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What did Jesus say to the multitude concerning John the Baptist?

“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence” ([Matthew xi, 12]).

The words, “from the days of John the Baptist until now,” signify that a long period of time had elapsed since the days of John. Yet, on the very day that Jesus is said to have uttered them, he received a visit from the disciples of John, who was still living ([Matthew xi, 2, 3]).