Jesus tells His disciples that John the Baptist was greater than any previous prophet, but his greatness was derived from the purpose of his coming—to tell others about Messiah. Similarly, our greatness is derived from our embracing of our purpose—to tell others about Messiah. To seek greatness for any other reason is to reject God’s intended purpose for our lives.
Bible scholars find it difficult to take these words of Jesus at face value, but I believe that is exactly what we should do: The person of lowest position in the kingdom of heaven is still in a greater position than was John. “Why?” The New Covenant is founded on better promises (Hebrews 8:6; 11:39, 40), so it is better to be in Christ’s kingdom than under the Old Covenant, to come after Christ than to come before Christ.
Someone said, “A dwarf upon a mountain sees further than a giant in the valley.” That describes us when we come into the knowledge of Jesus.
Building on the idea of what comes after as being better than what came before, Jesus employs the ministry of Elijah. Elijah was a great prophet, but the works of Elisha were greater than those of Elijah. Elisha asked for and received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (II Kings 2:9-12). Elisha’s miracles were greater. In this sense, Elijah prepared the way for the ministry of Elisha.
Elisha was a type of Christ. Like Jesus, his name meant, “God saves.” Both began their ministry at the Jordan river (II Kings 2:14; Matthew 3:13-17), raised the dead, cured lepers (II Kings 4, 5; Isaiah 35:5-6; 61:1; Matthew 11:2-6), fed multitudes with a few loaves of bread (II Kings 4:42-44), and raised a dead man who walked out of his tomb alive (II Kings 13:21).
God promised to send another Elijah (Malachi 4:5, 6). That is who John the Baptist represents. Thus, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Messenger’s work.
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