Anchor My Faith

Jesus Describes John the Baptist

Scripture: Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:24-27

In our previous lesson, the two disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus to inquire about who he really was. What he the expected Messiah or not? Jesus did not answer their question directly but sent them back with evidence for John to consider. Today we have evidence that we must consider in determining if Jesus is truly the way, and the truth, and the life.

In this lesson we begin to look at what Jesus said about John the Baptist after the two disciples of John had left: ^{Lk 7:24} “When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. ²⁶ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’”’

Jesus had some questions for the crowd to think about concerning John the Baptist. When they went out into the wilderness to see John, what did they see? Was he like a reed shaken by the wind, or was he a man dressed in soft clothing, or was he a prophet? A reed shaken by the wind suggests something that is flimsy and uncertain. John stood strong and preached with power and determination.

Anyone dresses in soft splendid clothing and living in luxury would not be found in the wilderness but in kings’ courts. Mark tells us that “John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey” (Mark 1:6 ESV).

Jesus described John, not as a reed shaken by the wind, or as one dressed in splendid clothing, but as one greater than a prophet. He is the one written about Malachi 3:1a (ESV): “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.” God raised up John, as he promised he would, and he goes forth preaching about forgiveness and repentance, drawing great crowds, and as he preaches to them, he proclaimed the coming of one greater than he: “And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:1b ESV).

Jesus continues to describe John: ^{Mt 11:11} “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Of all those born before John the Baptist, no one greater can be found. In a sense, he was greater than all others because he was uniquely privileged to prepare the way for the Messiah and his kingdom. Not only did he prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah, but he introduced him personally as the one whom he spoke about.

Prayer

Father, we need to be more like John the Baptist and stand strong and proclaim the importance of repentance and forgiveness and present Jesus to those around us as the one who is to be their Lord and Savior; the one who took our sin upon himself and died in our place and in exchange gave us eternal life and clothed us with his righteousness.