Wednesday in Advent

3Verse 3. Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees! 4Verse 4. Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.” 5Verse 5. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6Verse 6. Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. 7Verse 7. The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt where jackals once lay, there will be grass and reeds and papyrus.

18Verse 18. Then John’s disciples informed him about all these things. 19Verse 19. So John called two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?” 20Verse 20. When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?’” 21Verse 21. At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind. 22Verse 22. So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23Verse 23. Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me. ” 24Verse 24. After John’s messengers had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 25Verse 25. Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear elegant clothing and live in luxury are found in palaces. 26Verse 26. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27Verse 27. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’ 28Verse 28. I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29Verse 29. All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John. 30Verse 30. But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.