Our paragraph topic is: (Christ's witness concerning John) Part 3.
Christ has witnessed to John the Baptist. He has told the crowds that John was the messenger that was written about in the scriptures. He was the one who would proclaim the coming of the Messiah as was written. John was the choosen prophet of God who would be sent before the face of Christ and would prepare the way of the Lord by preaching repentence and baptizing the people in prepapration for the coming of the kingdom of heaven.
Christ now proclaims the greatness of John. He tells the people, "Amen I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen a greater than John theBaptist." Christ wants the crowds to know of John. He wants them to understand that John was the real deal, that he preached truth and knowledge and wisdom. John knew the Messiah. There was no doubt or scandal in John for he was a holy man and Christ proclaims his greatness. For of all men born before John, including all the prophets, John is the greatest. He was loved of God and spoke God's message to the people. There is not scandal in his words.
So John the Baptist is great on earth, but Christ tells of John's presences in heaven. He tells the crowds, "Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." John is great on earth but in heaven there is one greater. The least in heaven is greater than John. The least in heaven has received more glory than John. The least in heaven has more power and prestige that John, because the least in heaven is Christ. Christ came to serve mankind. He came to give of himself and not to be served, though he deserves to be served and honored, he choose to give up his heavenly power and glory to come to earth to save mankind from damnation. Christ is humility. He is the source of all humility. For he humbled himself for the sake of those who knew not humility. He humbled himself for those who knew not love. He humbled himself so that we could all have life in the father and salvation in the kingdom of heaven.
Are you humble in the eyes of God? Do you know who is the least in heaven? In our society today humility is not a trait to be desired. We are to be bold. We are to be daring. We are to be people of passion and power. For this is the way of the world and the way that the world tells us that we are to succeed. Be bold! Be daring! Be full of power! But do not be humble for the humble are walked upon. The humble are laughed at. The humble are scoffed at, ridiculed, and belittled. They are the ones who do not succeed in this world because they do not take the world by the horns. Christ was a humble man who died for us all. He came to earth to show us how to live a humble life. And he is the King of Kings and the Lord of Hosts and sites at the right hand of God. Are you the least at work? Are you the least at home? Are you the least at church? Are you the least in the market, at the mall, in the grocery store, at the club, in the restaurant, wherever you are? Are you the least? Christ gave us the example of humility to follow. When will we learn the power in being the least in Christ?
Christ has witnessed to John the Baptist. He has told the crowds that John was the messenger that was written about in the scriptures. He was the one who would proclaim the coming of the Messiah as was written. John was the choosen prophet of God who would be sent before the face of Christ and would prepare the way of the Lord by preaching repentence and baptizing the people in prepapration for the coming of the kingdom of heaven.
Christ now proclaims the greatness of John. He tells the people, "Amen I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen a greater than John theBaptist." Christ wants the crowds to know of John. He wants them to understand that John was the real deal, that he preached truth and knowledge and wisdom. John knew the Messiah. There was no doubt or scandal in John for he was a holy man and Christ proclaims his greatness. For of all men born before John, including all the prophets, John is the greatest. He was loved of God and spoke God's message to the people. There is not scandal in his words.
So John the Baptist is great on earth, but Christ tells of John's presences in heaven. He tells the crowds, "Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." John is great on earth but in heaven there is one greater. The least in heaven is greater than John. The least in heaven has received more glory than John. The least in heaven has more power and prestige that John, because the least in heaven is Christ. Christ came to serve mankind. He came to give of himself and not to be served, though he deserves to be served and honored, he choose to give up his heavenly power and glory to come to earth to save mankind from damnation. Christ is humility. He is the source of all humility. For he humbled himself for the sake of those who knew not humility. He humbled himself for those who knew not love. He humbled himself so that we could all have life in the father and salvation in the kingdom of heaven.
Are you humble in the eyes of God? Do you know who is the least in heaven? In our society today humility is not a trait to be desired. We are to be bold. We are to be daring. We are to be people of passion and power. For this is the way of the world and the way that the world tells us that we are to succeed. Be bold! Be daring! Be full of power! But do not be humble for the humble are walked upon. The humble are laughed at. The humble are scoffed at, ridiculed, and belittled. They are the ones who do not succeed in this world because they do not take the world by the horns. Christ was a humble man who died for us all. He came to earth to show us how to live a humble life. And he is the King of Kings and the Lord of Hosts and sites at the right hand of God. Are you the least at work? Are you the least at home? Are you the least at church? Are you the least in the market, at the mall, in the grocery store, at the club, in the restaurant, wherever you are? Are you the least? Christ gave us the example of humility to follow. When will we learn the power in being the least in Christ?
