A popular phrase in the sports world today is expressed in the acronym G.O.A.T., which means “greatest of all time.” For example, Tom Brady is considered the greatest of all-time quarterbacks in American football He is arguably worthy of the title, having won 7 Super Bowls.
Jesus designated John the Baptist as the greatest of all time when he said,
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women, there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist;.”
Matthew 11:11 (a).
But Jesus didn’t stop there; He added another thought-provoking statement…
“but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
Matthew 11: 11 (b)
Wow! Who of us is greater than John the Baptist? It is those who are the least in the kingdom of heaven! Isn’t it just like Jesus to encourage the least of us by calling us greater than the spiritually powerful, well-known messenger of God? He was always the champion of the small and unimportant in society.
It leaves me with questions: How can this be? What made John the Baptist the G.O.A.T. among men, and what makes the least in the kingdom of heaven greater than the G.O.A.T.?
Who was John the Baptist?
John the Baptist was a prophet. But even more, he was also a part of the prophecies about the first coming of Jesus. For example, Jesus quoted Malachi 3:1 and applied it to John…and rightly so…
“For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.”
Matthew 11:10
Often when a dignitary of the Roman empire traveled, men would go ahead of the caravan and remove brush, fill in holes, etc, to allow for a smooth ride. But John’s preparation for Jesus was a spiritual preparation…He was an introduction to the “lamb, which takes away the sin of the world” John 1:29.
John made the way for the coming of Jesus through His message in the wilderness. A message of repentance and remission because the (Messiah) would soon appear. Even today, the message of repentance and remission of sins makes way for the Lord to come into the lives of sinners.
John’s birth and his greatness were prophesied by an angel to John’s father, Zacharias. The angel also disclosed the message John was to proclaim.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord,…He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins, Luke1: 15, 16
Luke 1:15
John’s Message
Although Zacharias was not able to talk because of his doubt, he would later open his mouth in faith and further prophesy about John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit ( v. 67-79)
What a powerful spiritual resume John possessed!
The emphasis of John’s message is made clear in the angel. His purpose was to give knowledge of salvation to “His people.” Yes! God had His people who, like the children of Egypt, needed to escape bondage. This bondage was not a foreign power but their sins.
John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Mark 1:4
The way of escape was through repentance (the Greek word is metanoia-a change of mind) and the remission of their sins. Remission, in Greek, is aphesis, which literally means release from bondage and imprisonment. God’s people must have considered forgiveness and freedom almost hopeless since the religious leaders had made up so many man-made religious rules. They added to the word of God that made it almost impossible for a person to feel free and forgiven. They were the marketers of rules related to sin. John was to give God’s people knowledge of salvation, giving them freedom of spirit.
The repentant’s immersion under the water by John (baptism) was an outward demonstration of an inward transformation. It was not another man-made rule to save them; it was the ceremonial public display of the act they had already performed through the conviction of the Holy Spirit: Repentance. They came up from the water free from the bondage of the guilt of sin. Remission. They were now free from the guilt of sin and would learn to walk (live) in a new way, led by the Spirit and not by the flesh.
Being baptized was their very first act of obedience, but now they obeyed God’s will out of a transformation (born again) rather than the bondage of man-made rules and requirements. There remained “rules,” but they were God’s and not additions of sinful religious men’s requirements for righteousness.
John taught salvation by faith, not through works. Works have their place, but not as a means to salvation. But faith must have an object; otherwise, it is just a word. This faith was to be placed in the coming Messiah,” the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world.” This proclamation was the capstone of John’s message.
This message of freedom from sins (salvation) via repentance and remission and the substitutionary death of Jesus paved the way for the coming Messiah, who would then magnify the kingdom of God.
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John’s Doubts
No prophet had a greater privilege than that of being the personal herald of the Messiah at His first coming. Any prophet would have desired to be in John’s place. He, therefore, was great in the sight of the Lord in this sense. He was “more than a prophet.“
Yet John had doubts. Doubts are common among Jesus’ followers, especially when experiencing trauma, broken bones, and hearts.
There is no prophecy (that I know of) that predicted the imprisonment of John. This trauma likely discouraged John because it was unexpected and painful. It seemed to go against the benefit of the message of Jesus to release those who were captive. This allowed a bit of doubt to creep into John’s heart. (Sound familiar?) So he sent a message via his disciples to Jesus to help clear the air about the Messiahship of Jesus (Matthew 11: 2-3).
His question suggested confusion.
“Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
Matthew 11:3
Jesus told them to…
“Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see 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. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Matthew 11: 4-6
Jesus’ message to John was to remember the source of his faith as found in Scripture. Jesus described the ministry of the Messiah, which was also Bible prophecy. The works of the coming Messiah are described by many prophets, including Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1, 29:18, 35: 4-6)
The fulfillment of the prophecy concerning Jesus should strengthen our faith in God. Jesus put it this way;
Now I tell you before it comes that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He.
John 13:19
Prophecy gives us reason to believe and be faithful. False prophecy, however, takes faith away. But, notice something else…Jesus’ answer for John’s disciples was a non-traditional picture of the coming Messiah.
Jesus’ altered the traditional understanding of the Messiah’s mission in His response to John’s messengers. Instead of a political messiah who will bring judgment on the enemies of the Jews and break the yoke of Roman imperialism, Jesus is the Messiah who is socially, spiritually, and personally conscious of the needy; He heals, resurrects, and proclaims good news to the poor.
Andrews Study Bible, p. 1264, commentary on Matthew 11:4-6
Those creators of additional rules also skewed scripture to paint a picture of a king who would come and free them from the bondage of the Romans. But Jesus, the Christ, came to them in a way they did not desire…lowly and meek for the purpose of freedom from the bondage of sin.
