John the Baptist: The Forerunner of Jesus Christ

John the Baptist was a first-century Jewish preacher and ascetic. Considered a forerunner of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist is also believed to have been a prophet by the religions of both Christianity and Islam. The life of John the Baptist, including the events surrounding his birth and details regarding his religious ministry, are recorded in the Gospels of the New Testament.

John the Baptist was the son of Zacharias, a priest of the course of Abijah, and of Elisabeth, one of the Daughters of Aaron. This lineage granted John the automatic priesthood of Aaron, thereby giving him authority to perform baptisms. As Elisabeth and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were cousins, John and Jesus were relatives. It is believed that John was born six months prior to the birth of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist’s birth was considered a significant event, as Elisabeth was thought to be infertile According to the New Testament, John the Baptist’s birth was announced by the angel Gabriel.

John began his religious ministry on the banks of the River Jordan. Here, he preached the word of God and baptized Jews. Among the messages he preached were generosity and selflessness, as documented in the Gospel of Luke: "‘The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same’" (Luke 3:11). John also encouraged working men, religious leaders and governing officials, including tax collectors who unfairly overtaxed the poor, to repent.

One of the most important events recorded in the New Testament is the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. It was in fact Jesus who sought out John the Baptist, and requested that he baptize him: "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John consented’" (Matthew 3:13-15).

John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Messiah and so prophesied the coming of the kingdom of God: "In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near’" (Matthew 3:1-2). As such, John considered himself to be a humble predecessor of Jesus: "‘I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire’"(Matthew 3:11).

John’s baptism of Jesus was significant not only because it fulfilled the prophecy made by Isaiah found in the Old Testament, but also because it marked the beginning of Jesus’ life as a rabbi: "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 lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’" (Matthew 3:16-17).

John the Baptist was imprisoned and eventually executed because of his criticism of Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, and more specifically Herod Antipas' marriage to his brother’s wife, Herodias, which he deemed to be adulterous.