洗者若翰纔是天國中最小的 John the Baptist Is The Least in the Kingdom of Heaven

天國系列（六）
洗者若翰纔是天國中最小的（瑪14:1-12）

今天我們讀了洗者若翰的殉道事跡，讓我們默想這位耶穌基督的先驅在天國的地位。
在顯聖容後，耶穌基督曾引用先知書（拉3:23），向門徒宣稱洗者就是厄里亞（瑪17:12）。洗者被黑落德囚禁時，曾派門徒詢問耶穌，祂是否要來的那一位（11:3）。之後，耶穌基督在群眾前公開稱讚洗者說：「我實在告訴你們：在婦女所生者中，沒有興起一位比洗者若翰更大的；但在天國裡最小的，也比他大」（11:11）。

洗者若翰的確偉大，且看，他在母胎時，已經獲得天主子的拯救，洗去原罪而充滿聖神，在母腹中雀躍（路1:41）¹。雖然他所獲得的恩寵，不及聖母「始胎無染原罪」的恩寵偉大，但正如耶穌基督的定性，洗者已經是「後無來者」可以媲美的了！ 作為耶穌基督的先驅，我們稱洗者若翰為「舊約的最後一位先知」，即新約以前天主的最後一位代言人。他的任務以殉道告終，他以死見證的是十誡，而不是耶穌基督。雖然洗者是「後無來者」的偉大，但可惜他仍不及天國裡最小的一位幸福，未能在死前親眼見證天主的國帶著威能降來（谷9:1），即耶穌基督的復活！

親愛的諸位，讀福音時，我們應該小心，不要被世俗的「大小」觀念衝昏頭腦。要知道福音的精神在於服事他人、造就他人（路22:26）。洗者若翰服事猶太人，向他們宣講悔改；為他們洗禮，預備他們的心靈，迎接默西亞的來臨。他更為耶穌基督施洗，以「完成全義」（瑪3:15）。耶穌基督的首批門徒中，也有來自洗者的門徒，例如若望和安德肋（若1:40）。因此洗者在造就猶太人方面，功不可抹！我們可以否定洗者若翰是天國的一員嗎？當然不可以。既然我們可以肯定洗者若翰是天國的一員，而且他比天國裡最小的還要小；順理成章，洗者若翰纔是天國裡最小的了！
聖若翰洗者，為我等祈！亞孟。
¹就「洗者若翰出生時便沒有原罪」的問題，程明聰神父有更詳細的解說。
問問程神父
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：en.wikipedia.org

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Kingodm of Heaven Series (VI)
John the Baptist Is The Least in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 14:1-12)

Today we read of the martyrdom of John the Baptist. Let us meditate the status of this forerunner of Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven.
After the Transfiguration, Jesus Christ quoted the prophet (Malachi 3:23) to identify the Baptist as Elijah (Matthew 17:12). When the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod Antipas, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus whether He was the one who was to come (11:3). Afterwards, Jesus praised the Baptist in public, “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he”(11:11).

John the Baptist is great indeed. Look, while he was still in his mother’s womb, he had already obtained the salvation of the Son of God, had his Original Sin removed and was filled with the Holy Spirit and leaping in joy (Luke 1:41)². Although the grace he has received cannot be compared to that of the BVM’s immaculate conception, nobody after John the Baptist is comparable to him as declared by Jesus Christ Himself!

As the forerunner of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist is also called “the Last Prophet of the Old Testament” by us. Which means he is the last spokesman of God before the New Testament. He accomplished his mission in martyrdom. With his death, he bore witness to the Ten Commandments and not to Jesus Christ. Although nobody after the Baptist is greater than him, he is less blessed than the least in the Kingdom of Heaven because he was not able to see the Kingdom of God come in glory (Mark 9:1), namely the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Beloved Brethren! Don’t be fooled by the secular “great/small” dichotomy when we study the gospels. Beknown that the spirit of the Gospel is to serve and to edify others (Luke 22:26). The Baptist served the Jews by preaching repentance to them. He baptized them to prepare their hearts to receive the Messiah. He even baptized Jesus Christ to fulfil all righteousness (Matthew 3:15). Among the first batch of Jesus’ disciples were the Baptist’s disciples, such as Andrew and John (John 1:40). Therefore, the Baptist’s effort in building up the Jews is indispensable! Can we deny John the Baptist a place in the Kingdom of Heaven? Of course we cannot! Since we’re certain that John the Baptist is a member of the Kingdom of Heaven whose least member is greater than him, logically, John the Baptist is the least of the Kingdom of Heaven!
St. John the Baptist. Pray for us. Amen.
²Fr. Francis Ching has a more in-depth explanation at
Ask Fr. Francis