- Outstanding Character 非凡的品性 (11:7-8; cf. 11:2-3)
John the Baptist had a zeal for the truth. Instead of protecting himself by concealing his doubts, he did not play the hypocrite, but went to Jesus with his question. He was strong in conviction, not wavering like a reed when shaken by every wind. He also lived a life of self-denial; his lifestyle was a living, visual protest against self-indulgence and the self-serving (cf. Matt. 3:4).
施洗约翰对真理持有热忱。他并不为了保护自己而伪装，隐瞒自己的疑惑，反倒是直接向耶稣提问。他有坚强的信念，不像芦苇那样随风摇摆不定。他也舍了自己——他的生活方式对一个自我放纵和自私的生命是个实际、鲜明的对比（参：太3:4）。
- Outstanding Calling 非凡的呼召 (11:9-11)
John was both a prophet and the fulfilment of prophecy. He was the Lord’s messenger, not only to prepare His way (Mal. 3:1), but also the one who was to baptize Him. He was the Messiah’s personal herald. Yet, for all the unique greatness of his role in human history, all believers that come after the cross are greater still, because they participate in the full understanding and experience of something John merely foresaw vaguely —the actual atoning work of Christ.
约翰是先知，亦是预言的应验。他是主的使者，不仅要预备主的道路（玛3:1），也要为主洗礼。他是弥赛亚个人的传令者。然而，虽然他在人类历史上有独特、伟大的作为，但仍不比十架后的信徒，因为这些信徒能够充分了解和经历约翰所只能隐约预见的事——基督的救赎工作。
- Outstanding Life 非凡的生命 (11:12-15)
Wherever John went, his message evoked strong verbal attacks from unbelieving men, which eventually led to his physical death. Everything from the Old Testament until John the Baptist pointed and moved toward Christ, and through the last words of Malachi, God had said that He would send another prophet much like Elijah into Israel (Mal. 4:5-6; cf. Luke 1:17).
无论到哪儿，约翰的信息总是召来不信徒激烈的口头攻击，这也最终导致了他的死亡。从旧约直到施洗约翰为止，一切都是指着、朝向基督的；神也借着《玛拉基书》的最后话语告诉我们，祂必差遣如以利亚的先知到以色列那里去（玛4:5-6；参：路1:17）。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- Greatness, in God’s economy, is vastly different from the world’s measure (e.g. intellectual achievement, wealth, power, etc.). Do we want to be great in the sight of God, or of man?
神对“伟大”的定义，与世人截然有别（如：聪明才智、财富、权力，等）。你想作神眼中的伟人，或是世人的呢？
- Ultimately, true greatness is not to mimic John the Baptist, but to be like Christ. Let us, then, walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called (Eph. 4:1).
最终，模仿施洗约翰并不能使人伟大，要效法的是基督。让我们行事为人要配得上所蒙的召唤（弗4:1）。
- God called us to go make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19-20). Let us not shrink back in fear when we have the opportunity to share Christ (Acts 4:19).
神要我们去使万民成为祂的门徒（太28:19-20）。当我们有机会分享基督时，让我们不要因害怕而退缩（徒4:19）。
