11 When Yeshua had finished giving those instructions to his twelve apprentices, he also left there and went to teach and preach in the Jewish cities.

2 Then Yohan, who was in prison, heard about what the messiah was doing, he sent some of his apprentices 3 to ask Yeshua, “Are you the promised one, or should we be waiting for someone else?”

4 “Well,” Yeshua answered, “go and tell Yohan everything that you’re hearing and seeing: 5 [ref]those who were blind can see now, lame people are now walking, people will leprosy are ‘clean’, deaf people can now hear, dead people have been brought back to life, and the good message is being preached to the poor. 6 Anyone who’s not embarrassed by me will be blessed.”

7 As Yohan’s apprentices left, Yeshua started talking to the crowd about Yohan: “What was it that you all went out to the wilderness to see? A reed being blown around by the wind?[fn]” 8 Yes, what did you all go out to see? A man wearing fine clothes? People in palaces wear fine clothes. 9 So why did you go out there? To see a prophet? Yes, I’m telling you that he is a prophet, and even more important than the prophets. 10 [ref]He is the one that was written about: ‘See, I’m sending out my messenger ahead of you and he’ll prepare your path before you.’ 11 I can assure you that no person who’s ever been born is greater than Yohan-the-immerser. But even the least important person in the kingdom of heavens is greater than him. 12 [ref]From the time of Yohan-the-immerser through to the present time, the kingdom of the heavens has been opposed, and the opposition is grabbing at it. 13 All the prophets and the law prophesied before Yohan came, 14 [ref]and now, if you’re all willing to believe it, he is Eliyah—the one who would come ahead. 15 Anyone who is willing, let them strive to understand this.

16 “So what should I liken this generation to? It’s like young children sitting in the town centre who are calling out to others 17 and saying, ‘We played lively music for you but you didn’t dance. Then we played sad music, but you didn’t mourn.’ 18 Because Yohan came and he wasn’t eating or drinking, and they said, ‘He’s possessed by a demon!’ 19 Then humanity’s child came and he was eating and drinking, but they said, ‘Look at this fellow—he’s a glutton and a drunkard—a friend of tax collectors and immoral people.’ But wisdom is only recognised with hindsight.

18 The apprentices of Yohan-the-immerser reported all these things back to him and he choose two of his apprentices 19 and sent them to Yeshua to ask, “Are you the promised one, or should we wait for someone else?”

20 So when they got to Yeshua, the two men told him, “Yohan-the-immerser sent us here to ask you if you’re the promised one, or should we wait for someone else?”

21 While they were still there, he healed many people from their diseases and difficulties, as well as evil spirits and some blind people being able to see again, 22 [ref]so then he answered them, “Go and tell Yohan everything that you’ve seen and heard here: how blind people can see again, lame people are walking now, people with leprosy are clear, some dead have come back to life, and the good message is being preached to the poor. 23 God will bless those who don’t misjudge me.”

24 When Yohan’s messengers had left, Yeshua started asking the crowds about Yohan, “What did you all go out into the wilderness to see? A reed waving in the wind? 25 Yes, but what did you all go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Well, those in nice clothes and living in luxury are in fine homes. 26 So what was it that you went out to see? A prophet? Yes, I’ll tell you that he is more important than any old prophet. 27 [ref]He is the one that was written about: ‘See, I’m sending my messenger ahead of you and he will prepare your path before you get there.’ 28 I’m telling all of you, no one who’s been born from a woman is greater than Yohan, yet the lowest person in God’s kingdom is greater than him.”

29 [ref](When all the people and the tax-collectors that had been immersed by Yohan heard that, they concurred that God’s way is fair, 30 however the Pharisees and the lawyers who had not been immersed by him, they rejected God’s plan for them.)

31 “So what can I compare this generation with?” asked Yeshua. “Who are they similar to? 32 They’re like little children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other, ‘We played the flute for you all but you didn’t dance, then we played a sad song but you all didn’t weep.’ 33 Because Yohan-the-immerser came and he didn’t eat bread or drink wine, so you all said that he has a demon. 34 Then humanity’s child came and ate and drank and you all said, ‘Look, he’s a glutton and a drunkard—a friend of tax-collectors and those who disobey God.’ 35 But wisdom is justified by all her children.”