Jesus said, “Among those born of women, from Adam until John the Baptist, there is no one superior to John the Baptist that his eyes should not be lowered (before him). Yet I have said, whichever one of you comes to be a child will be acquainted with the kingdom and will become superior to John.”
The holy sparks of the soul of Elijah incarnated as John the Baptist. The Spirit of the prophets was manifest in complete fullness in John, so that, through him, the way might be opened for the incarnation of the soul of the Messiah and there might be a holy tzaddik to teach and initiate the perfect Master. To accomplish this sacred mission, the soul of John the Baptist had to ascend higher than the soul of Moshenu and had to bring down in full the Spirit of the prophets. Only in this way, through Divine Grace, could John be the spiritual teacher and guide of the great teacher, Yeshua Messiah. Therefore, among all of the prophets, it is rightly said that John is superior.
Not only did Yeshua take upon himself the burden of the world’s sin, John also took upon himself the weight of the sin of Israel. When the holy soul that incarnated as John was previously incarnate as the prophet Elijah, he established the karmic connection for his own sacrifice at the hands of King Herod when he beheaded and slew the priests of Baal. Then, in his death, he took upon himself the burden of Israel’s sin and, with his own life, marked the conclusion of the succession of prophets under the old covenant, sealing it with his own blood. This holy act opened the way for the dawn of the new covenant and the succession of apostles. Lord Yeshua is alluding to this in this verse.
Elisha, the disciple of Elijah, asked his holy tzaddik for the great blessing of twice the power of the master of the assembly of prophets, namely Elijah himself. The disciple was granted his request and received twice the power of the holy Shekinah that was with his tzaddik. Thus, this precious soul ascended beyond his holy master, becoming the soul that would first bring down to earth the holy sparks of the soul of the Messiah. The soul incarnate as Yeshua was this precious, holy soul. Thus, in John the Baptist and Yeshua, something that was begun between Elijah and Elisha was fulfilled and made complete.
What does it mean that the disciple of the Anointed One who becomes a child will be greater than John? First, that the soul of the Messiah imparts a far greater blessing, revealing keys to the mysteries that were formerly hidden and opening the way to the world of Supernal Light. It also means that the new covenant and apostolic succession is a superior Light-transmission to that of the patriarchs and that of the prophets. The teachings and initiations of the Messiah come from above all those previously manifest.
Here, too, there is a holy promise of spiritual development and evolution beyond that state of the prophets, the prophecy of an evolution to Christhood. For one who fully becomes a son or daughter of the Living God, a holy child of the Light, embodies exactly the same Son of God. Any soul that embodies the Spirit of the Messiah is both son of man and Son of God, the very same Word and Wisdom coming into being through his or her soul and spirit.
Along with divine pride, which we have spoken about in much detail, Yeshua indicates the necessary balance of spiritual humility, for one cannot have divine pride without spiritual humility, lest one become extremely unbalanced. He demonstrates humility by giving praise to his own holy tzaddik, as do all true and faithful disciples. In so doing, he becomes like a window through which the Light-transmission flows to his disciples. We also wish to have such humility coupled with divine pride.