"Greater Than" 11-30-25
Overview
Greater Than: Advent, John the Baptist, and the Kingdom
Long ago God spoke through the prophets—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, Elijah—who often delivered hard words alongside promises of a coming Redeemer. Isaiah proclaimed both the darkness Isaiah 8:21-22 and the dawning light: "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us" Isaiah 9:6. After four hundred years of prophetic silence, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, calling people to repentance and pointing to the Messiah who had finally come. Jesus himself declared, "Among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" Matthew 11:11.
When John, imprisoned for his faithful preaching, sent his disciples to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" Matthew 11:3, Jesus answered not with a simple yes, but by pointing to the fruit of his ministry: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news preached to them Matthew 11:4-5. These were the very signs Isaiah had prophesied Isaiah 35:4-6. Yet Jesus added a warning: "Blessed is the one who is not offended by me" Matthew 11:6. The Messiah was not who many expected, and he remains a stumbling block to those who would rather earn righteousness than receive it.
Jesus then asked the crowds three times what they had gone into the wilderness to see—a reed shaken by the wind? A man in soft robes? A prophet? John was none of the first two; he was steadfast, austere, and faithful to proclaim the full weight of God's law and the people's need to repent. We do not naturally enjoy hearing about our sin, but the law must do its work to prepare hearts for the gospel. John's vocation was to ready the way so that when the Light came, he could be recognized for who he is. We need that same preparation today—the law that exposes our darkness, so the good news of forgiveness in Christ can land as the sweet word it truly is.
Why is the least in the kingdom greater than even John? Because John, like all the prophets, was born of woman—inheriting the corrupted nature of Adam. But those baptized into Christ are born anew of the Spirit into a living hope 1 Peter 1:3-4. In baptism, Christ the Light claims you, places upon you the full benefits of his life, death, and resurrection, and dwells in you so that "it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" Galatians 2:20. This is the joy of Advent: we prepare for the Christ who has already come in the flesh, who comes now in word and sacrament, and who will come again in glory. In every season, "in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son" Hebrews 1:1-2—and in him, even the least is made great.
Transcript
Long ago, God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets. 2s
These prophets, great prophets of old Jeremiah, Elijah, Elijah, Micah, Isaiah. 10s
They came prophesying oftentimes a very difficult message from God, a difficult word for the 21s
people to hear. 28s
Great prophets, such as Isaiah, would prophesy as he does in chapter 8. 30s
They will pass through the land greatly distressed in hungry. 38s
When they are hungry, they will be enraged and will curse their king in their gods. 42s
They will turn their faces upward or they will look to the earth, but will see only 47s
distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. 51s
And they will be thrust into thick darkness. 56s
Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet, the one who lamented often. 60s
It was not an easy role being a prophet. 68s
And yet as they were called to bring a very difficult message, they also were called 71s
to tell of the one who was to come, the chosen one, the Messiah, the Christ, the one who 77s
would be their Redeemer. 84s
Also in the prophet Isaiah chapter 9, we read the people who walked in darkness have 87s
seen a great light. 92s
Those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them has light shined. 94s
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us, authority rests upon his shoulders, 100s
and he is named wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, Prince of peace. 107s
God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by these great prophets. 117s
Until there came a time of silence. 126s
Four hundred years of silence in which God did not send a messenger in which God did not 132s
utter a word, no prophecy, no word, no message from God. 142s
Four hundred years of silence. 150s
Until John. 158s
John the Baptist, the one, the prophet who had been prophesied of came preaching and proclaiming 160s
a word. 169s
And we find that John was a great prophet. 170s
He was sent to proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sin. 175s
He was sent to preach the pure true word of God. 179s
He was sent to preach the new covenant about the Messiah and the fact that the time was 186s
near. 195s
The Messiah indeed had come. 196s
In fact he was so great that Jesus says there was no greater prophet, born of women 199s
than John the Baptist. 205s
