Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 11.
After some disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus in order to report back to John about Him and His work, Jesus praised John and his place in God’s plan.
“As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces! But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, “Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.” Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he’” (Matthew 11:7-11).
John had a specific role in God’s plan of announcing the coming of Christ. Yet Jesus went on to make an interesting point. He said that “the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than” John (Matthew 11:11). This ought to be a reminder to us of the great importance of Christ’s kingdom and the great privilege it is for us to be a part of it.
But there is another point to be made as well. Jesus said that John was greatest “among those born of women” (Matthew 11:11). As He followed that point immediately with the statement about the one who is least in the kingdom being greater than John, Jesus was making an important point. Those who would be part of His kingdom would have to undergo a new birth. What kind of birth would this be? Jesus explained this to Nicodemus.
“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?’ Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God’” (John 3:3-5).
The new birth that Jesus referred to is baptism. One must be baptized to be part of the kingdom – the church, His body (Acts 2:41, 47; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Baptism is the new birth in which one is “buried with Him through baptism into death” and then raised to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
Tomorrow’s reading: Matthew 12:22-50; Luke 11
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
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