John the Baptist

Identity

John the Baptist is the son of the priest Zacharias and Elisabeth (Luke 1). He is the last of the Old Testament prophets and the first of the New — the forerunner sent to prepare the way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3). Christ says of him, 'Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist' (Matthew 11:11).

Name and titles

'John' — Yochanan in Hebrew — means 'The LORD is gracious.' He is called 'the Baptist' (Greek Baptistes), 'the forerunner', 'the voice of one crying in the wilderness', and 'Elias which was for to come' (Matthew 11:14).

Historical period

• c. 6 BC — Announced by the angel Gabriel to Zacharias in the temple (Luke 1:5-25). Born to elderly parents at a hill town of Judea (Luke 1:39-80).
• c. AD 26-27 — Begins preaching in the wilderness of Judaea; baptises in the Jordan; wears a garment of camel's hair (Matthew 3:1-6).
• c. AD 26-27 — Baptises Christ in the Jordan (Matthew 3:13-17). Bears witness: 'Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world' (John 1:29).
• c. AD 28-29 — Imprisoned by Herod Antipas for rebuking his marriage to Herodias (Mark 6:17-20). Sends his own disciples to Christ (Matthew 11:2-6).
• c. AD 29 — Beheaded in prison (traditionally at Machaerus, on the eastern side of the Dead Sea; Mark 6:21-29).

Scripture appearances

• Luke 1:5-25 (KJV) The announcement to Zacharias in the temple.
• Luke 1:39-45 (KJV) The visitation — John leaps in the womb at Mary's greeting.
• Luke 1:57-80 (KJV) The birth and the Benedictus.
• Matthew 3:1-12 // Mark 1:1-8 // Luke 3:1-18 (KJV) The preaching in the wilderness.
• Matthew 3:13-17 (KJV) The baptism of Christ.
• John 1:19-34 (KJV) 'Behold the Lamb of God.'
• John 3:30 (KJV) 'He must increase, but I must decrease.'
• Mark 6:14-29 (KJV) The martyrdom.

Connected Places

• The hill country of Judea — his birthplace (traditionally Ein Karem, west of Jerusalem).
• The wilderness of Judaea — where he preached.
• Jordan River — where he baptised.
• Machaerus — the fortress east of the Dead Sea where he was beheaded.

Connected People

• Zacharias — his father, a priest.
• Elisabeth — his mother, kinswoman of Mary.
• Mary — his mother's kinswoman.
• Christ Jesus — his cousin and Saviour.
• Herod Antipas — the tetrarch who imprisoned and beheaded him.
• Herodias — the wife whose complaint sealed his death.

Salvation history role

• The last of the prophets who point forward to Christ.
• The forerunner who baptised Christ Himself.
• The witness at the Jordan of the Father's voice and the Spirit's descent.
• The martyr who died for the truth of marriage — a witness for every generation of a household.

Christian tradition

• Feasts: 24 June (Nativity of St John the Baptist), 29 August (the Beheading).
• One of the very few saints whose birthday, not only death-day, is kept as a feast in the Christian calendar.
• Depicted in icons as a gaunt man in camel's hair, sometimes holding a scroll with 'Behold the Lamb of God.'

Household reflection

John teaches the household to speak the truth about right and wrong even when a king is listening.

His words 'He must increase, but I must decrease' are the whole rule of Christian parenting. Every father and mother is a forerunner. Christ is the one for whom we prepare the way in our children.

Room connections

Where this entry meets the household in the wider house of CrossAIHub.

• Read (Library) — Read Luke 1 aloud on the vigil of Christmas — the Annunciation of John, then of Christ.
• Pray (Chapel) — Pray the Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79) at Lauds each morning — the daily voice of the forerunner.
• Family (Kitchen Table) — On the feast of St John the Baptist (24 June), light a small fire in the garden — an old European custom of the Christian summer solstice.
• Sing (Choir Room) — Sing 'On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry' (Charles Coffin, 1736) during Advent.
• Learn (Workshop) — Study the relationship between John's baptism and Christian baptism — the difference the Fathers teach in every catechism.

Further reading

The infancy narratives of Luke and Matthew.

John 1 (the fourth-Gospel witness of John).

The Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79).

Elsewhere in the Atlas

• Christ Jesus
• Mary, mother of Christ
• Jordan River
• Jerusalem
• John 1 — his testimony
• John 3 — his final witness
• Isaiah — the prophet of the voice in the wilderness
• Wilderness of Judea — where he preached
• Mary Magdalene — the first witness he prepared the way for
• Return to the atrium — the Atlas's main room.