CHRIST'S PORTRAIT OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

MATTHEW 11:1

A. "VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, AMONG THEM THAT ARE BORN OF WOMEN THERE HATH NOT RISEN A GREATER THAN JOHN THE BAPTIST; NOTWITHSTANDING HE THAT IS LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS GREATER THAN HE"
  1. As far as we know, John the Baptist was the only one who specially impressed Jesus:
    1. He never mentions his name without a tribute of honor
    2. He called him "a burning and shining light" - John 5:35
    3. He identified him with Elias - Matt. 17:11-12
  2. In society men praise others to their face, and find fault with them behind their back; but not so with Jesus:
    1. He never praised John to his face
    2. But He always spoke well of John to others
B. CHRIST'S PORTRAIT OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
  1. Every portrait is painted from a different point of view:
    1. The point of view here is the comparative greatness of John the Baptist
    2. There are many kinds of greatness recognized by men (i) The greatness of genius - a clear spacious mind, and a swift and discerning wisdom; Examples: King Solomon - I Kings 9:26; 10:24; Daniel Dan. 2:48; 5:11-12 (ii) There is the greatness of the inventive mind (iii) There is the greatness of statesmanship. To such greatness Jesus made no special reference
  2. The greatness of the Son of God specially emphasized:
    1. He honored the moral splendor and the spiritual power possessing a man - Examples: Daniel - a man greatly loved - Dan. 10:11; Abraham - a man of great faith - John 8:56, 42-43
    2. On the roll of the spiritually great, Jesus sets John the Baptist - none greater of all born of women
C. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE VIRTUES THAT MADE JOHN THE BAPTIST GREAT
  1. Our Lord emphasizes the dynamic personality of John the Baptist:
    1. He could not be swayed back and forth by flattery
    2. He boldly denounced hypocrisy; Examples: The Pharisees - Matt. 3:7-8; Herod - who lived in adultery - Matt. 14:3
  2. He was a man of sterling simplicity:
    1. He dwelt in the wilderness
    2. Was clothed in a garment of camel hair - Matt. 3:4
    3. Subsisted on locusts and wild honey
  3. He was a humble and dedicated man:
    1. Though he was a great prophet, yea more than a prophet - he was known as "A voice crying in the wilderness" - John 1:23
  4. He was a great reformer:
    1. He came to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers - Mal. 4:5-6
    2. He ushered in the rite of baptism as a sign of true repentance - Acts 19:4; Matt. 3:3-7
    3. He was a burning and shining light - that is he demonstrated in his own life the power of a transformed life - John 5:25
    4. He was the forerunner of the Messiah
  5. But now Jesus casts a shadow upon the portrait:
    1. "Notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he"
    2. That greatness belongs even to the least of the children of the kingdom
    3. What does the Lord mean by this unusual comparison of greatness? The answer must be found in a number of related facts (i) John's work was just about completed - his departure was at hand; (ii) The ministry of the Son of God had just started; (iii) The twelve disciples the eye witnesses of the deeds of Christ, were more favored and they were given a greater assignment than that of John the Baptist (iv) They actually shared with Christ the confirmation of all the prophecies pointing to the Messiah - "The law and the prophets were until John; from then on the kingdom of heaven is proclaimed" - Luke 16:16
  6. This is, in part, the painting of the portrait of John the Baptist by Jesus Christ our Lord.


Design © John Bryant 2011