If you would, please open your Bibles to our reading for today. 207s
We're in the book of Matthew 11th chapter. 211s
You can find this on page nine in the New Testament if you're using a Pue edition of the 215s
Bible. 221s
This is Matthew 11. 221s
We're going to jump over to verse 10 and 11, where Jesus is speaking of John the Baptist. 225s
And he says, this is the one about whom it is written. 233s
See I am sending my messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way before you. 238s
Truly I tell you among those born of women, no one has a risen greater than John the 243s
Baptist. 249s
Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 251s
There is no greater prophet. 257s
Jesus says than John the Baptist and yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than 259s
he. 269s
Today we turn to a new chapter in the red letter series that we are studying all year. 272s
The entire school year we are in a sermon series, the red letter words, where we are 279s
studying the words that Jesus spoke, the words that are recorded in Scripture. 285s
And this chapter that we enter into today, this chapter is entitled Advent and Disappation, 291s
the Baptist and Beyond, Advent and Disappation, the Baptist and Beyond, the season of 299s
Advent is a short season, but it is a long expected and long looked forward. 308s
In the season of Advent we spend our time preparing and our time in anticipation. 315s
We prepare and anticipate the coming of Christ in three ways. 325s
We anticipate the incarnate that is God in the flesh, infant Jesus coming into the past world. 331s
We anticipate Christ coming to us in the present through word and sacrament, through the 340s
fellowship and communion of the church. 346s
And we anticipate Christ, Christ in his triumphant coming again where he will return and 350s
gather us all to himself in the future. 359s
And as we open the pages of this new chapter in the red letter series, Advent and Disappation, 363s
the Baptist and Beyond, our focus is going to be on the expectation for the first coming of Christ, 371s
as expressed by John the Baptist. 379s
And then we are also going to look and explore the expectation of his second coming. 382s
And how it is expressed in three texts that raise questions so often. 389s
So we're going to turn to our text, our very first text of this chapter for the morning. 396s
Look with me, please, at verse 2 in chapter 11. 402s
When John heard in prison, what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples. 407s
John was in prison. 412s
He was in prison because he was proclaiming God's truth. 414s
He was proclaiming a difficult word where he was proclaiming the need of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. 420s
He was recorded as calling out the sadgesties and the Pharisees, calling them 428s
bruised of vipers, telling them to bear fruit worthy of repentance. 433s
He did not let them escape from their sin, from the guilt of their wrongdoing. 439s
So he had been put into prison. 447s
King Herod had married his brother's wife, his brother's wife had not been happy or pleased that 449s
John had spoken against it. 456s
And so she encouraged King Herod to put him in prison. 458s
So John has been imprisoned and he sends his disciples. 462s
We continue in verse 3. 465s
He sent his disciples to say to him, are you the one asking Jesus? 468s
Are you the one who is to come? 473s
Or are we to wait for another? 476s
Jesus answered them. 480s
Go and tell John what you hear and see. 482s
The blind received their sight. 485s
The lame walk, the lepers are cleansed. 487s
The death here, the dead are raised and the poor have good news. 490s
Brought to them. 494s
The disciples had come to Jesus seeking verification. 498s
They knew that John had spoken of the Messiah that was to come. 503s
John knew that there would be the anointed one, the Christ. 508s
And so the disciples come and find and ask for the verification. 514s
And Jesus responds not with a yes or a no. 518s
But he responds with the fruit of his ministry. 522s
He responds by telling them to go back to John and proclaim 527s
what they have witnessed with their own eyes. 532s
The verification is in his ministry and the acts of his ministry acts 536s
that were prophesied of the Messiah. 544s
Isaiah prophesied on that day the death shall hear the words of a scroll 549s
and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see the meek 554s
shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord and the neediest people shall 558s
exalt in the holy one of Israel. 563s
Again Isaiah prophesied say to those who are of a fearful heart be strong. 567s
Do not fear. 572s
Here is your God. He will come with vengeance with terrible 573s
recompense. He will come and save you. 577s
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the death 581s
unstocked. Then the lame shall leap like a deer and the tongue of the 585s
speechless sing for joy. 589s
Jesus in his ministry was fulfilling the very promises that were made 594s
so long ago. He was fulfilling the promises of God's chosen one. 598s
