John was great because he called people to true repentance (not its counterfeits, such as religious repentance, pagan repentance, worldly sorrow, mere confession, blame shifting, minimizing, and excuse making), because he endured impossible people, and because he suffered critics. Above all, though, John was great because he was filled with the Holy Spirit; like a kite filled with the power of the wind, he flew high and strong. That’s such a better life than a kite that never gets out of the box.