GREAT, GREATER, GREATEST
“Was not the hand of the Lord upon him?” –Luke 1:66
St. John the Baptizer was born of a barren woman (Lk 1:7). His father, Zechariah, was deaf and dumb throughout the nine months of Elizabeth’s pregnancy (Lk 1:20, 62). Zechariah was miraculously healed at John’s circumcision (Lk 1:64). These astounding events surrounding the conception and birth of John the Baptizer prompted the question: “What will this child be?” (Lk 1:66)
The answers to this question are:
1) John the Baptizer was the “prophet of the Most High” (Lk 1:76).
2) He was the new Elijah (Lk 1:17; Mt 11:14).
3) “He was the lamp, set aflame and burning bright” (Jn 5:35).
4) John was “a voice in the desert, crying out: ‘Make straight the way of the Lord!’ ” (Jn 1:23)
5) He was not “a reed swaying in the wind” or “someone luxuriously dressed” (Mt 11:7-8).
6) He was not worthy to unfasten Jesus’ sandals (Acts 13:25).
7) John the Baptizer was the greatest person that had ever been born of woman up to that time (Mt 11:11).
Yet you and I, “the least born into the kingdom of God,” are greater than John (Mt 11:11). John the Baptizer was the greatest, but we are greater than the greatest because of what Jesus has done in our lives.
PRAYER: Jesus, You are the Greatest, and I am in You and You in me (Jn 6:56).
PROMISE: “His mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God.” –Lk 1:64
PRAISE: “If you are prepared to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who was certain to come” (Mt 11:14). Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing the truth about St. John the Baptizer!
