JOHN THE BAPTIST

1. JOHN THE BAPTIST PRESENTATION BY AARON MAYORGA

2. THE PROPHECY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST • In order to properly understand John, we must understand the Jewish prophecy that he was have fulfilled. • In the chapter 40 of the book of Isaiah (which was written somewhere between 701 – 681 BC), it reads that "A voice is calling, 'Clear the way for the Lord  in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God’.” • Moreover, in Malachi 3:1, it reads that “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the Lord of hosts.“ • In essence, both verses prophesize the coming of a prophet who will prepare the people for the arrival of the Messiah. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that John the Baptist is the originator of the Christian movement. • These prophecies are referred to fourth times in the New Testament; this occurs in Matthew 3:3, Mark 1: 1-3, Matthew 11:10, and John 1:23. He is also mentioned in the Qur'an.

3. THE FOUR REFERENCES TO THE PROPHECY • Matthew 3:3 – "For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet, saying, 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!'‘ • Mark 1: 1-3 - "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way; 3The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight…’ • Matthew 10:11 – “This is the one about whom it is written, 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You…” • John 1:23 - "He [John the Baptist] said, 'I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as Isaiah the prophet said…’”

4. THE BIRTH & LIFE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST • According to the Bible, John was born a miraculous birth nearly six months prior to Jesus’ birth to Temple priest Zachary and his wife Elizabeth, who was Mary’s cousin as well as a descendant of the Old Testament High Priest Aaron (as noted by the Gospel of Luke). • The announcement of John’s Birth goes as follows: Elizabeth is visited by an angel and is told that she will give birth to a son filled with the Holy Spirit. Zachary, who was at the Temple, is visited by the angel Gabriel and is told the same thing; however, Zachary doubts Gabriel’s claims and is struck dumb (or rendered unable to speak) until his son’s eventual birth. • Like Jesus, John, who is also an Essene, does not appear for the next thirty years and begins his preaching and baptizing in 26 AD (in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar). • In the wilderness of the Jordan River, John baptized many as he was dressed like the Old Testament prophet Elijah with camel’s hair for clothing and a leather belt around his waist.

5. JOHN’s Encounter with Jesus • John is arguably most famous for being the man who baptized Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah that John claimed that all must prepare for the arrival of. • Detailed in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus arrives at the River Jordan after travelling from Galilee. Jesus, hoping to be baptized by his earthly cousin, approaches John; however, John is unwilling, reasoning that “[he] need to be baptized” by Jesus. • However, Jesus is able to convince John and he successfully baptizes Jesus. Upon emerging from the water, Mark describes that “the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased’” (Mark 1:10). • After this, John is relatively unheard of and in is own words “becomes less” since Jesus “must become something greater.”

6. JOHN’s DEATH • Mark’s Gospel describes that John is imprisoned by King Herod Antipas due to John being critical at taking his sister-in-law to be his queen. Because of fears that John’s preaching would fuel a revolt against his rule. However, Herod understood that John was a just man, and Herod was unwilling to kill John. • Herod’s wife, Herodias, hated John and attempted to seek out any opportunity to have John executed. Her opportunity came when Salome, the daughter of Herodias and step-daughter of King Herod Antipas, dancing stirred Herod to such a degree of lust that he promised to have fulfilled any of his wife’s wishes. • Naturally, she wished for John the Baptist to be executed, and her wished was granted. John would be beheaded, and many of his followers became many of Jesus’ early disciples. • John’s life is documented in the New Testament and by historian Flavius Josephus (however, Josephus does not make the connection between Salome and John, it exists solely in the Gospels).

7. Beheading of St. John The Baptist. By CARAVAGGIO

8. WORKS CONSULTED • "St. John the Baptist." - Saints & Angels. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2013. • "JewishEncyclopedia.com." JOHN THE BAPTIST -. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2013. •  "John the Baptist." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Sept. 2013. Web. 23 Sept. 2013. • "The Messiah Would Be Preceded by a Messenger." Bible Prophecy from Isaiah 40:1-5,9. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2013. • "Isaiah 40:3; Mal. 3:1; Matt. 3:3, Prepare the Way of the Lord." CARM. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2013. • “marypages.com/JohntheBaptist.html"John the Baptist. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2013. • "Elijah." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 23 Sept. 2013. • "Scripture." Scripture. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2013. • "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist." St. John Baptist. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2013.