Greatest Born of Women vs. Least in Heaven

“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.” (Matthew 11:11 NKJV)

What does it mean that the greatest man like John the Baptizer is less than least in heaven? John was the preparer and forerunner for the way of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was commissioned long time before even he was born by Prophet Isaiah.  He stood at the climax of the Law and the Prophets. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.” (Luke 16:16 NKJV)

He also witnessed the heaven opened and the Spirit descended on Jesus Christ. Although John’s life was rough and short and no attractions in the human point of view, he was called the greatest among those born of women. It means that he was the greatest among the natural born, not the spiritually born. He did not witness the death and resurrection of Christ though he believed it as he cried out, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

As Jesus asserted, he was the greatest man in time and space. That’s how God sees man not by status and wealth but by calling. However, he was less than the least in the heavenly places. It means that there is no way to compare the glories between in time and in eternity. Man can enter into eternity through one way, the way of the cross of Christ in Calvary. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV) Apostle Paul confirms this truth, saying “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18 NKJV)

What is heaven? Heaven is not somewhere in a far remote place in the universe. The heavenly places are right here in our midst. It exists in a completely different dimension where God reigns and rules. We believe in God who is the invisible heavenly places through the gift of faith in Christ. There are many examples which God pulled down the curtain and opened the eyes of mortal men to see the heaven like in the transfiguration mountain. 

We are wearing the earthly tents on the earth, but we shall be wearing the heavenly tents which God made. So, we do not lose heart no matter what circumstances they may be. The hope of being clothed with the resurrection body is infallible and unfailing. 

“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.” (2 Corinthians 5:1-3 NKJV)