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John the Baptist

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John the Baptist
The Baptism of Christ, by Piero della Francesca, 1449]
Forerunner, Precursor, Baptist
Bornc. 6–2 BC
Diedc. 30
Venerated inRoman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, Anglicanism
FeastJune 24 (Nativity), babybayyabahagasgvsyhsusgbwsuiswiAugust 29 (Beheading), January 7 (Synaxis, Eastern Orthodox)
AttributesCross, lamb, his own head
Patronagepatron saint of French Canada, Puerto Rico, Knights Hospitaller of Jerusalem, Florence, Genoa, many other places
Catholic cult suppressed
ak
"St. John the Baptist" and "Saint John the Baptist" redirect here. For other uses, see St. John the Baptist (disambiguation).

John the Baptist (also called John the Baptizer, or Yahya the Baptizer) is regarded as a prophet by four religions: Christianity, Islam, Mandaeanism, and the Bahá'í Faith. This is asserted in the Synoptic Gospels, the Qur'an and the Bahá'í Writings. According to Luke 1:36, he was a relative of Jesus, though Mandaeans dispute this. He is also commonly referred to as John the Forerunner/Precursor because Christians (but not Mandaeans) consider him as the forerunner of Christ. In Mandaic he is called Yihja jahane.

John the Baptist in the New Testament

File:John Baptizes Jesus Mural.jpg
Mural depiction of Jesus' baptism by the hand of John, Jordan River, Jordan
The excavated remains of the baptism site in "Bethany beyond the Jordan"

Nativity

Main article: Zecharia

Unlike the other Synoptic Gospels, which introduce John the Baptist into the narrative as an adult, the Gospel of Luke provides an account of his infancy. According to Luke, John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus Christ, and son of Zecharia and Elisabeth; his birth, name, and office, were foretold by the angel Gabriel to Zecharia, while Zecharia was performing his functions as a priest in the temple of Jerusalem. According to Luke, Zecharias was a priest of the course of Abijah, and his wife, Elisabeth, was of the Daughters of Aaron Luke 1:5; consequently John automatically held the priesthood of Aaron, which, to the Jews' eyes, gave him authority to baptize in the name of God.

Luke states that John was born about six months before Jesus, and that Zecharia's unbelief over the birth of his son led to him losing his power of speech, which was only restored on the occasion of John's circumcision (Luke 1:64). On the basis of Luke's account, the Catholic calendar placed the feast of John the Baptist on hgJune 24, six months before Christmas.

John's imprisonment and beheading

According to the Canonical Gospels, John the Baptist's public ministry was suddenly brought to a close, probably about six months after he had baptized Jesus. According to these Gospel narratives, Herod Antipas jailed him, with the Gospel of Luke arguing that Herod was punishing John for condemning Herod's marriage to Herodias, the former wife of Herod Philip, Herod's own brother (Luke 3:19). Some academics have argued that John was imprisoned in the Machaerus fortress on the southern extremity of Peraea, nine miles east of the Dead Sea. [citation needed]

The narrative states that although Herod himself respected John's authority and the clout of his following, to the extent that he would do John no further harm, Herod's bloodthirsty wife had other ideas, and persuaded her daughter, Salome, to trick Herod. At a party for Herod, Salome dances so beautifully that, according to the Canonical Gospels, Herod foolishly offers her anything she requests, so she asks for John's head on a silver platter, and so John is beheaded. Josephus states that Herod deliberately killed John to quell a possible uprising in around 36.

Herod Philip did not die until about 34, and Herod Antipas did not marry his brother's wife until his brother had died, making Josephus' dating plausible for the biblical account of John's death, according to some.

His disciples, after consigning his headless body to the grave, told Jesus all that had occurred (Matthew 14:3–12). John's death apparently came just before the third Passover of Jesus' ministry.[citation needed]

Neither Josephus nor the Gospels state where John was buried, though the Gospels state that John's disciples took his body and placed it in a tomb. In the time of Julian the Apostate, however, his tomb was shown at Samaria, where the inhabitants opened it and burned part of his bones. The rest of the alleged remains were saved by some Christians, who carried them to an abbot of Jerusalem named Philip. [1]

Status compared to Jesus in Gospel of John

The Gospel of John portrays John the Baptist as being clearly superseded by Jesus. The Gospel states that when John was baptising at Aenon, Jesus was also baptising nearby, but baptised more people. In the narrative of the Gospel of John, John's disciples question John about this, but John responds that Jesus must become greater while John must become less. Although the Gospel later goes on to state that Jesus regarded John as a burning and a shining light, it also says that Jesus referred to John as something that people were glad to enjoy ... for a while (John 5:35). The Gospel of John also portrays the disciples of John as eventually merging into the followers of Jesus, in contrast to the Synoptics where they remain two distinct groups.

