John the Baptist (Luke 1; Matthew 3; Mark 1:1–11; Luke 3:1–22; John 1:19–36; John 3:22–36; Matthew 11:2–19; Luke 7:18–35; Mark 6:14–29; Acts 19:1–4)

The Voice Crying in the Wilderness

The son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, who preached a baptism of repentance in the wilderness, baptized Jesus and bore witness to him, rebuked Herod the tetrarch, and was beheaded in prison.

An angel told Zechariah that his son “shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15) and would go before the Lord “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). The child “was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel” (Luke 1:80).

In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Cæsar, “the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness” (Luke 3:2), and he came into the region about the Jordan “preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins” (Luke 3:3). Asked who he was, he said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord” (John 1:23). Of Jesus he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Herod the tetrarch shut John up in prison after John reproved him over Herodias, his brother's wife (Luke 3:19–20). Herodias' daughter asked for his head, and a soldier of the guard “went and beheaded him in the prison” (Mark 6:27). His disciples took up the body and laid it in a tomb (Mark 6:29). Jesus said of him, “Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).

Strengths

• Boldness
• Humility
• Faithful witness
• Plain living
• Practical teaching

Themes

• Repentance
• Preparing the way
• Witness to Jesus
• Prophetic boldness
• Decrease and increase

Promised and born (Luke 1:13–17; Luke 1:57–66; Luke 1:80)

The angel tells Zechariah that Elizabeth will bear a son who will go before the Lord; the child is born and named John.

Preaching in the wilderness (Luke 3:1–18; Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:4–8)

John preaches a baptism of repentance by the Jordan; crowds, publicans and soldiers ask what they must do.

Preaching in the wilderness

“Now John himself had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 3:4). “Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about the Jordan; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins” (Matthew 3:5–6).

To the multitudes he said, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance” (Luke 3:8). When they asked what to do, he answered, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise” (Luke 3:11). To publicans: “Extort no more than that which is appointed you” (Luke 3:13). He said of the one coming after him, “he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire” (Luke 3:16).

John baptizes Jesus (Matthew 3:13–17; Luke 3:21–22)

Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan; John would have hindered him, but baptizes him, and a voice from heaven is heard.

John bears witness to Jesus (John 1:19–36)

Priests and Levites ask John who he is; the next day he sees Jesus and says, Behold, the Lamb of God.

John bears witness to Jesus

Asked by priests and Levites sent from Jerusalem, “he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ” (John 1:20). He called himself “the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord” (John 1:23).

“On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). “And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34). Next day, as John stood with two of his disciples, he looked on Jesus and said again, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36).

He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:22–36)

John baptizes at Ænon near Salim; when his disciples say all men come to Jesus, he answers that he is sent before him.

Reproving Herod (Luke 3:19–20; Mark 6:17–20)

John tells Herod the tetrarch that it is not lawful for him to have his brother's wife; Herod shuts him up in prison.

John sends to Jesus from prison (Matthew 11:2–11; Luke 7:18–28)

John sends two disciples to ask, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another? Jesus answers, and speaks to the multitudes about John.

John sends to Jesus from prison

“Now when John heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent by his disciples and said unto him, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?” (Matthew 11:2–3).

Jesus told them to report what they heard and saw, and added, “blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me” (Matthew 11:6). Then he said of John to the multitudes, “a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet” (Matthew 11:9), and “this is Elijah, that is to come” (Matthew 11:14). John himself, asked whether he was Elijah, had said “I am not” (John 1:21); the Gospels set both statements down without reconciling them.

John is beheaded (Mark 6:21–29; Matthew 14:6–12)

At Herod's birthday supper, Herodias' daughter asks for John's head; he is beheaded in the prison and his disciples bury him.

John is beheaded

Herod “feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe” (Mark 6:20), and “he heard him gladly” (Mark 6:20). But at his birthday supper he swore to give the daughter of Herodias whatever she asked, and at her mother's prompting she asked for “the head of John the Baptist” (Mark 6:24–25).

“And the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat, he would not reject her” (Mark 6:26). “And when his disciples heard thereof, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb” (Mark 6:29).

Zechariah & Elizabeth (Luke 1:13; Luke 1:57–63)

His father and mother; the angel promised him to them in old age.

Jesus (Matthew 3:13–17; John 1:29–34; Matthew 11:2–11)

John baptized him and bore witness that he is the Son of God; from prison he sent to ask him a question.

John's disciples (John 3:25–26; Matthew 11:2; Mark 6:29)

Told him of Jesus' baptizing, carried his question to Jesus, and buried his body.

Andrew (John 1:35–40)

One of the two disciples who heard John speak and followed Jesus.

Herod the tetrarch (Mark 6:17–20; Mark 6:26–27)

Reproved by John, he shut him up in prison, heard him gladly, and had him beheaded.

Herodias (Mark 6:19; Mark 6:24)

Set herself against him and desired to kill him.

Major sections

• Luke 1
• Luke 3:1–20
• Matthew 3
• John 1:19–36
• Matthew 11:2–19
• Mark 6:14–29

More illuminations · Harbinger's Lamp