Free Essays on John The Baptist

John the Baptist is one of the best-known people of The Bible. And for good reason - he played a unique role in what, and Who, was to come. He was considered very highly by Jesus Christ, Who said about him, "Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist." John was a prophet whose own coming was prophesied by an earlier prophet (see Prophecy) over 700 years before (Isaiah 40:3-5) - yet another illustration of God's step-by-step Plan. John was a Levite.( Levites are the descendants of Levi, one of the Tribes Of Israel, the Children Of Jacob) His father Zechariah was a Temple priest of the line of Abijah, and his mother Elizabeth was also descended from Aaron (Luke 1:5). Jesus Christ and John the Baptist were related. Their mothers, Mary and Elizabeth, were cousins. (Luke 1:36). John the Baptist was born 6 months before Jesus Christ (Luke 1:36). He died about 6 months before Jesus Christ (Matthew 14:10-12). The angel Gabriel separately announced the coming births of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. John lived in the mountainous area of Judah, between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea (Matthew 3:1). "John's clothes were made of camel's hair (see Ships Of The Desert), and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey." (Matthew 3:4). John had a popular ministry. "People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea, and the whole region of The Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River (in photo above). (Matthew 3:5-6). John the Baptist humbly baptized Jesus Christ (imagine the honor of being the one to do that). "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." (... Free Essays on John The Baptist Free Essays on John The Baptist John the Baptist is one of the best-known people of The Bible. And for good reason - he played a unique role in what, and Who, was to come. He was considered very highly by Jesus Christ, Who said about him, "Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist." John was a prophet whose own coming was prophesied by an earlier prophet (see Prophecy) over 700 years before (Isaiah 40:3-5) - yet another illustration of God's step-by-step Plan. John was a Levite.( Levites are the descendants of Levi, one of the Tribes Of Israel, the Children Of Jacob) His father Zechariah was a Temple priest of the line of Abijah, and his mother Elizabeth was also descended from Aaron (Luke 1:5). Jesus Christ and John the Baptist were related. Their mothers, Mary and Elizabeth, were cousins. (Luke 1:36). John the Baptist was born 6 months before Jesus Christ (Luke 1:36). He died about 6 months before Jesus Christ (Matthew 14:10-12). The angel Gabriel separately announced the coming births of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. John lived in the mountainous area of Judah, between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea (Matthew 3:1). "John's clothes were made of camel's hair (see Ships Of The Desert), and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey." (Matthew 3:4). John had a popular ministry. "People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea, and the whole region of The Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River (in photo above). (Matthew 3:5-6). John the Baptist humbly baptized Jesus Christ (imagine the honor of being the one to do that). "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." (... Free Essays on John The Baptist Introduction John the Baptist, was the forerunner of Jesus Christ. His mission was foretold in Isaiah 40:3vs: â€Å"The voice of him that Crieth in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Malachi 3:1: â€Å"Behold I will send my messenger and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in: behold he shall come, saith the Lord of host.† John 1:6-8 â€Å"There was a man sent from God whose name was John†. â€Å"The same came to bear witness of the Light; that all men through him might believe†. â€Å"He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light†. The Forerunner of Christ By Mahaley Brown The Story of John the Baptist was written for a purpose. The purpose was to testify concerning the ‘Light’, that is, the ‘Light’ of Jesus Christ. John came to prepare men’s hearts to receive the light: ‘the same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe†. (John 1: 7-8 Vs) John told the people that Christ, the Messiah was about to appear. John the Baptist was the greatest and most powerful of all the prophets, yet he was not worthy to untie the shoes of the one coming after him: â€Å"I am baptizing you in water, but there is one to come that is greater than I. I am not fit to loosen his sandal strap. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire.† (Luke 3:1) John did great work. He was the last Prophet in the Old Testament. The story of John the Baptist begins with his father Zachary, a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem. He was in the church praying when Gabriel, an angel appeared to him. The angel said to him: â€Å"Do not be frightened Zechariah; your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son who you shall name John. You w... Free Essays on John The Baptist Christianity begins with John the Baptist and he stands right from the beginning in the light of God's plan of redemption. John is himself a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. John too, like Jesus, is the prophet of the coming kingdom of God. He was born in Judea, the son of the priest Zacharias and Elisabeth. John and Jesus were cousins. John was only six months older than Jesus, Mary and Elisabeth were with child at the same time. John's parents were quite old when John was conceived and the birth was a miracle. An angel appeared to Zacharias and said to him, "...you shall have joy and gladness and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." When the Virgin Mary visited Elisabeth upon hearing that she was pregnant with the Holy Ghost, the baby John leaped within Elisabeth's womb for joy. Although from a priestly family, John never served as a priest, nor a scribe, Pharisee or Sadducee. John was different in dress manner and food. He never owned anything, never drank wine, or cut his hair or beard, he spent his time in endless prayer and to always be separate, alone, and close to God. It was known that his drank the water of the river, and that he ate locusts and wild honey. He went barefoot, and wore a robe of woven camel hair apparently reduced to a loincloth and a simple heavy leather belt tied at the waist. In his belief that the kingdom of God was at hand, John was not alone. He only voiced what was at the time a widespread conviction, and for that very reason his announcement found an...