YOU ARE GREAT!
Opening Prayer
Great and steadfast God, you are faithful in your promises, unwavering in your justice, and constant in your love. Bless the Lord my soul.
Read MATTHEW 11:7–19
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’[a]
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever 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 subjected to violence,[b] and violent people have been raiding 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 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 11:10 Mal. 3:1
- Matthew 11:12 Or been forcefully advancing
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
What blessings do you have as a Christian? Spend some time listing them and giving thanks for all you possess in Christ.
Think Further
Despite John the Baptist having doubts, as we read yesterday, Jesus makes it clear he had a very high view of John. He was no commonplace, ordinary man, as unremarkable as reeds swaying by the River Jordan. He was far more significant: more important even than a king or any of the prophets before him, for John was the special prophet (like Elijah) who Malachi foretold would come before the day of the Lord.1
Despite John’s importance, Jesus stunned the crowd by saying that every believer, no matter how insignificant they feel, is greater than the Baptist. We are all in possession of blessings John did not get to see. We have the teachings of Jesus; we know about his death and resurrection – and the forgiveness these bring. We live in days when the Holy Spirit gifts and equips all God’s people, not just a few special ones like John the Baptist and the prophets before him. Just allow Jesus’ staggering statement to sink in: John was great, but we are greater in the kingdom than he! Do we believe this?
Yet despite all these blessings, many still reject Jesus. He talks of ‘violent people’ raiding the kingdom (v 12). Many scholars believe this is a negative expression to do with people’s opposition to the kingdom rather than their zeal for it. This fits with Jesus’ comments that those who are not open to the gospel will always find something objectionable about it – just as people objected to John’s message of judgment yet were also unhappy with Jesus’ message of forgiveness and grace. We often, quite legitimately, seek to make our message more accessible to others, but verses 18 and 19 remind us that we cannot always win people over. Do we sometimes try too hard to make the gospel appeal?
Apply
Dear Lord, we are sorry when we do not appreciate all you have done for us, the blessings you bring and how much you love and value us.
Closing prayer
Lord, I want to be like John the Baptist who was willing to step aside so that you would be seen. This is my prayer today; may I decrease and you increase.
1 Mal 4:5
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