Jesus’ Testimony to John
“I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John” (Luke 7:28)
On this Sunday, the First Sunday of the blessed month of Thoout, the Church reads Luke 7:28-35. In this Gospel, Christ gives testimony to the crowds in response to the question John the Baptist had sent earlier: “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Luke 7:20).
Christ affirms the greatness of John, saying: “I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John” (Luke 7:28). Christ says, “ I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John”. This statement highlights the significance of John’s role in preparing the way for Jesus. It also underscores the idea that John was a pivotal figure in the history of salvation. John the Baptist also knew that Christ was the Savior that was prophesied about and believed in Him. St. Ambrose states, “Even though John is greater than those with whom he was an equal “as being born by women”; yet the nature of the Lord Christ is different and is incomparable to any human birth; Man could never be compared to God”. Thus, John’s greatness lies in his mission, but Christ’s greatness lies in His divine nature and redemptive work.
The Lord then describes His generation: “They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep’” (Luke 7:31-32). These words expose the fickleness of the people’s hearts. They rejected John’s asceticism, accusing him of having a demon, and they rejected Christ’s mercy, calling Him “a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 7:33-34). As St. Cyril of Alexandria explains, “They did not understand the dispensation of Christ, nor the severity of John, but foolishly opposed both, being slaves to their own passions.”
Christ concludes with the saying: “Yet wisdom is justified by all her children” (Luke 7:35). This means that God’s wisdom is ultimately vindicated in the lives of those who accept it and live by it. No criticism or rejection can undo the truth of God’s saving plan. As St. Augustine said, “when He says, wisdom is justified of all her children, He show that the children of wisdom understand that righteousness consists neither in abstaining from nor eating food, but patiently enduring want” (Catena Aurea by St. Thomas Aquinas). In other words, true wisdom is seen not in empty forms but in endurance, faith, and a transformed life.
The testimony of Christ to John, and of John to Christ, forms a perfect harmony in the divine plan of salvation. John prepared the way through repentance: “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” ( Mark 1:4), and Christ brought the Kingdom through His mercy, Cross, and Resurrection: ‘and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem…”’ (Luke 24:46–47). The Church places this Gospel at the beginning of the Coptic year to remind us that salvation is not mere knowledge, but a life lived in God’s wisdom, enduring trials, practicing purity, and bearing fruit in love.
Let us therefore take refuge in God’s wisdom, and align our lives with His teachings, so that like John we may point others to Christ, and like the “children of wisdom” we may justify God’s work by our faith, endurance, and love.
Amen
Sources
- Bible, English Standard Version: Luke 7:28–35
- Commentaries on the Gospel of St. Luke by Fr. Tadros Malaty
- St. Ambrose, Exposition of the Gospel of Luke
- St. Augustine, Catena Aurea on Luke 7:35
- St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke