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Imprisonment and Death of John
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“What went ye out into the wilderness to see?” He said. “A reed
shaken by the wind?”
As tall reeds beside the Jordan, the rabbis who had stood as
critics of the Baptist’s mission were swayed this way and that by
the winds of popular opinion. Yet for fear of the people they dared
not openly oppose his work. But God’s messenger was of no such
craven spirit. To Pharisees, Sadducees, King Herod and his court,
princes and soldiers, publicans and peasants, John had spoken with
equal plainness. He was no trembling reed. In prison he was the
same in loyalty to God; in faithfulness to principle he was firm as a
rock.
No Man Greater
Jesus continued, “What went ye out for to see? A man clothed
in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously appareled, and
live delicately, are in kings’ courts.” Rich apparel and the luxuries
of this life are not the portion of God’s servants. The priests and
rulers arrayed themselves in rich robes. They were more anxious to
gain the admiration of men than to win the approval of God. Their
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allegiance was not given to God but to the kingdom of this world.
“But what went ye out for to see?” asked Jesus. “A prophet? ...
This is he, of whom it is written,
Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face,
Which shall prepare Thy way before Thee.”
“I say unto you, among them that are born of women there
hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.” Yet, said Jesus, “He
that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” In the
announcement to Zacharias before the birth of John, the angel had
declared, “He will be great in the sight of the Lord.”
Luke 1:15
.
In the estimation of Heaven, what is it that constitutes greatness?
Not that which the world counts greatness. It is moral worth that
God values. Love and purity are the attributes He prizes most. John
was great in the sight of the Lord when he refrained from seeking
honor for himself but pointed all to Jesus as the Promised One. His
unselfish joy in the ministry of Christ presents the highest type of
nobility ever revealed in man.