Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from John 1:20-21. Indeed, let us note at the outset that in this gospel, we do not see John announcing that the kingdom of God had approached, since Jesus is not presented to the people as Messiah; he gives testimony of Jesus in various characters that we will list later after considering them. There is also nothing said about the birth of the prophet, but simply: “There was a man sent from God: his name was John. He came to serve as a witness, to bear witness to the light, so that all may believe through him.”
John is therefore “the envoy of God”, a qualifier applied to Jesus about forty times in this gospel. As in the other gospels, God ensured that a testimony preceded the arrival of His Son to prepare His way in the hearts, so that men would be without excuse if they did not receive Jesus. For Jesus was indeed the light, since after speaking of the light, John said: “that all may believe by him”.
There was such a conformity with Christ in John, for he carried his divine characters so faithfully that it is said of him: “He was not the light, but he appeared to bear witness to the light. This light was the true light, which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.” The divine light, which shone in the person of Jesus, to him on all men, like the sun when it illuminates the universe. This is not to say that everyone has benefited; for we have seen and will see again the opposite; but all saw it and all could be enlightened, the Gentiles as well as the Jews.
Further (Jn 8), we see men under the effect of this light, when Jesus said to those who had brought him an adulterous woman: “Let him who is sinless, first cast the stone against her”. For the light shows them that they are all sinners; but instead of taking advantage of the presence of Jesus who came for them,”they withdrew one by one, from the oldest to the last; and Jesus remained alone with the woman who was there in the midst” (Jn 8:9). And after seeing this, Jesus said, “I am the light of theworld; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but he will have the light of life. For those who came to him in faith, whoever they were, possessed this light life.
Yet, “it was in the world, and the world was made by it, and the world did not know it. It came to hers, and hers did not receive it. Since the creation, the world fell into such a moral state that it could not recognize its creator when he came to him. Moreover, since the fall of man, God had formed a people to whom he had announced the coming of his Son. This people was like their family: there, perhaps, will they be received? No better! For if the world did not know him, the Jews, called “his own”, repulsed him. Indeed, in the East, when one knocks on the door of a house, those who are inside, before opening, see by an opening practiced for this purpose, who is the person who knocks; after seeing it, they open or not, depending on whether it suits them. It was the same with Jesus; for they saw it, but did not want to receive it. If I had not done among them works that no one else has done, they would have no sin; but now they have seen them, and they have hated me and my Father”, says the Lord (Jn 15:24). Instead they said: “Here is the heir; come, let’s kill him, and let us seize his inheritance” (Mt 21:38). What a terrible guilt.
Fortunately, in the presence of such a state of affairs, the Lord God does not remain without resources; for he is active in grace and power in the midst of a scene of revolt and death: “But to all those who have received it, to those who believe in her name, she has given the power to become children of God, who were born, not of the blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. What a wonderful grace! For it is enough to receive the Lord Jesus, to believe, to become a child of God and to come out of a condition of darkness and death where man cannot have relations with God. For he who believes in Jesus possesses him as life: “He who has the Son has life” (1 John 5:12). He enters into a relationship with God as a beloved child. For human nature and the will of man have nothing to do with it; and all is of God: he is born of God; it participates in its nature. From then on, it is in the light; he can enjoy communion with God; he has the thoughts of God; it is clean for heaven, the glorious realm of light-life and love.
What can we learn from this prophet?
(a) Being spiritually great: So how are we going to understand all of this? I would like to give you here the key that will allow us to grasp the meaning of these verses. To fully understand Jesus’ teaching, it is important to seek to know what makes a man important in the spiritual world. What defines a person’s spiritual greatness? What is the greatness of a human being in the eyes of God? How does one become someone important to the Lord? These are all important issues related to our theme.
As we hover over the pages of the Bible, we regularly observe reversals of situations where the smallest becomes the largest, or the smallest is considered to be the largest. Take joseph’s example in the AT. Joseph was barely thirty years old when he became one of the closest official figures to the Pharaoh. But it has not always had such an important status. It will be remembered that he was the youngest, the smallest of his family. His brothers sold it to merchants. And yet, from the rank of slave, he was eventually promoted to the rank of minister at the court of the king of Egypt. We can also think of the example of Gideon. One day, God called Gideon to deliver Israel. And what was his response to such an important mission? Gideon said to God, Ah! My Lord, with what shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the smallest in my father’s house (Jg 6:15). Even though Gideon was the youngest of the poorest family in Manasseh, God chose him.
