Matthew 11:11 / God's Story

When I was in 6th grade, I was cast in my first-ever musical—The Music Man. The story goes that a traveling conman convinces the local River City residents to start a band by purchasing his instruments and uniforms. The only problem is the band that forms has no musical experience, so the end result is more elephants calls and car horns than four-part harmony.  What role was I cast in, you ask? The trumpet player in the terrible band! So naturally I had one job: perform terribly. 

 It's a strange thing to prepare for the role of bad trumpet player…if I did my job right I’d get none of the credit; yet if I mastered this role it would bolster the work of those around me and strengthen the storyline as a whole. 

Which begs the question, ‘Am I ok with the role I have to play in God’s story?’ In a world that defines success by notoriety, praise, and being in the spotlight, it can be hard to play the role of a supporting cast member.

Through the life of John the Baptist, God shows us what it looks like to play this role well. Matthew 11:11 says:

“Truly, I say to you, among those born of women, there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

In our lust for recognition, we search for greatness that will put us on par with the most famous characters in history like John. But what we often miss is the unceremonious end so many of them meet. In Matthew 14, John is put to death because of the rash oath of a pagan king and the secrecy of an adulterous couple (Matthew 14:1-11). What a sudden and unexpected end to the earthly life of a Christ-follower.

“Is it worth it?” we ask. “Did it make a difference?” “What’s the point if it can all end at any moment?” But God through His Word gives us a heavenly perspective. As Isaiah wrote about John:

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Mark 1:2

John understood this heavenly perspective and leveraged every single aspect of his life to achieve his goal. His role was to prepare the world to receive the good news of Jesus Christ—to shine the spotlight on God Himself. 

Which brings us back to our role in God’s story. Will I hog the spotlight, or will I humbly play the role of supporting cast member in a worldwide drama that brings all glory to Christ? The gift of our role is that as the curtain falls on our scene, the eternal story of God’s glory will continue. So what we find is that John’s life wasn’t short-changed, it was leveraged for God’s glory with an eternal, lasting impact. Our lives can do the same.

"Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
 Only what’s done for Christ will last."
-C.T. Studd (British missionary to China, India and Africa)

Am I ok with the role God has given me to play in His story? 

How can I use my life to bring all glory to Christ?


Blessings, 

Pastor Kevin G