Even John may have been confused by the popular understanding of the work of the coming Messiah. Jesus had not set Himself up as king, and nothing dramatic on the political front was happening in Jerusalem. So it is today. Much of the world expects Jesus to direct in the building up of literal Israel and become their king.
When John’s disciples returned to him with Jesus’ message, It contained a blessing and a hint of rebuke.
And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Matthew 11:6
Are we offended by Jesus? Do we want Him to make a more dramatic display related to the political world? Since we are not as important and powerful as some, are we ashamed of the gospel of Christ? It seems sin, and the world have a louder voice than Jesus.
The Faith of John
You and I are not in prophecy as succinctly as John the Baptist, but yet we are greater than him? How can this be?
After the messengers departed, Jesus spoke to the crowd concerning John. He asked questions that highlighted the spiritual character of John.
““What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. Matthew 11: 7-9
A reed, blown to and fro by the wind, was a fitting symbol representing those swayed by the winds of popular opinion. Such reeds were well-known in the area because they grew by the Jordon River and were moved by every slight breeze. Likewise, those whose foundation is based on the ways of the world and its definition of greatness are easily manipulated. John was not one of these.
Paul knew this metaphor as well. He gives us additional understanding. In his message to the Ephesians, Paul said there are..
“…children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, Ephesians 4:14
John was firm in his understanding of God’s word but was open to the additional light Jesus proclaimed. The priests and their schools did not educate John. His heart and mission were prepared by the Holy Spirit and personal knowledge of God’s word. He embraced time in the desert that allowed for God’s voice to be heard, and he avoided strong drinks that could have clouded and confused his mind. The human mind is God’s pathway to the heart. It must be kept clear of rubbish if a person desires God’s voice to be heard.
We have the same opportunity as John to know the truth directly from God’s word. The fewer channels God’s word travels, the purer the message. If we are spoon-fed once a week through someone else, even our pastors, our faith is weakened by dependence on others.
As we commune with God, we should be listening for personal application through God’s voice in moments of prayerful solitude. By determination to apply God’s will in our lives within the context of His written word, there will be a more solid foundation for faith and avoidance of fanciful interpretations of the plain word of God…even if it goes against our tradition and denominational beliefs. It is critical that we seek the Holy Spirit to “guide us into all truth.” John 16:13
As a result, we will be resolute in our faith in Jesus, as was John. Doubts may creep in, especially during times of trauma. But Jesus heals the brokenhearted and provides living bread and water for revival in our hearts. Broken bones will heal back stronger. So will the testing of our faith.
Our challenge is to trust God regardless of the circumstance and how bleak it may appear.
What Heaven Calls Great
But, is our knowledge of God and our mission greater than John the Baptist? Personally, I can answer, “I hardly think so.”
The definition of great by the world versus heaven’s meaning is stark.
The world describes greatness through wealth, popularity, rank, nobility, intellectual gifts, and athletic abilities. But the estimation of heaven places greatness on the ones who love God and mankind as himself. These two attributes will lead to actions just like Jesus’ prophetic ministry on earth, e.g., feeding the hungry, visiting those in prison, providing clothes for the naked, etc. (Matthew 25: 34-36)
He (John) refrained from seeking honor for himself, but pointed all to Jesus as the Promised One. His unselfish joy in the ministry of Christ presents the highest type of nobility ever revealed in man.
Desire of Ages, p. 219
So if John possessed all these things, how can the least in the kingdom of heaven be greater?
John’s life was lonely in some respects but not in other ways. There is no record of John ministering to the poor or healing the sick. His message was great but mostly one-dimensional for a purpose. The spirit of God was upon him. He never lacked the comforting presence of God. But John “was not permitted to see the result of his own labors. It was not for him to see the blind restored to sight, the sick healed, and the dead raised to life. He did not behold the light that shone through every word of Christ, shedding glory upon the promises of prophecy.” Desire of Ages, p. 219
The least of us, however, have seen the mighty works of Jesus and heard His words through the accounts of those who knew Him best. In this sense, we are more privileged and greater than John the Baptist.
The works of Christ will compel us into a ministry to a dying world. Our inspired work of healing the sick, feeding the poor, and visiting those in need will not necessarily be miraculous. We might never see the results of our ministry. But, like John, one day, we will see the full-grown plants of the planted seeds. In this sense, the least of us is greater than John…we minister in the name of Jesus. We have so many more ways to talk to crowds. But that ministry must also include preparing the way for Jesus. A ministry to those in need without pointing them to Jesus is on the same level as the work of the atheist or humanist.
A ministry to those in need without pointing them to Jesus is on the same level as the work of the atheist or humanist.
Author
John and Elijah
The last generation before the return of Christ will bear a message like Elijah and John preparing the world for the coming of Christ (the second time). His coming, this time, will not be by a river. It will be a spectacular event where every eye will behold Him, and it will be destructive to those who are not hidden “in Christ.“
Will you be great in the sight of heaven? Think in terms of spirituality and ministry, not the size of your church. We will do the same work as John, Elijah, and Jesus. Try not to think about the miracles He performed but rather the character and love He had for those who needed Him the most. If this leads to their connection with Jesus, the title of G.O.A.T. in the kingdom of heaven belongs to you. But you will cast that crown to the ground because it was Jesus who did the work in you and through you.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will also do; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
John 14:12
So if you are small, humble, and invisible to the world but doing the works God has assigned you, you are part of a greater work and greater than the greatest on earth. You are great in the sight of heaven. Our greatness is not ours. It depends on God in us and through us. Then out of us to others. In Christ, you, too, can become the G.O.A.T. in the kingdom of heaven.