MENU

Gospel Reading - More than a prophet

²John the Baptist, who was now in prison, heard about all the miracles the Messiah was doing, so he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, ³“Are you really the one we are waiting for, or shall we keep on looking?”

⁴Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him about the miracles you’ve seen me do — ⁵the blind people I’ve healed, and the lame people now walking without help, and the cured lepers, and the deaf who hear, and the dead raised to life; and tell him about my preaching the Good News to the poor. ⁶Then give him this message, ‘Blessed are those who don’t doubt me.’”

⁷When John’s disciples had gone, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “When you went out into the barren wilderness to see John, what did you expect him to be like? Grass blowing in the wind? ⁸Or were you expecting to see a man dressed as a prince in a palace? ⁹Or a prophet of God? Yes, and he is more than just a prophet. ¹⁰For John is the man mentioned in the Scriptures — a messenger to precede me, to announce my coming, and prepare people to receive me.^a

¹¹“Truly, of all men ever born, none shines more brightly than John the Baptist. And yet, even the lesser lights in the Kingdom of Heaven will be greater than he is!

1. Literally, “prepare your way before you.”