Book of Ancient Saints: Volume 1

Saint John the Baptist

As it is written in Isaiah, the major prophet:

"Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare for your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths'" (Mark 1:2-3).

John was born late 1st century BC in Ein Karem, Jerusalem, Israel, Roman Empire. He was the son of Zechariah, a priest, and Elizabeth, a cousin of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Angel Gabriel foretold the birth of John during a vision of Zechariah in the Temple, and told him that John would prepare the people for the coming of the Savior.

In the 15th year of the reign of priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, son of Zechariah, in the desert. He went throughout the whole region of Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:

"A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

He said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance; and do not begin to say to yourselves,'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire'" (Matthew 3:7-9).

And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" He said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He answered them, "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed." Soldiers also asked him, And what is it that we should do?" He told them, "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages"(Matthew 3:10-14).

Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached the good news to the people. Now Herod Antipas, the tertrarch, who had been censured by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the evil deeds Herod had committed, added still another to these by putting John in prison (Matthew 3:15-20).

After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:21-22).

Days later, Herod Antipas ordered his soldiers to arrest John and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother, Philip, whom he had married. 

When John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him with this question, "Are you the one who we've been waiting for or is another coming?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me" (Mark 11:2-6).

As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:

'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.'

"Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.

"To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectorsand sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by her works" (Mark 11:7-19).

Herod Antipas was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother, Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, "It's not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Herodias harbored a grudge against  him and wanted to kill him, but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak, he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. Herodias' own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you." He even swore many things to her, "I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom." She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the Baptist." The girl hurried back to the King's presence and made her request, "I want you to give me at once on a silver platter the head of John the Baptist." The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a silver platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb (Mark 6:17-29). John died as a martyr between 28-36 AD in Machaerus, Perea, Roman Empire.

John the Baptist was venerated in Christianity, Islam, and Mandaeism. His feast day is on June 24, which is the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.  Another feast day is on August 29, which is the Beheading or Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist.