DEVOTION FOR SATURDAY IN THE WEEK OF ADVENT III (12/18/10)

GOD’S WORD—Matthew 11:11
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

MEDITATION
In today’s reading from God’s Word, Jesus Christ Himself pays John the Baptist a high compliment: “Truly I tell you,” Jesus says, “among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist.” Our Lord extols the greatness of John and puts him in a class by himself. John is at the top of the heap and at the height of the hierarchy!

But where does that put us? Obviously, compared to John, we’re not so great. We find ourselves in the vast multitude called the human race that has its good points and bad points. We may think great thoughts, say great words, and do great deeds. But John the Baptist, at least according to Jesus, has set the bar impossibly high.

Fortunately, Jesus had something else to say about John: “Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” In one short sentence, full of clip and punch, Jesus sets implosion charges around our notions of greatness. In the kingdom of heaven, genuine greatness does not consist of “movin’ on up to a deluxe apartment in the sky.” Genuine greatness has to do with service. Jesus says: “The one who is great among you must first be your servant.” “I am among you,” says our Lord, “as one who serves.”

Servants, at their best, are barely noticeable. Even the birth of Jesus lacked what we might call the “pomp and circumstance” of worldly greatness. Heads of state and persons of privilege were not the first to greet the news of the birth of the Messiah. Rather, it was a group of lowly, not-so-great shepherds.

Television programs like American Idol can garner viewers(and Nielsen ratings). But what garners God’s view and rates high with the Almighty is genuine service.

PRAYER
Lord, we beseechYou, give ear to our prayers, and enlighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

VERSE
O Adonai,
Ruler of the house of Israel,
You appeared in the burning bush to Moses
And gave him the law on Sinai:
Come with outstretched arm to save us.