Who is John the Baptist and why is he called the Forerunner?

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

All Christians of the world know the glorious couple of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. The names of these two personalities are inextricably linked. At the same time, if almost every pious person knows the story of the life of Jesus, then not everyone knows about the earthly path of John the Baptist.

Historical information about the Baptist

Who is John the Baptist and what is his role in the Christian religion? Unfortunately, documentary evidence (except for the Gospel) and a couple of biographies about the deeds of this man have practically not been preserved. Despite this, John the Baptist is a real person whose existence no one even disputes. This grandiose in its significance man became the "Forerunner" of Jesus Christ. Many people do not understand what this word means. The meaning of the word "forerunner" in various sources is interpreted differently. This is a predecessor, a person who, by his activity, prepared the way for something or someone, an event or phenomenon that paved the way for other deeds. John the Baptist was the son of the aged High Priest Zechariah, who despaired of havingheir, and his righteous wife Elizabeth. The biblical scriptures say that he was born half a year before Jesus. The angel Gabriel announced his birth and service to the Lord. Isaiah and Malachi also spoke of his birth. He was called a baptist because he performed the ritual of washing (baptism) of a person in the waters of the river. Jordan as his spiritual renewal.

The exact place where John was born is not indicated in any source. It is believed that he was born in Ein Karem, a suburb of Jerusalem. Today, a Franciscan monastery dedicated to this Saint rises on this site. Many theologians believe that Father John Zechariah was killed in the temple on the orders of King Herod after he refused to reveal the whereabouts of his newborn son. The mother of the Baptist saved him from being killed during the massacre of the Bethlehem babies by hiding in the desert. According to legend, she, having heard about the search for John, went with him to the mountain. In a loud voice, Elizabeth ordered the mountain to cover her and her son, after which the rock opened and let her in. At that time, they were constantly guarded by the angel of the Lord.

Information about John

All the circumstances of the birth and life of John the Baptist are described in detail in the Gospel of Luke. He spent his youth in the desert. The life of John the Baptist until the moment of his appearance to the people was ascetic. He wore clothes made of rough camel hair and girded with a leather belt. John the Baptist ate dried locusts (insects of the locust family) and wild honey. At the age of thirty, he beganpreach to the people in the Judean wilderness. John the Baptist the Forerunner called people to repentance for their sins and follow a righteous life. His speeches were laconic, but made a strong impression. One of his favorite phrases is: "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!" It was thanks to John that the expression “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” appeared, since in this way he expressed his protest against Orthodox Judaism.

Introduction of the designation "Forerunner"

For the first time, John the Baptist was called "Forerunner" by the Gnostic Heraclion, who lived in the 2nd century. Later this designation was adopted by the Christian scholar Clement of Alexandria. In the Orthodox Church, both epithets "Forerunner" and "Baptist" are used equally often, while in the Catholic Church the second is used much more often. John in Russia has long been dedicated to two great holidays revered by the people: Ivan Kupala and Ivan Golovosek (Beheading).

The influence of John the Baptist on the people

The Baptist began preaching around 28 CE. He reproached people for their pride in being chosen and demanded the restoration of the old patriarchal norms of ethics. The power of the sermons of the Forerunner was so great that the population of Jerusalem and all the Jewish environs came to him to be baptized. Dedication by water John made in the river. Jordan. At the same time, he said that when a person is washed, God forgives his sins. Immersion in water and repentance he called preparation for the acceptance of the Messiah, who was soon to appear in these parts. On the banks of the Jordan, John continued to preach, gathering around himan increasing number of followers. There is evidence that under the influence of the speeches of the Forerunner, even the Pharisees (a religious group that called for scrupulous observance of the Law) and Sadducees (higher clergy and aristocrats) came to be baptized, but John drove them away without baptism.

The essence of the teachings of John the Baptist

At the beginning of his preaching work, the Forerunner combined a call to repentance with immersion in the sacred waters of the Jordan. This procedure symbolized the cleansing of human sins and preparation for the coming of the Messiah.

John's sermons to soldiers, tax collectors and other people

Besides communicating with ordinary people, the Baptist spent a lot of time preaching to soldiers. He urged them not to slander, not to offend anyone, and also to be content with their salary. The Forerunner asked the publicans not to demand more than what was determined by the law. He called on all people, regardless of their position and we alth, to share both food and clothing. The followers of the Baptist formed a community called the "disciples of John". Among her own kind, she was distinguished by extremely strict asceticism.

Prophecy of the Messiah

Saint John the Baptist answered the question of the messenger of God to the Jerusalem Pharisees: “I baptize in water, but stands among you, whom you do not know. He who follows me, but who is ahead of me. With these words, he confirms the coming of the Messiah to earth.

John the Baptist meets Jesus

Jesus Christ among other Israelis came tobanks of the Jordan to listen to John's sermons. Almost immediately, he asked for baptism at the hand of the Forerunner in order to "fulfill all righteousness." Despite all his severity, the Prophet John the Baptist pointed the people to Christ as the Lamb of God. Evangelists Matthew, Mark and Luke wrote about one meeting of the Forerunner and Jesus. At the same time, the Apostle John writes about two moments of communication between these personalities. Thus, for the first time, a stranger appeared before the Baptist, in whom the Spirit in the form of a white dove pointed him to the Lamb of God. The next day, Christ and the Forerunner met again. It was then that John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus the Messiah, which, according to theologians, was his main achievement.

