Matthew 3:1-12
I was able to go and see the movie Exodus a few weeks ago with some youth. I went with low expectations because it’s the Word of God in the hands of Hollywood. The movie was exceptionally well done, and the director did an amazing job with parts of it. However it was probably only 40-60% accurate biblically. There were many historical and theological errors, so it won’t be the next Sunday School curriculum tool. But before I saw it, I read through Exodus again and then seeing the movie, I was amazed again at the incredible journey that Moses went on. Following God through those events would have been incredibly difficult, and yet the payoff was incredible. God accomplished so much through Moses; As he did in the lives of others as well.
Abraham left all that he knew to follow God. Elijah called fire from heaven, John the Baptist got to baptize Jesus, King David was the kingly bloodline of Jesus Christ, Solomon was the wisest man who had ever lived because of God’s blessing. In fact out of that list, who would you say was the greatest? Think about it: Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, Elijah, King David, or Solomon? Today we are continuing through the Gospel of Matthew and we are talking about John the Baptist this morning. And as I was reading about him, I came across Matthew 11:11 where Jesus says that before himself, that John the Baptist was there greatest person who was ever born. The greatest. Not King David. Not the wisest Solomon. Not Elijah – who God didn’t even let die. Or Abraham who was the patriarch of our faith. John the Baptist was greater than the humble Moses who was used in a most mighty way many many times, and was declared the most humble man who had ever lived. John the Baptist was greater.
We have stories written about these other guys. Even Jonah gets his own book. All we have about John is a few chapters and references throughout the gospels. So it begged the question from me – Why is John the Baptist the greatest man who ever lived up until Christ? I mean, I know he was a Baptist and all, and Baptists are awesome. (No I’m kidding) But who was he and why was he so great?
