Who Was John the Baptist?

N.T. #688  "Who Was John the Baptist?"

Dec. 5, 2025 

John 1-Part 6 

LET IT GLOW

Who was John the Baptist? In chapter 1, this seemed to have been an important thing to know. 

What do we know about John the Baptist?

• We know his father was a priest, Zechariah, and mother Elisabeth whose lineage was of Aaron.
• We know he was a miracle child born to older parents.
• Angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah while praying with the good news of their having a son and to name him John. (Luke 1:6)
• John's purpose was to prepare the way for the Lord and to turn Israel back to their God.
• Zechariah's doubt was a punishment and a sign-speechless for 9 months until it was time to name the baby John.
• John was raised according to the Nazarite vow. 
• John was a cousin of the Lord Jesus. 
• There were no less than 16 quoted from the Old Testament prophesying the coming Messiah and His forerunner found in Luke. 
• John dressed in camel's hair and a leather girdle, similar to Elija's clothing. (2Kings 1:8 and Matthew 3:4) His food was locusts and wild honey, which was eaten by very poor people. He lived in the wilderness.
• People confessed their sins and were baptized by John.
• John was humble, telling of One to come who was greater than he was, whose sandals he was unworthy to unlatch, and who would baptize the people with the Holy Ghost and fire. (Matt. 3:11)

John must have created quite a stir among the Jewish people. He was on a mission from God and people were responding. John was baptizing repentant people in the Jordan River. 

LET IT GROW

The Sanhedrin sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem into the wilderness to find out who John the Baptist was. (John 1:19) Probably jealousy had them curious about such a popular man., wondering what his credentials were. Was John a false prophet? Actually, those guys were asking John who he thought he was.

• Was John the Christ? 
• Was John an incarnate of Elijah, who was taken up in a fiery chariot? 
• Was John a prophet? 
• John was not the Christ Messiah, not Elijah back from the dead, nor was he a prophet.
• I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said of the prophet Elijah. (Isaiah 40:3)
• John thought of himself not as important, not a prophet, not a remarkable worthy man of God, not even a man to be noticed. Yet he was all of those things. (Swindoll)

John was preparing them to recognize who Jesus was. The Messiah was present in their time.

The important thing to know is not who John was, but who Jesus is. Is He your Savior, your King, your Messiah?

LET IT GO

Help us stand for the truth, be uncompromising, live for Jesus, and point others to the Savior.