As the Messiah's herald, John was "much more than a prophet." For while prophets had seen from afar Christ's advent, to John it was given to behold Him, to hear the testimony from heaven to His Messiahship, and to present Him to Israel as the Sent of God. Yet Jesus said, "He that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

Som Messias' forløber var Johannes "endog mere end en profet". For medens profeterne fra det fjerne havde skuet Kristi komme, havde Johannes fået den gave at se ham, at høre vidnesbyrdet fra Himmelen om, at han var Messias, og at præsentere ham for Israel som den af Gud udsendte. Alligevel sagde Jesus: "Den mindste i Guds rige er større end han."