The proof is before everyone's eyes and yet 604s
and yet not everyone wants to believe. 610s
Not everyone wants to know that Christ that Jesus is indeed 618s
Christ who he says he is. Look with me please at verse 6 where Jesus says 625s
blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me. 632s
Throughout Scripture we read that the cornerstone will be a stumbling block for the Jews. 638s
We know that Jesus is a stumbling block for those who wanted to work for their righteousness 646s
for those who wanted to gain for themselves by God's word. 653s
He wasn't what they expected in the Messiah. Though the proof of his ministry, the proof of his 663s
actions were ever before them they remained blind and deaf to who the Christ truly is. 670s
And so blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me says Jesus. 681s
The stumbling block his life, his death, his resurrection, 688s
a stumbling block to those of the world because he doesn't fit with the expectation 694s
of what the Messiah should be. John the Baptist, he continues to point people to Christ. 700s
It's recorded in Scripture that as Jesus walks by, he points and says, behold, 710s
there goes the Lamb of God. The first meeting, the first encounter we read of John and 714s
Jesus is when they are still in the womb and Mary comes to her cousin's house in Lisabeth. 722s
And the moment she speaks, John the Baptist knowing his Savior is near, leaps in the womb. 729s
Is Jesus what was expected? Is Jesus what we expect? John points to Jesus knowing and saying 737s
that he must decrease as Christ increases. John knew the Christ. 758s
The disciples of John had gone to Jesus and they asked, they asked, are you the one? 769s
Are you the one? And Jesus says, my ministry is my verification. 775s
And so the disciples of John go back to him and we pick up in verse 7, as they went away, 784s
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. Jesus begins to teach about John and how he 790s
fits into the big plan and picture of God's purpose in salvation. And he asks the crowd, 799s
what did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A read shaken by the wind? What then did you 808s
go out to see someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal 815s
palaces, what then did you go out to see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more, then a prophet. 822s
Notice he asks the same question, three times. Three times he asks, what did you go out into the 835s
wilderness to look at? What then did you go out to see? What then did you go out to see? 845s
Going to the wilderness was not an easy trek. It wasn't just walking up the street to the 856s
have intention to go to the wilderness. There had to be planning and purpose and reason for that trip. 863s
It was dangerous. It was the wilderness. It was not in the safety of their town, their home, 872s
and yet people would trek to here, to listen, to see. And Jesus says, what did you go out to see? 879s
What did you expect? And did you find what you expected to find? 891s
The first that he lifts up, did you go to the wilderness to seek a read shaken by the wind? 902s
This is a person who would speak and preach and proclaim according to the cultural norm, 911s
because if they went to the wilderness to find John, to teach them that everything was okay 916s
how they were doing, they would not find that. John was steadfast. He was not a read shaken in 924s
the wind, but he proclaimed God's truth. He proclaimed the fullness of God's law, and he proclaimed 934s
that those who were coming to him were sinners. That day were breaking the law of God, the will of 940s
God. He told the people of their sin and their need to repent. Jesus asks, did you see? 952s
Did you seek to see someone in soft clothes? We know in scripture that John did not wear soft clothes. 960s
He wore robe of camels hair and eight, locus and honey. He did not live a life of luxury and comfort. 966s
Certainly the people were not seeking to witness the luxurious life of a prophet. 976s
But the worldly comfort was not John's purpose. The worldly comfort was not God's plan for John. 984s
But he remained steadfast and steady, focused on his job, focused on his role to proclaim 993s
the need for repentance of sin. Did you go out to see a prophet? One who is called by God, 1001s
a spokesman, a speaker for the Lord. When they went to the wilderness and encountered John 1013s
and heard his words proclaimed that they were in error, that they were walking in darkness, that they 1024s
were living in sin. They heard God's word. They heard the weight and the condemnation 1031s
and their place and their need for repentance of their sin. Did they get what they sought? 1046s
Yes. Did they get what they want? Probably not. None of us likes to hear the truth of our sin. 1058s
None of us likes to hear our need for repentance. None of us wants to know that we have sined 1071s
against God and thought word and deed by what we have done, by what we have left undone and yet 1078s