Christians believe that John the Baptist had a specific role ordained by God which was to be the forerunner or precursor to the Messiah, whom they believe to be Jesus. Luke 1:17 and also Luke 1:75:

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest, for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.

There are several passages within the Old Testament which are generally interpreted by Christians as being prophetic of John the Baptist in this role.

These include a passage in the Book of Malachi that refers to a prophet who would prepare the way of the Lord:

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 hosts. - Malachi 3:1

Though the interpretation of this passage as referring to a forerunner of the Messiah was uncommon amongst Jews prior to the 2nd century BC, it became significantly more common under Hellenic, and later Christian, influences. fiction Isaiah 40:3–5 is interpreted by Christians as referring prophetically to John, based on John's own statement as written in John 1:22–23:

He said "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias"

Josephus

File:Chirin.jpg
Eastern Orthodox icon John the Baptist - the Angel of Desert (1620s).

Flavius Josephus in Jewish Antiquities book 18, chapter 5, paragraph 2 records the following:

Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. Now when [many] others came in crowds about him, for they were very greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion, (for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise,) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death. Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God's displeasure to him. (Whiston Translation) [1]

From the context, it would seem that in Josephus's account John was executed around 36. Divergences between Josephus's presentation and the Biblical account of John include the following:

  • Baptism for those whose souls have already been "purified beforehand by righteousness" is for purification of the body, not general repentance of sin (Mark 1:4).
  • John's imprisonment and subsequent execution is described as being to prevent "mischief", rather than owing to Herod's wife's daughter's persuasion of a reluctant Herod.

Josephus's passage is quoted by Origen in Contra Celsum in the early third century, and again by Eusebius of Caesarea in the fourth century.

Josephus makes much greater mention of John than he does of Jesus.

John the Baptist in Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox believe that John was the last of the Old Testament prophets, thus serving as a bridge figure between that period of revelation and Jesus. They also embrace a tradition that, following his death, John descended into Hell and there once more preached that Jesus the Messiah was coming.

The Eastern Orthodox Church remembers Saint John the Forerunner on six separate feast days, listed here in order of the church year which begins on September 1:

  • February 24 - First and Second Finding of the Head of St. John the Forerunner
  • May 25 - Third Finding of the Head of St. John the Forerunner
  • June 24 - Birth of St. John the Forerunner
  • August 29 - The Beheading of St. John the Forerunner

The Roman Catholic Church remembers St. John the Baptists on two separate feast days:

St John's parents are commemorated on the day the Eastern Church celebrates his conception.

  • September 23 Zechariah and Elisabeth, parents of St John, the Lord's Precursor.

John the Baptist as a patron saint

Saint John the Baptist is the patron saint of Puerto Rico, and its capital city San Juan bears his name. In 1521, the island was given its formal name "San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico", following the usual custom of christening the town with both its formal name and the name which Christopher Columbus had originally given the island, honoring John the Baptist. The indistinct use of "San Juan Bautista" and "Puerto Rico" for calling both the city and the island led to a reversal in practical use by most inhabitants due largely to a map-making error. Therefore by 1746 the name for the city (Puerto Rico) had become that of the entire island, while the name for the island (San Juan Bautista) had become the name for the city. The official motto for the island of Puerto Rico also references the saint, Joannes Est Nomen Eius (or translated, John is his name).

His is also a patron saint of French Canada. The Canadian cities of St. John's, Newfoundland (1497) and Saint John, New Brunswick (1604) were both named in honour of Saint John. In the UK Saint John the Baptist is the patron saint of Penzance, Cornwall. His feast day is June 24, celebrated in Quebec as the Fête nationale du Québec. He is also patron of the Knights Hospitaller of Jerusalem, Florence, and Genoa, Italy.

Relics

Supposed head of the martyr, enshrined in Rome
File:St john.jpg
The shrine in Rome containing the head of Saint John the Baptist

Muslim tradition maintains that the head of John the Baptist is interred in the Umayyad Mosque. In later times it was rumored that the Knights Templar also had possession of the head of St John the Baptist. Some Christians believe that his head is kept in Rome. Some that it is buried in the town of Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. [2]

John's right hand, with which he baptised Jesus, is claimed to be in the possession of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Cetinje monastery.

