I am the LORD, your God,
who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, "Fear not,
I will help you.
With God's help we enter the Kingdom of heaven. This makes us at least the least in the Kingdom, which according to Jesus, makes us greater than John the Baptist. Yet John seemed more impressive than most members of the Kingdom we know. His preaching was dramatic and caused a movement of repentance. He and his followers were among the first who attempted to take the Kingdom by force. That force was used to choose to seek God rather than gratifying the desires of the flesh. Yet we ourselves rarely seek God so vigorously. We seldom proclaim his coming. In what sense are we greater than John?
We have not yet fully arrived. It is more true to say that those who have gone on to eternal rest are, because of their union of God, greater than John. Yet even now we share in something of this greatness because God has already united himself to us in Jesus Christ.
The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain,
their tongues are parched with thirst.
I, the LORD, will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
If we do not do the mighty deeds of John it isn't because we lack the potential. Indeed Jesus told his followers they would do greater deeds than even he himself (see John 14:12). The trouble with us is that we often choose to live from our old man, the residual sinful self that remains even in Christians. We need the advice of Paul, "to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds" (see Ephesians 4:22-23). We are called to seek the Kingdom of heaven even if it means doing violence to that old self. Paul is very familiar with the active intensity by which we are called to seek God.
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live (see Romans 8:13).
..and again..
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified (see First Corinthians 9:27)
Though of course this violence and force is not human strength. All such strength originates from the old self that needs to die. This new grace comes from the life of the Spirit within us who enables us to live in a new and better way. It is therefore not a trial or an imposition to be zealous but is rather the only way to live with the peace and fullness of life that God desires for each of us.
But you shall rejoice in the LORD,
and glory in the Holy One of Israel.
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