Greater than John

“I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11
At first glance, this statement by Jesus seems to be a contradiction. How can John the Baptist be the greatest man who had arisen, but the least person in the kingdom of heaven be greater than him?
We need to realise that there are two groups of people in view here. John is called the last of the Old Testament prophets (Matt. 11:13). When we look at a list of the prophets of the Old Testament, we come up with names such as Elijah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jonah, etc. John is greater than all these: because he was the one who heralded the coming of Messiah. The others prophesied about Him, but John was the one who pointed directly at Him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
But then we read, “he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” The kingdom of heaven is a term used by Jesus referring to the time after His coming. It encompasses the church, because Jesus is King in the hearts of His followers. (By ‘the church’ I am referring to all true believers in Jesus Christ, all over the world, from the time of Pentecost to the Rapture.) Everyone who is part of this group of believers is greater than John: because they have taken the opportunity to believe in Christ who has already come.
We read similar thoughts in the books of John and Hebrews. “Then Jesus told [Thomas], ‘Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’” (John 20:29). Are you one of those who have believed in Jesus, yet have not seen Him? Then you are being referred to here!
“These [Old Testament believers] were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Heb. 11:39-40). We have a fantastic opportunity that the Old Testament saints did not have. Where they looked forward, we can look back on the finished work of Christ.