And the greatest is…

Today we meet John the Baptist (Luke 3:1–22).

He is an extraordinary example of a life devoted to preparing people for Jesus. With many words he urged the people and preached the good news to them (Luke 3:18). It even came at great cost – Herod beheaded him for speaking the truths of the gospel (Luke 9:7–9).

Jesus himself said that among humans there is no one greater than John (Luke 7:28). That’s amazing when we think how great some people have been… Nelson Mandela, Billy Graham, Mother Theresa… what could make someone so great?

John was the greatest because he devoted his life to preparing people for Jesus’ coming. That is greatness because it considers people’s greatest need – salvation from sin and death.

And so let’s encourage one another to carry on the great work of preparing people for Jesus…

‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with your always, to the very end of the age.’ (Matthew 28:19–20)

In Christ Jesus, Tory Cayzer