John the Baptist

Lore & Background

John is mentioned by the Roman Jewish historian Josephus, and he is revered as a major religious figure in Christianity, Islam, the Baháʼí Faith, the Druze faith, and Mandaeism; in the last of these he is considered to be the final and most vital prophet. According to the New Testament, John anticipated a messianic figure greater than himself; in the Gospels, he is portrayed as the precursor or forerunner of Jesus. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus himself identifies John as 'Elijah who is to come', which is a direct reference to the Book of Malachi (Malachi 4:5), as confirmed by the angel Gabriel, who announced John's birth to his father Zechariah. According to the Gospel of Luke, John and Jesus were relatives. Some scholars think that John belonged to the Essenes, a semi-ascetic Jewish sect who expected a messiah and practised ritual baptism. John used baptism as the central symbol or sacrament of his pre-messianic movement. Most biblical scholars agree that John baptized Jesus, and several New Testament accounts report that some of Jesus's early followers had previously been followers of John. According to the New Testament, John was sentenced to death and subsequently beheaded by Herod Antipas around AD 30 after John rebuked him for divorcing his wife and then unlawfully wedding Herodias, the wife of his brother Herod Philip I. Josephus also mentions John in the Antiquities of the Jews and states that he was executed by order of Herod Antipas in the fortress at Machaerus. Followers of John existed into the second century AD, and some proclaimed him to be the Messiah awaited by Jews. In modern times, the followers of John the Baptist are the Mandaeans, an ancient ethnoreligious group who believe that he is their greatest and final prophet. In the Roman martyrology, John is the only saint whose birth and death are both commemorated.

Reader's Guide

John the Baptist is mentioned in all four canonical Gospels and the non-canonical Gospel of the Nazarenes. The Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew and Luke) describe John baptising Jesus; in the Gospel of John this is inferred by many to be referred to in John 1:32. In the Gospel of Mark, John is introduced as a fulfilment of a prophecy from the Book of Isaiah, wearing camel's hair and living on locusts and wild honey, proclaiming baptism of repentance. Jesus comes to John and is baptized by him. John's death is recounted: Herod Antipas, hearing about Jesus, thinks John has been raised. John had rebuked Herod for marrying Herodias, his brother's ex-wife. Herodias' daughter dances and requests John's head; reluctantly, Herod orders his beheading. In Matthew, John is described similarly, but he criticizes Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew shortens the beheading account and says Herod wanted John dead. In Luke, John's infancy is added: he is the miraculous son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. John teaches charity, baptizes tax-collectors, and advises soldiers. The Gospel of Luke lacks the story of the dancing daughter. In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist is described as a witness to the light, not the light itself. He testifies to seeing the Spirit descend like a dove on Jesus and announces Jesus as the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

Did You Know?

• John the Baptist is revered as a prophet in Christianity, Islam, the Baháʼí Faith, the Druze faith, and Mandaeism.
• In Mandaeism, John is considered the final and most vital prophet.
• John is the only saint in the Roman martyrology whose birth and death are both commemorated.
• According to the Gospel of Luke, John and Jesus were relatives.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Ginza Rabba, Right Ginza, Book 5, Part 4, verses 2-3. English translation from Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630." — John the Baptist "Ginza Rabba, Right Ginza, Book 5, Part 4, verse 17. English translation from Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630." — John the Baptist "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold?" — John the Baptist "Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment?" — John the Baptist