Jesus sets a standard with the statement that ‘John the Baptist was the greatest of all Old Testament prophets’ (Matthew 11:11-15). He didn’t do any miracles that we know of. His ministry was gloriously necessary, but not one we would normally compare to some of the more spectacular prophets like Elijah or Daniel. Yet the One who knows all says he’s the greatest.
There is a truth contained in these verses that helps us to see our potential from heaven’s perspective. It is such a wonderful truth that all of hell has made a priority of trying to keep us from its simplicity.
Not only is John heralded as the greatest of prophets more startling bit of news comes next—He who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. Let’s be clear Jesus wasn not saying that the people in the kingdom of heaven were greater than John. There’s no purpose for such a statement. Rather, he was talking about a realm of living that was soon to become available to every believer. John prophesied of Christ’s coming, and went so far as to confess his personal need of it.
“He who is coming after me is mightier than I…
He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11).”
Jesus came to be baptised…John tried to prevent Him, saying,
“I need to be baptised by You…” (Matthew 3:14).
John confessed his personal need of Jesus’ baptism. Not one of the Old Testament prophets, not even John, had what was about to be offered to the least of all saints. It is the baptism in the Holy Spirit that became God’s goal for mankind.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit makes a lifestyle available to us to which not even John had access. Jesus whetted our appetite for this lifestyle through His example, then He gave us the promise of its availability.
Adapted from ‘When Heaven Invades Earth’ by Bill Johnson