Baptism of Jesus

While John the Baptist was in Bethabara near the Jordan River, Jesus came to him, wishing to be baptized. Since today the exact location of this settlement cannot be established, since the 16th century, the site on the river bank, where the monastery of St. John is located, has been considered the place where Christ was washed. It is located one kilometer from the city of Beit Avar, which is 10 km east of Jericho.

During Jesus' baptism, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove, and a voice from heaven said, 'You are my beloved Son, in you I am well pleased.' Thus, thanks to John, the Messianic predestination of the Son of God was publicly witnessed. Baptism had a strong influence on Jesus, which is why it is regarded by evangelicals as the very first important event in the social activity of the Messiah. After meeting with Christ, John baptized people in Aenon, which is locatednear Salim.

After the baptism, Jesus became John's successor. He even began his speeches, as a Forerunner, with a call to repentance and announcing the approach of the Kingdom of Heaven. Theologians believe that without Christ, John's sermons would have been ineffective. At the same time, without the Baptist as the Messiah, who prepared the ground for Jesus' sermons, his reading would not have found such a response from the people.

The meaning of John the Baptist in Christianity

Despite all his merits, the Baptist in religious traditions is not at all equated with Christ. Although he was older in age and was the first to preach repentance and the coming of the Kingdom of God, he is still placed lower than Jesus. John the Baptist is often compared with the Old Testament prophet Elijah, who also acted as a zealot for the one Almighty Yahweh and fought against false gods.

The way of John the Baptist to execution

Like Jesus Christ, the Forerunner had his own life path in the execution. It is associated with the denunciation by the Baptist of the Palestinian tetrarch (a man who inherited part of his father's kingdom) Herod Antipas. He abandoned the universal principles of morality and many religious rules. Herod Antipas married his brother's wife Herodias, thus violating Jewish customs. John the Baptist openly condemned this ruler. At the instigation of the evil Herodias, Herod Antipas in about 30 AD. imprisoned the Forerunner, but, fearing the wrath of the people, still saved his life.

The Beheading of John the Baptist

Herodias is notwas able to forgive the insult to John the Baptist, so she waited for the right moment to carry out her insidious plan of revenge. On the day when Herod Antipas celebrated his birth and gave a magnificent feast for the elders and nobles, he wished the dance of Salome, the daughter of Herodias. She pleased the ruler and his guests so much that he told her to ask him for anything. At the request of Herodias, Salome demanded the head of the Baptist on a platter. Despite his fear of popular outrage, Herod kept his promise. By his order, the head of John the Baptist was cut off in the dungeon and given to Salome, who gave it to her treacherous mother. The reliability of this fact is confirmed by the "Antiquities of the Jews" written by Josephus Flavius.

The image of John the Baptist in world art

St. John the Baptist attracted with his image not only artists and sculptors, but also composers. In the Renaissance, many geniuses of fine arts turned to the image and episodes of the life of the Forerunner. In addition, the artists depicted Salome dancing or holding a tray with the head of the Baptist. His works were dedicated to him by such masters as Giotto, Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Rodin, El Greco. The world-famous painting by the artist A. Ivanov "The Appearance of Christ to the People" is dedicated to the meeting of the Baptist with Jesus. In the Middle Ages, bronze and terracotta figurines of the Forerunner were very popular.

Meaning of the Forerunner in world religions

John the Baptist is revered as the last of the prophets-forerunners of the Messiahnot only in Christianity. In Islam and such religious movements as the Bahá'ís and Mandaeans, he is worshiped under the name Yalya (Yahya). In some Arab Christian churches, he is known as Yuhanna.

Burial place of the Baptist

According to legend, Herodias sneered at the head of the Baptist for several days. After that, she ordered to bury it in a landfill. According to other sources, the head was buried in an earthen jar on the Mount of Olives. It is believed that the headless body of the Forerunner was buried in Sebastia (Samaria) near the tomb of the prophet Elisha. Even the apostle Luke wanted to take his body to Antioch, but local Christians gave him only the right hand (right hand) of the Saint. In 362 AD The tomb of John the Baptist was destroyed by apostates. His remains were burned and the ashes scattered. Despite this, many believe that the incorruptible body of the Forerunner was saved and transported to Alexandria. The relics of John the Baptist, represented by his right hand and head, are considered miraculous. They are very revered shrines. The head of John the Baptist, according to some sources, is kept in the Roman church of San Silvestro in Capite, according to others - in the Umayyad mosque, located in Damascus. It is also known about such shrines in Amiens (France), Antioch (Turkey), Armenia. According to Orthodox tradition, the head of the Baptist was found 3 times. Where the real relic is actually located is hard to say, but parishioners of various churches believe that their "head" is the real one.

The right hand of John is located in the Cetinje Monastery, which is located in Montenegro. The Turks claim that it is kept in the museum of the Sultan's Topkapı Palace. There is information about the right hand in the Coptic monastery. Even the empty tomb of the Baptist is still visited by pilgrims who believe in its miraculous power.

Holidays in honor of the Forerunner

The Orthodox Church has established the following holidays dedicated to John the Baptist:

• The Conception of the Forerunner - October 6.
• The Nativity of John - July 7.
• Beheading - September 11th.
• Cathedral of the Baptist - January 20.