How Can We Believe We Can Be Greater Than John the Baptist?
Good Morning Friends,
Do you think you are “a nobody?” …Think again. Still the first law of ministry is humility, for whoever humbles himself like a child, will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Perplexed. Don’t be, for today we give a shot at answering this question about privilege. Indeed, the world may not know your name. You may never see your name in lights or go down in the history books. But friends, Jesus knows your name and that is worth more than the notoriety of man. You are special in God’s eyes. For example you have probable never heard a sermon or devotional on Thaddeus. There is no back story on his life, there is no book in the Bible named after him. How would you like to be known as “so and so’s little brother”? Now obviously, no one would want to be confused with Judas Iscariot, but we still wouldn’t want to simply be referred to as “the other one” That is basically the case for this man Thaddeus. Throughout the reading of the Bible you will not hear Thaddeus preach a powerful sermon. You will not see him specifically healing someone who was sick. You will not read that he ever cast out a demon. But it is very possible, even probable that he did all of these things and he was greater than John the Baptist. And that brings us to today’s contemplation. How Can We Believe We Can Be Greater Than John the Baptist?
Scripture: Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Matthew 11:11 (NRSV)
18and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean,
Mark 3:18 (NRSV)
14On one occasion when Jesus* was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. 7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told them a parable. 8‘When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 9and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, “Give this person your place”, and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, “Friend, move up higher”; then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. 11For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’
Luke 14: 1, 7-11 (NRSV)
23Thus says the Lord: Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; 24but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NRSV)
31in order that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in* the Lord.’
1 Corinthians 1:31 (NRSV)
23Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters,*
Colossians 3:23 (NRSV)
Message: Ok it is not exactly easy to believe we are greater than John the Baptist, but let’s take it at face value and explore the possibility of ways we might actually be greater. First, we are greater because we enjoy greater knowledge than John the Baptist. Second, we have a greater station in life and third, we enjoy greater privileges. Ok, now let’s put it in perspective. John the Baptist’s role was to decrease in prominence while Jesus’ ministry increased. John allowed his disciples to leave him in order to follow Jesus. His ministry lasted only about six months before he was wrongfully imprisoned and executed. Yet Jesus said that no one who had come before John was any greater in the kingdom of heaven than John. Moses had parted the Red Sea; Elijah had raised the dead and brought down fire from heaven; Isaiah had written a revered book of Scripture; yet in the brief time of service granted to John, he had matched them all for greatness in the kingdom of heaven! Incredibly, Jesus said that we have the opportunity to be even greater in the kingdom of heaven than John the Baptist. He announced the coming of Christ, but we, as Christians, have Christ living within us. In response to this amazing gift we must remember that service to God is the greatest privilege we can receive in life. To serve God in even the most menial way is an honor far greater than we deserve. John was given less than a year to complete his assignment, and he did so with all that he had. We have the opportunity to allow Jesus to carry out His work through our lives, so that greater things are done through us than were ever accomplished through John the Baptist. Our mandate is the same as John’s: to lift up Jesus while denying ourselves. Oh, that we would do so with the same fervor as John the Baptist! Oh, that we would do it like Jesus as a servant washing other’s feet…encouraging, loving, edifying, pray for, serving and honoring and belonging. The privilege here brings responsibility and opportunities. The spiritual greatness of a man in the Bible does not consist of how much he did or did not do or how great one looks. Like John it is about having the courage to face opposition and embrace of lifelong service to God. It is about self-denial and the manner of life. It is about a humility that allows God to surprise us with spiritual greatness.
Pray we experience God and the abundant life He offers. Pray for all those struggling with pride. Pray we admit we need Jesus and each other. Pray we not think more of ourselves that we ought to think. Pray that we humble ourselves before God. Pray that we be humble enough to receive the full measure of God’s gifts to our souls without growing proud because of it. Pray we discover the joy, fellowship and unmerited grace in humility. Pray
we realize that all true greatness arises from association, relation and contact with Jesus Christ. Pray this experience fills us with humility, gratitude and a desire to serve. Pray that we have a humility that leads to obedience. Pray we set a tone of humility and not competition. Pray we be people of integrity but also of humility. Pray we acknowledge the worth of others with humility in our own spiritual maturity. Pray we feel the reality of God and His promise of love in our lives. Pray we are humble enough to love those He loves as we discover the power of knowing God. Pray we realize that the greatest benefit of serving God is what Christ-like character qualities we developed in the process. Pray we realize that Godliness is profitable for all things not only in this life, but also in the age to come.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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