John the Baptist was born to the priest Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth about 6 months before the birth of Jesus. His parents were faithful to God as Luke noted, “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6). As with Jesus, great things were prophesied about John (cf. Luke 1:14-16), but we know only what Luke records about his early life. “So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel” (Luke 1:80).
John first appeared publicly as a prophet of God in Luke 3, in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign. We are told that “he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God”’” (Luke 3:3-6). His call for Israel to repent showed the purpose of his ministry to prepare Israel for the coming of the Messiah.
John was an austere man who boldly and plainly called for change. Much like his model Elijah, his habits were plain and rough. His clothing was of camel’s hair, with a leather belt, and his food was “locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 3:4). The common people were receptive to his preaching as they, the tax collectors and the soldiers all asked, “Teacher, what shall we do?” (Luke 3:10,12,14). However, he made enemies of the religious leaders, referring to the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to his baptism as a “Brood of Vipers” asking them, “Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7). Further, “And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (3:10).
John the Baptist was the one who baptized Jesus in the Jordan River as our Lord began his own ministry. Matthew records that “John tried to prevent Him” , as he considered himself to be unworthy of baptizing the Lord. He said, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” (3:14). Not only do we receive the testimony of the Father and the Holy Spirit at Jesus baptism, (3:16-17), but John himself testified of the Lord. The gospel of John (a different John) records John the Baptist’s words. For example: “John bore witness of Him [Jesus] and cried out saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me’” (John 1:15). “John answered them, saying, ‘I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose’” (John 1:26-27).
Concerning their two ministries, John the Baptist proclaimed, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30). Further, “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:35-36).
This change [increase and decrease] indeed happened as John was arrested and imprisoned. According to John 5, though we don’t know of the exact time, Jesus seems to indicate that John’s witness concerning Him had already occurred (5:33). Regardless, both Matthew (14:1-12), Mark (6:14) and Luke (3:19) reference his imprisonment. Matthew has most to say about the event. Herod laid hold of John because John had told him his marriage to Herodias (previously his brother Philip’s wife) was unlawful. “John had said to him, ‘It is not lawful for you to have her’” (Matthew 14:4).
Herodias hated Paul. An occasion occurred where Herod foolishly promised with an oath to Herodias’ daughter to give her whatever she asked. At Herodias’ prompting the daughter said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter” (Matthew 14:8). “So he sent and had John beheaded in prison” (14:10). “Then his [John’s] disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus” (14:12).
John the Baptist’s story is not fully told unless we see the Lord’s reaction to his ministry. John’s true disciples came to Jesus because John himself testified that Jesus was the Christ (cf. John 3:22-30). He was faithful in his ministry. He truly prepared the way of the Lord. As such, Jesus was truly appreciative of John the Baptist’s ministry. He said of John, “He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light” (John 5:35). Jesus proclaimed him as “more than a prophet” and declared, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist…” (Matthew 11:9,11). We rejoice in God’s great plan for redeeming man, and John the Baptist himself! Praise God for His wisdom and grace!
