Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said, 'Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen.'

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The words above that are spoken by Jesus are difficult to understand. So what might they mean:

• John the Baptist was not just the greatest prophet. He was the Herald who came to announce the coming Messiah (Isaiah 40.3 and Malachi 3.1) who was to save God's people.
• John the Baptist was the greatest of those who came under the Old Covenant made with God, which gave the people the Law of Moses. But he died before the New Covenant was introduced by Jesus (through the offering of his life for our sin), so he couldn't benefit from it (1 Corinthians 11.25). We are the inheritors of the New Covenant.
• John the Baptist (and primarily Jesus), show God at work pushing back the spiritual darkness in our world, and we are warmed that it takes considerable spiritual struggle to enter the Kingdom of God. We can't just lazily slide into the Kingdom, we have to spiritually fight for entrance.
• John the Baptist is like Elijah as he announces the arrival of the Messiah, for Elijah will one day come to announce the fulfilment of God's work at the Second Coming of Jesus (Malachi 4.5).

How might the people listening to Jesus have felt to hear these words, and to find their long-held beliefs about obedience to the Law overturned? Would we be as willing to follow Jesus through oppression and opposition as they were? For that matter how hard do we struggle for our place in God's Kingdom?

Lord God
may we never underestimate
the importance of John the Baptist's
work in preparing the people for Your arrival.
May we also never underestimate
that entering into Your Kingdom
can take a huge effort,
and we must never take it for granted.
Help us to continue the physical
and spiritual struggle this Advent,
so shall our hearts be lighter this Christmas.
Amen.