Jesus and John the Baptist
1Jesus finished teaching his 12 disciples. Then he went on to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
2John the Baptist was in prison. When he heard about the actions of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him. 3They asked Jesus, “Are you the one who is supposed to come? Or should we look for someone else?”
4Jesus replied, “Go back to John. Report to him what you hear and see. 5Blind people receive sight. Disabled people walk. Those who have skin diseases are made ‘clean.’ Deaf people hear. Those who are dead are raised to life. And the good news is preached to those who are poor. 6Blessed is anyone who does not give up their faith because of me.”
7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. He said, “What did you go out into the desert to see? Tall grass waving in the wind? 8If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. People who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10He is the one written about in Scripture. It says,
“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you.
He will prepare your way for you.’ (Malachi 3:1)
11What I’m about to tell you is true. No one more important than John the Baptist has ever been born. But the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is more important than he is. 12Since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of heaven has been under attack. And violent people are taking hold of it. 13All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John came. 14If you are willing to accept it, John is the Elijah who was supposed to come. 15Whoever has ears should listen.
16“What can I compare today’s people to? They are like children sitting in the markets and calling out to others. They say,
17“ ‘We played the flute for you.
But you didn’t dance.
We sang a funeral song.
But you didn’t become sad.’
18When John came, he didn’t eat or drink as you do. And people say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19But when the Son of Man came, he ate and drank as you do. And people say, ‘This fellow is always eating and drinking far too much. He’s a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ By wise actions wisdom is shown to be right.”
Towns That Do Not Turn Away From Sin
20Jesus began to speak against the towns where he had done most of his miracles. The people there had not turned away from their sins. So he said, 21“How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon. They would have turned away from their sins long ago. They would have put on clothes for mourning. They would have sat down in ashes. 22But I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23And what about you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted to the heavens? No! You will go down to the place of the dead. Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom. It would still be here today. 24But I tell you this. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom than for you.”
Rest for All Who Are Tired
25At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father. You are Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from wise and educated people. But you have shown them to little children. 26Yes, Father. This is what you wanted to do.
27“My Father has given all things to me. The Father is the only one who knows the Son. And the only ones who know the Father are the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to make him known.
28“Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest. 29Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls. 30Serving me is easy, and my load is light.”
Yesu ne Yokaana Omubatiza
111:1 Mat 7:28Awo Yesu bwe yamala okulagira abayigirizwa be ekkumi n’ababiri n’avaayo n’agenda okubuulira n’okuyigiriza mu bibuga byabwe.
211:2 Mat 14:3Yokaana Omubatiza, eyali omusibe mu kkomera mu kiseera ekyo, bwe yawulira emirimu Kristo gye yali akola, n’amutumira abayigirizwa be. 311:3 Zab 118:26; Yk 11:27; Beb 10:37Ne babuuza Yesu nti, “Ggwe wuuyo gwe tubadde tulindirira, nantiki tulindirireyo omulala?”
4Yesu n’abaddamu nti, “Muddeeyo eri Yokaana mumugambe bye mulaba ne bye muwulira. 511:5 Is 35:4-6; 61:1; Luk 4:18, 19Abazibe b’amaaso balaba, n’abalema batambula. Abagenge balongoosebwa ne bakiggala bawulira, n’abafu bazuukizibwa n’abaavu babuulirwa Enjiri. 611:6 Mat 13:21Era mumumpeere obubaka buno nti, ‘Alina omukisa oyo atanneesittalako.’ ”
711:7 Mat 3:1Awo abayigirizwa ba Yokaana Omubatiza bwe baamala okugenda, Yesu n’ategeeza abantu ebya Yokaana nti, “Bwe mwagenda mu ddungu mwagenderera kulaba ki? Olumuli olunyeenyezebwa n’empewo? 8Naye kiki kye mwagenda okulaba? Omuntu ayambadde engoye ezinekaaneka? Laba abambala engoye ennungi babeera mu mbiri za bakabaka. 911:9 Mat 21:26; Luk 1:76Naye mwagenda kulaba ki? Nnabbi. Weewaawo ka mbabuulire, oyo asinga ne nnabbi. 1011:10 Mal 3:1; Mak 1:2Kubanga ye oyo ayogerwako mu Byawandiikibwa nti,
“ ‘Ndiweereza omubaka wange akukulembere,
alikuteekerateekera ekkubo nga tonnajja.’
