John and Me

Did you know that I am greater than John the Baptist? In Jesus’ own words:

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11 KJV)

OK, so that’s not literally what He meant. But, on lose logic, I’m headed for His kingdom (based on a number of biblical commitments) and I’ll certainly be among the least, so that will make me greater when I get there - but only for the time he was here. My logic is quite wrong.

Of course, John’s made his journey and continues to serve His Lord in heaven. When I get there, it won’t be with the same acclamation, I’m certain. John proclaimed the word of the Lord his entire life, giving up all worldly good to draw people away from the cities to hear God’s truth.

In this Matthew chapter, John has been imprisoned for telling the truth about Herod and his incestuous marriage. But hey, was it his place to judge? It was much like today – telling the truth sounds to those who do not wish to hear it that it is judgmental. People living in sinful situations still do not wish to be told it is sinful – that’s being judgmental, right?

While in prison, John has doubts. He had spent years proclaiming Christ’s coming:

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11 KJV)

Like most of us, what is happening does not seem to be what we thought God had in mind. Are we wrong?

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? (Matthew 11:2-3 KJV)

Is that why we question, too? We expect action, and we’re waiting in prison? Jesus didn’t give a “yes/no” answer. He called upon a man’s ability to reason:

Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. (Matthew 11:4-6 KJV)

“Go and testify to what you’ve seen,” basically was His answer. Very similar to the Great Commission:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)

See that ‘therefore’? It connects these verses to the previous verse – the one that tells us why He has the authority to make such a request – and why we should be responding to it daily:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18 KJV)

We have to back up one more verse to find out why Jesus explained this:

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. (Matthew 28:16-17 KJV)

“Some doubted.” We are in good company, then – John, along with some disciples, doubted. Let’s get past those doubts and do as they did – serve God. Why not, at least we’re in His kingdom.