John the Baptist: The Prophet Who Introduced Jesus Christ
by Owen Borville
April 28, 2019
Bible
John the Baptist is known as the prophet that introduced Jesus Christ to the world and told of his coming. Some describe John the Baptist as the link between the Old Testament and the New Testament. John the Baptist preached in the wilderness of Judea, as explained by the Gospel of Matthew, and the coming of John the Baptist was even referenced by the prophet Isaiah eight centuries earlier:
A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord..." Isaiah 40:3 (Matthew 3:3).
Matthew gave a description of John the Baptist:
John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Matthew 3:4-6.
John the Baptist tells of the coming of Jesus:
John the Baptist tells of the coming of Jesus Christ and as some people thought that John was the Messiah, John refuted this claim and corrected them:
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11.
Matthew described the baptism of Jesus Christ
As John baptised many others, he baptised Jesus despite hesitating at first but later complied with Jesus' request to be baptised.
"I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" John says in Matthew 3:14.
Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. Matthew 3:15.
Matthew also described the dramatic moment after Jesus' baptism:
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17. This event is also described in Mark 1:11 and John 1:32.
Gospel of Luke on John the Baptist
The Gospel of Luke also describes the unique account of the parents of John, the priest Zacharias and Elizabeth, as righteous before God and old in age. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, is described as "barren," adding to the significance of the birth of John. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias in the temple and told of their future son who "shall be great in the sight of the Lord." (Luke 1:15).
Gospel of Mark on John the Baptist
The Gospel of Mark also describes the coming of John the Baptist from the wilderness who would proclaim a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:1-8). Mark also references the Isaiah 40:3 prophetic scripture associated with the coming of John. The reference to Isaiah 40:3 is also mentioned in John 1:23:
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” John 1:23.
The Book of John described the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ:
John the Baptist is distinguished from another man named John, who was a disciple of Jesus Christ and the author of the Book of John. John the disciple was also likely to be the author of the three New Testament epistles that include his name and the Book of Revelation. The Gospel of John describes the death of John the Baptist, so these are two different men.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. John 1:6-8.
The Book of John also describes John's prediction of the coming of Jesus when asked by the Pharisees if he was the Messiah or Elijah the Prophet:
26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:26-27.
John the Baptist: Death by Execution
John was executed by the Roman ruler Herod for condemning him of divorcing his wife and marrying his brother's wife, as described in Matthew 14, Mark 6:14, and Luke 9:9.
Other Accounts of John the Baptist
John the Baptist was also mentioned by non-Christian authors, including Josephus. Scholars also describe John the Baptist as the spiritual successor of the prophet Elijah and as a cousin of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of Luke 1:36.
by Owen Borville
April 28, 2019
Bible
John the Baptist is known as the prophet that introduced Jesus Christ to the world and told of his coming. Some describe John the Baptist as the link between the Old Testament and the New Testament. John the Baptist preached in the wilderness of Judea, as explained by the Gospel of Matthew, and the coming of John the Baptist was even referenced by the prophet Isaiah eight centuries earlier:
A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord..." Isaiah 40:3 (Matthew 3:3).
Matthew gave a description of John the Baptist:
John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Matthew 3:4-6.
John the Baptist tells of the coming of Jesus:
John the Baptist tells of the coming of Jesus Christ and as some people thought that John was the Messiah, John refuted this claim and corrected them:
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11.
Matthew described the baptism of Jesus Christ
As John baptised many others, he baptised Jesus despite hesitating at first but later complied with Jesus' request to be baptised.
"I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" John says in Matthew 3:14.
Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. Matthew 3:15.
Matthew also described the dramatic moment after Jesus' baptism:
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17. This event is also described in Mark 1:11 and John 1:32.
Gospel of Luke on John the Baptist
The Gospel of Luke also describes the unique account of the parents of John, the priest Zacharias and Elizabeth, as righteous before God and old in age. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, is described as "barren," adding to the significance of the birth of John. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias in the temple and told of their future son who "shall be great in the sight of the Lord." (Luke 1:15).
Gospel of Mark on John the Baptist
The Gospel of Mark also describes the coming of John the Baptist from the wilderness who would proclaim a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:1-8). Mark also references the Isaiah 40:3 prophetic scripture associated with the coming of John. The reference to Isaiah 40:3 is also mentioned in John 1:23:
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” John 1:23.
The Book of John described the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ:
John the Baptist is distinguished from another man named John, who was a disciple of Jesus Christ and the author of the Book of John. John the disciple was also likely to be the author of the three New Testament epistles that include his name and the Book of Revelation. The Gospel of John describes the death of John the Baptist, so these are two different men.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. John 1:6-8.
The Book of John also describes John's prediction of the coming of Jesus when asked by the Pharisees if he was the Messiah or Elijah the Prophet:
26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:26-27.
John the Baptist: Death by Execution
John was executed by the Roman ruler Herod for condemning him of divorcing his wife and marrying his brother's wife, as described in Matthew 14, Mark 6:14, and Luke 9:9.
Other Accounts of John the Baptist
John the Baptist was also mentioned by non-Christian authors, including Josephus. Scholars also describe John the Baptist as the spiritual successor of the prophet Elijah and as a cousin of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of Luke 1:36.