He is the Greatest

In He is the Least I talked about a man I met in Cambodia who, by the world’s standard could be considered to be “the least of these�, or poorest of the poor.  Yet, he had more joy than almost anyone I’ve ever met.

 

     Now, after talking about the least, I’d like to talk about the greatest.  I’m about to ask you a question, and would encourage you to answer with the first thing that pops into your head.  Don’t try and over-think it.

 

     Who do you consider to be the greatest Old Testament prophet?

 

     …

 

     …

 

     Well?  Who’d you come up with?  Moses?  The dude was used to lead an entire 

people group into freedom…through an ocean!  He was also God’s chosen man to communicate to His people.  He even has an entire set of laws named after himself.  Not a bad answer.

 

     What about Elijah though?  That guy did some pretty amazing miracles.  His name comes up a lot.  Including the New Testament.  That’s pretty impressive.

 

     Or how about Elisha?  He had a double portion of the anointing and power Elijah had.  Talk about impressive…

 

      Or maybe Jeremiah or Isaiah.  They had some pretty intense prophecies and words for the Jewish people.  I’d count them in the running.

 

     So, those are my personal top picks for the position of the greatest prophet pre-Jesus.  Well, they were…until God hit me with a pretty intense revelation while I was talking to my friend Greg back in Cambodia.  Take a look at what Jesus says:

 

     “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist…� (Matt. 11:11)

 

     …wait, what!?  Does he mean John the Baptist John the Baptist?  Like, the one who wears a camel one-piece, lives like a weirdo in the desert and doesn’t do any miracles?  HE’s considered the greatest?  But, but…Moses TALKED with God.  Elijah CALLED DOWN HEAVENLY FIRE.  Elisha had COMPLETE FAITH in God when he was completely surrounded by an entire army wanting nothing other than to kill him.  These men are famous for their amazing works.  These men were holy prophets, leaders, hand picked by God.  These men are spiritual heroes.

 

     John the Baptist just told people God’s kingdom was coming, and that it wasn’t even him that was bringing it.  He was just giving people a head’s up.  And he baptized them, encouraging them to follow God’s law with pure hearts.  That’s it. That’s…that’s something you and I could do. As far as I know, he didn’t even do a single miracle.   HE was the greatest?

 

     Yup.

 

     And here’s where the revelation comes in that God hit me with.  I now think he was considered the greatest, because his whole life was focused on Christ.  He was completely centered around Jesus.  His purpose was specifically dedicated to his coming Savior.  Nothing else.

 

      I have been thinking a lot about this lately.  A lot.  This seems to be one of the best examples we have form scripture about what it looks like for the least of the world to be considered the greatest in God’s kingdom.

 

     Think about it….even as Christians we elevate Moses, or Elijah or heck, even Paul and the disciples…because of their works, their fame and their reputation as esteemed men of God.  No one really talks about John the Baptist that much.  Because he didn’t really DO anything.  Not compared to others.  So, what is there really to talk about?  Well, how about the fact he was humble, committed and willing.

 

     I think that’s why Jesus lifts him up.  John the Baptist was someone who was living for Jesus, serving Jesus.  He knew people thought he was crazy, foolish, holier than thou or whatever.  And yet, he seems to live with conviction and purpose, knowing for himself the truth and letting that dictate what his life looked like.  Not the opinions of anyone else.  He was in no way concerned with himself in this life.  He was concerned about Jesus.

 

     He was willing to be single.  He was willing to live in the wilderness.  (I think a lot of people assumed he enjoyed that lifestyle, and that’s why he did it…but I’m not so sure.)  He was willing to “waste� his entire life for the sake of telling people about some guy who was coming to save them.  He gave up trying to have “his best life now�, because serving his King was more important than serving himself.  That’s humility.  Not turning down a nice compliment someone gives you, but instead giving up living for yourself because you consider someone else worth more than your own life.
 

 

     I like that while he’s imprisoned (probably knowing he didn’t have too much longer to 

live) he sendshis guys to ask Jesus if he really is The One.  Is Jesus really the one he has dedicated his life to?  I think that he lived with such passion and conviction in preaching and trying to prepare people for Jesus’ coming that he wanted to make sure he didn’t do it all for the wrong guy…because, I mean, what a waste that would have been.  His life was so focused on Christ alone, that he wanted to make sure he had spent it on the truth.

 

     And that makes me think….am I living that way?  Are you?  Is the church?  Am I so committed, so sold on the idea of Jesus, so entrenched in following him, that at the end of it all I’ll wonder if all the effort was worth it?  Or will I wonder if maybe I lived for myself more than I should have?  Will I question the fact that I spent my life on “wasting� this life by being a fool for the cause of Christ, or will I question all the time I spent on myself?  (Not that I really want to question it at all…but you know what I’m saying.  Right?)

 

     Okay…before I get too heavy into all this…too introspective, let me throw in something pretty incredible…

 

     “…Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (John the Baptist.)�  (Matt. 11:11)

 

     That means you and me.  For those who choose humilty…and I’m talking true humility…for those who choose to live for something other than themselves…putting their own needs aside…for those who choose to serve in the kingdom of Jesus…you will be considered to be greater than the greatest.  I don’t know about you…but that blows my mind.

 

     So…quick recap…Jesus says the greatest man who lived up until that point was a man who didn’t focus on being great, but instead focused on humbly serving The One who is great by being faithful, committed and humble.  The greatest wasn’t the one who did the most, or was revered the most…but the one who simply followed his calling with a humble heart.

 

     Interesting stuff….