“Greater than John”

Read Luke 7:24-28

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The visit of John’s messengers leads on to a consideration of John’s ministry. John had drawn great crowds to hear him (Mk.1:4-6; Lk.3:7), but why? He was a man with a stern and uncompromising message, not easily swayed (like a reed in the wind) by popularity nor having any royal splendour. His desert life and simple food ruled out all such ideas (24-25).

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The people had known that. They’d gone to see him not because he wore fine clothes and lived in a palace but because he didn’t. Rather, they’d recognised that he dressed like the prophet Elijah (Mt.3:4; 2 Kgs.1:8). Jesus now affirms their belief that John was a prophet, but not just any prophet for he had the unique and privileged role of being the forerunner of the Messiah, of whom Malachi had spoken (26-27; Mal.3:1; 4:5).

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So John is the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets, the high point of all previous revelation (28). Yet the Messiah who John proclaimed brings a new and higher way – the kingdom of God – and anyone who belongs to that kingdom has greater glory and privilege even than John. So, Jesus says, look beyond John to the fulfilment to which he pointed, and make sure you enter God’s kingdom (Lk.16:16).