John the Baptist the least?

[medjogorje0313]

Hello. I would just like to know what does it mean when it says in the Bible that John the Baptist is the least in the kingdom. It kind of bothers me because as the forerunner of Jesus, having lived a life of forbearance not drinking wine or spirits and maybe even living a totally ascetic life how can Jesus say he’s the least, also even being his cousin and been really close to him since in the wombs of their mothers. If he’s the least, would I have any chance of getting into heaven and being with the Lord?

 

[FCEGM]

Hello. I would just like to know what does it mean when it says in the Bible that John the Baptist is the least in the kingdom. It kind of bothers me because as the forerunner of Jesus, having lived a life of forbearance not drinking wine or spirits and maybe even living a totally ascetic life how can Jesus say he’s the least, also even being his cousin and been really close to him since in the wombs of their mothers. If he’s the least, would I have any chance of getting into heaven and being with the Lord?

It’s a matter of the Old Covenant and the New. Jesus is saying that John is the greatest and most sinless saint of the Old Covenant - the last prophet of the Old Covenant, and their culmination: the New Elijiah. All, then who are members of the New Covenant in Christ are at an advantage over John who did not live to see its full inception. This, of course, does not mean that he isn’t a great Saint.

 

[ryanoneil]

Jesus is contrasting the Old and New Covenant and is not undermining John. The least NT saints are able to share fully in the New Covenant blessings while the OT prophets could only look ahead to it. So John was the greatest prophet (Mt 11:9) but he didn’t live long enough.

Concerning this salvation, prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and investigated it, investigating the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories to follow them. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you with regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you (through) the holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels longed to look. (1 Pet 1:10-12)