The scriptures contain many examples in which the Lord has chosen the least of a family, clan, or nation. Those whom the world treats with indifference, those who live on the margins of society, are those whom God seeks. God is not attracted to the noble and powerful. He prefers to focus his eyes on those who are weak, those who are gentle and humble in heart.
The greatness of a man from a spiritual point of view does not depend on what he accomplishes in his life. Rather, it is associated with the quality of his spiritual life. This is what matters to God. We evaluate the value of John the Baptist with the mentality of the world when we say to ourselves, ‘How can John be so great? He never cured a sick person. He never worked miracles.’ For such reflection presupposes that one must do great things to be seen as a great man. Indeed, John’s greatness does not rest on the works he was able to accomplish. His greatness as John the Baptist is rather based on the quality of his person.
(b) John the Baptist’s humility: John said to those who wondered about his identity, ‘Do not take me for the Messiah. I am not the Messiah. I’m not even worthy of unraveling the strap of his sandals.’ These words were spoken by a man who had an exceptional history behind him. John’s birth had been announced by an angel. And it wasn’t just any angel. God sent the archangel Gabriel, the same one who announced the birth of Jesus. John came from a family of priests, one of the most respected functions in Israel. The Bible tells us that it was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. God entrusted him with the mission of preparing the people of Israel for the coming of the Messiah.
Let’s admit that with such an amazing story, there is something to swell your head. But John did not derive vanity from his very special status in the divine plan. One can only admire his humility when he says, ‘I do not consider myself worthy to untie the messiah’s laces.’ Many people wondered if he was the long-awaited Messiah. ‘If you are not the Messiah, who are you?’ In response, John said to them, ‘I am but one voice in the wilderness, the voice that calls the nation to repent.’ Far from presenting himself as a great man in order to attract praise and admiration, John spoke of him as a simple voice, destined to be heard only.
For John had attracted the attention of many when he began to exhort the nation to repent. Crowds came to see him and several were baptized in the Jordan. But little by little, the growing popularity of Jesus caused John’s influence to lose importance. John’s disciples, having noticed this decline, told him, ‘Jesus baptizes many more people than you do now. Your ministry has become less important than his. In the past, the whole nation came to listen to you. That is no longer the case. People are now going to Jesus because you keep repeating that He is the Messiah.’ And what was John’s response? ‘I’m happy with what’s happening. The husband’s friend is delighted with joy at the husband’s voice. This is my joy when I hear the voice of Jesus. My joy is complete when I hear that crowds go to Jesus and believe in Him.’ And then, he pronounced this famous sentence: It must grow, and that I decrease (Jn 3:30). ‘Its influence on the world must continually grow. As for me, I have to get smaller and smaller. I have to erase myself.’
Do you see the humility of this man? It is one of the main themes of the eleventh chapter of Matthew. In Matthew 11:19, we read that Jesus had friendly relations with the publicans and sinners. He was a friend of those whom society rejects. Then the Lord Jesus gives this warning to the inhabitants of Capernaum: If you believe that you will be raised to heaven, think again. You will be lowered to hell!’ And Jesus compares His disciples to children, humble and simple. He says, ‘I play you, Father, of what you have revealed these things to the children, to those who are very small.’ And finally Jesus said, ‘Learn from me because I am meek and humble in heart.’
Sweet and humble of heart. Isn’t that a dominant feature of John’s personality? ‘It has to grow and I have to decrease.’ What humility! This is where we see the greatness of a man. Remember Jesus’ words in Luke 9:48. For the one who is the smallest among you all, it is the one who is great. The one who is small, sweet, humble, simple, this one will be great. In the kingdom of God, a person’s greatness is measured by his humility. We can now better understand Jesus when he declares that the smallest in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist. Who is the smallest in the kingdom of God? Jesus is the smallest. No one is more humble than him. He humbled himself to the point of becoming the smallest in the kingdom. That is why it is the largest.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Duty to tell the truth:
Pr 12.19 The truthful lip is strengthened forever, but the false tongue remains only for a moment. Za 8.16 This is what you must do: tell the truth to each other; judge in your doors according to the truth and with a view to peace; Ml 2.6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found on his lips; He walked with me in peace and righteousness, and he diverted many men from evil. Ephe 4:25 Therefore, renounce the lie, and let each of you speak according to the truth to his neighbor; for we are members of each other. Ephe 6:14 Hold firm therefore: have in your loins the truth for your belt; put on the breastplate of justice;
