Yesu Amponya Mtumishi Wa Jemadari
(Mathayo 8:5-13)
17:1 Mt 7:28Baada ya Yesu kumaliza kusema haya yote watu wakiwa wanamsikiliza, akaingia Kapernaumu. 27:2 Yn 4:47Mtumishi wa jemadari mmoja wa Kirumi, ambaye bwana wake alimthamini sana, alikuwa mgonjwa sana karibu kufa. 3Jemadari huyo aliposikia habari za Yesu, aliwatuma wazee wa Kiyahudi kwake, wakamwomba aje kumponya mtumishi wa huyo jemadari. 4Wale wazee walipofika kwa Yesu, wakamsihi sana amsaidie yule jemadari wakisema, “Mtu huyu anastahili wewe umfanyie jambo hili, 5kwa sababu analipenda taifa letu tena ametujengea sinagogi.” 6Hivyo Yesu akaongozana nao, lakini alipokuwa hayuko mbali na nyumbani, yule jemadari akatuma rafiki zake kumwambia Yesu, “Bwana, usijisumbue, kwani mimi sistahili wewe kuingia chini ya dari yangu. 77:7 Za 107:20Ndiyo maana sikujiona hata ninastahili kuja kwako wewe. Lakini sema neno tu, naye mtumishi wangu atapona. 8Kwa kuwa mimi mwenyewe ni mtu niliyewekwa chini ya mamlaka, nikiwa na askari chini yangu. Nikimwambia huyu, ‘Nenda,’ yeye huenda; na mwingine nikimwambia, ‘Njoo,’ yeye huja. Nikimwambia mtumishi wangu, ‘Fanya hivi,’ yeye hufanya.”
9Yesu aliposikia maneno haya, alishangazwa naye sana. Akaugeukia ule umati wa watu uliokuwa unamfuata, akawaambia, “Sijaona imani kubwa namna hii hata katika Israeli.” 10Nao wale watu waliokuwa wametumwa kwa Yesu waliporudi nyumbani walimkuta yule mtumishi amepona.
Yesu Amfufua Mwana Wa Mjane
11Baadaye kidogo, Yesu alikwenda katika mji mmoja ulioitwa Naini. Nao wanafunzi wake na umati mkubwa wa watu walikwenda pamoja naye. 127:12 Lk 8:42; 1Fal 17:17Alipokaribia lango la mji, alikutana na watu waliokuwa wamebeba maiti wakitoka nje ya mji. Huyu aliyekufa alikuwa mwana pekee wa mwanamke mjane. Umati mkubwa wa watu wa mji ule ulikuwa pamoja na huyo mwanamke. 137:13 Lk 24:34; Yn 11:2Bwana Yesu alipomwona yule mjane, moyo wake ulimhurumia, akamwambia, “Usilie.”
147:14 Yn 11:43; Mdo 9:40Kisha akasogea mbele akaligusa lile jeneza na wale waliokuwa wamelibeba wakasimama kimya. Akasema, “Kijana, nakuambia inuka.” 157:15 1Fal 17:23; 2Fal 4:36Yule aliyekuwa amekufa akaketi akaanza kuongea, naye Yesu akamkabidhi kwa mama yake.
167:16 Lk 1:65-68; Mt 21:11; 9:8Watu wote wakajawa na hofu ya Mungu, nao wakamtukuza Mungu wakisema, “Nabii mkuu ametokea miongoni mwetu, Mungu amekuja kuwakomboa watu wake.” 177:17 Mt 9:26Habari hizi za mambo aliyoyafanya Yesu zikaenea Uyahudi wote na sehemu zote za jirani.
Yesu Na Yohana Mbatizaji
(Mathayo 11:2-19)
187:18 Mt 3:1; Lk 5:33Wanafunzi wa Yohana Mbatizaji wakamweleza Yohana mambo haya yote. Hivyo Yohana akawaita wanafunzi wake wawili 197:19 Za 40:7; 118:26; Mal 3:1; Dan 9:26na kuwatuma kwa Bwana ili kumuuliza, “Wewe ndiye yule aliyekuwa aje, au tumngojee mwingine?”
20Wale watu walipofika kwa Yesu wakamwambia, “Yohana Mbatizaji ametutuma tukuulize, ‘Wewe ndiye yule aliyekuwa aje, au tumngojee mwingine?’ ”
217:21 Mt 4:23Wakati huo huo, Yesu aliwaponya wengi waliokuwa na magonjwa, maradhi na pepo wachafu, na pia akawafungua vipofu wengi macho wakapata kuona. 227:22 Isa 61:1-2; Lk 4:18-19Hivyo akawajibu wale wajumbe, “Rudini mkamwambie Yohana yote mnayoyaona na kuyasikia: Vipofu wanapata kuona, viwete wanatembea, wenye ukoma wanatakaswa, viziwi wanasikia, wafu wanafufuliwa na maskini wanahubiriwa habari njema. 23Amebarikiwa mtu yule asiyechukizwa na mimi.”
247:24 Mt 11:7Wajumbe wa Yohana walipoondoka, Yesu akaanza kusema na makutano kuhusu Yohana Mbatizaji. Akawauliza, “Mlipokwenda kule nyikani, mlikwenda kuona nini? Je, ni unyasi ukipeperushwa na upepo? 25Kama sivyo, mlikwenda kuona nini basi? Mtu aliyevaa mavazi ya kifahari? La hasha, watu wanaovaa mavazi ya kifahari na kuishi maisha ya anasa wako katika majumba ya kifalme. 267:26 Mt 11:9-10Lakini mlikwenda kuona nini? Mlikwenda kumwona nabii? Naam, nawaambia, yeye ni zaidi ya nabii. 277:27 Mal 3:1Huyu ndiye ambaye habari zake zimeandikwa:
“ ‘Tazama, nitamtuma mjumbe wangu mbele yako,
atakayetengeneza njia mbele yako.’
