Luke 1:15-17 NASB95
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. [16] And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. [17] It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Luke 7:24-28 NASB95
When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? [25] But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces! [26] But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet. [27] This is the one about whom it is written, ‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’ [28] I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
What an amazing person John the Baptist was. These verses tell us that Jesus’s cousin was filled with the Holy Spirit while he was still in his mother’s womb. He was the chosen messenger of God to prepare the way for the Christ. He went forth as the forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah (if you recall, Elijah walked in extraordinary boldness and demonstrated the supernatural power of God almost like no other).
John the Baptist was the greatest of all the Old Testament prophets and gave the most prophetic declaration of anyone who ever lived when he declared, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” He saw in a vision the dove of the Holy Spirit descending upon and remaining on Jesus when no one else but Jesus saw it. Finally, Jesus said about His cousin that “among those born of women there is no one greater than John.” Think about that last statement. Jesus said that John was the greatest person yet born. Having said that about His cousin, Jesus then makes this astounding statement; “yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
How can that possibly be? The answer is quite simple. As great a man as John the Baptist was, he did not live his life on earth in union with Christ, and every single believer, no matter insignificant they may be, or think they are, are greater than John because every New Testament believer is in union with Christ. Each Christian can openly declare that Christ is literally their life. Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives (is actively living His life) in me…”
As new creations in Christ, we now participate in the very life that Jesus lives, and He lives that life through our humanity. As anointed and significant as John the Baptist was, the weakest Christian is greater because we carry everything that Jesus is, and everything that Jesus has, including His intimate relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Those who are the least in the kingdom of God will suddenly be set free from seeing themselves as “least” if they can only understand that Christ is all and He and His “allness” abides in them.