8. I, too, am a man placed under the authority of superior officers, and I have soldiers under me. I order this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; I order that one, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and I order my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
9. Jesus was surprised when he heard this; he turned round and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, I have never found faith like this, not even in Israel!”
10. The messengers went back to the officer's house and found his servant well.
11. Soon afterwards Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd.
12. Just as he arrived at the gate of the town, a funeral procession was coming out. The dead man was the only son of a woman who was a widow, and a large crowd from the town was with her.
13. When the Lord saw her, his heart was filled with pity for her, and he said to her, “Don't cry.”
14. Then he walked over and touched the coffin, and the men carrying it stopped. Jesus said, “Young man! Get up, I tell you!”
15. The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16. They all were filled with fear and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said; “God has come to save his people!”
17. This news about Jesus went out through all the country and the surrounding territory.
18. When John's disciples told him about all these things, he called two of them
19. and sent them to the Lord to ask him, “Are you the one John said was going to come, or should we expect someone else?”
20. When they came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask if you are the one he said was going to come, or if we should expect someone else.”
21. At that very time Jesus cured many people of their sicknesses, diseases, and evil spirits, and gave sight to many blind people.
22. He answered John's messengers, “Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean, the deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor.
23. How happy are those who have no doubts about me!”
24. After John's messengers had left, Jesus began to speak about him to the crowds: “When you went out to John in the desert, what did you expect to see? A blade of grass bending in the wind?
25. What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in fancy clothes? People who dress like that and live in luxury are found in palaces!
26. Tell me, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes indeed, but you saw much more than a prophet.
27. For John is the one of whom the scripture says: ‘God said, I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.’