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December 10, 2020Who is the greatest in the kingdom of God? Jesus praised John the Baptist as the greatest person born. Who can top that as a compliment? But in the same breath, Jesus says that the least in the kingdom of God is even greater than John!
That sounds like a contradiction. Unless we understand that, what Jesus was about to accomplish for our sake would supersede all that the prophets had done and foreseen. When the Messiah and Redeemer did appear, John announced his arrival. He fulfilled the essential task of all the prophets by exclaiming: “Behold the Lamb of God.” John bridges Old and New Testaments. He is the Last of the prophets and the first of the martyrs. Jesus equates the advent of the kingdom of God with violence. John himself suffered violence for announcing that the kingdom of God was near. Since his martyrdom, the kingdom has suffered violence and persecution.
The blood of the martyrs bear witness to the truth – the truth that Jesus Christ has freed us from sin and from the power of evil, from despair and fear, from arrogance and self-righteousness. Those who testify to the truth are indeed the greatest in the kingdom of God. Are you eager to witness to the joy and freedom of the Gospel?
