No One Greater

Enoch
Samuel
David
Solomon
Elijah
Daniel
Jeremiah

Great men. Honored men of God. But there has been no one greater than John. "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom is greater than he" (Matthew 11:11).

What made John great?

First,he was more concerned with Christ's glory than his own success. He said of Christ, "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 30:3).

Second, he was fearless in addressing sin. I wouldn't have advised him to address Herod's adultery, but he did.

Third, he was the forerunner of Christ. He prepared the hearts of Israel for the Savior.

I can only hope to be like John. He is heaven's hero, no one greater born of women. And yet Jesus says, "He who is least in the kingdom is greater than he" (Matthew 11:11).

John is a hero in heaven, but the "least in the kingdom" are greater than him. Heaven is so different from earth--that heaven's math is difficult to grasp. But I suspect it goes like this. There are no less than signs in heaven. Each person will find others "greater than" himself and glory in that "greater than-ness". We will like John say, "He must increase, and I must decrease" (John 30:3)

"Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3).