John 3:27-36
John the Baptist to Become Lesser After Jesus
27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.
32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
Luke 7:24-35
The Least in the Kingdom of God is Greater than John
24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
“‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
Philippians 2:5-13 (KJV)
Jesus' Name is Above All Names
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
John the Baptist tells us that we must become lesser and the the One from heaven is above all and must become greater...John was a great prophet and messenger for the Messiah, and was sent ahead of Him...But John's duty was to introduce us to the Messiah...Now that the Messiah was here on earth, He must take over and start His ministry -and teach us about the eternities, those things that matter most in life...John had done His job...John now would have less followers, because of what he did (was almost completed)...Jesus being the Son of God, would draw attention...Many would shift away from John and he would have fewer followers...But Jesus would not only grow in stature, but the people following Him would increase...John the Baptist understood these things...
John the Baptist and St. Paul were two of Jesus' messengers and servants that helped introduce Jesus to others...They were an important part of His ministry...
Jesus tells us, when speaking to John the Baptist's disciples, that there has never been born of a woman, one greater than John...And then He says "yet" the one who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist....This statement tells us much about the Kingdom of God, heaven, and those who are there...His Kingdom is the Greatest of Places...There is no other place like it...It is the place called heaven...And John the Baptist tells us that the one who comes from heaven is above all...And St. Paul says His name is above every name...John the Baptist also says that those who come from earth, belong to the earth and speaks things of the earth...He tells us that Jesus speaks the very words of God -the very words of eternal life...St. Paul adds that Jesus humbled Himself to become a Man on earth...He came to earth to show His Love...And now that He has resurrected and returned to His Father, every knee should bow, and His name stands above every name...
Jesus tells us that John the Baptist came and preached of Him and was called a demon...Jesus says they call Him a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners...Many of the Pharisees and others did not believe...
Jesus is the Greatest...And we must grow like Him...These two Saints of John the Baptist and St. Paul spread the word about Him and His teachings...John was the first and introduces us to the Messiah...St. Paul would come much later and after His death...His teachings of Truth, faith, grace, humility, forgiveness, hope and above all love must grow in us...These positive things must grow in our very soul -while we are on earth...For without these things, in our lives, we have nothing...These are certainly the treasures...