Mandaean view

Mandaeans believe John the Baptist, called Yahya in the Sidra d-Yahia (Book of John), was the last and greatest of the prophets. While Mandaeans agree that he baptized Jesus (Yeshu), they reject the latter as either a saviour or prophet. And they viewed John as the only true Messiah.

According to the text of the Ginza Rba, John died at the hand of an angel. The angel appeared as a three-year-old child, coming to John for baptism. John knew the angel for what it was, and that once he touched its hand, he would die immediately. John performed the baptism, anyway, and died in the process. Afterwards, the angel covered John's body with mud.

Islamic viewpoint

In Arabic, the language in which the Qur'an is written, John the Baptist is known as Yahya the Infinite.[citation needed] According to the Quran, John is the son of Zachariah (Mary's Guardian). His tidings were foretold to his father by the angel, Gabriel (19:7-12). John was exhorted to hold fast to the Scripture and was given wisdom by God while still child. He was pure and devout, and walked in the Presence of God (19:13). He was dutiful towards his parents and he was not arrogant or rebellious (19:14). He, along with all the Prophets, will resurrect one day (19:15).

John is called a righteous, honorable and chaste person, as well as a Prophet of the Righteous (6:85, 3:39). He came to confirm the Word of God (3:39).

Bahá'í view

There are numerous quotations in the writings of Bahá'u'lláh, Founder of the Bahá'í Faith mentioning John the Baptist. He is regarded by Bahá'ís as a lesser Prophet. Bahá'u'lláh has indicated that His Forerunner, the Báb, was the spiritual return of John the Baptist. In His letter to Pope Pius IX, Bahá'u'lláh wrote:

"O followers of the Son! We have once again sent John unto you, and He, verily, hath cried out in the wilderness of the Bayán: O peoples of the world! Cleanse your eyes! The Day whereon ye can behold the Promised One and attain unto Him hath drawn nigh! O followers of the Gospel! Prepare the way! The Day of the advent of the Glorious Lord is at hand! Make ready to enter the Kingdom. Thus hath it been ordained by God, He Who causeth the dawn to break."[2]

However, Bahá'ís consider the Báb to be a greater Prophet (Manifestation of God) and thus possessed of a far greater station than John the Baptist.

Gnostic and anthroposophic views

In Gnosticism, John the Baptist was a "personification" of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. As an Old Testament prophet, Elijah did not know the True God (the God of the New Testament), and thus had to be reincarnated in Gnostic theology. As predicted by the Old Testament prophet Malachi, Elijah must "come first" to herald the coming of Jesus Christ. Modern anthroposophy, initiated by Rudolph Steiner, concurs with the idea that the Baptist was a reincarnation of Elijah, in line with the Synoptic Gospels (e.g. Mark 9:11–13,Matthew 11:13–14,Luke 7:27), although he himself explicitly denies this (John 1:21). Furthermore, after his beheading at Machaerus his soul is said to have become the inspiring group genius of Christ's disciples. According to Rudolph Steiner (founder of anthroposophy) the painter Raffaello and the poet Novalis were more recent incarnations of John the Baptist.

Unification church

According to Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church, Jesus was supposed to have received assistance from John the Baptist during his public ministry in Israel. In particular, John should have done everything in his power to persuade the Jewish people that Jesus was the Messiah. He was to become Jesus' greatest disciple. John's failure to do so was, according to the church, the chief obstacle to the fulfillment of Jesus' mission.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Latter-day Saints believe John appeared in Pennsylvania, as a resurrected being, to Joseph Smith, Jr. and Oliver Cowdery on 15 May 1829, and gave them the Aaronic Priesthood. They also believe John's ministry was foretold by two prophets in the Book of Mormon: Lehi (1 Nephi 10:7-10) and his son, Nephi (1 Nephi 11:27; 2 Nephi 31:4-18).

Places and things named for John the Baptist

Famous churches

Notes

  1. ^ Eccl. lib. iii. cap. 3 Chronic. Alex, p.686)
  2. ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/halifax-parish-church http://www.halifaxparishchurch.org.uk/

See also

References

  • Catherine M. Murphy, John the Baptist: Prophet of Purity for a New Age. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2003. ISBN 0-8146-5933-0
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John the Baptist.

References to John (Yahya) in the Qur'an

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