We see that Jesus uses John as an example that there were many people who flocked to hear John.  It was as if they were about to take the Kingdom of Heaven by force. This has continued. Since “the kingdom of heaven,” has been preached, there has been a rush to hear it. Those people were pressing into the message to obtain the blessing, as if they would take it by violence. He says, people had pressed around him and John since they began to preach. There is no doubt here to the manner in which salvation is sought by individual sinners, but it is simply a record of the fact that multitudes had rushed around him and John to hear the gospel.

Matthew 11:12

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. (NIV)

 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. (NLT) 

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. (ESV)”