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John the Baptist is known as the forerunner of Jesus Christ, who came to prepare the way for the Lord’s arrival. John was an evangelist and preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He was called "the Baptist" because he baptized in water those who recognized their wrongdoings and the need to change to please God.
The story of John is narrated in the four Gospels, and his coming was foretold by the prophets Isaiah (40:3) and Malachi (3:1; 4:5). John came to prepare and open the way for the Lord. He was a strong and courageous voice announcing the arrival of the Messiah. He baptized Jesus and proclaimed Him as the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."
John the Baptist was the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah and had a familial connection to Jesus. His miraculous birth was announced by the angel Gabriel, just like that of Jesus. His parents belonged to the priestly lineage of Aaron and were both considered righteous before the Lord. John's birth was a miracle, as Elizabeth was barren and the couple was quite old.
It was announced that, even before his birth, John would be a man filled with the Holy Spirit and would prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He would be a powerful prophet in words, just like Elijah. And all of this was fulfilled with the arrival of John, who brought great joy to the family and confirmed that "nothing is impossible for God."
The messenger and baptizer, John the Baptist, was a unique, humble, and exotic man. He did not drink wine or strong drink, wore clothing made of camel's hair, had a leather belt, and ate locusts and wild honey. His rugged and firm lifestyle was in line with his direct and impactful message which included phrases like "Brood of vipers", "repent" and "correct your way of living to please God."
John was the last prophet of the old covenant. He was an evangelist who emerged preaching in the desert. The Bible says nothing about his childhood or youth, but it presents him as a messenger of repentance and faith in Jesus. His ministry lasted a short time, but it was quite effective, fulfilling the purpose for which God called him. John the Baptist was beheaded before he turned 35.
Key Characteristics of John the Baptist
- Humility: John repeatedly declared that Jesus was superior to him (Mark 1:7; John 1:19-23).
- Just and Holy: John was a righteous and holy man (Mark 6:20).
- Focused on Preparing the Way for Jesus: He didn’t seek to perform miracles, but rather to prepare the people for Jesus (John 10:41).
- Simple Appearance and Diet: John's clothing was made of camel's hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4).
- Frequent Fasting: He and his disciples often fasted (Matthew 9:14).
- Strong Personality: John preached repentance with authority and power, commanding attention (Luke 3:7-9).
- Announced the Kingdom of God: He proclaimed the coming of God’s kingdom (Matthew 3:2).
- Acknowledged His Role: John publicly confessed that he was not the Christ or Elijah (John 1:19-21).
- Recognized Jesus as the Messiah: He acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah and the Lamb of God (John 1:29-34).
- Prophet of the Holy Spirit Baptism: He prophesied that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11).
- Attracted Crowds for Baptism: His preaching drew large crowds to the Jordan River, where he baptized them with the baptism of repentance (Matthew 3:3-6).
- Bold and Direct: John was courageous, bold, and upfront in his preaching, never sugarcoating his message (Mark 1:5; Matthew 3:7; 14:4).
- Rebuked Religious and Political Leaders: He confronted the religious and political leaders of his time, calling them a "brood of vipers" and urging them to produce fruits worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:7-8).
- Martyrdom: John suffered martyrdom, being executed for his bold stand (Matthew 14:10-12).
Bible Study on John the Baptist
The Birth of John the Baptist
The birth of John the Baptist is described in a special way in the Bible, as it is directly linked to that of Jesus: Elizabeth, his mother, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were relatives.
John's birth was miraculous. His parents were advanced in age, and Elizabeth was barren. Despite her condition, Elizabeth always prayed to God for a child, and her prayers were answered.
While serving as a priest, Zechariah, his father, was surprised by the appearance of the angel Gabriel in the temple. He announced that Elizabeth would bear a son who would be filled with the Holy Spirit and would be named John. In disbelief, Zechariah questioned the angel and, as a result, became mute until the prophecy was fulfilled.
in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel. He informed her of her relative's pregnancy and that she would also have a son named Jesus. Thus, the age difference between John the Baptist and Jesus was only six months. Following this revelation, Mary visited Elizabeth. According to Luke 1:39-45, when Mary greeted Elizabeth, John, still in the womb, leaped for joy.
John was born and circumcised on the eighth day. During the ceremony, Elizabeth declared that the baby's name would be John. The couple was questioned, as there were no relatives with that name. Still mute, Zechariah took a tablet and wrote, "His name is John." Upon doing so, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak, praising God. The Bible records Zechariah's song in Luke 1:68-80, where the priest refers to the boy as the "prophet of the Most High."
Popular Christian culture has adopted the idea that John the Baptist and Jesus were cousins, but we cannot be certain about their exact degree of relationship. Although the Bible states that Elizabeth and Mary were relatives (from the Greek "suggenes"), we do not know the exact level of that kinship.
The ministry of the prophet John the Baptist.
As prophesied in Isaiah 40:3, John the Baptist was "the voice crying in the wilderness," preparing the way for the ministry of Jesus Christ. According to Luke 3:3, John the Baptist "went throughout the whole region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins," fulfilling what was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah.
The Bible, in Luke 3:1-2, states that John the Baptist began to preach in the wilderness in "the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod was tetrarch of Galilee," and "Annas and Caiaphas were high priests." Scholars suggest that this period corresponds to the approximate year of 26 A.D.
The prophet John the Baptist had a strong personality and exercised his ministry with boldness and courage. His preaching focused on repentance for sins through baptism in water and the announcement of the coming of the Messiah.
Unlike the priests who wore valuable garments, John traveled through the desert, eating and dressing in a rustic manner. We can say that his ministry was a transition between the old and the new covenant established in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
John the Baptist Baptizes Jesus in the Waters of the Jordan River
John the Baptist always recognized Jesus as the Savior of the world and had the honor of baptizing Him in the waters of the Jordan River. He knew he was not worthy of such a task but agreed with Jesus that it was necessary to fulfill the Word of God.
The baptism of Jesus was a wonderful event, and John the Baptist witnessed a key moment in the revelation of Christ's divinity. As reported in Matthew 3:13-17, when Jesus emerged from the waters, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit - in the form of a dove - descended upon Him. A voice from heaven said: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
After the baptism, John testified publicly that Jesus was the Lamb of God. According to the passage in John 1:19-28, some priests and Levites speculated whether John the Baptist was the Messiah or even the prophet Elijah. He loudly denied it and prophesied that the Messiah was near.
The day after this event, John the Baptist approached Jesus and publicly confessed that He was the Savior, explaining to the people in detail what had happened during the baptism in the Jordan River, testifying that Jesus was the Son of God. In this way, everything John had prophesied during his ministry was confirmed.
The Death of John the Baptist
The ministry of John the Baptist was one filled with authority. He transformed the lives of many, but also provoked the anger and displeasure of the politicians and religious leaders of his time. John publicly denounced the adultery of Herod Antipas - then governor of Galilee - with Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. This public denunciation, in addition to raising suspicions about the rulers, led to the arrest of John the Baptist.
Herod did not want to kill him, but Herodias hated John and waited for the opportunity to do so. With John imprisoned, Herod kept the situation under control. However, during a birthday banquet, Herodias' daughter pleased her stepfather with a dance. This gave her the right to make a request. She, guided by her mother, made an extraordinary request: the head of John the Baptist.
Distressed before the guests, Herod did as Herodias’ daughter had asked: he had John beheaded in prison and presented his head on a platter to the guests. His disciples buried his body and informed Jesus of what had happened.
The Bible does not specify John the Baptist’s age at death, but according to scholars' calculations, the prophet was born in 2 B.C. and died between 27 and 30 A.D., before reaching 35 years of age.