Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. John the Baptist was the
greatest of the Old Testament prophets, according to the testimony
of the Lord Jesus. Yet he did not perform great
miracles as Elijah did, nor did he write poetic prophecies foretelling
the coming of the Messiah as did Isaiah. But greatness in
the kingdom of God is not measured by miracles and deeds, nor by
doctrine and the setting forth of mysteries, but by the proximity
one has to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord went on to say that
though John was the greatest of the Old Testament seers, yet
even the weakest babe in the kingdom of God was greater than
he. Now this kingdom of which he speaks is that true and revealed
kingdom which the Lord Jesus ushered in when he set foot upon
the earth as the Redeemer King. Though John lived to see his
coming in the flesh, yet he did not live to see the full establishment
of that kingdom by the Lord's subsequent death as a substitute
for his elect, his triumph over death as the risen Savior, and
his ascension back to the Father, where he ever lives to make intercession
for his own by his presence there. John the Apostle said, and the
word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory,
the glories of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace
and truth. John could testify of having
seen his glory because he became a witness of his death, resurrection,
and ascension. Then on the day of Pentecost,
the actual reality of the kingdom which he came to establish was
made known to them in power, which they had not experienced
before, even at the Mount of Transfiguration. It was on the
day of Pentecost when the glory of the Lord was fully revealed
to them that he could look back upon the time that they spent
with him. Looking back, John could see that glory revealed
as he healed the sick, raised the dead, preached the Sermon
on the Mount, taught them to pray, gave them the example of
compassion, and taught them to be one another's servants. They
came to understand that his kingdom is not of this world. Some of
those who claim to be Christians never seem to grasp this concept
fully as they go about to establish kingdoms of their own, supposedly
in His name. Some study to become effective
fundraisers in order to bring in these kingdoms. Some think
His kingdom is but the extension of an earthly covenant replete
with circumcisions of one type or another. Some lay burdens
and duties upon the freeborn sons of God, as if they were
servants working to pay off their own indenture. The sons of God
are without condemnation of any kind, for anything, because Jesus
Christ has fully paid any debt they ever did or could owe. They
are under no law except the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus, which has forever set them free from the law of sin
and death. Some think the kingdom hinges upon the recitations of
doctrines and creeds. Some devise schemes and methods
to draw men to the gospel, as if the spirit of God was not
effectual enough for the task. The prophet Malachi said that
he would come suddenly, which he did when he was born of a
virgin and wrapped in swaddling clothes. There was no fanfare
leading up to his arrival. His birth was announced in the
relative obscurity of a shepherd's meadow. He shall also come suddenly
when he splits the sky with the trump of God and the voice of
the archangel. His first appearing as a babe
and his next appearing as a visibly triumphant king are two separate
events, but not for two different reasons. These events occur over
2,000 years apart, yet his first coming and his last are for the
same purpose, which is the establishment of his kingdom manifested in
the redemption and deliverance of a people upon whom he has
said his love before the foundation of the earth. His kingdom is
very much alive in the present day, as He is calling His own
to Himself through the preaching of the gospel and the quickening
power of the Holy Ghost. He is drawing men to Himself
day by day, and His triumph over sin and the grave is complete.
The Lord told the Pharisees who were blind to His present kingdom,
The kingdom of God cometh not with observation, neither shall
they say, Lo here or lo there, for behold, the kingdom of God
is within you, that is, literally in your midst. Though the Lord
sent His messenger, John the Baptist, before His coming, He
did not lead the establishing of His kingdom to an Old Testament
prophet, but rather came Himself as the messenger of that new
covenant which was built upon better promises, and to establish
His own kingdom which shall never end. For this is the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith
the Lord. I will put my laws into their
mind and write them in their hearts. And I will be to them
a God, and they shall be to me a people. Do you follow him?
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