Greater than John

“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.” Luke 7:28
Jesus uttered these words after John the Baptist’s messengers had left. This is a verse that confuses many people, because it looks like a complete contradiction. How can John be the greatest man ever born, and yet be less than the least of those in the kingdom of God?
The important thing to note is those four words: “in the kingdom of God”. The kingdom is a new group of people, of which John was not a part. He was the last prophet of the Old Testament and the old dispensation (Matt. 11:13). Once Messiah came, then the kingdom of God was established in the hearts of believers.
So how is it that the least of the NT believers is greater than the greatest of the OT believers? Because we now have direct communion with God through the Holy Spirit indwelling us, which will never be taken away. Think of the great men of faith in the Old Testament: David, Abraham, the prophets. Although they had periods of communion with God, it was not always the case. It was David who wrote, “Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Ps. 51:11) – something that the Christian does not need to fear. The Holy Spirit will never be taken from us: He is our guarantee of salvation (Eph. 1:13-14). We have a unique relationship with God now, that the OT saints yearned for. “God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Heb. 11:40).