James Nisbet Commentary - Matthew 11:11 - 11:11

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James Nisbet Commentary - Matthew 11:11 - 11:11


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WHAT IS TRUE GREATNESS?

‘Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist.’

Mat_11:11

There is no subject more generally discussed amongst us than as to what really constitutes a great man. In what sense was St. John the Baptist ‘greater’ than other great men? Not in position; nor was there anything great about his outward life. He was not great in his achievements; and the silence that marked his life marked his death. In what, then, does greatness consist?

I. Fulness of personality.—It consists in what we are, rather than what we do. It does not lie in the earthly house of our tabernacle, which is to be dissolved, nor in the furniture of the tabernacle, the gifts, talents, powers of the mind. The Baptist was ‘filled with the Holy Ghost’; he ‘waxed strong in spirit.’ Personality in itself is weak, but personality indwelt by God is strong. In Him, and in Him alone, we become truly ourselves. Led by the Spirit the Baptist forsook the comforts of his home and dwelt in the desert.

II. In relationship to Christ.—A man’s natural greatness of soul receives an added strength through the influence of his relationship to others. A king’s son has the advantage of position added to the advantage of his own strength of character. The relationship of an ambassador to his country necessarily adds strength to any character he may have. The relationship of the Baptist to Christ, though not understood by others, was of unique importance. He was the forerunner of the King of kings. And yet, great as he was, ‘he that is but little in the kingdom of God is greater than he.’ That is the strange thing. What does it mean? Not greater in circumstance or events, but in relationship. The Baptist was of Christ, but not in Christ. He was Christ’s forerunner, but not Christ’s member. ‘He that is but little’ in the Kingdom of God—surely that applies to every one in this church—ought we not then to make ourselves felt in the parish where we live.

The Rev. Dr. Walpole.

Illustration

‘A man or woman may be great whose name has never been seen in any newspaper, whose name, indeed, is not known in the neighbourhood where he or she once lived; one, it may be, who has gone out to some foreign mission field, and long since been forgotten, and whom we hear of for the first time after many years in a brief dispatch which tells of his or her death. Such an one as Eleanor Chesnut, who was trapped into a cave at Lien Chan, and foully murdered by those she sought to heal with her medical skill and gospel of love. It may be that such an one is really greater than the great general who wins against overwhelming odds, than the statesman who guides the affairs of a great nation, than the orator who sways thousands by his eloquence. God sees not as man seeth. He regardeth not the outward appearance, but the hidden man of the heart.’

(SECOND OUTLINE)

GREATER THAN THE BAPTIST

We remember Christ’s words when He said that even the lower ones in the kingdom should be ‘greater’ than John the Baptist. It was not merely that they should stand on a higher eminence—that is loftiness of position, not ‘greatness’ of nature—but their whole being should become more massive and noble and glorious. Let me point out three practical lessons.

I. Emulate the Baptist’s type of work.—He was a ‘voice’ for Christ. There was no thought of himself, but of Him. There was no pondering of his own greatness, but a habitual seeking of opportunity to proclaim the greatness of Jesus. O to be like him in these!

II. Realise our greater responsibility.—Very wonderful it was that John the Baptist should have struck so clear a note on the central fact and doctrine of Christianity, as ‘Behold the Lamb of God.’ With Christ’s work ‘finished’ and the full story completed, our message should be ampler.

III. Beware of assumption of excelling greatness.—At the basis of it there must be this, that we have ‘passed from darkness to light, from death to life,’ that we are ‘in the kingdom.’ Mere function, mere human recognition, will count for nothing beneath the eye of fire of Him with Whom we have to do.

The Rev. Alexander B. Grosart.

Illustration

‘As our tidal rivers enlarge into bays and reaches of the sea by the sea’s simple flowing into them or communicating its own mass and strength and riches to them; so these relatively narrow beings of ours become spacious and Christ-like by the indwelling and sway of the Spirit with all the new and august “power” of the new kingdom.’