Matthew 11:7-15: a reflection

7As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. 10For this is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come. 15He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

With John now imprisoned, Jesus turns to the crowd and speaks about him with striking honor. What did you go out into the wilderness to see, he asks, a reed swaying in the wind, a man in fine clothes? No, you went to see a prophet, and more than a prophet, the very messenger sent to prepare the way for the Lord. Jesus declares that among all those born of women, none is greater than John. It is high praise for the forerunner who pointed the way to Christ.

But then Jesus says something surprising: yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. He is not diminishing John; he is exalting the privilege of belonging to the kingdom John announced. John stood at the threshold, pointing forward to the Christ who was coming; those who now live on this side of the cross and resurrection, who know Christ and belong to his kingdom, share in a greater privilege still. Greatness here is measured not by human achievement but by nearness to Christ.

There is encouragement here for every ordinary believer. You may feel you are nobody special, certainly no John the Baptist, and yet Jesus says the least in the kingdom is greater than the greatest prophet before him. Not because of anything in you, but because of the privilege of belonging to Christ and his kingdom. Do not measure your worth by your achievements or your prominence. If you belong to Christ, you share in a nearness to God that even the prophets longed to see. Live in the wonder of that privilege.

Lord, you honored John the Baptist as the greatest of the prophets, yet you said the least in your kingdom is greater still, because of the privilege of belonging to you. When I feel I am nobody special, remind me of that nearness to Christ which is not earned but given. Let me live in the wonder of belonging to your kingdom, a privilege the prophets longed to see. Amen.