287:28 Mt 3:2Nawaambia, miongoni mwa wale waliozaliwa na wanawake, hakuna aliye mkuu kuliko Yohana. Lakini yeye aliye mdogo kabisa katika Ufalme wa Mungu ni mkuu kuliko Yohana.”
297:29 Mt 21:32; Mk 1:5; Lk 3:12(Watu wote hata watoza ushuru waliposikia maneno ya Yesu, walikubali kwamba mpango wa Mungu ni haki, maana walikuwa wamebatizwa na Yohana. 307:30 Mt 22:25Lakini Mafarisayo na wataalamu wa sheria walikataa mpango wa Mungu kwao kwa kutokubali kubatizwa na Yohana.)
31Yesu akawauliza, “Niwafananishe na nini watu wa kizazi hiki? Wanafanana na nini? 32Wao ni kama watoto waliokaa sokoni wakiitana wao kwa wao, wakisema:
“ ‘Tuliwapigia filimbi,
lakini hamkucheza;
tuliwaimbia nyimbo za maombolezo,
lakini hamkulia.’
337:33 Lk 1:15Kwa maana Yohana Mbatizaji alikuja, alikuwa hali mkate wala hanywi divai, nanyi mkasema, ‘Yeye ana pepo mchafu.’ 347:34 Lk 5:29-30; 15:1-2Mwana wa Adamu alikuja akila na kunywa, nanyi mnasema: ‘Tazameni huyu mlafi na mlevi, rafiki wa watoza ushuru na “wenye dhambi.” ’ 357:35 Mt 11:6Nayo hekima huthibitishwa kuwa kweli na watoto wake wote.”
Yesu Apakwa Mafuta Na Mwanamke Mwenye Dhambi
367:36 Mt 26:6; Mk 14:3; Yn 11:2; Lk 11:37Basi Farisayo mmoja alimwalika Yesu nyumbani kwake kwa chakula. Hivyo Yesu akaenda nyumbani mwa yule Farisayo na kukaa katika nafasi yake mezani. 37Naye mwanamke mmoja kwenye ule mji, ambaye alikuwa mwenye dhambi, alipojua kwamba Yesu alikuwa akila chakula nyumbani kwa yule Farisayo, akaleta chupa ya marhamu yenye manukato. 387:38 Mt 26:7-13; Yn 12:3-8Yule mwanamke akasimama nyuma ya miguu ya Yesu akilia. Akailowanisha miguu yake kwa machozi yake, kisha akaifuta kwa nywele zake, akaibusu na kuimiminia manukato.
397:39 Mt 21:11Yule Farisayo aliyemwalika Yesu alipoona yanayotendeka, akawaza moyoni mwake, “Kama huyu mtu angekuwa nabii, angejua kwamba ni nani anayemgusa, na kwamba yeye ni mwanamke wa namna gani, na ya kuwa huyu mwanamke ni mwenye dhambi.”
40Yesu akanena akamwambia, “Simoni, nina jambo la kukuambia.”
Simoni akajibu, “Mwalimu, sema.”
41“Palikuwa na mtu mmoja aliyewakopesha watu wawili fedha: Mmoja alidaiwa dinari 5007:41 Dinari 500 ni sawa na mshahara wa kibarua wa siku mia tano. na mwingine dinari hamsini. 42Wote wawili walipokuwa hawawezi kulipa, aliyafuta madeni yao wote wawili. Sasa ni yupi kati yao atakayempenda yule aliyewasamehe zaidi?”
43Simoni akajibu, “Nadhani ni yule aliyesamehewa deni kubwa zaidi.”
Naye Yesu akamwambia, “Umehukumu kwa usahihi.”
447:44 Amu 19:21; 1Tim 5:10Kisha akamgeukia yule mwanamke, akamwambia Simoni, “Je, unamwona mwanamke huyu? Nilipoingia nyumbani mwako, hukunipa maji ya kunawa miguu yangu, lakini huyu ameninawisha miguu kwa machozi yake, na kunifuta kwa nywele zake. 457:45 Lk 22:47-48; Rum 16:16Hukunisalimu kwa busu, lakini huyu mwanamke hajaacha kuibusu miguu yangu tangu nilipoingia. 467:46 Za 23:5; Mhu 9:8Hukunipaka mafuta kichwani mwangu, lakini yeye ameipaka miguu yangu manukato. 477:47 1Tim 1:14Kwa hiyo, nakuambia, dhambi zake zilizokuwa nyingi zimesamehewa, kwani ameonyesha upendo mwingi. Lakini yule aliyesamehewa kidogo, hupenda kidogo.”
487:48 Mt 9:2Kisha akamwambia yule mwanamke, “Dhambi zako zimesamehewa.”
497:49 Mt 9:3; Mk 2:7Lakini wale waliokuwa wameketi pamoja naye chakulani wakaanza kusemezana wao kwa wao, “Huyu ni nani ambaye hata anasamehe dhambi?”
507:50 Mt 9:22; Mk 5:34; Mdo 15:33Yesu akamwambia yule mwanamke, “Imani yako imekuokoa; nenda kwa amani.”
The Faith of the Centurion
1When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6So Jesus went with them.
He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
11Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
14Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
Jesus and John the Baptist
18John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
20When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ”
21At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy7:22 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin. are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
24After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27This is the one about whom it is written:
“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’7:27 Mal. 3:1
28I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
31Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
“ ‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’
33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
36When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,7:41 A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see Matt. 20:2). and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
