Hear How Great You Are

“¹⁵He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” – Matthew 11:15 (ESV)

This seems like such a simple verse and may not be very specific, until you look at it in the context of the passage. John the Baptist had sent some of his disciples to look into Jesus. They had come to find out if He was indeed the Christ. Jesus entertained their questions and then proceeded to speak of the greatness of John the Baptist.

“¹⁰This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your fae, who will prepare your way before you,’” – Matthew 11:10 (ESV)

Jesus makes it very clear to those that are listening that John was the one who came before and paved the way for Him. John was the messenger of Christ and therefore was and should be considered a great man.

“¹¹Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” – Matthew 11:11 (ESV)

So, of those that are born here on earth, John is the greatest of them. That is some kind of recognition that Jesus heaps on the man. But, Jesus speaks of those that are even greater than John the Baptist. Those that are in heaven at the time are greater, and those that come to heaven after, are greater. They have “actually entered the kingdom (in its new covenant reality) and become partakers in the new covenant through he blood of Christ” (ESV Commentary).

I have the chance to be greater than even John the Baptist, thanks to the blood of Jesus Christ. It is up to me to open my ears and hear the message of Christ, realize, and act on the commands he gives to me. I have to look at what Christ wants of me and not what the world expects.

If I spend my time looking out for my reputation in the world, I will fail in the eyes of God. The reality is that the world is not ready for me just as they were not ready for John the Baptist or Jesus Christ.

“¹⁸For John cam neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” – Matthew 11:18-19 (ESV)

When I am aligned with God, I am great, even greater than John the Baptist. The key is to be aligned with God and not anywhere else. Open your ears Trevor and hear how great you are in the eyes of God.

Where are you putting your time and effort? Are you aware of the greatness that you can have through your obedience to God? How great will you be when you open your ears to hear of the greatness that God has for you?