Concerning John the Baptizer
When John heard in the prison the doings of the Messiah, he sent two of his own disciples to ask Him, "Are You the coming One? or must we expect another?"
And Jesus, in reply, said to them, "When you return, report to John what you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and to the poor is given hope. And happy is he who will not be ashamed of Me."
But when they had gone, Jesus began to say to the crowd concerning John: "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed dancing under the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man attired in fine clothes? Those, however, who wear fine clothing are in the houses of kings. What then did you go to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet: for he is the one about whom it is written,
See will send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.1
"I tell you indeed, that there has not been born of women a more exalted than John the Baptizer. Yet the very least in the Kingdom of Heaven is more exrlted than he. But since the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven is stormed, and the stormers will seize it. For all the prophets as well as the law foretold as far as John. And if you will accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Let all hear who have ears to hear.
"But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the markets, calling put to their mates, and saying, 'We have piped to you, but you are not dancing; we have mourned to you, but you will not lament!' John came neither eating nor drinking, and so they say 'He has a demon!' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look! what a greedy, drunken fellow! A friend of tax-farmers and blackguards!' Yet Wisdom is justified by her children."
The Unrepentant Towns
He then began to reproach the towns in which most of His powers had been displayed, because they were not converted.
"Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! Because if the powers displayed in you had been shown in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes. I tell you further, that it will be more endurable for Tyre and Sidon in the Day of Judgment than for you! And you, Capernaum, who have been raised as high as the heaven, will be thrown down as low as the grave; for if the powers which were displayed in you had been brought to Sodom, it would have existed until now. Nay, more, I tell you that it will be easier for the land of the Sodomites in the Day of Judgment than for you!"
Knowledge and Rest
Jesus at that time reflecting, said, "I fully acknowledge Your wisdom, Father, Lord of the heavens and of the earth, that you have hidden these things from the intelligent and clever, but have made them known to simple men. Yes, Father; for thus it was decided of old by You. All has been committed to Me under My Father: and none except the Father fully knows the Son; and none fully knows the Father but the Son, and the one to whom the Son will decide to reveal Him.
"Come to Me, all who labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am gentle and kind-hearted; and you will find rest for your souls; because My yoke is easy, and My burden light."
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- Mal. 3:1
Transcribed by Mark Hicks on 12-31-2014
