Today’s Gospel introduces John the Baptist. We know a lot about him but there is still a lot more we’d like to know. His mission was to prepare the people to receive Jesus. His birth was prophesized by the prophet Isaiah 40:1-5,9 and Malachi 3:1-5. Jesus quotes Malachi in Matthew 11:10 which suggests Jesus recognized John the Baptist as the one prophesized in Isaiah to be the forerunner of the Messiah. Matthew 11:11 recounts Jesus’ words: “Truly I tell you, among those born of women has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” John still has much to offer the 21st century Christian.
