There are many similarities between Jesus and his direct predecessor, the man commonly known as John the Baptist. In Matthew 11:11, Jesus says of John, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.” Think of what it means for Jesus to say this. Think of Moses, of Joshua, of Isaiah, of Jeremiah – Jesus says John rises above all of these. Outside the similarities between him and Christ, this statement alone makes John a worthy individual to study.
Similarities Between the Messiah and His Messenger
Luke 1 records John’s miraculous birth. We read of his father Zechariah serving in the temple and being addressed by an angel who foretells his son’s birth and the name by which his son would be known. We also read of Zechariah’s doubt. Already, there are similarities between Jesus and John in the circumstances surrounding their births. Similarly, both are contained in prophecy. Malachi 3:1 speaks of both the coming of the Lord and the messenger to prepare His way. Malachi 4:5 then speaks of the coming of Elijah prior to the Day of the Lord. Gabriel tells Zechariah John fulfills these prophecies.
Like Jesus, John was not only prophesied about, but both are also prophets themselves. Luke 1:76 records Zechariah calling his unborn son a prophet of the Most High. Both are public teachers who have followings and disciples, and both baptize. In John 3:22-23, both are recorded baptizing and teaching concurrently, and both teach to “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" – Jesus in Matthew 4:17 and John in Matthew 3:2. Finally, both teach prayer according to Luke 11:1. Perhaps all of this gives us more insight into Jesus’ statement in Matthew 11:11.
The Messenger, the Preparer
This John prepares the way – not the groom but the friend of the groom. In John 1:19-23, John says of himself that he is not the Messiah but the one preparing the way. He is the voice in the wilderness, making straight the way of the Lord. John reminds his disciples of this in John 3:25-30, saying Jesus must increase while he decreases. John knows his place in God’s plan.
In Matthew 11:7, Jesus initiates a conversation about John, asking His followers what they thought they were seeing out there in the wilderness, calling John more than a prophet. Jesus then quotes Malachi 3:1, speaking of the one who would prepare the way for the Lord. Here was a man bearing a difficult message in a hostile environment to a resistant audience, and this is the man to whom Jesus bestows such great honor.
The Kingdom and the Messenger
In all of this, Jesus appends something to His praise of John: “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he,” and Jesus uses harsh imagery to then describe the effort it will take to enter into that kingdom. This kingdom comes in Acts 2, and Paul says of those converted to Christ, in Colossians 1:13, that they are brought out of darkness to be the kingdom of the beloved Son.
Jesus speaks of John in highly elevated terms, but we have an opportunity he never had. We may be sons of God. The kingdom is no longer at hand; it has come. Our baptism is more than repentance; it is a transformation, a redemption, and a complete remission of sins. We have a better message in Christ, not preparing the way for one greater but who spoke the very words of God. We have a better covenant containing better promises. We have access to things John could only anticipate. This is not something to approach casually or lightly. It is a precious opportunity. Today, we can be greater than John by becoming a part of that kingdom for which Jesus died.
lesson by Tim Smelser
Similarities Between the Messiah and His Messenger
Luke 1 records John’s miraculous birth. We read of his father Zechariah serving in the temple and being addressed by an angel who foretells his son’s birth and the name by which his son would be known. We also read of Zechariah’s doubt. Already, there are similarities between Jesus and John in the circumstances surrounding their births. Similarly, both are contained in prophecy. Malachi 3:1 speaks of both the coming of the Lord and the messenger to prepare His way. Malachi 4:5 then speaks of the coming of Elijah prior to the Day of the Lord. Gabriel tells Zechariah John fulfills these prophecies.
Like Jesus, John was not only prophesied about, but both are also prophets themselves. Luke 1:76 records Zechariah calling his unborn son a prophet of the Most High. Both are public teachers who have followings and disciples, and both baptize. In John 3:22-23, both are recorded baptizing and teaching concurrently, and both teach to “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" – Jesus in Matthew 4:17 and John in Matthew 3:2. Finally, both teach prayer according to Luke 11:1. Perhaps all of this gives us more insight into Jesus’ statement in Matthew 11:11.
The Messenger, the Preparer
This John prepares the way – not the groom but the friend of the groom. In John 1:19-23, John says of himself that he is not the Messiah but the one preparing the way. He is the voice in the wilderness, making straight the way of the Lord. John reminds his disciples of this in John 3:25-30, saying Jesus must increase while he decreases. John knows his place in God’s plan.
In Matthew 11:7, Jesus initiates a conversation about John, asking His followers what they thought they were seeing out there in the wilderness, calling John more than a prophet. Jesus then quotes Malachi 3:1, speaking of the one who would prepare the way for the Lord. Here was a man bearing a difficult message in a hostile environment to a resistant audience, and this is the man to whom Jesus bestows such great honor.
The Kingdom and the Messenger
In all of this, Jesus appends something to His praise of John: “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he,” and Jesus uses harsh imagery to then describe the effort it will take to enter into that kingdom. This kingdom comes in Acts 2, and Paul says of those converted to Christ, in Colossians 1:13, that they are brought out of darkness to be the kingdom of the beloved Son.
Jesus speaks of John in highly elevated terms, but we have an opportunity he never had. We may be sons of God. The kingdom is no longer at hand; it has come. Our baptism is more than repentance; it is a transformation, a redemption, and a complete remission of sins. We have a better message in Christ, not preparing the way for one greater but who spoke the very words of God. We have a better covenant containing better promises. We have access to things John could only anticipate. This is not something to approach casually or lightly. It is a precious opportunity. Today, we can be greater than John by becoming a part of that kingdom for which Jesus died.
lesson by Tim Smelser
