28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
What a commendation from the lips of our Savior! Among those born of women no one was greater than John the Baptist. Filled with the Spirit from the womb on, John came as the messenger to prepare the way for the Lord. I am reminded of Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3 (NIV)
John came on the scene calling for all to prepare the way for the Lord by returning to a proper relationship with Him. “Our way” has always been an issue with mankind. Born with a bent to go our own direction (“All we like sheep have gone astray”) and wander in the wilderness of our own depravity, sadly, mankind has to be constantly reminded to make their way back to God. Jesus reminds us that He is the Way:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NIV)
The word rendered “way” is translated from the Greek word “Hodos” meaning a road on which one travels, a journey, a manner of life or action, custom. As believers on this side of the cross, we also are to be preparing the way for Christ’s return. Our way should be His way and our thoughts His thoughts. No one knows when the hour of His return will come; we only know that it is certain and that no amount of not allowing ourselves to dwell upon it will make the certainty of it go away. We too are called to get right with the Lord. Our greatest desire should be that we are a part of the Kingdom! I love how the Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible Lexical Aids addresses this idea: “The forceful advancing of the Kingdom of God entails the powerful works performed by Jesus and His dramatic gospel announcing the arrival of the long-awaited Messianic reign and demanding repentance and faith from all. In keeping with the violent character of its irruption into history, those who enter it are distinguished by that same dead earnestness and lay hold of it as a highly desired prize. Entrance into the kingdom is no small matter; it is a life and death issue and is possible only by desperate and radically serious persons who desire it at all costs.” I don’t know about you, but frankly, I am feeling a bit convicted here! I am reminded of the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew:
11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears, let him hear. Matt 11:11-15 (NIV)
Though no one born of women will be greater than John, Jesus tells us that the privileges of those participating in the Kingdom of God will be far greater than anything anyone could experience on this earth. Makes living for this world a bit short sighted doesn’t it? It certainly should give us all the impetus to not want to waste our lives by living for the here and now. “This world is our passage, not our portion.” Matthew Henry “Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.” Lewis Sperry Chafer “There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below.” Charles Spurgeon “Tomorrow’s history has already been written. At the name of Jesus, every knee must bow.” Paul Kauffman