Aside from the joy that John found in his mission, his life had been one of sorrow. His voice had been seldom heard except in the wilderness. His was a lonely lot. And he was not permitted to see the result of his own labors. It was not his privilege to be with Christ and witness the manifestation of divine power attending the greater light. It was not for him to see the blind restored to sight, the sick healed, and the dead raised to life. He did not behold the light that shone through every word of Christ, shedding glory upon the promises of prophecy. The least disciple who saw Christ's mighty works and heard His words was in this sense more highly privileged than John the Baptist, and therefore is said to have been greater than he.

Bortset fra den glæde,som Johannes fandt gennem sit kald, havde hans liv været fuldt af sorg. Hans røst var sjældent blevet hørt uden for ørkenen. Ensomheden var blevet hans lod, og han fik ikke lov til at se resultaterne af sin egen møje. Han fik ikke den forrettighed at være sammen med Kristus og være vidne til den udfoldelse af guddomskraft, der fulgte det større lys. Han fik ikke lov til at se de blinde atter blive seende, de syge helbredt og de døde opvakt til livet. Han så ikke det lys, der skinnede gennem ethvert af Kristi ord og kastede glans over profetiernes forjættelser. Den mindste discipel, der så Kristi kraftige gerninger og lyttede til hans ord, var i denne forstand mere begunstiget end Johannes Døber og siges derfor at være større end han.