „Hvad er det, mester?” spurgte farisæeren.41„Der var to, som skyldte penge til den samme mand. Den ene skyldte 500 denarer,[4] mens den anden kun skyldte 50.42Ingen af dem kunne imidlertid betale deres lån, så manden eftergav dem begge, hvad de skyldte. Hvem af de to, tror du, var mest taknemmelig?”43„Mon ikke det var den, som fik eftergivet mest?” svarede Simon. „Jo, du har ret,” svarede Jesus.44Så vendte han hovedet mod kvinden og fortsatte: „Simon, har du set, hvad den kvinde har gjort? Da jeg kom ind i dit hjem, sørgede du ikke for vand til mine fødder. Men hun har vasket dem med sine tårer og tørret dem med sit hår.45Du gav mig heller ikke det sædvanlige kys på kinden til velkomst, men hun bliver ved med at kysse mine fødder.46Du kom ikke med olivenolie til mit hoved, men hun kom med aromatisk olie til mine fødder.47Det siger jeg dig: Hun har fået sine mange synder tilgivet. Det kan du se ud fra den store kærlighed, hun viser. Den, som kun har fået tilgivet lidt, viser ikke megen kærlighed.”48Derefter sagde Jesus til kvinden: „Dine synder er tilgivet!”49Der blev uro omkring bordet. „Hvem er den mand, som påstår, at han kan tilgive folk deres synder?” sagde de andre gæster til hinanden.50Men Jesus fortsatte henvendt til kvinden: „Det er din tro, der har frelst[5] dig. Du kan gå nu—med fred i hjertet!”
1After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. (Matt 8,5)2Now a centurion had a servant[1] who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him.3When the centurion[2] heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. (Matt 8,5)4And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, (Ap G 10,22)5for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” (Luk 4,31; Luk 4,33)6And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. (Matt 9,36; Mark 5,35; Luk 8,49)7Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. (Salm 107,20; Matt 8,16)8For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”9When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” (Matt 9,2; Mark 6,6)10And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
11Soon afterward[3] he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.12As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. (Dom 11,34; Luk 8,42; Luk 9,38; Heb 11,17)13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” (Matt 20,34; Luk 8,52)14Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” (2.Sam 3,31; Matt 11,5; Mark 5,41; Luk 7,22; Luk 8,54; Joh 11,43; Ap G 9,40)15And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus[4] gave him to his mother. (1.Kong 17,23; 2.Kong 4,36; Heb 11,35)16Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” (5.Mos 18,15; Matt 5,16; Matt 9,8; Matt 15,31; Matt 21,11; Luk 1,68; Luk 2,20; Luk 7,39; Luk 13,13; Ap G 11,18; Ap G 21,20)17And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
Messengers from John the Baptist
18The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, (Matt 9,14; Matt 11,2)19calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Luk 3,15; Joh 4,25; Joh 6,14; Joh 11,27)20And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” (Luk 7,19)21In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. (Matt 9,30; Matt 12,22; Matt 15,31; Matt 20,34; Matt 21,14; Mark 1,34; Mark 8,25; Luk 18,42; Joh 9,7)22And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers[5] are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. (Es 29,18; Es 35,5; Matt 5,3; Matt 15,30; Mark 7,35; Luk 4,18; Luk 7,14; Luk 17,14; Jak 2,5)23And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Es 8,14; Joh 6,61)24When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus[6] began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? (Luk 1,80; Luk 3,2; Ef 4,14; Jak 1,6)25What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts.26What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. (Matt 14,5; Luk 1,76; Luk 20,6)27This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ (Mal 3,1; Mark 1,2; Luk 1,17; Luk 1,76)28I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”29(When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just,[7] having been baptized with the baptism of John, (Matt 21,32; Luk 3,12; Luk 20,6; Ap G 18,25; Ap G 19,3)30but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.) (Matt 21,25; Matt 21,32; Matt 22,35; Matt 23,13; Mark 7,9; Luk 10,25; Luk 11,45; Luk 11,52; Luk 14,3; Ap G 2,23; Ap G 13,36)31“To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’33For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ (Matt 3,4; Mark 1,6; Luk 1,15)34The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ (Matt 9,10; Matt 9,11; Luk 7,36; Luk 14,1; Luk 15,2; Luk 19,7; Joh 2,1; Joh 12,2)35Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.” (Ord 8,1; Luk 11,49)
A Sinful Woman Forgiven
36One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. (Luk 11,37; Luk 14,1)37And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, (Matt 26,6; Mark 14,3; Joh 12,1)38and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. (Luk 7,44; Joh 11,2)39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” (Luk 7,16; Luk 15,2; Luk 22,64; Joh 4,19)40And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”41“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. (Matt 18,28)42When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” (Matt 18,25; Rom 8,32)43Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”44Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. (1.Mos 18,4; Luk 7,38; 1.Tim 5,10)45You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. (2.Sam 15,5; 2.Sam 19,39; 2.Sam 20,9; Luk 7,38)46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. (Salm 23,5; Salm 141,5; Præd 9,8; Matt 6,17)47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luk 7,39)48And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Matt 9,2; Mark 2,5; Luk 5,20; Joh 20,23; Jak 5,15; 1.Joh 2,12)49Then those who were at table with him began to say among[8] themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” (Luk 5,21)50And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (1.Sam 1,17; Mark 5,34; Mark 10,52; Luk 7,9; Luk 7,47; Luk 8,48; Ef 2,8; 1.Tim 1,14)