- Jean-Baptiste :
Es 40.3 Hold firm therefore: have in your loins the truth as your belt; put on the breastplate of justice; Mt 3:1, 13 At that time John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea. 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. Mt 4:12 Jesus, having learned that John had been delivered, retired to Galilee. Mt 11:2, 7,11, 14 Jean, having heard in his prison of the works of Christ, made him say through his disciples: 7 As they were leaving, Jesus began to say to the crowd, about John: What did you go to see in the desert? a reed agitated by the wind? 11 I tell you in truth, among those who were born of women, there did not seem any greater than John the Baptist. However, the smallest in the kingdom of heaven is larger than him. 14 and, if you want to understand him, it is he who is the Elijah who was to come. Mt 14:3, 10 For Herod, who had John arrested, had bound him and put him in prison, because of Herodias, wife of Philip, his brother, 10 and he sent John to behead the prison. Mk 1:14 After John was delivered, Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God. Mk 6:29 John’s disciples, having learned of this, came to take his body, and put it in a sepulchre. Lk 1:13, 57, 60, 76, 80 But the angel said unseat him: Fear not, Zechariah; for your prayer has been answered. Your wife Elizabeth will give you a son, and you will give him the name John. 57 The time when Elizabeth was to give birth came, and she gave birth to a son. 60 But his mother spoke, and said, No, he will be called John. 76 And you, little child, you will be called prophet of the Most High; For you will walk before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways, 80 Or, the child was growing, and strengthened himself in spirit. And he remained in the deserts, until the day he presented himself before Israel. Lk 3:2 and from the time of the high priests Anne and Caiaphas, -the word of God was addressed to John, son of Zechariah, in the desert. Jn 1:15, 19, 29 John bore witness to him, and cried out: He is the one from whom I said: He who comes after me preceded me, for he was before me. 19 This is john’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem, to ask him: Who are you? 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and he said: Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Jn 3:26 They came to find John, and said to him: Rabbi, the one who was with you beyond the Jordan, and to whom you bore witness, behold, he baptizes, and all go un to him. Jn 5:33 You sent to John, and he bore witness to the truth.
- Features of J-B:
-renunciation of himself: Mt 3:4 John had a garment of camel hair, and a leather belt around the kidneys. He fed on grasshoppers and wild honey.
-courage: Mt 3:7 But, seeing many Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them: Races of vipers, who taught you to flee the anger to come? Mt 14:4 because John said to him: You are not allowed to have him as a wife.
-obedience: Mt 3:15 Jesus answered him: Let it be done now, for it is proper that we thus accomplish all that is right. And John no longer resisted him.
-powerful preacher: Mk 1:5 The whole land of Judea and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem went to him; and, confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
-humiliated: Mk 1:7 He preached, saying: He comes after me the one who is more powerful than me, and I am not worthy to loosen, by lowering myself, the strap of his shoes. Jn 1:19-23 This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem, to ask him: You, who are you? 20 He declared, and did not deny it, he declared that he was not Christ. 21 And they asked him: What then? are you Elijah? And he said, “I am not.” Are you the prophet? And he said, “No.” 22 They then said to him, “Who are you?” so that we give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself? 23 I,” he said, “am the voice of him who cries out in the wilderness: Flatten the way of the Lord, as Isaiah, the prophet, said.
-fiery zeal: Jn 5:35 John was the lamp that burns and shines, and you wanted to rejoice for an hour in his light.
-honored by Christ: Mt 11:11 I tell you in truth, among those who were born of women, there did not seem any greater than John the Baptist. However, the smallest in the kingdom of heaven is larger than him. Lk 7:24-27 When John’s envoys had left, Jesus began to say to the crowd, about John: What did you go to see in the desert? a reed agitated by the wind? 25 But what did you go to see? a man dressed in precious clothes? Behold, those who wear magnificent clothes, and who live in delights, are in the houses of kings. 26 What did you go to see? a prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one of which it is written: Behold, I send my messenger before your face, To prepare your way before you.
-performed no miracle: Jn 10:41 Many people came to him, and they said: John did not perform any miracle; but everything John said about this man was true.
-suffered martyrdom: Mt 14:10 and he sent John to behead the prison.
