John the Baptist
Back to Home
Back to Article Index
Back to Baptist History
Back to Baptist Forefathers
Articles Concerning John the Baptist
Documents Concerning John the Baptist
None
Books Concerning John the Baptist
None
According to Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist was the Forerunner of Jesus Christ. His prophecy in Isaiah 40:3 (The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.) was fulfilled in Matthew 3:3 (For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.).
He was born six months before Jesus to his father, Zacharias the priest, and to his mother, Elisabeth, both of whom “walked blameless in the Lord in all commandments and ordinances.” His name was foretold to be John by the angel, Gabriel. Zacharias lost his speech due to a lack of faith in God concerning the birth of his son, nevertheless, he was filled with the Spirit from the womb much like the prophet Jeremiah (Luke 1:15 ). His birth was similar to that of Isaac’s:
- His father was stricken in years,
- His mother was barren,
- His birth was herald by an angel,
- He was prophesied.
According to Luke 1:15, John the Baptist was a Nazarite. His ministry started at age thirty when the “Word of the Lord came unto him.” (Luke 3:2). He preached repentance in the wilderness wearing unusual clothes and eating wild honey and locusts. He preached against the Pharisees and Sadducees, labeling them as a “generation of Vipers.” He did not fear man. Large crowds of people came to see him and hear him preach (Matthew 3:5). He was also very humble as he said that he was not worthy to unloose Jesus’ shoe latchet.
He baptized many people as a symbol of the coming of Jesus death (the great commission had not been commanded yet and Jesus had not died, therefore his baptism was baptism unto repentance). John lifted up Christ by referring to Him as the “Lamb of God”. John witnessed to Jesus, desiring to “decrease that He might increase”. John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ. His purpose, to make the people ready for the Lord, was fulfilled when he baptized Christ.
John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod for preaching against his marrying of his sister-in-law (“His brother Philip’s wife”), and beheaded by the same man for the price of Herodias daughter dancing before him on his Birthday.
And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give [it] thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give [it] thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; [yet] for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. And when his disciples heard [of it], they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
(Mark 6:22-29)
John the Baptist died in body, but his spirit still tarried in the hearts of believers. Jesus said he was a “burning and shining light” (John 5:35 ) and that he was the greatest prophet born of women (according to Luke 7:28 )
Back To Top