SOME Biblical expositors are a little doubtful as to the exact meaning of those words of Jesus regarding John the Baptist, as recorded by Matthew and Luke. John was in prison; yet he sent two of his followers to the Master to know whether or not he was the Christ. Then Jesus gave that memorable reply establishing his claim to the Messiahship by the healing, regenerative works that he was performing. Here was unmistakable, tangible evidence that could not be refuted. Divine power was in their midst. If God had ever left mankind, as the senses seemed to testify, then assuredly He had returned and was now manifesting Himself in meeting the needs of the suffering and the distressed.
One would like to know what John thought when he received the Master's message. Were his doubts dispelled? Was he so awakened to spiritual understanding that he again recognized the Christ, the spiritual idea of God, as he had done at his baptism, and gratefully acknowledged the advent of that Light which lighteth every man who in sincerity hungers to know the truth? As we read the glowing tribute paid to him by Jesus, we believe he did. Was there ever a more "rhythmic and impassioned eulogy," as one writer says, than that in which Jesus described John as "more than a prophet," as God's "messenger," and as preeminent among those that were "born of women"? Of these he declared, speaking "as one having authority," there had not risen "a greater than John the Baptist." This is a remarkable testimony to the divine mission and the fearless honesty and integrity of a remarkable man, placing him indeed on the pinnacle of human greatness; yet it was immediately followed by words that can be interpreted aright only when the spiritual exegesis which is revealed in Christian Science is applied: "Notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
Generally speaking, this is taken to mean that Jesus was thinking of the greater spiritual privileges that those under the new dispensation had, compared with those under the old dispensation or covenant. One commentator goes so far as to say that John, though near the kingdom of heaven, was not in it. Fortunately for us today, the Comforter has come, and is teaching us to behold things new and old in the purified consciousness of Love's illumination, so we learn that Jesus was expounding to humanity a great lesson. "Man that is born of a woman" may be great, humanly speaking, yet he is but the counterfeit of man in the divine image and likeness; and it was this man whom the Master desired to see and always recognized. So-called material man might loom large in the so-called material consciousness,—but was not that part of the fruit of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil," which had produced nothing but the appalling triad, sin, sickness, and death?
