Introduction
John the Baptist (Hebrew: Yochanan ha-Tevilah—Greek: Iōannēs ho Baptistēs) was born circa 4 BC (3757–3758 in the Hebrew calendar) in the Roman client state of Judea. His father was Zechariah, a priest belonging to the order of Abijah. John's mother was Elizabeth, a descendant of the Hebrew forefather Aaron. He was Jesus' second cousin and forerunner, proclaiming his messianic arrival and preparing Israel for Jesus' ministry. John was Jesus' hype man! His name in Hebrew, Yochanan (H3076), literally means "God has been gracious." Jesus identified John as "Elijah who is to come" (Matt. 11:14), quoting the prophet Malachi: "See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD arrives" (4:5). The angel Gabriel also said this about John when speaking to his father Zechariah: "He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:16-17). Jesus gave John his highest compliment ever: "Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Matt. 11:11). John baptized Jesus after he gave this important reason: "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness" (Matt. 3:15).
Revealing Jesus through Baptism
Many scholars believe that John was a member of the Essenes, an ascetic Jewish community who anticipated the messiah and practiced ritual baptism. He lived in the Judean wilderness while the Essenes lived at Qumran. John wore camel's hair and leather, eating locusts and wild honey (see Matt. 3:4; Mark 1:6). However, for John, baptism in water (Greek: baptisma; G908, "immersion" or "dip") was not just about cleansing, but of repentance (Greek: metanoia; G3341, "change of mind"). The Essenes considered baptism their way of being ritually clean beyond the Jerusalem temple but in line with the Law of Moses. However, John's baptism required an individual to relinquish their life of deliberate sin (see Matt. 3:2-11; Mark 1:4, 15; Luke 3:3, 8), not just a routine practice of self-atonement. Moreover, John baptized Jesus to inaugurate his ministry and to solemnize his atoning death for all people (see Rom. 6:4). One of the places John baptized people was Aenon near Salim, a Judean village on the Jordan River with an abundance of water (see John 3:23). He also immersed various penitents near Bethany, a Judean town near Jerusalem (see John 1:28).
John the Baptist's ministry ended when Jesus' ministry began. Jesus' earliest disciples had been students of John first (see John 1:35-36). Furthermore, when the apostles looked to replace Judas Iscariot after his death, they believed John's baptism was a requirement (see Acts 1:22). John testified, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord'" (John 1:23; cf. Isa. 40:3). He was not the Messiah; John quickly dismissed this identification. However, John was equally swift to prepare his Jewish compatriots for the true Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth: "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie" (John 1:26-27). In other words, John was saying he was not worthy enough to be a slave to Jesus, let alone a prophet like Elijah. Nevertheless, this was John's most incredible testimony about the Messiah:
Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, "A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me." I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel. Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One" (John 1:29-34).
Death of John the Baptist
Herod Antipas (21 BC–AD 39) sentenced John the Baptist to death by decapitation circa AD 30. John rebuked Herod for divorcing his wife Phasaelis to illicitly marry Herodias, the wife of Herod Philip (20 BC–AD 34)—his brother. So, Antipas had John arrested and imprisoned. At one of his banquets, he was so impressed by his stepdaughter Salome's erotic dancing that Antipas granted her any request, no matter how whimsical. Salome talked to Herodias, who demanded John the Baptist's head on a serving plate (see Matt. 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29). Josephus also mentioned John in his Antiquities of the Jews, recording that Herod Antipas executed him at the Machaerus fortress:
Now some Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God. That very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that, the washing would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not to the remission of some sins, but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. Now when others came in crowds about him, for they were very greatly moved by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the significant influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly, out of Herod's suspicious temper, he was sent a prisoner to Machaerus, the castle I mentioned before, and was put to death. Now the Jews believed that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod and a mark of God's displeasure toward him (Bk. 18, Ch. 5, § 2).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the multifaceted ministry of John the Baptist emerges as a pivotal figure in the religious landscape of ancient Judea. While some scholars suggest his affiliation with the Essenes, his distinct message and baptismal practice underscored a deeper call to repentance and spiritual renewal. John's role in baptizing Jesus, marking the beginning of Christ's public ministry, highlights his prophetic significance in preparing the way for the true Messiah. His humility, as demonstrated in his acknowledgment of Jesus' superiority, reflects his unwavering commitment to his divine mission. John's legacy endures as a beacon of righteousness and herald of the coming kingdom, reminding believers of the profound impact of preparing hearts for the arrival of Christ.
Prayer
Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of the universe; by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent, boldly rebuke vice, patiently suffer for the sake of truth, and proclaim the coming of Jesus the Messiah our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Bibliography
Attridge, Harold W., ed. The NRSV HarperCollins Study Bible, Revised and Updated with Apocryphal and Deuterocanonical Books. San Francisco: HarperOne, 2006.
The Book of Common Prayer. Huntington Beach, CA: Anglican Liturgy Press, 2019. p. 629. http://bcp2019.anglicanchurch.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/BCP2019.pdf.
Dobson, Kent, ed. NIV First-Century Study Bible: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014.
Houdmann, S. Michael. "Who Was John the Baptist in the Bible?" Colorado Springs: Got Questions Ministries. https://www.gotquestions.org/life-John-Baptist.html.
Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews 18. Peter Kirby, edited for Early Jewish Writings, 2001. http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/josephus/ant18.html.
Kaiser, Walter C., Jr., and Duane Garrett. NIV Archaeological Study Bible: An Illustrated Walk through Biblical History and Culture. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.
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