11Ddala ddala mbagamba nti tewabangawo muntu eyazaalibwa omukazi asinga Yokaana Omubatiza. Naye asembayo okuba omukulu mu bwakabaka obw’omu ggulu asinga Yokaana. 12Era okuva mu biro bya Yokaana Omubatiza n’okutuusa kaakano, obwakabaka obw’omu ggulu buyingirwa n’amaanyi, era abantu ab’amaanyi ennyo be babutwala. 13Kubanga amateeka gonna era n’obunnabbi byonna byayogera okutuukira ddala ku Yokaana. 1411:14 Mal 4:5; Mat 17:10-13; Mak 9:11-13; Luk 1:17; Yk 1:21Era obanga mwagala okukkiriza, ye Eriya anaatera okujja. 1511:15 Mat 13:9, 43; Mak 4:23; Luk 14:35; Kub 2:7Alina amatu agawulira, awulire.”
16“Eggwanga lino nnaaligeraageranya ku ki? Bafaanana ng’abaana abato abazannya emizannyo gyabwe mu katale, nga bagamba bato bannaabwe nti,
17“ ‘Twabafuuyira omulere,
ne mutazina;
ne tuyimba oluyimba olw’okukungubaga,
ne mutakungubaga.’
1811:18 a Mat 3:4 b Luk 1:15Kubanga Yokaana eyali talya wadde okunywa yajja ne mugamba nti, ‘Aliko dayimooni.’ 1911:19 Mat 9:11Omwana w’Omuntu, bwe yajja ng’alya era ng’anywa, ne boogera nti, ‘Wa mululu, muntu munywi, era mukwano gw’abasolooza b’omusolo n’aboonoonyi. B’abeeramu!’ So nga amagezi geeragira mu bikolwa.”
20Yesu n’anenya nnyo ebibuga mwe yakolera ebyamagero ebisinga obungi, kubanga tebeenenya. 2111:21 a Mak 6:45; Luk 9:10; Yk 12:21 b Mat 15:21; Luk 6:17; Bik 12:20 c Yon 3:5-9“Zikusanze, ggwe Kolaziini! Zikusanze ggwe Besusayida! Kubanga ebyamagero bye nakolera mu mmwe, singa nabikolera mu Ttuulo ne mu Sidoni, bandibadde beenenya dda nga bali mu bibukutu n’evvu ku mitwe gyabwe. 2211:22 nny 24; Mat 10:15Ddala ddala Ttuulo ne Sidoni biriyisibwa bulungiko okusinga mmwe ku lunaku olw’okusalirako omusango! 2311:23 a Mat 4:13 b Is 14:13-15Naawe Kaperunawumu, newaakubadde nga wagulumizibwa okutuuka eggulu gye likoma, naye oliserengesebwa wansi emagombe. Kubanga ebyamagero eby’ekitalo ebyakolebwa ewuwo, singa byakolerwa mu Sodomu, kyandibadde kikyaliwo ne leero. 2411:24 Mat 10:15Ddala ddala Sodomu kigenda kuyisibwa bulungiko, okusinga ggwe, ku lunaku olw’okusalirako omusango!”
Abakooye n’Abazitoowereddwa
2511:25 a Luk 22:42; Yk 11:41 b 1Ko 1:26-29Yesu n’asaba bw’ati nti, “Ayi Kitange, Mukama w’eggulu n’ensi, nkwebaza kubanga ebigambo byo bino eby’amazima wabikisa abo abeeyita ab’amagezi ennyo, naye n’obibikkulira abaana abato. 26Weewaawo Kitange, bw’otyo bwe wasiima.”
2711:27 a Mat 28:18 b Yk 3:35; 13:3; 17:2 c Yk 10:15“Kitange yankwasa ebintu byonna era Kitange yekka y’amanyi Omwana, nange Omwana Nze nzekka Nze mmanyi Kitange, n’abo Omwana b’aba ayagadde okulaga Kitaawe nabo bamumanyi.”
2811:28 Yk 7:37“Mujje gye ndi mmwe mwenna abakooye era abazitoowereddwa, nange nnaabawummuza. 2911:29 a Yk 13:15; Baf 2:5 b Yer 6:16Musitule ekikoligo kyange, muyigire ku nze, kubanga ndi muwombeefu era omuteefu mu mutima, n’emyoyo gyammwe girifuna ekiwummulo. 3011:30 1Yk 5:3Kubanga ekikoligo kyange kyangu, n’omugugu gwange teguzitowa.”
