I'm the greatest!....(2nd Advent Sunday)

I remember my Dad telling me stories about one of the greatest boxers who ever lived...Mohammad Ali. He told me that he was famed for his strategy and his quickness but above all he had a big mouth. One of the original great "trash-talkers". One of the things that he said about his fighting abilities (with about all the pride a human being can muster), "I'm the greatest!" Although he probably was the greatest boxer at that time he could have gone humble and people would have believed that he was the greatest without him saying a word, but such is human nature.
Now...I...like you...would shun such boasting...but...I can't help but tell you...you might not believe me...I hate to tell you...but...as far as being in God's kingdom.....

I'm greater than Isaiah....

I'm greater even than King David....

I, Adam Huntley, am even greater than Abraham himself. I'm the greatest among all of them!

So, before you lump me together with Mohammad Ali check out what Jesus says in Matthew 11:11...

"Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

Interesting, huh? John the Baptist is the greater than all the other prophets before him. There is none greater. Yet, those who are the least in the kingdom are greater than John the Baptist. If you are a Christian...you can at least say that you are the "least" in the kingdom? OK, then doesn't it logically follow that you are greater than Isaiah, David, and Abraham because you are greater than John the Baptist who is greater than all those before him? That's right, you are!

Now, what Jesus is not saying that everyone who is a Christian has a greater devotion to God than David. Or you have a greater god-centerdness than the Prophet Isaiah, or that you have a greater faith in God than Abraham, or that you are more dedicated to God than John the Baptist...then what is Jesus saying here? If not greater in that way then, How are we greater than them? What makes us truly great in Jesus' eyes?

1st Peter 1:10-12 helps us understand our verse here in Matthew talking about all the prophets who were anticipating the coming of the Messiah (Jesus). It says this,

"Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, the the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look."

So, all the prophets before Jesus only had a little bit of information about who this Messiah (Jesus) would be. Or what he would do. They only understood a little bit. Abraham knew only a tiny bit about Jesus. David knew a little more than Abraham about the Messiah...but not much more. Isaiah (who lived after David) knew a little more than David, but still not a whole lot. But then comes John the Baptist, the last prophet. He was greater than all the previous prophets because he didn't only preach about the Messiah....one day John looked Him in the eye and said, "Look everyone, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

John the Baptist was greater simply because he knew the most about Jesus at that time and knew him in a more personal way than anyone before him.

But it doesn't stop there...we believers (because of the Holy Spirit living in us and from the Bible written after John) know more about Jesus and know him more personally than even John the Baptist who didn't have Jesus completely figured out either. (Read a few verses before Matthew 11:11 to see that). Greatness in God's eyes is how well do you know his son Jesus.

So, isn't that interesting? Your greatness is not tied to who you are. Not your job, family, how many followers you have on your blog (or anything else for that matter). True greatness only comes from your knowledge and relation to the greatest of all. Jesus Christ. The creator of all things. The King of Kings. The Saviour of men.

So Lord until next Sunday let us all reflect that any greatness of ours is only a derived greatness. There is no one great but you Jesus. Only in knowing you that our lives have any meaning. We praise you this Christmas as our only hope in life or in death or on the Judgment day. May our hearts be happy in you. Amen.