- Elie:
1 R 17:1, 15, 23 Elijah, the Thischbite, one of the inhabitants of Galaad, said to Ahab: Jehovah is alive, the God of Israel, of whom I am the servant! there will be no dew or rain these years, except at my word. 15 She went, and she did according to the word of Elijah. And for a long time she and her family had something to eat, as well as Elijah. 23 Elijah took the child, took it down from the upper house into the house, and gave it to his mother. And Elijah said, See, your son is alive. 2 R 13:3, 10 Jehovah’s wrath ignited against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of Hazael, king of Syria, and into the hands of Ben Hadad, son of Hazael, all the time these kings lived. 10 The thirty-seventh year of Joas, king of Judah, Joas, son of Joachaz, ruled over Israel at Samaria. He reigned for sixteen years. 2 Ch 21:12 He came a writing from the prophet Elijah, saying: Thus speaks jehovah, the God of David, your father: Because you did not walk in the ways of Jehoshaphat, your father, and in the ways of Asa, king of Judah; Ml 3:23 Behold, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, Before the day of jehovah arrives, This great and dreadful day. Mt 17:3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, speaking with him. Lk 4:26 and yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, except to a widowed woman, at Sarepta, in the land of Sidon. Lk 9:54 The disciples James and John, seeing this, said, Lord, do you want us to command that fire come down from heaven and consume them? ; Jk 5:17 Elijah was a man of the same nature as us: he prayed with authority that he would not please, and he did not fall rain on the earth for three years and six months.
-fed three times by divine provisions: # by crows 1 R 17.6 Crows brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank water from the torrent. # by the miraculous increase in the widow’s provisions: 1 R 17:5 He left and did according to the word of the Lord, and he went to settle near the torrent of Kerith, which is opposite the Jordan. # by an angel: 1 R 19:5-8 He went to bed and fell asleep under a broom. And behold, an angel touched him, and said to him: Get up, eat. 6 He looked, and there was at his bedside a cake baked on heated stones and a jug of water. He ate and ate, then went to bed. 7 The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up, eat, for the way is too long for thee.” 8 He rose, ate, and ate, and butt; and with the strength that this food gave him, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, to Horeb.
-courageous reformer: 1 R 18:10-40(i.e.read separately)
-rebuked kings: 1 R 21:20 Ahab said to Elijah: Have you found Me, my enemy? And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is wrong in the eyes of jehovah.” 2 R 1:16 He said to him: Thus speaks the Lord: Because you have sent messengers to consult Baal Zebub, god of Ekron, as if there were no God in Israel whose word can be consulted, you will not come down from the bed on which you have ascended, for you will die.
-powerful in prayer: 1 R 17:20-22 Then he invoked jehovah, and said: Eternal, my God, would you afflict, to the point of causing his son to die, even that widow to whom I was received as a host? 21 And he extended three times over the child, invoked jehovah, and said: Eternal, my God, I beg you, let the soul of this child return within him! 22 Jehovah listened to the voice of Elijah, and the child’s soul returned within him, and he was brought back to life. 1 R 18:36-38 At the time of the presentation of the offering, Elijah, the prophet, came forward and said: Eternal, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel! let it be known today that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things by your word! 37 Answer me, Jehovah, answer me, that this people may recognize that it is you, Jehovah, who are God, and that it is you who bring back their hearts! 38 And the fire of jehovah fell, and he consumed the holocaust, the wood, the stones and the earth, and he absorbed the water that was in the ditch.
-allowed himself for a moment to go to discouragement: 1 R 19:3-4 Elijah, seeing this, rose and went away, to save his life. He arrived at Beer Cheba, which belonged to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 For him, he went to the desert where, after a day of walking, he sat under a broom, and asked for death, saying: Enough is enough! Now, Eternal, take my soul, for I am no better than my fathers.
-is not infallible in the judgment: 1 R 19:14, 18 He answered: I have displayed my zeal for jehovah, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, they have knocked down your altars, and they have killed your prophets by the sword; I have remained, alone, and they seek to take my life. 18 Elijah left from there, and he found Elisha, son of Schaphath, plowing. There were twelve pairs of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah approached him, and he threw his coat upon him.
-was honored by God: 2 R 2:11 As they continued to walk while speaking, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them from each other, and Elijah ascended to heaven in a whirlwind. Mt 17:3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, speaking with him.
Finally, are you a child of God? Otherwise, you are in darkness and death, with no other perspective than darkness from outside eternally, far from the presence of God. So that you may come out of this state and live from the divine life here on earth already and in blessed eternity, the Son of God has come into this world to bring you life. Receive it and, for all your guilt, you will have the right to be a child of God. How do I receive it? Believe in him, believe that he came into this world to bring you from God what you could never have obtained through your own resources, but what you possess by believing. Our prayers support you all in your efforts to be the smallest.
PRAYING FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS A PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in truth, to say with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lust of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge having sinned against you and ask you forgiveness for all my sins, for today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and Personal Savior. I recognize that you died at the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Ghost. Lead me every day to the eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may light light out in my life right now.
Thank you Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I can also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby watering point where to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
To you all adoration, power and glory, now and for centuries after centuries. amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you next week about “Jesus’ teaching on the Samaritan woman.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Lord of hosts.