(Franciscan Media) Jesus called John the greatest of all those who had preceded Him:
“I tell you, among those born of Women none is greater than John; Yet he who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.” —Luke 7:28
St. John spent his time in the desert, a man of self-discipline, he began to announce the coming of the Kingdom and to call everyone to a fundamental reformation of life.
His purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus Christ — His baptism he said, was for repentance but one would come who would Baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John is not worthy to even carry his sandals, his attitude towards Jesus was:
“He must increase but I must decrease.” —John 3:30
St. John the Baptist was humbled to find among the crowd of transgressors who came to be baptized the one whom he already knew to be the Messiah. “…I need to be baptized by you and do you come to me?” –Matthew 3:14 – ‘Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.’ – Matthew 3:15 Jesus, true and humble human as well as Eternal God, was eager to do what was required of any good Jew. John therefore publicly entered the community of those awaiting the Messiah but making himself part of that community, he made it truly Messianic.
The greatness of St. John, his pivotal place in the history of Salvation is seen in the great emphasis that Luke gives to the announcement of his birth and the event itself–both made prominently parallel to the same occurrences in the life of Jesus. — St. John attracted countless people (‘all Judea’) to the banks of the Jordan river and it occurred to some people that he might be the Messiah but he constantly deferred to Jesus, even to sending away some of his followers to become the first Disciples of Jesus.
Perhaps St. John’s idea of the coming of the Kingdom of God was not being perfectly fulfilled in the public ministry of Jesus. For whatever reason, he sent his disciples (when he was in prison) to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah? Jesus’ answer showed that the Messiah was to be a figure like that of the ‘Suffering Servant’ in Isaiah 49-53 — St. John himself would share in the pattern of Messianic suffering, losing his life/being martyred to the revenge of Herod at Machaerus.
Related: Reflections For The Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist -Vatican
Tweet