And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”…Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
(Matthew 11:6-11 NKJV)
Men give compliments to others when they find a quality they appreciate. To women, usually it is about the way they dress. To men, it is usually concerning the way they act, or some form of bravery.
Jesus here gives a double compliment. John the Baptist is in prison. He has been captured by the Roman authorities for inciting rebellion. King Herod has used this capture as a personal vendetta. Herod actually respects the man, which is why John is not yet dead.
John begins to doubt the mission, and everything he has done. Is he really supposed to point the people to a Messiah? Is Jesus the Messiah, or has John made a mistake. So John sends some people to ask Jesus for clarity. Jesus replies and says to look at the evidence. The miracles and the results prove that Jesus is the Messiah. The results prove that what John had been doing – pointing people to Jesus – was right all along.
Then Jesus gives John the Baptist perhaps the greatest compliment ever given. Jesus says that there is no better human being than John the Baptist. Why? Because John the Baptist was not offended at Jesus. John was not ashamed to tell others about Jesus. Jesus extends the compliment to every person who is not ashamed to tell others about Him.
Jesus extends a compliment to you and I, just as He did to John the Baptist. Jesus’s greatest compliment applies to you and I when we are not ashamed or offended to tell others about Jesus and His work.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In