Having finished His warnings and instructions to His disciples, the Lord Jesus departs to teach and to preach in their cities. John the Baptist had been put in prison by Herod some time before (Matt. 4:1212Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; (Matthew 4:12)). While there he hears of the wonderful works that Jesus had done. Though John had announced the coming of Jesus earlier and had even said of Him, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” he seemingly did not understand the way in which it should come about. He had heralded the coming of the King. Why then was he still in prison when such wonderful works of power were taking place? So he sends two of his disciples to Jesus saying, “Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?” John had been an honored and faithful servant, but even John’s faith wavered in that long wait in prison. There was only one perfect Servant — the Lord Himself. The Lord tells the disciples of John, “Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Then He adds a word especially for John: “Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.” There were special blessings for those who would not be offended in Him, no doubt referring to Isaiah 8:1414And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (Isaiah 8:14): “He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel.”
The Kingdom of Heaven
The messengers of John depart and then the Lord in a most gracious manner takes the occasion to testify of John to the multitude. He refers to John’s life of self-denial in the wilderness. “What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? . . . A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.” Had they gone out to see a prophet? John, He says, was more than a prophet. “Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.” He was the greatest of all who had come before.
“Notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” The privileges and blessings of the kingdom of heaven were far more wonderful than those which belonged to the old order of things. John was a part of the old order which closed with his testimony.
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Satan, the great enemy, would bring about many hindrances to those who would seek to enter; he would use the religious leaders of the day to confuse and discourage. It required real purpose of heart on the part of those who would seek to enter. They must seize the opportunities set before them, and so it is until our own day.
“For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John,” the Lord says. John stood as the last and greatest witness of that dispensation which was about to close; “And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” Elijah’s mission was to prepare the way for the Lord, and John was to come “in the spirit and power of Elias.” But when the King was rejected, the establishment of the kingdom on earth must await a future day. John’s witness then to faith was a testimony to the kingdom that will be displayed in power and glory some day soon.
Further Meditation
1. Why is the least in the kingdom of heaven said to be greater than John the Baptist?
2. When will the kingdom come in power and glory?
3. For a very thorough treatment of the subject of the kingdom you should consider The Kingdom of God and of Heaven by J. A. Savage.