7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,     who will prepare your way before you.’REFLECTIONSWritten by John CochraneJohn: the son of Zechariah the priest. Filled with the Holy Spirit from birth, chosen by God to tell people of the coming of Jesus the Messiah.John the Baptist was something new and certainly stood out from his surroundings. Though he could have been a priest like his father, he exchanged those linen robes for a garment of coarse camel hair, and rather than settling in Jerusalem where he could have lived well, he took to the wilderness living on grasshoppers and wild honey (see Matthew 3). John’s arrival certainly caused a stir – not only because of his unusual style, but also because of his dramatic message. He announced that the Messiah was about to arrive and that people must change their ways. Crowds flocked to hear John and he baptised them in the Jordan river as a sign of their repentance, which is why he was known as “the Baptist”.Jesus reminds his hearers that they had recognised John as a prophet – that was why they flocked to see him. But Jesus says that John was even more than a prophet (v. 9). Perhaps the reason is because the One for whom John prepared the way was even greater than he realised. Jesus says that John was the messenger God foretold in Malachi 3:1. But in Malachi, that messenger would prepare the way for God himself to come. It’s no wonder that John was a bit confused about Jesus! We are even more privileged than John, because we have seen far more clearly that Jesus is not just a human saviour. He is God come to save.QUESTIONIf John was greater than all the prophets in the Old Testament, and he came to prepare the way for Jesus, what does that tell us about Jesus?ABOUT THE AUTHORJohn is a member at our Fairfield Early Church.