Christians sometimes forget how precious we are, which is our spiritual reality in the sight of God. By faith, Christians see their spiritual reality. Luke helps to understand who Christians are as kingdom people and how Jesus presents us to the Father. To understand our spiritual reality, Jesus makes a comparison with John the Baptist in order to show that our status even surpasses the man whom Jesus called the greatest man to have ever lived born among women.
Jesus poses three questions related to John’s character and privileged calling. John had the spirit of Elijah, but he wasn’t Elijah himself. John was more than a prophet. In the Old Testament, there were many prophets, but John was considered greater than them because he was the direct connection to the promised Messiah.
John’s connection to Jesus made his ministry special as he was a contemporary of Jesus. However, his ministry was limited in calling men to repentance to prepare for Jesus who provided forgiveness of sins and salvation. Nevertheless, John’s calling made him the greatest man humanly speaking as he was the herald and the bridge between the Old Testament and Jesus. Other prophets before him prepared in words and prophecy, but John’s ministry made the prophecies actualized. And most importantly, it was only by John’s message of repentance the people were to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As prior theories became actualized by John, he prepared the direct path to Christ. This is what made him the greatest man to be born of a woman. But Jesus states that even the least in the kingdom is greater than John. This spiritual reality produces joy for the Christian as they understand their special spiritual status in God’s kingdom. Those who are least in the kingdom possess a childlike faith.
Moreover, John was not greater than anyone in the kingdom because his calling was temporary in the scope of redemptive history. His baptism could not save the sinner. Christians have a full and perfect knowledge of Jesus whereas John did not. Only through Jesus’ ministry, life, death, and resurrection was salvation fulfilled and completed.
Why should Christians be concerned about their spiritual reality more than anything in this world? Without focusing on our spiritual reality, we miss out on the joy of our status before the Lord and become swayed by the temporal things of this earth. Christians have been raised up with Christ; therefore, they are to keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Col. 3). The things above consist of being holy and beloved, putting on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other. Kingdom character is best demonstrated through love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And it is the peace of Christ that rules in the believer’s hearts, called in one body and filled with thankfulness. Living this way will give us strength and power.
Kingdom people are greater than John the Baptist and characterized by seeking the things above every day.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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