Luke 7:24-34

24 After John's messengers left to make their report, Jesus said more about John to the crowd of people. "What did you expect when you went out to see him in the wild? A weekend camper?
25 Hardly. What then? A sheik in silk pajamas? Not in the wilderness, not by a long shot.
26 What then? A messenger from God? That's right, a messenger! Probably the greatest messenger you'll ever hear.
27 He is the messenger Malachi announced when he wrote, I'm sending my messenger on ahead To make the road smooth for you.
28 "Let me lay it out for you as plainly as I can: No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer, but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him.
29 The ordinary and disreputable people who heard John, by being baptized by him into the kingdom, are the clearest evidence;
30 the Pharisees and religious officials would have nothing to do with such a baptism, wouldn't think of giving up their place in line to their inferiors.
31 "How can I account for the people of this generation?
32 They're like spoiled children complaining to their parents, 'We wanted to skip rope and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk but you were always too busy.'
33 John the Baptizer came fasting and you called him crazy.
34 The Son of Man came feasting and you called him a lush.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.