None is Diminished

 

None is Diminished

We all go through hard times, even John the Baptist, the cousin of the Lord Jesus ended up in prison and probably wondered why it was happening to him.

Nevertheless, as this passage shows neither Jesus nor John had diminished in each other’s estimation.  The situation John found himself in didn’t affect his identity.  Jesus still thought of him to be greater than a prophet and Jesus encouraged John to look at Jesus in the same way because the Kingdom was growing because of Jesus, he was the Messiah.

When John who was in prison heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him. “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see.  The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.  Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.

                       (Matthew 11:2-6)

While the disciples of John were on their way to deliver the news to John.  Jesus turned to the crowd and praised John for being who he was.  He told them in short: “and what did you go to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you and more than a prophet.  This is the one about whom it is written:  ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you’.

He goes on by saying that no one is greater than John the Baptist.  It was John’s calling that made him great and his character and God’s opinion of him was not going to change because of the situation he found himself in namely the prison.

It is the same with you as a believer God esteem you highly and a change in your situation will not change who you are.  Whether you are unemployed or in prison.  Retired or just living you will find solace in his Name.