Question: Why
did Jesus say that John the Baptist was the greatest man who ever lived?
Darren
Answer:
Dear Darren,
In
both accounts of the same incident (Matthew 11 and Luke 7) Jesus is replying to
and assuring disciples of John – who came to him to inquire of Jesus whether
he was the Messiah. John is in prison and probably questioning himself and his
mission. Jesus is complimentary of
John as he answers the disciples, all the while using any “hero-worship” of
John to explain the superiority of the kingdom of God.
Jesus did not say John was the greatest – merely that there has not
been anyone greater – allowing for others to be “great”.
In
Christ,
Greg
Albrecht