we need to go to the wilderness to hear that word to hear the truth of who we are when left 1088s
to our own nature, left to our own want and will and desire. John the Baptist 1099s
was to point to the Messiah. His whole purpose in life was to bring people the law of God, 1110s
the call to repentance for the forgiveness of sin to point to the Christ because the Christ 1124s
was the only one. The Christ is the only one who can give repentance or give forgiveness of sins. 1132s
What then did you go out to see a prophet? Yes, I tell you in more than a prophet. This is the one 1148s
about whom it is written. See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way 1154s
before you. Truly, I tell you among those born of women no one has a risen greater than John the 1160s
Baptist yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. There is no greater prophet. 1167s
No greater prophet, born of woman than John the Baptist. He was called to prepare the way before 1176s
hand preparing the way preparing the heart so that the heart would know the need for repentance. 1184s
My brothers and sisters, we too need our hearts prepared, prepared by the law, the law that shows 1195s
us our sin, the law that shows us who we are when left to our own devices. We have to have our 1203s
hearts prepared so that we are stirred to repent so that we are stirred out of the darkness and 1211s
out of the lives of darkness to seek for the light. John had to prepare the way in the darkness so 1222s
that when the light would come the light could be recognized. My brothers and sisters, we are no 1234s
different. We need the law. We need the law to stir in our hearts. The full truth of God's 1242s
word unfettered so that we understand that we are in darkness so that we understand that we 1251s
are in need of repentance that we are in need of forgiveness so that we can receive the gospel. 1263s
The good news, God's word unfettered that you are indeed forgiven, that the light has come into this 1275s
world, that the light Jesus Christ, God in the flesh entered into creation and lived his life 1285s
perfectly and lived fulfilling every single promise that was prophesied by the great prophets of 1294s
old, giving sight to the blind, making the deaf to hear, comforting those who are poor in spirit, 1302s
bringing joy to all who are in darkness. We need to sit in darkness so that we can be prepared 1314s
to receive the light. In this time of advent we have the joy. We have the joy of the here and now 1325s
looking to the future. We know already that our Christ has come. We know already that the light 1336s
indeed has entered into the world and we know that we have forgiveness not because we in our 1345s
darkness can climb out of the darkness into the light but because the light has shined on each and 1353s
every one of us and has called us forth. When Jesus says that there is no greater profit than 1359s
John the Baptist and yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than He, note that He says 1371s
of John the Baptist that John the Baptist is greater than those who are born of woman. All the 1377s
them were born of woman, which means that they were born with the nature of Adam and Eve, 1389s
the nature that is corrupted, corruptible and yet they preached and they proclaimed, 1398s
you my brothers and sisters, you are born of the spirit. You are born a new as Peter says in 1409s
his letter, blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ by His great mercy. He has given 1420s
us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an 1427s
inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfaithing kept in heaven for you in Christ. 1434s
The light of the world, in your baptism Christ the light of the world, claimed you as his own 1444s
placing upon you as you rose from the darkness to light, being born a new of the spirit. 1451s
He placed the benefits, the promise of His life, death and resurrection upon you. 1459s
The full forgiveness of all your sin and as such you are made a part of the kingdom of God and as 1468s
such you are greater because it is no longer I who lives but it is Christ who lives in me. 1477s
Baptized, child of God, it is no longer you who live and walk in the darkness but it is 1485s
Christ the light of the world, the light itself that walks in you. 1491s
The least amongst us is great because it is Christ in us that makes us great and makes us who we are. 1500s
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets but in these last days 1514s
He has spoken to us by His Son. The prophets told the people Isaiah Jeremiah, 1522s
Micah the prophets spoke of the one that was to come and yet the people did not listen. 1531s
John the Baptist the great prophet came proclaiming the darkness so that people would turn to the 1540s
light in Advent, in Advent we turn to the light that has already come to the world and we prepare 1546s
knowing that He will come again and that we will be in His glory and His light 1559s
from now through all of eternity. 1569s
Cook to God be the glory and honor now and forever. 1573s