John the Baptist's Question: Understanding the Herald's Testimony

The Commendation of John the Baptist

1. The lesson from the Holy Gospel has presented us with a question concerning John the Baptist. May the Lord help me explain it to you, as He has explained it to us. John was commended, as you have heard, by Christ's testimony, and in such terms that "among those born of women, none greater has arisen" (Matthew 11:11). Yet one greater than John had been born of a Virgin.

How much greater? Let the herald himself declare how great the difference is between himself and his Judge, whose herald he is. John went before Christ both in birth and in preaching, but he went before in obedience, not in claiming superiority. Just as the entire procession of attendants walks before the judge, yet those who walk before are actually beneath him in rank.

What remarkable testimony, then, did John give to Christ? He went so far as to say that he "was not worthy to loosen the strap of His sandal" (John 1:27). And what more? "From His fullness," he says, "we have all received" (John 1:16). John confessed that he was only a lamp lit by Christ's Light, and so he took refuge at His feet, lest venturing too high, he would be extinguished by the wind of pride.

John was indeed so great that people mistook him for the Christ. If he had not himself testified that he was not the Christ, the misconception would have continued, and he would have been regarded as the Christ. What extraordinary humility! People offered him honor, and he refused it. They were mistaken about his greatness, and he humbled himself. He had no desire to increase through human praise, since he had already comprehended the Word of God.

Christ's Testimony About John

2. We've heard what John said about Christ. Now, what did Christ say about John? We've just heard: "He began to speak to the crowds concerning John: 'What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?'" (Matthew 11:7). Surely not, for John was not "blown about by every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14).

"But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments?" (Matthew 11:8). No, for John wore rough clothing; his garment was made of camel's hair, not of fine cloth.

"But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, and more than a prophet" (Matthew 11:9). Why "more than a prophet"? The prophets foretold that the Lord would come—they desired to see Him but did not. But to John was granted what they sought. John saw the Lord; he saw Him, pointed to Him, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). "Behold, here He is!" The Lord had come but was not recognized, and so people were mistaken about John's identity as well.

Here, then, is the One whom the patriarchs longed to see, whom the prophets foretold, whom the Law prefigured. "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." John gave a noble testimony to the Lord, and the Lord to him: "Among those born of women, there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Matthew 11:11)—least in time, but greater in majesty.

This Jesus said, meaning Himself to be understood. For among men, John the Baptist is exceedingly great, and only Christ Himself is greater. We could also explain it this way: "Among those born of women, there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he"—not in the sense I just explained. By "kingdom of heaven," He meant where the angels dwell. Therefore, whoever is least among the angels is greater than John.

In this way, Jesus showed us the excellence of that kingdom for which we should long. He set before us a city of which we should desire to be citizens. What kind of citizens are there? How great are they! Whoever is the least in that kingdom is greater than John. Greater than which John? The one of whom it is said, "Among those born of women, none greater has arisen."

The Apparent Contradiction

3. We have heard the true and good testimony both from John concerning Christ and from Christ concerning John. What, then, is the meaning of this: that John sent his disciples to Jesus when he was in prison, about to be put to death, and said to them, "Go, ask Him, 'Are You the Coming One, or should we look for another?'" (Matthew 11:3).

Has all that praise turned to doubt? What are you saying, John? To whom are you speaking? What are you saying? You're speaking to your Judge, you who are His herald. You pointed Him out with your finger and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sin of the world." You said, "From His fullness we have all received." You said, "I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandal."

And now you say, "Are You the Coming One, or should we look for another?" Is this not the same Christ? And who are you? Aren't you His forerunner? Aren't you the one of whom it was foretold, "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You" (Malachi 3:1)? How are you preparing the way, when you yourself seem to be straying from it?

So John's disciples came, and the Lord said to them, "Go, tell John that the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me" (Matthew 11:4-6).

Don't think that John was offended by Christ. Yet his words do sound that way: "Are You the Coming One?" Jesus replied, "Look at my works: 'The blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.' Are you still asking if I am the One?" "My works," He says, "are My words. Go, report to him again." And as they were leaving, lest anyone should say, "John was good at first, but the Spirit of God left him," Jesus, after the disciples' departure, praised John.

The Resolution of the Question

4. What, then, is the meaning of this puzzling question? May the Sun shine upon us, from which that lamp derived its flame. The answer is quite straightforward. John had his own disciples, not as though separated from Christ, but as a witness prepared for Him. It was appropriate that such a person should testify about Christ, even though he was also gathering disciples himself and might have been envious of Jesus for that reason.

Because John's disciples highly regarded their master, they heard from John his testimony concerning Christ and were amazed. As John was about to die, he wanted them to be strengthened by Christ Himself. No doubt they were saying among themselves, "He says such great things about Jesus, but not about himself."

"Go then, ask Him," John said—not because I have doubts, but so that you may be instructed. "Go, ask Him," hear from Him directly what I've been telling you. You've heard the herald; now be confirmed by the Judge. "Go, ask Him, 'Are You the Coming One, or should we look for another?'"

They went accordingly and asked—not for John's sake, but for their own. And for their sake, Christ said, "The blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the lepers are cleansed, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them." You see My works; now recognize who I am. You see the works; acknowledge their Doer. "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

Jesus was speaking about them, not about John. So that we might know He wasn't referring to John, as the disciples were leaving, "He began to speak to the crowds concerning John." The True One, the Truth Himself, proclaimed John's true praises.

5. I think this question has been sufficiently explained. Let it suffice to have addressed this matter thus far. Now keep the poor in mind. Give, those of you who have not yet given. Believe me, you will not lose what you give. Truly, the only thing you seem to lose is what you don't bring to Christ's needy ones.

We must now distribute to the poor the offerings of those of you who have contributed, though the amount we have is much less than your usual offerings. Shake off this apathy. I have become a beggar for beggars. What is that to me? I would gladly be a beggar for beggars so that you might be counted among God's children.