February 10 | Luke 7:18-30

Pastor Dave Mann
Feb 10, 2025
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

Privileged Seats

By Dave Mann

Luke 7:28 -- I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Who was John the Baptist? He was the last in a long line of prophets whom God sent to prepare the way to welcome and receive Jesus the Messiah. (See Luke 16:16.) Think about the company of prophets with whom John is associated – Moses, Isaiah, Micah, Elijah, Elisha, etc. To get an overview of the chronology of the best-known prophets, check out this website. (Click here). In addition, lesser-known prophets include Hulda, Ahijah, and several unnamed prophets.

John prophesied about the coming of the Messiah. Still, he did not live long enough to see the crucifixion, death, resurrection, ascension, and in-filling of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. John knew the Law. John knew the moral code of God’s ways. John knew the need for repentance and God’s forgiveness. But he did not live when the power of the resurrection fueled the spread of saving faith in the kingdom of God. Even in his last days, John could not see clearly what God was doing in Jesus.

We, who live this side of the inauguration of the Kingdom of God, are privileged to see and benefit from the cosmic events brought into reality by the Cross and the Resurrection. That clarity sets us apart from John the Baptist in significant ways. John looked forward to these events with faithful expectation. We look back with gratitude and faith.

John was one of those prophets who spoke the Word of God faithfully and suffered for it. But he did not see the fulfillment of God’s Messianic plan on this side of heaven. John is no doubt included in the closing paragraph of Hebrews 11 (the Hall of Fame of Faith) verses 35-40.

Others were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

John is certainly to be revered for his faithfulness even to the point of martyrdom. However, in terms of having a clear view of what God was doing on the stage of the Cross and the Empty Tomb, we have the privileged seats. We get to see what others like John the Baptist only dreamed about.

PRAYER

Thank you, Lord God, for the prophets of the Old Testament whom you inspired with your Word, especially for John the Baptist. I am not worthy to have a clearer view of your plan of salvation than they had, yet you ushered me into this era of history in which through the New Testament you give me clarity about the salvation you have worked for me and all creation, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of six. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.