We are now looking at the top ten characters in the New Testament ignoring Jesus and the disciples. At number 4 is John the Baptist – he is on one of our windows so must be important!
John the Baptist in the bible
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold – Luke 1:11-13
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
John the Baptist Prepares the Way & The Baptism of Jesus – Mark 1:4-11
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
John the Baptist speaks out – Mark 6:17-19
For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him.
The birth of John the Baptist – This shows that the difficult can happen.
John prepares the way – This shows that you may not win the race but you may be there to start it or help it on its way – your contribution is important.
John baptises Jesus – Does this show that a great leader acknowledged the importance of one of his people?
John speaks out – John was not frightened to speak out when he saw wrong doing, even against the powerful.
Herod beheads John the Baptist – Herod did not want to do this but did it to please others.