Why? A Challenging Question on My Birthday
How Spirit-Powered Journalling Provided Fresh Illumination of the Present Blessings We Have "In" Christ
Why?
That was the last entry in my Scripture Journal. As I sat down to spend time with my Savior on my birthday, I couldn’t remember WHY I had written that single question.
I’m journalling through the book of Matthew and got stopped up on Chapter 11. There were so many details I didn’t understand. I’ve been reading a plethora of commentators to get my questions answered.
So Easy to Overlook So Much
I’ve already been blessed and astonished to uncover little details in this chapter, things I would ordinarily overlook.
Like in verse one, where did Jesus “depart from” and what did it mean that He had “finished commanding His twelve disciples” — after all, He commanded them to the end?
In the same verse, it says that Jesus went to teach in “their” cities. What cities are those? Commentators vary. But the insights I learned astounded me. I suspect the answer lies Matthew 13:57.
And in verse four, when Jesus instructs two disciples to “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see.” What did they SEE? The answer is in Luke 7:21.
I could write a post about the insights I learned from studying each topic mentioned above. We can never plumb the depth of God’s Word. Studying it is a delight to me. And I hope it is also to you. But none of those ideas were behind my last journal question: WHY?
Do You Think You’re Greater Than Moses?
I’ll bet your answer would be a quick NO. That’s what my gut instinct says. But that’s not what Jesus taught in Matthew 11.
That’s why I was scratching my head in wonder.
In Matthew 11:11 Jesus says, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
No Old Testament person (Matthew 11:11) or prophet (Luke 7:28) was as great as John the Baptist. Not Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, or Daniel.
But even more astonishing: How could I, one least in the Kingdom of Heaven, be greater than Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, or John? It just didn’t make sense to me. Certainly, Jesus couldn’t be talking about my position in Heaven — for no doubt, there, John is far greater than I — even a perfected soul — and will remain greater than I when I enter that blessed placed. So Jesus must be talking about “greatness” in the land of the living. Matthew Henry agrees that that’s what’s in view here.
In Many Counselors There is Wisdom
After writing “Why?” in my journal, I investigated what other godly writers had to say about the meaning of Jesus’ statement. I didn’t take any notes that day; I simply read, letting the information seep into my brain to sort out later. I took in the knowledge of many counselors, but didn’t yet have the Spirit’s illumination.
Have you ever experienced that? You read a passage for the 100th time — and have a head knowledge of the verse — but then like lightning, God reveals it to you in a fresh way — and it comes alive?
Well, that finally happened with Matthew 11:11 on my 53rd birthday. As I read WHY? in my journal, I decided to answer the question from the biblical knowledge I had recently studied and have gleaned through years, asking God to reveal to me what He meant here.
Illumination Came Like a Surprise
Suddenly, amazingly, God’s Spirit fell upon me and revealed WHY I could be called greater than John the Baptist or any other Old Testament saint.
It was beautiful.
And you may say, “Of course that’s why. Didn’t you know?” And if so I praise the Lord that He revealed this to you sooner than me.
Don’t get me wrong. The Spirit shared nothing new. God just revealed to me the magnitude of the reality of what we have in Christ, here and now, things John the Baptist did not have on earth, things that were a mystery to Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel (Ephesians 3:3-6), things they could only inquire about (1 Peter 1:10-11) — whereas to us they are a present reality.
What Makes Us Better than Every OT Saint?
Here is an in-exhaustive list of the things we have in Christ that the Old Testament saints could only dream about.
We live in the time when the Kingdom of Heaven has come with POWER on earth through the Holy Spirit (Mark 9:1; 1 Cor. 4:20) and with Christ’s exaltation to the right hand of God (Luke 22:69).
We see the fulfillment of those things the prophets could only inquire of — namely that “the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:6).
The mystery of the gospel, which has been hidden from ages and generations, has now been revealed to us, even the riches of the glory of the mystery among the Gentiles, Christ in us (Colossians 1:26-28). We have Christ IN us!
We now know the One in whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed (Genesis 22:18 w/ Galatians 3:16) and have the privilege to take part in God’s unfolding plan to bless the nations by teaching them to observe everything Christ has commanded (Matthew 28:18-20).
We partake in “the glories that follow” Christ’s suffering, including all the Kingdom blessings promised to the nations in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20).
Every believer has the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of them (Romans 8:9), empowering them (Acts 1:8), guiding them into all truth (John 16:13), and filling them with Hope (Romans 15:13).
Because the Holy Spirit dwells in us, God gives each believer a Spiritual Gift to help build His Kingdom and encourage the saints (1 Peter 4:10).
We no longer have to offer animal sacrifices and keep the ceremonial laws that were tied to the Old Testament Temple system. Christ is our perfect sacrifice, once for all (Hebrews 10:10).
We have the righteousness of Christ imputed to us by faith (1 Cor. 1:30).
The Law of God is written on our heart (Jeremiah 31:33), meaning we WANT to obey in faith and His Law is not a burden to keep, in Christ (1 John 5:3).
This one is HUGE: The veil is torn (Matthew 27:51). We have access to the Holy of Holies without fear of death — we can BOLDLY go to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).
We have access to every Spiritual Blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
We have everything needed for LIFE and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
We have a completed Bible that answers all the questions needed to navigate life, faith, and holiness (Matthew 4:4).
We have freedom from sin and death (Romans 8:2). The curse of sin is GONE.
We have power over Satan — who MUST flee when we resist him and submit to God (James 4:7).
Satan and all the demons were defeated at the cross, meaning we can experience victory on earth through faith (Colossians 2:15).
Christ overcame the world for us! (John 16:33)
We are united to Christ, seated with Him NOW, and ruling with Him by faith (Ephesians 2:4-7).
In Christ, we also have eternal life, resurrection from the dead, and the hope of heaven. Interestingly, the saints in the past already had these three things — and they knew it. These were not part of the mystery of Christ. However, they were only possible by Christ entering time and space, living a perfect life, laying that life down for us, rising from the dead, and ascending to the right hand of God. Christ’s life, death, and exaltation make all these things a reality for those who believe.
Saints, what are you doing to maximize the benefits of all these privileges we have in Christ?
Our hope is NOT merely hope for Heaven — we have these 19+ privileges NOW. That’s what makes us greater than the prophets of old. And as we walk in these truths by faith, we will see God’s name hallowed more and more, His glory fill the earth as the waters cover the sea, His Kingdom come, and His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:18-19
Do you believe it?