More Than A Prophet?
“But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go. “Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.” Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins. Matthew 21: 31-32 NLT
Gospel Puzzler of the Week: In last week’s entry we learned that Elijah didn’t taste physical death. Who else in the Bible didn’t? Submit a ‘comment’ and share your answer.
Jesus stated that John was as great as any man that had ever lived. He also claimed he was a prophet and more. What did Jesus mean when He said JTB was more than a prophet? The dictionary defines the term ‘prophet’ as – ‘one who utters divinely inspired revelations; one regarded by a group of followers as the final authoritative revealer of God's will.’ John certainly fit that definition. Let’s remember from previous posts that John was given a very special mission by God – to prepare the way for His Son’s imminent redemptive work on earth as the promised Messiah. Jesus said, “Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you." Matthew 11: 9-10
This was a mission that was significantly different from those previously given to the prophets of old in Israel. Remember, though no one knows for sure, it is believed that John’s ministry only preceded Jesus’ ministry by about 6 months, maybe up to a year, and it quickly waned after he baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. It continued and overlapped Jesus’ ministry by maybe another year or two before he was arrested, jailed and eventually beheaded, for a total ministry length of 1 1/2 - 3 years. Not very long at all, but long enough for John to effectively fulfill the mission given to him to complete. John’s disciples were troubled and a bit jealous about the rapid decline, complaining to him that more people were flocking to Jesus and His disciples for baptism than were coming to them. John assured them that it was happening according to God’s plan and stated ‘He (Jesus) must become greater and greater and I must become less and less’. John exalted in seeing Jesus’ ministry taking off and was filled with joy at His success.
John was more than a prophet for another very important reason, IMHO. John was given the privilege to not only announce to people about the coming Messiah, but he was authorized to preach the same gospel that Jesus preached – ‘turn from your sins and turn to God’ and baptize those who did just that [see Matthew 3:11 and Matthew 4: 17]. I really like the opening verses to this blog entry above. Jesus is chastising the religious leaders for their hardheartedness and for not believing the gospel that they both preached. He tells a great parable to expose their disobedience and refusal to believe what John had taught while the outcasts of Jewish society – the tax collectors, prostitutes, and other sinners – readily accepted it and gained entry into the Kingdom of God as a result. Jesus replied to those same religious leaders in a previous and similar confrontation when they condemned Him over the company he kept, ‘… I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough’. Amen.
Keep reading the gospels, shema?
Up Next Week: Hopefully the last entry on JTB!
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