The synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and the Book of John provide a narrative of John the Baptist’s ministry. John is known as the Precursor or Forerunner of the Lord. According to Luke, he was born in a town in Judaea approximately six months prior to Jesus’ birth.
Elizabeth and St. Zachary, the parents of John, admire their child’s remarkable and amazing qualities. Although there is no specific mention in the New Testament about John’s upbringing, it is evident that his pious and virtuous parents raised him with utmost care, always mindful of his important mission and imparting to him an understanding of his destined future. When John started preparing for his divine duty, he likely reached the age of thirty-two. Following the ancient custom of holy men, he secluded himself in the harsh and rugged desert beyond the Jordan River to devote himself to fasting and prayer.
He survived by eating locusts and wild honey, and he wore a rough camel’s hair garment with a leather belt. When he came back to preach in the villages of Judaea, he looked thin and disheveled, but his eyes burned with passion and his voice expressed unwavering faith.
The Jews readily accepted John, as they were accustomed to preachers and prophets who did not focus on outward appearances. The troubled times made people long for reassurance and comfort. The power emanating from John was so extraordinary that many believed he was the awaited Messiah. However, John promptly corrected them, stating that he had only come to pave the way and that he was not deserving enough to untie the Master’s sandals.
Despite his popularity and the attention he received from members of the higher priesthood in Jerusalem, John always humbly acknowledged that he was simply the Forerunner. Throughout the Savior’s ministry, John preached and baptized for several months, consistently emphasizing the message of repentance for the imminent arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven. He believed that to combat the prevailing evils, individual purification was necessary, warning that any tree that did not produce good fruit would be cut down and burned.
The reformation of each person’s life must be thorough – the good must be separated from the bad and the bad destroyed “with unquenchable fire.” The ritual of baptism, a symbolic gesture representing sincere repentance and a longing to be purified spiritually to welcome the Christ, was given so much importance by John that he became known as “the baptizer.” The Bible recounts the day when Jesus joined the individuals seeking baptism from John. John recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah but initially felt inadequate to carry out the task.
In compliance with Jesus’ command, he agreed and baptized Him. Despite being without sin, Jesus decided to be baptized to connect Himself with humanity. And as He emerged from the waters of the Jordan River, where the ceremony took place, “the heavens opened and the Spirit descended like a dove. And a voice came from the heavens, declaring, ‘You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased'” (Mark i, 11).
John’s life is heading towards its tragic end. In the fifteenth year of Tiberias Caesar’s reign, Herod Antipas served as the provincial governor or tetrarch of a region in Palestine that included Galilee and Peraea, located east of the Jordan River. During John’s preaching, he strongly condemned the immoral conduct of Herod’s court and openly criticized Herod himself for disregarding Jewish law. Specifically, John denounced Herod for marrying his half-brother Philip’s wife, Herodias, who was known for her immoral behavior. It is worth noting that Herodias is also Herod’s niece.
Herod had a great reverence and fear for John, seeing him as a holy man and valuing his guidance. However, Herod struggled with dealing with criticism of his personal life. Herodias purposely provoked him through deceitful tactics and lies. Over time, Herod’s anger overcame his judgment, resulting in John being imprisoned in the fortress of Machaerus near the Dead Sea. When Jesus learned of this and was told that some of His followers had visited John, He spoke about him, questioning their intentions: “Why did you go to see him? Did you seek out a prophet? I tell you the truth, he is much more than just a prophet. He is the one who fulfills the prophecy: ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among all those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew xi, 10-12).
Herodias continuously schemed to harm John’s life, and even prison walls couldn’t silence him. His followers grew more unruly. Herodias finally got the chance she had been waiting for to get rid of the troublemaker. On Herod’s birthday, he hosted a feast for the leading men of the area.
The infamous occasion, which would end in John’s death, is recounted in Matthew xiv, Mark vi, and Luke ix. During the feast, Salome, the fourteen-year-old daughter of Herodias from her legitimate marriage, captivated Herod and his guests with her dancing. In response, Herod made a sworn oath to grant her anything within his power, even if it meant giving away half his kingdom. Under the guidance and influence of her wicked mother, Salome requested the head of John the Baptist to be presented to her on a platter.
Herod was shocked and unnerved by such a horrible request. However, he was afraid to break his word, so he sent a soldier to the prison with orders to behead the prisoner and bring it back immediately, without any legal formalities. The soldier quickly carried out the command, and the cruel girl wasted no time in accepting the dish with its dreadful offering and giving it to her mother. This monstrous crime brought an abrupt end to John’s brief ministry.
The individuals who had heard him were deeply saddened, and when Jesus’ followers learned of John’s death, they came and respectfully placed his body in a tomb. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, Jesus and some of his disciples withdrew “to a secluded place.” Josephus further confirms John’s righteousness by stating: “He was truly a virtuous man who encouraged Jews to practice fairness towards others and devotion towards God. He also preached about baptism, teaching that through renouncing their sins and purifying their bodies and souls, they could become pleasing to God.” This highlights the shared admiration and respect that both Jews and Christians hold for this prophet-saint, who exemplifies unparalleled humility and courage.
Reference
- Mark Ch.1-11
- John ch.3-5
- Corinthians Ch. 13
