Breaking the Word

You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John's. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.  (Jn 5:33-36)

 

 

John the Baptist came to bear witness to Jesus. (Jn 1:7 – A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.) He testified to the truth and he answered the emissaries their queries about the messiah. He openly declared that he was not the messiah and there was one coming after him.

 

John was a great prophet and he was a shining example for the people. People were happy and rejoiced at him. John’s testimony was great for the people and many believed in him and followed him. Many were baptized by him. However John did tell the people that he was only sent to prepare the way and he was not even worthy to untie his shoes.

 

Jesus had greater testimony than John. This was God himself. The works that he did were, what the Father had asked him to perform. The works that he has accomplished did bear witness to Jesus. The message of the witness was that Jesus was from the Father and all what he has performed were in agreement with the Father.

When the messengers of John had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. "What did you go out to the desert to see– a reed swayed by the wind?…

 I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." …(Lk 7:24-30)

 

 

Jesus had just sent back the disciples of John and now he is answering the crowd. Here Jesus is trying to speak to the crowd about John and who he was. He asked them questions and made them reflect for themselves. One does not go to the desert looking for kings and people who were wearing the latest fashions. If so the desert is not the place for such.

 

Desert for the people of Israel is the place of God experience. It is the place where God made himself available to the people for forty years and every moment of their sojourn in the wilderness. Prophets were the persons who challenged the people with the knowledge of God and experience of God. So people went to the desert looking for prophets.

 

Since Jesus was a different sort of a messiah so John also is a different sort of a prophet. He is not just one prophet among many. John is the one who is spoken of by Malachi, the one whose task is to prepare the way for the coming Lord. Anyone who belonged to the movement of Jesus (though least he may be) yet he is greater than the greatest.