Holy Boldness

the point… “What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you and one who is more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of you who will prepare Your way before You.’” (Vv. 9, 10) A third time Jesus asks the question, “What drew you to the wil derness?” Finally, Jesus answers His own question with a decisive apprais al of John the Baptist. “Was John a prophet? Yes, ” was Jesus’ answer and so much more but he was himself also a prophesied messenger mentioned in Malachi 3:1, one whom the scriptures proclaimed would go before the face of the people and prepare them for the coming of the Messiah. And then Jesus adds, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.” What an endorsement. Jesus could not have given a higher word of approval. The extraordinary praise, honor and endorsement showered on John the Baptist by Jesus were immediately followed by an equally extraordinary comparison that highlighted the significance of the era that Jesus was inaugurating. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matt 11:11) Jesus made one final decisive affirmation of John the Baptist, that he was the greatest born of women. Then He made another astounding statement, “Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” How can this be and what does it mean? John had incredible insight and He brought a message from God, a message of the coming of God’s government on the earth- the message of the Kingdom of God. But what John decreed as a coming reality in the future, Jesus demonstrated in the present with His very person. Jesus was more than words but “the word made flesh.” He was more than a servant; He was a son. John prepared the way for Jesus but Jesus was the way and the kingdom manifested. The kingdom that Jesus proclaimed and demonstrated represent- An Extraordinary Comparison

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